strategy

safe harbor compliance reduces risk of fines and penalties

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protect your clients–and your firm–by being proactive.

by donny shimamoto, cpa, citp, cgma

in the last few years, we’re starting to see state legislatures and attorney generals recognizing that tax practitioners are trying to protect their clients. they are formalizing this recognition with changes to regulations or laws to include “safe harbor” provisions that limit or eliminate the fines and penalties for tax practitioners who take proactive action to manage their cybersecurity risks.

more:  how hacker-proof is your firm? | unleashing the power of technology: transforming accountants into trusted advisors | future firm growth requires a mindshift | ai, ocr, nlp & cpas: oh my!   |  accounting nerds, unlock your super powers  | early adopters gain an edge in audit | dustin wheeler: for serious cas success, hire tech teams | csr for cpas: the missing ingredient | donny shimamoto explains how ‘agile’ applies to cpa firms |  staff retention for remote workers | why the future is in risk advisory |  ready for non-cpa “cpa” firms?
goprocpa.com exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

as of december 2022, the following states have some type of safe harbor provision in place:

in contrast, states like california and colorado are taking the opposite approach and penalizing organizations that have data breaches.[iv]

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unleashing the power of technology: transforming accountants into trusted advisors

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the smartest route to advisory:
join the survey. get the roadmap

imagine the possibilities.

by donny shimamoto, cpa, citp, cgma
the center for accounting transformation

in today’s rapidly evolving world, technology is revolutionizing the way we work and live. accountants and cpas are no exception.

more donny shimamoto:  how trusted advisors transform businesses | the future of accounting: a vision of trust, clarity, and hope | donny shimamoto: future firm growth requires a mindshift | ai, ocr, nlp & cpas: oh my!   |  accounting nerds, unlock your super powers  | early adopters gain an edge in audit | dustin wheeler: for serious cas success, hire tech teams | csr for cpas: the missing ingredient | donny shimamoto explains how ‘agile’ applies to cpa firms |  staff retention for remote workers | why the future is in risk advisory |  ready for non-cpa “cpa” firms?
goprocpa.com exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

we need to embrace the power of technology to enhance our services and better serve our clients as advisors. by leveraging technology and focusing on the complicated work that bots can’t do, accountants become trusted advisors, building deeper relationships and unlocking their full potential.

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overcoming the five hurdles to advisory services

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face these issues to achieve firm growth.

the smartest route to advisory:
join the survey. get the roadmap

by donny shimamoto, cpa, citp, cgma
the center for accounting transformation

are you tired of feeling overwhelmed and stuck in the compliance workload, unable to provide valuable insights to your clients? do you feel that your firm has the potential to grow and create a lasting impact, but capacity issues hinder your progress? 

more donny shimamoto:  how trusted advisors transform businesses | the future of accounting: a vision of trust, clarity, and hope | donny shimamoto: future firm growth requires a mindshift | ai, ocr, nlp & cpas: oh my!   |  accounting nerds, unlock your super powers  | early adopters gain an edge in audit | dustin wheeler: for serious cas success, hire tech teams | csr for cpas: the missing ingredient | donny shimamoto explains how ‘agile’ applies to cpa firms |  staff retention for remote workers | why the future is in risk advisory |  ready for non-cpa “cpa” firms?
goprocpa.com exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

you’re not alone. many accounting firms are struggling with the same challenges. but what if there was a way to break through these barriers and elevate your firm to new heights? read on to discover how to overcome the challenges associated with providing advisory services and transform your firm into a thriving, client-centered business.
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three fundamental questions to ask in audit

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are you teaching your team the real work or just the compliance work?

by alan anderson, cpa
transforming audit for the future

instant download:
“the new manifesto for accountants.“

when i started in accounting, we wrote audit programs out by hand, and we thought about what it was we needed to do to carry out our audit procedures.

and then, the firm got a copy machine. that started the arts and crafts period of public accounting.

more: the big issues in audit: frustration, inconsistency and technology | five ways to increase audit efficiency | early adopters gain an edge in audit | talent retention: five tips for an audit adjustment | six benefits of an internal audit | the ten financial controls that’ll make you a hero | five cash reports you can’t live without | when an audit is a great thing
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

because we were going to do the same as last year, every year we would make a copy of last year’s hand-written audit program, cut out the sign-offs, tape that on a new page, make sure to draw the lines for the sign-offs, and then we’d make a copy of that. then we had our audit program for the new year.

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how auditors can beat ai

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ignore the coming tsunami of change at your own peril.

by alan anderson, cpa
transforming audit for the future

instant download:
“the new manifesto for accountants.“

the other day, i picked up a college textbook on auditing from 2001.

more: the disruptors: re-inventing accounting with tyler anderson | the big issues in audit: frustration, inconsistency and technology | five ways to increase audit efficiency | early adopters gain an edge in audit | talent retention: five tips for an audit adjustment | six benefits of an internal audit | the ten financial controls that’ll make you a hero | five cash reports you can’t live without | when an audit is a great thing
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

even back then, that book listed these as “critical forces on the profession:”

  • increasing market saturation with relatively little opportunity for growth
  • perceptions that financial statement audits have become a commodity
  • price competition and continual pressure to reduce fees
  • cost pressures that have resulted in the reduction of time devoted to engagements
  • perceptions that the incidence and severity of alleged audit failures have increased

in the 20-plus years since that book was published, not much has changed. today many of the college students who learned auditing from that textbook are in leadership positions at audit firms. they were warned about what we were up against.

that we are still facing those same “critical forces,” which have only exacerbated since then, is an indicator of the ossified state of leadership in the audit profession.

