Happenings!

Transitioning in a Year of Nothing Normal

By Kim Fantaci posted 07-08-2020
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Our dear CPAFMA friends – what a year this has been!  My time on the CPAFMA board has been so magnificent and although I have another year as Immediate Past Chair, I feel compelled to list some accomplishments we’ve made over the past seven years! I am honored to have served with the best-of-the-best firm managers and COO’s this country’s accounting firms have ever seen. I was part of this grand organization when, together, we ... changed our name from administrators to managers solidified our relationship with the AICPA and PCPS upgraded our website to include Connect strengthened our MAPCast offerings collaborated with the Association ...
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Make Sure Every Voice is Represented - And Heard

By Kim Fantaci posted 07-08-2020
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Firms recognize the value in diversity and inclusion, but implementation can be challenging. If you’re asking yourself, Where do I start?, complete our Accounting Inclusion Maturity Model . This FREE assessment tool measures 13 competencies in four core areas (workplace, workforce, marketplace and supplier/community). Use the results to determine next steps, improve results each year and benchmark with other firms
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CPAFMA Hosts First Members' Only Virtual Confab on July 20

By Kim Fantaci posted 07-08-2020
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CPAFMA will begin hosting informal discussions and sharings that the organization is calling Confabs that will take place virtually over Zoom on the third Monday of every month at 3:30 PM ET.  The first one is scheduled for July 20, 2020. They will be facilitated by a member of CPAFMA but will be led by those participating. The topics will be broad and participants are encouraged to bring questions, stories, challenges and needs. The first will be on the topic of "How is Re-Opening Going?" Be prepared to hear successes, stories, frustrations, questions, concerns and possibly some failures. This is your opportunity as well to check-in and let your friends ...
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CPAFMA Launches 2020 Firm Manager Compensation Survey

By Kim Fantaci posted 06-04-2020
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The CPA Firm Management Association is conducting an informal  compensation survey . The survey is intentionally designed to be efficient and provide information needed by firms regarding the firm manager position.   Completing the survey will take no more than ten minutes and should be completed by the firm manager (Administrative Partner, COO, Director of Operations, Firm Manager, Officer Administrator, etc.).  Data will be captured electronically and results distributed to members the first week of July 2020. All data will be confidential.   The deadline is June 18, 2020 at midnight local time.   To complete the survey, click
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Maner Costerisan Hires First Director of Marketing

By Kim Fantaci posted 05-26-2020
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CPAFMA member firm,   Maner Costerisan , in Lansing, MI recently announced the hiring of their first Director of Marketing,  Julie Ross . Julie comes to the firm after serving as Jackson's content marketing manager.  A graduate of Michigan State University, Julie brings more than 15 years of experience to the  full-service public accounting, technology, and business advisory firm. Maner Costerisan, a BDO Alliance USA firm, is the largest locally-owned firm in mid-Michigan, serving clients of all sizes and across a range of industries with a staff of more than 130 individuals.  The firm's Director of Administration,  Kris Latchaw, CPA  is a Director on ...
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Koziel to Head Allinial Global

By Kim Fantaci posted 05-26-2020
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American Institute of CPAs executive vice president of firm services Mark Koziel announced that he is leaving after almost a decade-and-a-half with the institute to take the helm at international accounting association Allinial Global. Koziel will become president and CEO of the association on August 1, following the retirement of current chief Terry Snyder. He was selected after an extensive review that looked at over 100 candidates. A widely respected figure in the profession, Koziel has often been one of the AICPA's most prominent faces for members through his work as head of firm services and his frequent public speaking. He has been regularly included ...
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Accountable for Change Offers Free Online Courses to CPAFMA Members

