News

The Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants (CTCPA) has elected and installed its Board of Directors for the 2024-2025 activity year at its Annual Meeting held at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville.

The Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants (CTCPA) honored Avon resident Drew G. Andrews, CPA of Whittlesey with the 2024 Jack Brooks Leadership Award at the CTCPA Annual Meeting on May 16. The Jack Brooks Leadership Award is presented annually to a CTCPA member whose personal efforts have advanced the accounting profession and strengthened the organization. It is named in memory of former CTCPA Executive Director Jack Brooks, a loyal champion of Connecticut CPAs.

A new national survey reveals “time” is why more accounting majors and young professionals are skipping over becoming certified public accountants.

Cheshire Academy Chief Financial Officer Matthew Piechota won the National Business Officers Association (NBOA) Will Hancock Unsung Hero Award, recognizing chief business officers who have made extraordinary contributions to their schools. Piechota was one of just nine 2024 recipients internationally.

CFOs and finance leaders share their takes on whether CPA requirement changes are necessary to address talent issues within corporate finance.

Big Four accounting and consulting firm KPMG LLP has named a new managing partner of its Hartford office. Susan Jackson will be the first woman to lead KPMG’s Hartford office when she takes over the role on May 15. She will succeed Tom Daugherty, who became managing partner in April 2017.

While many accountants are determined to stay as far away from artificial intelligence as possible, others have found ways to use the technology to yield tangible benefits for their firms (see "Accounting's reluctant AI revolution").

What it takes is more nuanced than simply offering more money or fewer hours.

CTCPA Past President Greg Lainas recently served as a panelist at the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) NorthEast Regional Council (NERC) Student Leadership Conference held at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island. The conference was geared toward accounting, finance, and business students and those just starting their careers. Participants had an opportunity to engage with professionals like Greg who were eager to share their advice for starting a career in accounting or finance.

The salary threshold required to exempt a salaried executive, administrative, or professional employee from federal overtime was increased from $35,568 to $43,888 effective July 1, 2024. The salary threshold will further increase to $58,656 on Jan. 1, 2025.

Three CTCPA members received national recognition on Forbes “America’s Top 200 CPAs” list: Drew Andrews of Whittlesey, Lisa Willauer of Fiondella, Milone & LaSaracina, and Heather Ziegler of Deloitte.

The Senate Wednesday passed a bill to regulate artificial intelligence after a passionate debate over whether the rules will protect state residents from the kind of dangers the internet has brought or become unbearable burdens to businesses and stifle innovation.

Lisa Wills, CPA has been appointed to the Board of Trustees at Elms College. Lisa is an Elms College alum, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and Business Management.

In a recent letter to the Department of the Treasury and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and CTCPA, together with 54 state CPA societies, expressed serious concerns with the rollout and push to implement FinCEN’s Beneficial Ownership Information reporting requirement without regard for the impact to the small business community.

In a recent letter to the Department of the Treasury and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and CTCPA, together with 54 state CPA societies, expressed serious concerns with the rollout and push to implement FinCEN’s Beneficial Ownership Information reporting requirement without regard for the impact to the small business community.

Two CTCPA members were named to the Hartford Business Journal's 2024 'Top 25 Women in Business' list: Susan Martinelli and Kimberly Napp. '

In response to reports of incidents of individuals altering PDF documents used to verify CPE compliance with the state of Connecticut, the Department of Consumer Protection has been working to validate certain CPE certificates, including some issued by the CTCPA. We have been contacted to verify information for current investigations and have been informed by the Department of Consumer Protection that several more inquiries are forthcoming.

HarperWhitfield P.C., with offices in Farmington and Weatogue, announces the election of Todd Shelansky, CPA to Managing Principal; the streamlining of the firm’s name from Harper & Whitfield, P.C. to HarperWhitfield P.C., including a new firm logo; and personnel news regarding Dale Boutot, CPA joining the firm as a Director and the promotion of Agatha Hueller, CPA to Supervisor.

The renewable energy finance landscape has undergone a transformative shift with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Building on this legislation, IRS proposed guidance in June 2023 helped to establish the tax credit transfer market, thereby allowing corporate taxpayers to play a pivotal role in the clean energy revolution. In this article, we explore the historical context of Investment Tax Credits (ITC) and Production Tax Credits (PTC), traditional tax equity financing structures, and the new opportunity presented by tax credit transferability for small- and medium-sized corporations.

The Department of Labor has announced a six-factor test for determining whether a worker is an independent contractor or an employee under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This new rule takes effect on March 11, 2024.