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is your cas practice trapping you?

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look for these five signs and implement simple changes to get back the life you want.

by w. michael hsu

are you working tirelessly but not seeing the benefits and results you deserve?  essentially, do you feel trapped in the cycle of your business? if so, you’re not alone.

more w. michael hsu: seven principles to work less and achieve more |  how do firm leaders learn? | why your approach to cas and cfo services is wrong | when it comes to pricing, it’s about ‘can’t afford not to’ | your client base is global |

goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

many firm owners and the entrepreneurs they serve feel exhausted by their businesses, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

but we can identify common signs that your business is trapping you and show you how to optimize for freedom. by addressing these issues and implementing some simple strategies, you can reduce stress, achieve more, and live a life you love.

5 ways your firm is trapping you read more →

it takes a village to stop cybercrime

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we’re all in this together.//m.g005e.com/2021/11/09/russian-solarwinds-hackers-at-it-again/

by donny shimamoto, cpa, citp, cgma
on cybersecurity for accountants
center for accounting transformation

i’ve been warning accountants about the treasure trove of taxpayer information they are entrusted with since 2014. that was the first year i spoke at an aicpa conference about it risk management and the need to self-assess information security risks. every year since then, via numerous conference sessions and webinars, i’ve taught both non-techie accountants and it professionals about the cybersecurity jargon, key threats, how to understand the risks, and how various types of administrative and technical controls help mitigate those risks.

more:  donny shimamoto: future firm growth requires a mindshift | ai, ocr, nlp & cpas: oh my!   |  accounting nerds, unlock your super powers  | early adopters gain an edge in audit | dustin wheeler: for serious cas success, hire tech teams | csr for cpas: the missing ingredient | donny shimamoto explains how ‘agile’ applies to cpa firms |  staff retention for remote workers | why the future is in risk advisory |  ready for non-cpa “cpa” firms?
goprocpa.com exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

as quickly as cybersecurity practices mature, new threats, threat delivery vectors and other schemes arise. what many people don’t realize is that identity theft is a lucrative business. whether taxpayer identification (e.g., social security numbers), bank account information, credit card information or healthcare information—these records have value on the dark web. fraudsters will pay handsomely for this type of information.

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ira rosenbloom: with m&a, nobody wants a fixer-upper

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buyers want sellers who invest in the long game.

subscribe to 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 podcasts anywhere: apple, google, spotify, iheart, deezer, amazon music and audible, player fm, audacy, gaana (india), and boomplay (africa).

the disruptors
with liz farr
for 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间

ira rosenbloom has been working in the m&a space for accounting firms for over a decade and says it’s a complicated and exciting time in the m&a space today. “we’re seeing a lot of things that make sense, and a lot of things that are frustrating because they make sense, and a lot of things that make no sense,” he said.

staffing problems on both sides are forcing buyers to be far more selective about the firms they consider buying.

see also: the seller’s guide to getting the best price for your firm

more: megan genest tarnow: hire for curiosity rather than compliance | clayton oates: one way to keep clients for life | randy crabtree: follow these three rules to keep employees happy | erik solbakken: yes, you can work less and make more | donny shimamoto: future firm growth requires a mindshift | jennifer wilson: empower young workers to build the firm everyone loves | mike whitmire: re-think your hiring and training practices | hector garcia: success strategies of a quickbooks youtube superstar | blake oliver: why tax work yearns to be free| private equity explodes in u.k. | brannon poe: the status quo must go  | accounting nerds, unlock your super powers  | disruptor: jason statts shakes up the status quo | think small to think big with matt wilkinson | when financial statements go extinct with corey schmidt | can geraldine carter save accountants from themselves? | re-inventing accounting with tyler anderson

goprocpa.com exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

today’s buyers are different in many ways than the sellers. first, rosenbloom explained, baby boomer sellers tend to like to talk to people, while the younger generations looking to buy firms are “more selective in their communication.” younger buyers tend to be more entrepreneurial, and “the more that the seller comes across as an entrepreneur, the more interested the buyer is going to be in what’s going on,” he added. buyers are also interested in firms making a break with old methodologies and sellers who “want to invest in the long game,” rosenbloom said.
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time management rule #1 for accountants

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the “one big thing” you can do to take back control.

by seth fineberg
at large

accountants are constantly being told about “the one thing” they need to do to improve their professional lives, and in my view, the simplest and most powerful is to firmly adhere to deadlines that you determine for your clients. not the irs’s deadlines, not any governing body… you!

