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As the year ends, CFOs should focus on these key areas to ensure a smooth close process and improve operational performance.

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.

Developing and crafting a leadership style is seldom taught in business schools but is critical for CFOs and their fellow executives looking to grow their organizations. Whether it’s how decision-making is carried out, tasks are delegated, ideas are expressed or concerns are relayed, these are all ways great leaders and good leaders can separate from one another.

An “always on” work culture in the UK is leading to increased stress and anxiety amongst workforces, research shows.

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.

Most employees blame their lack of skills with artificial intelligence on their employers; Microsoft has added 10 AI agents in Dynamics 365; Teams can now block workers for signing in after hours; and and seven other recent developments in technology.

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.

At the recent NASBA annual meeting and AICPA Fall Council meeting, Barry Melancon, President and CEO of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, provided an overview of the future of the accounting profession. His insights highlighted the changes driven by technological advancements and the vital role of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) in navigating this evolving landscape.

At the NASBA annual meeting, there was a session on "AI Revolution: Unlocking the Future of Tomorrow," which showcased the remarkable pace at which artificial intelligence is being integrated into various sectors. With 80% of Fortune 500 companies weaving AI into their workflows just nine months after the launch of ChatGPT, it's evident that we stand on the brink of a transformative era.

A recent survey by Randstad suggests that the future CFO talent pool may be shrinking for reasons beyond the growing shortage of qualified talent.

Companies with more mature cybersecurity approaches expect to increase cybersecurity spending and better integrate their cyber strategy into overall transformation plans.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) today published a proposed Accounting Standards Update (ASU) to update the guidance on accounting for software. Stakeholders are encouraged to review and provide comments on the proposed ASU by January 27, 2025.

Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced that certain victims of Hurricane Milton, Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Debby, Hurricane Beryl, and Hurricane Francine will receive an additional six months to submit beneficial ownership information reports, including updates and corrections to prior reports. FinCEN has issued five Notices extending the filing deadlines to for reporting companies that 1) have an original reporting deadline beginning one day before the date the specified disaster began and ending 90 days after that date, and 2) are located in an area that is designated both by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as qualifying for individual or public assistance and by the Internal Revenue Service as eligible for tax filing relief. Please refer to the applicable Notice for specific information.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed how we live and work, offering immense potential for innovation and progress. However, as with any technology, AI also has its drawbacks. Emerging technologies like deepfakes – AI-generated synthetic media that can convincingly manipulate or fabricate audio, video, and images – have rapidly gained popularity among cybercriminals as a potent tool for cyberattacks. By leveraging deepfakes, they can easily manipulate information, deceive individuals, and exploit vulnerabilities within organizations. The consequences of these attacks can be severe, ranging from financial losses to reputational damage. 

Pay transparency laws are being enacted across the U.S. If you have clients operating across state lines, you know how complicated staying compliant with these laws can be. Business owners need to understand what’s coming and how they can prepare.

From a focus on data integrity and employee upskilling to championing new tools, finance leaders have a multi-dimensional role in AI adoption and use.

Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA, has been named as the incoming CEO of AICPA & CIMA, which operate together as the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants.

A report issued Thursday by the AICPA and the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers (NASACT) details the depth of challenges that need to be overcome to ensure strong accounting, auditing, and finance functions in state and local government and to make it easier for governments to find outside auditors.

Are you creating or updating your HR policies for 2025? A year-end HR compliance checklist is a great way to help make sure your bases are covered. There's too much at stake to leave compliance to chance. Particularly during the end of the year, there are many moving parts and critical deadlines your business must meet; otherwise, you could face penalties. To help you meet deadlines and compliance requirements, we've compiled a checklist that identifies some of the essential end-of-year tasks.