By Kim Fantaci posted 04-24-2020
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Accountable for Change is making online courses available to all CPAFMA members and their firms for free until April 30, 2020. Once members register for the courses they have access for 6 months. This offering has no strings attached, Accountable for Change is looking to help member firms by providing free online training. To take advantage of this opportunity to build new capabilities / skills by providing free, online training to your teams.  Each team member can select two (2) courses from this list for six (6) months. To register, email sueg@accountableforchange.com with the course information you are interested in completing. Once registered, ...
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Small Businesses Are Worse Off Than We Thought

By Kim Fantaci posted 04-20-2020
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If the COVID-19 crisis lasts four months, 65 percent of small retailers say there’s a good chance they’ll be forced to close permanently by the end of the year. Among restaurants and bars, 70 percent expect to go out of business if social-distancing orders last into July. That’s according to a   new survey   (pdf)   of nearly 6,000 small-business owners conducted by a team of researchers in partnership with   Alignable , an online business networking platform with 4.5 million members. The survey results paint a bleak picture of America’s current small-business ecosystem, in which results find 43 percent of firms are temporarily closed and 40 percent ...
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Remote Work and Cybersecurity MAPCast Offered on April 23

By Kim Fantaci posted 04-20-2020
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With the sudden and jolting push to remote work across the country, cybersecurity has never been more important. As coronavirus scams explode, and the number of breaches takes an alarming rise, now is the perfect time to re-focus on how to maximize the safety of your firm, and your clients. CPAFMA in cooperation with Chesapeake Professional Liability Brokers will be hosting a MAPCast on April 23, Remote Work and Cybersecurity: Protecting Yourself and Your Clients  that will focus on: - Awareness of common scams and the importance of employee security awareness training; - Easy steps firms can take to minimize the odds of fraudulent money transfers; ...
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Leading in Unusual Times: A Free Virtual Learning Series

By Kim Fantaci posted 03-16-2020
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Navigating uncertainty and disruption by leading yourself and others when it’s  business as unusual.   pLink Leadership is offering a series of free webinars to leaders dealing with today's disruptions. Visit Events  calendar for a information about the series. As the world is coming to grips with the current reality, caused by the pandemic, it’s more important than ever that business leaders stay calm and lead their teams with courage and connection. While we can’t control the scope and scale of the adversity we may face, how we lead during this time is well within our control. Effective leadership will require self-awareness, clear intention, well-thought-out ...
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CPA/Business Advisory Firm DeLeon & Stang Names Brad Hoffman Co-managing Partner

By Kim Fantaci posted 02-13-2020
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DeLeon & Stang, a CPA and business advisory firm with offices in Maryland and Virginia, recently announced that partner Brad Hoffman, CPA, has been named co-managing partner along with Richard Stang. The announcement comes as part of a planned transition of the firm’s leadership. Allen DeLeon, CPA, founding partner and co-managing partner, with more than 35 years of experience, will retire December 31, 2020.  Hoffman joined D&S in 2012 and has been partner-in-charge of the firm’s Leesburg, VA and Frederick, MD, offices. He provides tax, M&A, and other consulting services to a wide variety of clients including trade contractors, government contractors, ...
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Leadership 2.0 Applications Being Accepted

By Kim Fantaci posted 01-23-2020
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Firm managers are called to be leaders – by the best traditions of the accounting profession, by standards of professional responsibility, and by the expectations of the communities in which they work and live. And yet, until recently, there has been little attention given to leadership training for those responsible for the day-to-day management of CPA firms as they enter the profession and begin to develop the skills necessary for their success and the success of their firms. In an effort to prepare emerging leaders for this calling, the CPAFMA is providing a leadership training program in cooperation with Succession Institute . The CPA Firm Management ...
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MAPCast 1/15 Social Media Cybersecurity Best Practices

By Kim Fantaci posted 12-27-2019
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Attendees will learn the importance of completing a digital audit of their personal and business online assets, will understand basic steps to protect their social media accounts, will learn what social engineering is and how to limit their exposure to it, and will understand the risks of connecting to public WiFi network. Register her
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The Gift of PAFM