more seth fineberg:  plan to go ‘live’ post tax season |  why vc is a bigger threat than ai  |   what does taking control of your firm mean? | accountants need each other more than ever | marchternity: just say ‘no’ | some thoughts on in-person events | so you think you know accountants? | what bogs down accountants

goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

the one change tax pros need to consider making going forward is setting their own deadlines – for themselves, for their firms, and, especially, for their clients.

all signs seem to indicate this year’s tax season was, comparatively, the most “normal” over the past three years. but tons of tax pros continue to stress, struggle, and even reconsider staying with tax work at all. while it may seem like a huge step, you would be surprised that by just having clients adhere to your deadlines, and no other due date, the level of stress will be reduced exponentially. this may not be a new tactic, but firms i’ve spoken to who decided to engage in telling clients about their deadline, and not the irs’s, experienced a sense of relief not felt in years, if ever.

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joe montgomery: find the sweet spot of the right clients, right services and right prices

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an engaged team with a great culture is better than landing at the perfect ratio of payroll to revenue.

subscribe to 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 podcasts anywhere: apple, google, spotify, iheart, deezer, amazon music and audible, player fm, audacy, gaana (india), and boomplay (africa).

the disruptors
with liz farr
for 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间

before joe montgomery started his firm, he had an epiphany.

he asked himself, “why would i ever want to own a firm, if that’s what it looks like?”

he saw firm leaders chained to their desks, working long hours and dealing with waves of turnover.

“there’s got to be a different way to do it,” he thought.

after too many 100-hour weeks with a wife and three kids he never saw, he reached his breaking point and exited his family firm to start his own firm and his coaching business, groupup.  

more: megan genest tarnow: hire for curiosity rather than compliance | clayton oates: one way to keep clients for life | randy crabtree: follow these three rules to keep employees happy | erik solbakken: yes, you can work less and make more | donny shimamoto: future firm growth requires a mindshift | jennifer wilson: empower young workers to build the firm everyone loves | mike whitmire: re-think your hiring and training practices | hector garcia: success strategies of a quickbooks youtube superstar | blake oliver: why tax work yearns to be free| private equity explodes in u.k. | brannon poe: the status quo must go  | accounting nerds, unlock your super powers  | disruptor: jason statts shakes up the status quo | think small to think big with matt wilkinson | when financial statements go extinct with corey schmidt | can geraldine carter save accountants from themselves? | re-inventing accounting with tyler anderson

goprocpa.com exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

his focus in his accounting firm and in groupup is finding that sweet spot of the right clients, right services and right prices. the first step is “making sure we have the right people in the right structure with the right motivators behind it. those three components can build an unstoppable team,” montgomery explained. next, he said, “on the client side, we do the right service that’s in our wheelhouse, that we can consistently deliver to the right client…and for the right price, so we have enough money coming in the door.”

with that structure in place, montgomery said, firm owners “can get out of production and lead the firm,” changes that can lead to “you running a firm that gives you more freedom.”

a key to making those changes is to be willing to delegate and empower. “we advise our clients to outsource and grow and scale their business,” montgomery said. but many firm owners fail to practice what they preach. by failing to build out an empowered team, he explained, “we have a bunch of worker bees, and we become extremely busy, too.”

12 more takeaways from joe montgomery

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transferring business interests to optimize estate taxes

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couple sitting across desk from advisorstrategic estate planning could save your clients millions.

by anthony venette, cpa/abv

we stand at the precipice of the largest wealth transfer in american history. millions of business owners are struggling to write the next chapter of their companies and their legacies. prudent gift and estate tax planning can be the difference between creating generational wealth and squandering it. gifting privately held business interests to a child or children can be an effective and tax-efficient way to maximize wealth transfer and achieve legacy planning goals.  

more: enhance wealth by mitigating taxes | your client’s instincts are wrong | preserving wealth is a different mindset | three approaches to investment consulting | cashing out: your business clients’ five big issues
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

that being said, many business owners are unaware of the benefits of gifting interests in their businesses rather than cash. here are four important reasons why gifting business interests can be advantageous: 

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help business clients lower property tax assessments

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profile of man shouting tax and other, starred-out wordssome property owners pay inaccurate property tax levels by as much as 20% to 30%.

by josh malancuk with jm tax advocates

with cash-starved states and municipalities looking under every nook and cranny for revenue, manufacturers with lots of fixed assets and personal property are generally taking it on the chin when it comes to their property tax assessments.

more: six kinds of loan covenants | 26 ways to wreck a financial projection | three ways to run a break-even analysis | price not always the top consideration in a sale | when an owner dies without a buy-sell agreement | due diligence is in the details
goprocpa.comexclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.

many of your business clients, especially manufacturers, sense their assessments are too high. but most don’t have the time, resources or expertise to challenge their assessment through the protest or appeal process before the deadline. and so, overpayments continue for another cycle and then again, and again and again. that’s what assessors count on. but you owe it to your clients to keep your assessors accountable through available appeals and to help them avoid overpaying taxes year after year.

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