News
AI in Hiring: 4 Steps to Avoid Legal Headaches
September 19, 2023
If AI tools used for hiring are not thoughtfully implemented, it can create new challenges in the form of biased decision-making and possible litigation.
Bonnie Stewart, Drew Andrews, and Brian Kelleher Quoted in HBJ Article on Accounting Talent Crunch
September 18, 2023
Accounting firms continue to grapple with significant labor shortages, as veteran employees retire in droves and fewer young graduates enter the field. CTCPA Executive Director Bonnie Stewart, Whittlesey Managing Partner and CEO Drew Andrews, and FML Partner Brian Kelleher were all quoted in the Hartford Business Journal article 'Numbers Crunch: Accounting firms turn to recruiters, high schools, apprenticeships in urgent search for new talent.' More than 300,000 U.S. accountants and auditors left their jobs in the past few years, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, leading to a 17% decline in employed accountants compared to 2019.
Labor Department Proposes New Overtime Salary Threshold
September 08, 2023
On August 30, the Biden administration issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking from the Department of Labor to extend overtime pay eligibility to more than 3 million workers. The initiative comes following a similar attempt by the Obama administration over eight years ago to revise overtime eligibility regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Under the new proposal, employers would be required to provide time-and-a-half pay for eligible workers who work beyond 40 hours per week. The previous threshold for this requirement set in 2019 by the Trump administration—$35,568—would be increased to $55,000.
Employees to leaders: Be transparent about AI use
September 06, 2023
Executives and employees believe artificial intelligence is good for business, but employees say some companies are not clear about how they intend to use AI.
10 tips for designing the firm of your dreams
August 30, 2023
All too often, accounting firms are run on the default model, with new owners simply recapitulating the business practices and structures of the firms where they started their careers — but it doesn't have to be that way.
CTCPA Launches Pipeline Committee to Cultivate Interest in the Profession and Support Tomorrow's CPAs on Their Career Paths
August 25, 2023
New initiatives will be supported by individuals across the CTCPA membership. Looking for member engagement!
Thomson Reuters Future of Professionals Report Predicts AI will Have a Transformational Impact on Professional Work by 2028
August 23, 2023
Thomson Reuters (NYSE/TSX: TRI), a global content and technology company, today released its Future of Professionals Report. The survey of more than 1,200 individuals working internationally shares the predicted impact that generative AI will have on the future of professional work. The survey showed 67% of respondents believe AI will have a transformational or high impact on their profession in the next five years.
Corporate Transparency Act/Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting — Risk Management Considerations for CPA Firms
August 22, 2023
The Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) was enacted January 1, 2021, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, representing the most significant reformation of the Bank Secrecy Act and related anti–money laundering rules since the U.S. Patriot Act. The CTA is intended to address and guard against money laundering, terrorism financing, and other forms of illegal financing by mandating certain entities (primarily small and medium size businesses) to report “beneficial owner” information to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”).
Generative AI plays a role in everyday finance
August 21, 2023
Generative AI technologies like ChatGPT and Bard aren't the end of the world, as sci-fi antagonists may make them out to be. But they're not demure wallflowers, either. The truth exists somewhere in between, leaving CFOs with many questions but few answers on how to integrate these game-changing tools to maximize efficiency, accuracy and insight into everyday finance and accounting.
Connecticut Adopts 30-Month CPA Exam Testing Window: FAQs on Timing and Implementation
August 17, 2023
This spring the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) announced an amendment to the Uniform Accountancy Act Model Rules that extends the CPA Exam testing window from 18 months to 30 months. This means that individuals will now have 30 months from receiving their first CPA Exam section passing score to successfully pass the remaining sections.
Accountants face up to the cost of cloud app stacks
August 15, 2023
A recent rise in software fees has sparked debate among practice owners about how the cost of multiple, interconnecting cloud applications should be packaged and presented to clients, whether price hikes should be passed on and when this should happen.
Flexibility and financial security are not negotiable, Gen Z says
August 11, 2023
Work/life balance is imperative to attract and retain younger workers. New research shows business leaders aren’t as enthusiastic about flexible working as employees are.
Experiential Learning: An Evolution in How Knowledge Is Obtained by Prospective CPAs
August 10, 2023
No policy issue has dominated the accounting profession over the past several decades as much as accountant education – specifically, the 150-hour education requirement.
Investing in generative AI is a balance between risk and reward
August 09, 2023
A recent global survey from McKinsey found that leaders are looking to increase AI-related investments, but less than half have planned for the organisational risks involved.
The cost of running a practice over four years
July 24, 2023
Running an accounting firm needs constant attention as tech prices and client specifications change constantly. Practice owner Alex Falcon Huerta lays out her current tech stack and how her costs and priorities have evolved.
The value of disruption
July 24, 2023
With so much disruption being thrust upon them, you'd think the last thing accounting firms would want to do is to disrupt themselves — yet that may be exactly what they need to do, says Bob Lewis of The Visionary Group.
AI and automation: Augmentation, not replacement
July 18, 2023
While technology undoubtedly speeds up some of the more time-consuming aspects of accounting work, it is not a magic solution to the skills shortage. Jonathan Bareham, director of Raedan, says human expertise remains essential in building a successful firm.
Inclusion advice: Start with allyship
June 28, 2023
A new report shows "disproportionate challenges” for LGBT+ employees, shares inclusion advice for organisations.
In one minute, this simple tool could save practitioners hours
June 26, 2023
A few clicks of the mouse could save practitioners a ton of time by assisting them in determining whether they need to apply the requirements of AR-C Section 70, Preparation of Financial Statements, when their bookkeeping or accounting services result in financial statements.
5 Trends to Know About Today's Multigenerational Workforce
June 22, 2023
Today's workforce is made up of four distinct generations. Understanding what motivates each of them can help companies more effectively recruit, manage and retain strong teams.