News

An AICPA letter supported by every state CPA society and numerous other accounting stakeholders asks the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to add accounting to the department's STEM Designated Degree Program List.

Sacred Heart University accounting professors Paul N. Iannone, Benoit Boyer, and Danny A. Pannese released “Tri-State Accounting Student Insights: A 2023 Regional Survey of Accounting Students on the CPA Exam and the Public Accounting Profession.”

“We are thrilled to announce the advancement of Josh and Beth to partnership in our firm,” said Todd Shelansky, CPA, managing partner of HarperWhitfield, P.C. “Their expertise, dedication, and leadership has been instrumental in providing exceptional service to our clients. We are confident that their continued contributions will drive our success and growth even further,” he added.

The Innovative CPA Group (ICG) is proud to announce that the Immaculate High School Alumni Association has recognized Sal Chieffalo, CPA, as the 2024 Golden Tee Award recipient. This prestigious honor celebrates Sal’s unwavering commitment to the Immaculate community. A proud member of the Class of ‘81, Sal has been actively involved in organizing class reunions and has dedicated his time and expertise to the school board, various committees, and the annual golf outing.

On August 6, KPMG LLP celebrated its nationwide Community Impact Day. In Stamford, KPMG hosted a Book Explore event through KPMG Family for Literacy (KFFL), with the Boys and Girls Club of Stamford (Yerwood Center). KPMG employees guided elementary-aged students through an interactive book reading with printed boards of book pages and fun activities to bring book themes to life. Volunteers helped read the story with the students and handed out donated new books.

CTCPA Executive Director and CEO Bonnie Stewart was appointed to the 2024-2025 Board of Directors of the New England Society of Association Executives (NE/SAE).

NPAG’s Accounting Talent Strategy Report explores the latest pipeline data, root causes of the profession’s attrition, potential solutions, and next steps.

The Connecticut Department of Revenue Services will be hosting a virtual webinar on Wednesday, Sept 4, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. to provide a Connecticut Real Estate Conveyance Tax Return (myCTREC – Form OP-236) Tax Overview. Representatives from the Department will give a presentation about Connecticut’s myCTREC and answer frequently asked questions. Please submit any myCTREC questions with the registration form by Wednesday August 28, 2024.

Accounting firm Marcum, which has multiple offices in Connecticut, is being acquired by a publicly traded financial services advisory firm in a deal worth $2.3 billion, the company announced.

Of all problems the tax and accounting profession faces, staffing seems the most persistent. Older and younger accountants alike are bailing, driven by a sometimes hard combination of perception and reality.

At the beginning of the legislative session, CTCPA's Governmental Accounting and Auditing (GAA) Committee proposed a change to state law to assist many municipalities and governmental auditors. The committee requested extending the deadline for filing certified reports required by the State Department of Education (SDE) from December 31 to January 31. This extension would provide much-needed relief for municipalities and auditors, recognizing the challenges school districts face in meeting the December 31 deadline and allowing for a more systematic and less stressful process.

The House adjourned Sine Die on June 27 after passing Emergency Certified Senate Bill 501 in concurrence with the Senate. The bill was immediately transmitted to the Governor, who has said he will sign it. As a reminder, although the main impetus for special session was to address a flaw with the property tax for commercial vehicles, the bill became omnibus legislation impacting a number of different areas.

In the midst of the generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) hype, automation often takes a backseat, with the assumption that AI will solve our problems. However, effective automation and AI implementation are impossible without proper processes, technology, and organization. Keeping this in focus, we’ll explore tools to help your firm achieve its goals and foster a healthy work-life balance for your team.

With no grand announcement, Connecticut quietly expanded employee’s paid sick time benefits. The bill greatly expands the law’s reach.

The Stamford BDO Counts team recently hosted its first Week of Service event. The team came together to pack and donate an assortment of snacks, non-perishable goods, and essential hygiene items to the New Covenant Center in Stamford. The event was organized and lead by Melissa Siino and Ryan Woodward. With cars loaded to the brim with donations, the team made their way to the donation center, where their contributions were warmly received and deeply appreciated.

Whittlesey continued its annual day of volunteerism with various projects across Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. For more than a decade, Whittlesey team members have stepped away from their desks to engage in activities that directly impact the communities where they live and work. This year, Whittlesey mobilized team members throughout the region to collaborate with the Bushnell Park Conservancy, the Diaper Bank of Connecticut, and the Zoo in Forest Park. Volunteers engaged in a variety of activities, including park clean-up efforts, mulching, planting flower beds, and repairing and painting fences. At the Connecticut Diaper Bank, team members sorted and repackaged diapers to support families in need.

This spring, two dozen Connecticut residents graduated from the 2024 Connecticut Professionals’ Leadership Academy, a program designed to strengthen leadership skills, develop and build relationships, and create a collaborative professional services community. This landmark program brings together professionals from various industries and backgrounds, including accounting and finance, law, insurance and architecture.

This spring, several Connecticut residents graduated from the 2024 class of the Connecticut Professionals' Leadership Academy, a program designed to strengthen leadership skills, develop and build relationships, and create a collaborative professional services community. This landmark program brings together professionals from various industries and backgrounds, including accounting and finance, law, insurance and architecture.

Programs will responsibly enable non-profits to do more good with the latest AI technologies and help equip the future workforces with critical AI skills.

At the June 6 Recognition Reception, Educators of Excellence ("Eddys") awards were handed out to Michele Ganon of Western Connecticut State University and, posthumously, to the family of longtime University of Connecticut professor and CTCPA past president Larry Gramling.