Accountants Round Up

"Work-life Programs: How the Big Seven Flex"

By David McCann: Companies looking to raid public accounting firms for talent, be warned: The talented are accustomed to a degree of flexibility in how they work that may be beyond what your corporate culture can stomach.

Many companies of all types have responded to the workforce's growing demand for work-life balance with a raft of programs.

Read complete article Work-life Programs: How the Big Seven Flex
Source: CFO.com, 23 July 2008. © CFO Publishing Corporation 2008. All rights reserved.

"Deloitte Double Talk"

By Francine McKenna: This blog gets the most traffic and comments when I post about Big 4 layoffs. I make no excuses or explanations for this. Just stating a fact. Now if I were making this stuff up, as I have been accused of doing, then you would be justified in pummeling me in the press and in person.

Unfortunately, the stories are all too true and come directly form you the readers and my own reliable, on the ground, sources.

Read complete post Deloitte Double Talk
Source: re: The Auditors, 21 July 2008.

"Making Strategic Planning More Transparent"

By Howard Wolosky: Maybe because I am so literal, I am a firm believer in transparency. Perhaps that was why I was intrigued by a newsletter from a leading firm association that goes to association members and friends. Included was a two-pager entitled “Vision for Our Future,” that identifies ten possible goals of the association for 2008-2012. The process, which included member surveys, conference calls, and meetings, was also detailed. The proposed goals were developed by a 15-member team and facilitator, all listed in the two-pager.

Read complete article Making Strategic Planning More Transparent
Source: WebCPA, 15 July 2008. © 2007 WebCPA and SourceMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

"What Staffing Crisis?"

By Alexandra DeFelice: Is the staffing crisis that’s supposedly plaguing firms these days real or are firms just not taking the right steps to hire and retain the right people?

After moderating a panel about staffing issues at Intuit’s Accounting Professionals User Conference in San Diego last month, I started to believe the latter.

Read complete article What Staffing Crisis?
Source: WebCPA, 10 July 2008. © 2007 WebCPA and SourceMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

"Accountants Prep for New Standards"

By Tim Hyland: Bill Park has some advice for public companies staring down one of the biggest changes in American business history: the pending switch from the longstanding U.S.-based Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) financial reporting standard to the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

That advice? Plan ahead.

Read complete article Accountants Prep for New Standards
Source: Philadelphia Business Journal, 4 July 2008. © 2008 American City Business Journals, Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved.

"Motivate Your Team"

By Bill Kennedy: “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.” In how many MBA classes, inspirational business speeches and management books has this speech by American President, John F. Kennedy been touted as the perfect motivational mission? (Example 1, example 2, example 3).

The latest to cross my desk is an article by Bill Catlette and Richard Hadden called “Motivation through Mission.” Their key concept is, “People don’t perform in an inspired manner without a big time commitment to a compelling cause.”

Read complete post Motivate Your Team
Source: Energized Accounting, 8 July 2008.

"Second Life Opens Virtual CPA Worlds"

By Ryan Sharrow: With the click of a mouse, Arlene Ciroula is taken from her Timonium office to an oceanfront paradise.

Ciroula, chief operating officer at Timonium accounting firm KAWG&F, is living a double life -- one where she's known as "Chili Carson" and lives on a virtual island with all the waves and sun she can soak in. Besides escapism, Ciroula's virtual presence as "Chili" has, she hopes, a more practical benefit: helping spread KAWG&F's name across this online world and potentially lead to new clients. 

Read complete article Second Life Opens Virtual CPA Worlds
Source: Baltimore Business Journal, 4 July 2008. © 2008 American City Business Journals, Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved.

"We're Too Scared to Let Our Lawyers Blog"

By Kevin O'Keefe: I hear that routinely from large firms, from the largest in the world to 3 and 4 person law firms.

But as Liz Strauss, an expert in corporate online communications and communities, asks 'is the blog the problem?' A blog, though a relative unknown, is just a tool. Look at the real issue that's scaring you.

Read complete post We're Too Scared to Let Our Lawyer's Blog
Source: Real Lawyers Have Blogs, 25 June 2008. Copyright © 2008, LexBlog. All Rights Reserved.

"BDO Enters Second Life"

By Kevin Reed: BDO Stoy Hayward has launched on internet virtual world Second Life in a bid to open up its services to a broader audience.

Its launch of an 'island' on the world will enable the firm to holding meetings online, presentations and events for staff and enhance recruitment options by engaging with a broader, international audience.

Read complete article BDO Enters Second Life
Source: AccountancyAge, 8 May 2008. © Incisive Media Ltd. All rights reserved.

"Accounting with an Accent"

By Paul Leonard: For Nathan Bryant, assistant manager at accounting firm Grant Thornton LLP, being stationed for the past year in the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong brought unparalleled opportunities, as well as unexpected challenges.

Like crossing the street, for starters.

Read complete article Accounting with an Accent
Source: Portland Business Journal, 13 June 2008. © 2008 American City Business Journals, Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved.