The PCAOB requires that registered audit firms adhere to an audit quality control (QC) requirement: A firm of independent auditors has a responsibility to adopt…
ICYMI | Social Media Policies Matter
Is Internal Audit Up to the Challenge?
Today, most people use social media to stay connected to each other, especially since the move to remote work caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.…
In Brief Public health measures taken to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have upended business operations and processes. Auditing is no exception;…
The idea of “peer-to-peer electronic cash” was introduced in a white paper by the mysterious “Satoshi Nakamoto” in 2008. (Readers who are curious may enjoy…
Machine learning is an increasingly familiar technology term that encompasses a broad range of applications. Machine learning can enable businesses to sift through large amounts…
Natural Language Processing
Machine Learning Methods in Forensic Accounting
When performing forensic investigations, CPAs often deal with documents that contain a significant amount of textual data. This type of data may be found in…
An Introduction to Blockchain
What Does it Mean for the Accounting Profession?
Bitcoin was introduced to the world under a cloud of mystery in January 2009. A white paper, Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System, published in 2008 under…
Social Media Policies Matter
Is Internal Audit Up to the Challenge?
Today, most people use social media to stay connected to each other, especially since the move to remote work caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.…
The PCAOB requires that registered audit firms adhere to an audit quality control (QC) requirement: A firm of independent auditors has a responsibility to adopt…
Using a Permissioned Blockchain?
Consider Structuring It as a VIE
The adoption of blockchain has grown steadily since the technology was first introduced as a platform to create a decentralized currency, free from the effects…
Cloud Computing
Friend or Foe?
In Brief Many organizations are moving some or all of the technology operations to the cloud to reap the various benefits such a relationship can…
Leveraging Low-Cost Technology to Attract the Next Generation of Clients
Adapting to a Changing Environment
Providing services for current clients is often easier for CPA firms than recruiting new clients or tailoring existing services. Although CPAs should strive to meet…
CPAs in the not-for-profit (NFP) sector are busy keeping up with financial accounting, tax law, technology, and operational changes. Many recent tax provisions affect NFP…
The 2021 tax season began with a late start date for processing 2020 returns. As the IRS was still attempting to complete work on 2019…
ICYMI | Tax Software in the COVID-19 Environment
2020 Annual Survey of New York State Practitioners
In Brief The 2020 tax season was unlike any other, with a global pandemic requiring virtually all tax preparers to work from home, often while…
The Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division's Annual Report for 2020 (Pub 3583: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p3583.pdf) emphasized coronavirus (COVID-19)-related tax fraud and cybercrimes, along with its more…
Tax Software in the COVID-19 Environment
2020 Annual Survey of New York State Practitioners
In Brief The 2020 tax season was unlike any other, with a global pandemic requiring virtually all tax preparers to work from home, often while…
CPA Firm Websites
Then and Now
Long-time readers may be aware that the Tech Talk column began as an occasional feature called Website of the Month in 2001. My involvement officially…
From the earliest accountants in Egypt and Babylonia to the father of modern accounting Luca Pacioli, the accounting profession has led efforts throughout history to…
The shift to online education in Spring 2020 had both positive and negative aspects (see, e.g., Michael Horn, “COVID-19's Ultimate Impact on Online Learning: The…
It is no secret that CPAs have faced an increasing level of cyber-security threats, even under normal conditions. Audit Analytics reports in its June 2020…
In Brief Information security and cybersecurity have been major concerns of business managers for many years. The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has introduced new challenges…
In the early 2000s, as the business world began to return to a more normal mode of operations after the events of September 11, 2001,…
Current Tax Issues in the Cloud
Sales of Software versus Services in Citrix
Proper sales tax compliance can be daunting for any business, but the complexities increase when dealing with the software and technology industries in particular. By…
XBRL Reporting by State and Local Governments
Changes on the Horizon
The development of Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) in the corporate sector, the demand for better state and local government reporting, legislation at the national…
Opportunities and Challenges of Real-Time Financial Reporting
Adoption Models for State and Municipal Governments
In Brief This article reviews the implementation of real-time reporting by state and municipal governmental units as a model for analyzing these emerging technologies. While…
Textual Analysis for Risk Profiles from 10-K Filings
Evidence from Audit Opinions
In Brief Technology can be used by auditors to evaluate the risks presented by engagements. This article introduces a Natural Language Processing (NLP) approach to…
CPAs have spent much of “busy season” assisting individuals and business with questions about coronavirus-related economic relief, such as stimulus payments and paycheck protection loans.…
Managing the Impact of Cloud Computing
Perspectives on Vulnerabilities, ERM, and Audit Services
In Brief Cloud computing is in the vanguard of a global digital transformation. This article looks at how to identify cloud computing opportunities and operationalize…
Machine learning is an increasingly familiar technology term that encompasses a broad range of applications. Machine learning can enable businesses to sift through large amounts…