News

State Board of Accountancy (SBOA) staff has recently confirmed that firms that are not performing audits, compilations, or reviews must specifically submit a waiver from peer review requirements annually as part of the firm permit renewal process. If your firm no longer does or has never performed audits, compilations, or reviews, you must submit the Quality Review Waiver Form annually to be in compliance.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) today published an Accounting Standards Update (ASU) that improves the relevance and consistency in application of the induced conversion guidance in FASB Accounting Standards Codification® Subtopic 470-20, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options.

The Internal Revenue Service today issued Notice 2024-85 PDF providing transition relief for third-party settlement organizations (TPSOs), also known as payment apps and online marketplaces, regarding transactions during calendar years 2024 and 2025.

Americans age 55 and over hold an estimated $52 billion in their health savings accounts (HSAs), according to HSA investment company Devenir's most recent research. It's no surprise that as clients approach Medicare enrollment, they are increasingly interested in continuing to fund their HSAs to provide for current and future health care expenses.

So far companies are still looking to AI mainly for enhanced efficiencies and productivity, Diligent Institute finds.

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) announced today that it has issued two Exposure Drafts: an Exposure Draft of a proposed Statement, Subsequent Events, and an Exposure Draft of a proposed Implementation Guide, Implementation Guidance Update—2025.

The Internal Revenue Service today reminded low- and moderate-income taxpayers that they can save for retirement now and possibly earn a tax credit in 2025 and future years.

On July 31, 2024, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed the Frances Perkins Workplace Equity Act into law aiming to improve pay transparency and curb wage disparities. Massachusetts is the 5th state to pass pay transparency legislation in 2024 joining Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, and Vermont. This trend began in 2019 with Colorado. Since then, California, Connecticut, Maryland, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington have all passed similar measures.

The Board of Trustees of the Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) today announced the appointment of Robert W. Scott to a five-year term on the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). Mr. Scott currently serves as the director of finance and administration for the city of Brookfield, Wisconsin. His term begins July 1, 2025, and extends through June 30, 2030.

Another large accounting firm has struck a deal with private-equity investors.

FML’s Destiny Hartmann is one of only 30 CPAs honored by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) as a member of the Leadership Academy’s 16th graduating class. Hartmann was selected based on her exceptional leadership skills and professional experience for the four-day Leadership Academy program, which will be held Dec. 9-12 in Durham, N.C.

For an industry that's often stereotyped as stagnant, the world of accounting is changing at unprecedented speed: accounting industry trends include headline-grabbing topics such as AI, automation, ESG consulting, and remote work.

The Connecticut Society of CPAs (CTCPA) will host a Day of Giving social and collection drive to benefit Connecticut Foodshare at the CTCPA office in Rocky Hill on Tuesday, December 3 (#GivingTuesday) from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Participation is open to the public and includes complimentary coffee, hot cocoa, seasonal treats, and an opportunity to connect with CTCPA members and staff. No need to pre-register.

Two of the nation's top 15 accounting firms have joined forces with the completion of CBIZ's acquisition of Marcum LLP.

Paul N. Iannone, CPA, J.D., MST and Danny A. Pannese, CPA/ABV/CFF, CSEP, MST, associate professors, and Benoit N. Boyer, Ph.D., retired professor, all in the Jack Welch College of Business and Technology at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, wrote “Cleaning up intercompany debt” for the November 2024 issue of The Tax Advisor.

The AICPA Assurance Services Executive Committee recently provided an update and held a meeting to discuss the evolution of assurance services and the exciting advancements on the horizon. The critical need for CPAs to adapt to emerging non-financial assurance opportunities, including cybersecurity, blockchain, digital assets, and sustainability, was emphasized. The CPA profession is uniquely positioned to provide assurance inthese new areas, thanks to established frameworks, ethical guidelines, and a legacy of trust.

In October, the CTCPA hosted an informative Town Hall meeting featuring Melissa Travis, FEMA CISA specialist and CEO of the Rhode Island Society of CPAs . Travis delivered crucial insights on business continuity planning, disaster preparedness, and the pressing challenges of cybersecurity.

At the recent NASBA annual meeting, the AICPA and NASBA delivered an update on the progress of the CPA exam, highlighting significant advancements and future initiatives that promise to enhance the candidate experience.

At the recent AICPA Fall Council meeting, Mark Koziel was officially introduced as the incoming CEO, and was recognized for his impactful leadership and commitment to the profession. Mark's journey from his early days in public accounting to his current role as CEO of Allinial Global was highlighted.

During a recent session at the NASBA Annual Meeting, the complexities and misconceptions surrounding private equity (PE) investments in accounting firms were thoroughly discussed. There is no one-size-fits-all strategy when it comes to the diverse structures of private equity.