Crisis Communication: Are you prepared?

ALABAMA CPA MAGAZINE I NOVEMBER 2011
Crisis Communication:
Are you prepared?
Practice Management Issue
The Alabama CPA
MAGAZINE
Alabama Society of
Certified Public Accountants
P.O. Box 242987
Montgomery, Alabama 36124-2987
1-800-227-1711
334-834-7650
www.ascpa.org
Officers
John P. Shank, Chair
Steven A. Shelton, Chair-Elect
Renee B. Hubbard, Vice-Chair
Don McCleod, Secretary-Treasurer
E. Lamar Reeves, Past Chair
Board of Directors
Martin R. Abroms
Robert D. Bankston, Jr.
Roger F. Bryant
James R. L. Carroll
Allison D. Edge
Mark E. Hieronymus
James Robert Hines
Matthew A. Lursen
Darci R. Odom
Amanda N. Paul
Gerald G. Pentecost, Jr.
Erica A. Russell
Elizabeth L. Spurgeon
Ronald W. Stokes
J. David Brown, Young CPA
Elizabeth A. Williford, Young CPA
AICPA Council Members
William H. Carr
E. Lamar Reeves
John P. Shank
Jimmy L. Williamson
Past Chair, AICPA
The Alabama CPA Magazine is published by
Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants
as a membership service to Society members.
Views and opinions appearing in this publication
are not necessarily endorsed by the ASCPA. The
deadline for submitting materials for publication
is the first of the month preceding issue date.
Jeannine P. Birmingham, CPA, CAE
President and CEO
Diane L. Christy, Editor
Message from the Chair...
I Googled accounting firm practice management and I got an even 4,300,000
results. Pretty impressive. There was “redefining practice management” and “retooling practice management.” There were practice management surveys, practice management software, and practice management specialists. There was even
an article on “How the Texas State Fair is Like Accounting Practice Management.”
(Hook’em Horns, my wife’s home state!) My head was swimming after I read all
4,300,000 results. So with this cornucopia (my Thanksgiving word) of information available to us,
why do we as an industry often default to the same old tried and true practices?
I think part of it is that we, as CPAs, have SALY as part of our genetic make-up. “Same as last
year.” The mentality of “Our doors are still open so what we did last year must have worked, so let’s
do it again this year.” Per Jay Rothberg at the AICPA, accounting firms are some of the most profitable businesses in the United States. I personally have no empirical data to back that up but if the
AICPA said it, it must be true. Imagine how profitable we would be if we took our own businesses
and treated them like they were a client and tried to make them as profitable or efficient as possible.
Think what busy season would be like if we really worked on our procedures and processes and
tried to make them the most streamlined production machine possible. Perhaps we wouldn’t have
to work Saturdays! Could you imagine the look on someone’s face when you tell them you are a
CPA and they give you the obligatory “Ooooo, it’s tax season. You must be working 24 hours a day”
to which you reply “Nope, I work until 6:00 then go home, eat dinner with the family, and watch the
X Factor.”
Here’s the point. There is a ton of information available to you to help your business be all that
it can be. As Steven Covey says, you need to take time from working in your business to work on
your business. The world is changing faster than we ever would have imagined and we need to
make sure that our own businesses are keeping pace. Committing to changing our practice management habits can have a big impact on retaining staff, attracting clients, profitability, and ultimately
retirement and practice transition.
This should be a cakewalk for us. We help clients do it all the time.
Happy Thanksgiving. Please take time to give thanks for how God has blessed you and spend
time with your loved ones. As always, we are here to serve you so please let me know any way I
can help.
ASCPA Branding and Imaging
B
eginning this month, the ASCPA image will be elevated to three outdoor
advertising locations around the state.
The billboards are the second phase of the
ASCPA’s efforts to respond to the findings in
the comprehensive member survey by putting
the CPA “brand” and image before wider and
more diverse audiences.
