Blog

The Office of Finance has evolved to become a key player in supporting strategic business decisions that reaches beyond day-to-day number crunching and Excel spreadsheets. While these tasks are important, technological advances can help CPAs save time and focus on being a strategic business partner that adds value across the entire enterprise.

Since March 2020, legions of employees have been working from home with nearly unfettered access to company information. Some of that information may be regarded as trade secrets. As more companies offer hybrid or fully remote work environments, the effort to protect these trade secrets will grow as a concern.

The FASB has issued their 2021 Agenda Consultation Report to provide an update on how the feedback received from their ITC last year influenced the current standard setting agenda. The report provides insight into the top priorities of various stakeholders and the ultimate decisions of the board based on the feedback.

2022 was the first renewal period in which individuals renewing their CPA license were required to report their completed CPE through the Board’s new CPE Tracker, which is located within the online licensing system. Read on to find out what your colleagues learned.

We may be “comfort centered” most of the time—doing what we know how to do and avoiding things that make us leave our comfort zones. When we force ourselves to clarify what we want, we are able to be what Robert E. Quinn calls “results centered.” The result? We will become more energized and optimistic. Find out how the WSCPA is working to envision a results centered future.

As you come back to school for the fall, you’re sure to be invited to Meet the Firm events and Career Fairs. Whether you’re new to these events or a seasoned pro, the WSCPA wants to make sure you have positive interactions with firm representatives and recruiters. Here are 7 tips for getting the most out of any Meet the Firm events you plan on attending.

While the profession has navigated through the health and economic turmoil of the last few years, the WSCPA Advocacy Team has spent the last several months monitoring the legislative session and preparing for the future.

The GASB has issued a proposal around disclosures related to certain risks. The proposal provides disclosure requirements for certain concentrations and constraints. Comments are due September 30, 2022. Do you believe the proposed disclosures are sufficient?

It’s official! The WSCPA office—the home of Washington CPAs—has moved to our new location.

This week marked a major consolidation in the ESG standard setting arena. The IFRS Foundation completed its consolidation of the Value Reporting Foundation (VRF). The IFRS Foundation is the parent entity to the IASB who writes IFRS. It will now also be the parent to the new International Sustainability Standards Board’s (ISSB).

As negotiations continue on the fast-approaching reconciliation bill, the AICPA remains active in its advocacy efforts, which includes pushing back on the implementation of a minimum book income tax on corporations. With a deadline of September 30, there is little time to pass a bill and sign it into law.

The Tax Structure Work Group (TSWG) is nearing the finish line of their five-year exercise to recommend a new fairer tax system in Washington. At their May meeting, the TSWG voted on a number of proposals and decision points in directing the Department of Revenue to model and draft proposal language for different taxes in Washington.

Most organizations have flaws in the process that can make the budget untenable. There are multiple solutions to this process that can help lead your budget to a better place, and one that is more enjoyable for all.

The AICPA's Professional Ethics Executive Committee (PEEC) has proposed some new independence rules related to compliance audits. The AICPA is aware that much of the new COVID-19 related funding is causing many entities who have not been subject to audit requirements or single audit requirements historically to now be subject to them. The proposal adds two definitions and revises the definition of financial statement attest client to help identify which independence rules apply to these engagements. Comments are due September 1, 2022.

With cybersecurity threats coming from all directions, it’s important for CPA firms and their staff to be aware of how the risk exposures impact the firm as well as the client. When there is a claim, it is important to understand how cyber insurance coverages work with the legal and technical experts to produce the best possible outcomes for your firm.

FASB has issued an Invitation to Comment to gather feedback about the operability of leveraging IAS 20 for government grants for for-profit entities in the US. The ITC does not include any preliminary views but is to help the FASB staff gather information from stakeholders about any benefits or issues that should be considered in the project. Comments are due September 12, 2022.

No industry is immune from a lack of labor, even in the professional classifications such as accountants. Firms are hiring remote workers in order to stay competitive. Let's look at ways to protect your firm as you hire a remote workforce.

One of the most difficult concepts to communicate to CPAs is how their actions for which they are getting sued will be portrayed to the jury. The gap between the experienced reality and the story told at trial is a chasm, yet it is illustrative of what CPAs need to do today to minimize risk tomorrow.

OMB has issued its 2022 Compliance Supplement. The Compliance Supplement includes new ARPA programs that were not addressed in the 2021 Supplement so this can be very helpful to auditors wrapping up some outstanding 2021 audits. The Supplement should be used for 6/30/22 year-ends and beyond.

Are you looking for ways to stay connected with your fellow students during the summer? Hoping to do some networking while waiting for meet-the-firm events and campus recruiting to start back up in the fall? Well, the WSCPA has just what you need with WSCPA Connect.