By Kim Fantaci posted 12-18-2019
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CPAFMA's  Public Accounting Firm Manager (PAFM)™ program*  provides the opportunity to demonstrate you have the  knowledge, leadership, skills,  and  abilities  to operate at a high level of expertise in the field of accounting firm management. Think. Experience. Elevate. The process of attaining the PAFM designation includes meeting the experience-and education-based eligibility requirements, agreeing to adhere to  CPAFMA’s Core Values of a Firm Manager , and fulfilling the continuing education/recertification requirements. The PAFM designation will identify you as a dedicated and experienced accounting firm manager who understands the unique and ...
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Do You Take Advantage of the Available MAPCasts?

By Kim Fantaci posted 12-18-2019
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CPAFMA provides more than  30  live webinars each year on a variety of firm management topics. Each MAPCast is recorded and available to watch at your convenience. Live MAPCasts offer CPE and PAFMs can take advantage of these educational opportunities for  free ! Upcoming MAPCasts Include: December 20, 2019 2020 Digitally Driven Firm Survey Results Overview   @ 11:30 AM ET Is your firm on the "bleeding" or stable edge of being a digitally driven firm? ...Or is your technology always lagging? Find out what digital technologies and evolving trends your peer firms are utilizing this upcoming busy season from Roman H. Kepczyk as he presents the ...
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MAPCast 1/7 The Rise of Advisory Services – Building a Sustainable CPA Firm

By Kim Fantaci posted 12-18-2019
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Whether you are a sole practitioner or multi-partner firm, join Phil and David who will share with you the importance and relative ease of adding Advisory Services to your service offerings. o Build it, buy it or … o The “Grand Slam” strategy concept o Risks you will certainly face if you do not have advisory service offerings To learn more or to register,
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Connecting Kindness One Firm at a Time

By Kim Fantaci posted 12-13-2019
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Tis the season of giving! Don’t forget to post your random acts of kindness to the All-Member Community discussion forum for a chance to be highlighted on CPAFMA’s social media and website! Need ideas? Check out a few below! Pro-bono work for a client in need Donate to a food bank or animal shelter Bring in breakfast, coffee or lunch for co-workers Volunteer your time at a local charity & share your experience Leave a gift or letter of appreciation for your mail carrier By choosing to integrate these random acts of kindness, it is sure to bring joy to your holiday season
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MAPCast 12/20 2020 Digitally Driven Firm Survey Results Overview

By Kim Fantaci posted 12-13-2019
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Is your firm on the “bleeding” or stable edge of being a digitally driven firm? ...Or is your technology always lagging? Find out what digital technologies and evolving trends your peer firms are utilizing this upcoming busy season from CPAFMA Advisory Board Member Roman H. Kepczyk as he presents the findings of the  2020 CPAFMA Digitally Driven Firm Survey  -  formerly the CPAFMA Paperless Benchmarking Survey, the longest running paperless benchmarking survey in the accounting profession . This update, completed in December, will provide you and your firm with the valuable, consistent benchmarking this survey is known to provide.  ...
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MAPCast 12/17 Best Practices to Help You Lead Technology Changes at Your Firm

By Kim Fantaci posted 12-11-2019
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Do technology implementation changes create resistance within your firm? On December 17 join Lacy Magby, VP of Sales at Conarc, and Jeanie Price, PAFM of DeLeon & Stang, for a MAPCast covering the best practices for implementing technology changes in your firm For more information or to register, cli
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MAPCast 12/12 E-Signatures for Form 8879 and Related Issues

By Kim Fantaci posted 12-11-2019
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In this webinar we will review the IRS acceptance of e-signatures for form 8879 in 2014. We will also cover how K-1s have historically been distributed and the related issues with these methods. Finally we will ensure you are up-to-date on the IRS Requirements for electronic K-1 distribution and provide a brief demonstration of the award-winning software, SafeSend Returns- the only solution offering automated electronic K-1 distribution. Register
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