The three locations are:
• I-85 Southbound on the southbound side in
Montgomery near Virginia Avenue before you
get to the I-65 interchange. This location has
an approximate daily traffic count of 63,250
with weekly eyes on investment of 247,876.
In other words, 63,250 cars a day pass by the
location and 247,876 sets of eyes see the billboard weekly.
• I-65 Northbound on the west side of I-85 in
Montgomery between Southern Boulevard and
2
Fairview Avenue. This location has an approximate daily traffic count of 45,310 cars daily
with weekly eyes on investment of 144,067.
• I-65 Southbound on the southbound side just
before Exit 304, Hwy 69, Good Hope (near Cullman). This location has an approximate daily
traffic count of 27,470 cars daily with weekly
eyes on investment of 98,070.
ASCPA partnered with the Montgomery,
Huntsville, Northeast, North Alabama, Southeast, East Alabama and Wheeler Basin Chapters to bring the ASCPA image and brand to
an interstate near you!
Phase three of the campaign will be the
ramping up of the CPA Ambassador program
and creation of a Communications Response
Network. Task Force Chair Robert Bankston
summed up the framework this way.
“We want to establish the ASCPA as the
The Alabama CPA MAGAZINE
DOING IT BETTER
Thank you, Steve Moore!
S
teve Moore has been a mainstay of
ASCPA leadership for more than 15
years. He’s been an enthusiastic supporter of programs with a consistent regard
for the long view and impact on the CPA
brand. Steve never jumps into a project
blindly, but prefers to ask the tough questions, look at it from all angles and challenge
assumptions. He’s a founding partner, along
with Wray Pearce and Charles Leesburg, of
Birmingham firm Pearce Bevill Leesburg &
Moore.
His involvement started at the Birmingham Chapter level, working his way through
all officer positions. He then came on the
ASCPA Council (forerunner of today’s Board
of Directors) as the chapter representative
and served for two years. He was nominated to an officer position on Council and,
again, worked his way through all those
positions to become president of council in
2003/04.
After his year was finished, it was Steve
who stepped in following Bill David Smith’s
sudden death and served out Bill David’s
term as AICPA representative. He was subsequently elected to two additional three
year terms on the AICPA Council.
He’s been a volunteer for the Tax Hotlines,
served on numerous task forces including,
most recently, the Leadership Academy task
force and CPA Branding and Image task force.
It was during his tenure as president in 2003
that the AICPA Multi-media Group came to Alabama and filmed for the award-winning Pillars
of Success minority recruiting video. Raising
awareness about the need for more diversity
was a personal mission for Steve.
And Steve has a playful side, too, as evi-
denced by his vigorous rendition of “Sweet
Home Alabama” at AICPA Council in October.
There must be some YouTube video out there
somewhere.
Steve has served as a role model for what
Society leadership looks like and the ASCPA
is the better for it. Thank you, Mr. Moore, for
your unflagging and faithful service.
The Alabama delegation at AICPA Fall Council.
Back row: Jeannine Birmingham, Eva Shank, Dr. Mary Stone, Don McCleod, John Shank, Lamar Reeves.
Front row: Steve Shelton, Steve Moore, Joanne Moore, Betsy Reeves.
Campaign “Rises” to the Next Level!
Billboard to come ????????
source for personal and business financial/
tax expertise, by creating a pro-active communications network at the state and local
levels. We think that the network will consist
of a central collection point for alerts, a Com-
The Alabama CPA MAGAZINE
munications Response Team to evaluate opportunities and develop responses, and the
continued training of CPA Ambassadors. Our
goal is to limit the initial rollout to include press
releases and media interviews. Part II will also
include workshops, counseling and mobilization of a volunteer force.”
Additional details will be forthcoming
once the implementation of the plan has
been presented to the Board of Directors.
3
Staying
DOING IT BETTER
2011 Governmental
Accounting and Auditing Forum
W
The
Course
hen the GAAF Committee met this summer they created an agenda which was a continuation
of GAAF 2009 and 2010. The theme of “big picture” thinking, of acting pro-actively instead of
waiting for events to overwhelm and reach a crisis point, was clearly in the minds of a committee comprised of representatives from the Alabama Society of CPAs, the Government Financial Officers
Association of Alabama and the Association of Government Accountants.
GAAF 2009 was titled “Navigating in Tough Times” and reflected the economic turndown and uncertainty which lay ahead. GAAF 2010 encouraged attendees to look at “Seeking New Summits”, knowing
that the disarray brought about by the economic slide would also provide opportunities to be creative.
2011’s “Staying the Course” suggests that continuing to look at all options while steadying the ship for
a long voyage can be engaging and substantive work.
“How do we recognize the warning signs of fiscal stress?”, “How do we create and continually
update our disaster recovery plan?”, “How can we maximize the healthcare and retirement benefits for
employees without breaking the bank?” were all questions the committee members asked themselves.
High on their list of must haves were a session on the new Yellow Book requirements, effective in
2012.
They also wanted a session on the new immigration bill which is generating a lot of national attention.
To share information about GASB 54, a panel of experts will give varying perspectives on its impact;
school systems, city and county governments and practitioners will all have a piece of this pie.
As always, registration and additional information is on the GAAF page of the website,
www.ascpa.org.
24th Annual
Governmental
Accounting and Auditing Forum
December 7
December 8
8:00 am
Breakfast
8:30 am
Opening Remarks
8:45 am
Opening Remarks
8:45 am
Economic Update
9:00 am
GASB Update
10:30 am
Yellow Book Update
10:45 am
Disaster Recover
12:00 noon Luncheon
12:00Noon Luncheon and
Toy Donation
1:30 pm
Breakout Sessions
• Fraud Detection
and Deterrence
1:15 pm
Breakout Sessions
• Internal Controls for
the Government Sector
• Accounting for
Healthcare
• Immigration Compliance
Checkup
3:15 pm
Breakout Sessions
• Citizen Centric
Reporting
2:45 pm
Breakout Sessions
• Implementing GASB 54
• The Changing World of
Employee Benefits
• Warning Signs
of Fiscal Stress
4
The Alabama CPA MAGAZINE
AICPA NEWs
AICPA Council Votes Overwhelmingly to Send a Strong Message to FAF:
Adopt the Blue Ribbon Panel Recommendations for an Independent Board
The Resolution Further Authorizes the AICPA Board to Consider “All Options”
T
he American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants' (AICPA) governing Council today overwhelmingly approved a resolution that sends the Financial
Accounting Foundation (FAF) a strong message: either FAF moves to adopt the Blue
Ribbon Panel on Standard Setting for Private
Companies’ (the Panel) recommendations
for a separate board— which is the AICPA’s
preference— or the AICPA will consider other options. If FAF continues to pursue its current proposal, the AICPA board of directors will look
at other solutions for addressing the needs
of private companies. This could include
creating a separate standard setting body to
develop private company generally accepted
accounting principles (PCGAAP) or a comprehensive private company-specific basis
of accounting that would deliver meaningful,
lasting improvement to private company financial reporting consistent with the Panel’s
recommendations. The Panel was a broad-based group
representing private company constituents,
including bankers, sureties, venture capitalists, chief executive officers, preparers,
CPA practitioners and regulators. In January
2011, the Panel recommended establishing
a private company standards board under
FAF to set differences in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (U.S. GAAP).
But in October of 2011, FAF rejected that
recommendation and proposed a Council essentially replicating what exists today
in the Private Company Financial Reporting Committee (PCFRC), which likewise is
subject to the ratification of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board (FASB). FAF’s
refusal to adopt the Panel recommendation
disagreed with the more than 3,000 letters
from private company constituents and the
30-plus state CPA societies who wrote supporting the Panel’s recommendation. “The FASB has proven over many years
that it cannot deliver meaningful improvement to private company reporting standards,” said Barry Melancon, CPA, AICPA
president and CEO. “FASB’s primary focus
has been and should be on the public company sector and on international convergence. Fifty percent of the U.S. economy
The Alabama CPA MAGAZINE
comprises private companies. This critical
sector of our economy deserves a board focused solely on their specific needs." The current PCFRC has been unable to
overcome FASB’s reluctance to accept key
modifications to U.S. GAAP. Given the historic FASB vetoes, it is expected that identifying and executing needed differences in
U.S. GAAP standards for private companies
would be unlikely to occur, if at all, until 2014,
which is a full four years since the formation
of the Panel and nine years since the AICPA
Private Company Financial Reporting Task
Force called for fundamental change to the
standard–setting process for private companies. Further, FAF's proposal is unresponsive
to the Panel’s demand for immediate action.
“Because of the inadequacies in GAAP for
private companies, we see erosion as private
companies take more exceptions in order to
make GAAP fit their needs,” said Greg Anton,
CPA, incoming AICPA chairman.
“We believe that there should be one
GAAP, but that GAAP must be modified as
needed to reflect the unique circumstances
of private companies. As it stands now, FAF’s
latest proposal is inadequate and provides
no assurances that they are serious about
making financial reporting more relevant and
cost-effective for private companies,” said Paul V. Stahlin, CPA, outgoing AICPA chairman. “The Council’s resolution reaffirmed a
long standing position that the independent
board be established under FAF. But FAF
seems unwilling or unable to take the steps.
We hope they change their mind, because it
is imperative that privately-held companies
be better served in the near future.”
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5
DOING IT BETTER
T
Leadership Academy Class II
ime to get shoes shined, buy that pencil box, and bring an apple for the
teacher! Leadership Academy Class II will accept applications starting
immediately, with a deadline of December 9. Thos accepted into the
program will be notified by letter December 19.
How do you know if the Leadership Academy is right for you, or one of
your staff? Here’s the cheat sheet:
Who will attend? Members in good standing of the Alabama Society of
CPAs who have 3-8 years in public accounting, industry, government or
education.
How much time will I have to commit? The Academy will consist of four
one-day sessions, commencing in May 2012 and concluding in May 2013.
There will also be webcasts, required reading and coaching calls.
Where will the sessions be held? Alabama Society of CPAs’ training
space in Montgomery, 1041 Longfield Court, Montgomery.
When will they take place? May 4, 2012, September 20, 2012, January
18, 2013, and May 3, 2013. The last session will conclude with a recognition
ceremony during the annual ASCPA Board of Directors Leadership Retreat.
Who will lead the training and why were they chosen?
The Rainmaker Academy of Nashville was chosen after a rigorous vetting
process. They are experts at this kind of intensive training, came highly
recommended and work exclusively with CPAs.
Why do I need a managing partner or industry equivalent to sign off
on my application? Having a managing partner (or equivalent) on board is
a vital part of your program. They will participate in coaching calls with you
and Rainmaker between sessions, help you as you develop a project to benefit your organization, and will act as a mentor during your Academy training.
6
How will my participation benefit my organization? This training will
provide each candidate with a set of life skills. You will be a valuable asset
with a broad range of tools that extend well beyond your specific job title.
In addition, Rainmaker encourages cascade training back at your office, so
that you reinforce your new skills by sharing them with colleagues.
How many hours of CPE will I earn? The training will result in a minimum
of 32 CPE eligible hours. There may also be some CPE available for the webcasts you will be attending between in-person sessions. We’ll provide you
with that information as you begin the Academy and will automatically add
your hours to the comprehensive CPE transcript which the Society maintains for you. The first two sessions will be reported in 2012, the second
two in 2013.
What is the cost and who will pay it? The overall cost for each candidate is $1000, with the Alabama Society supporting 50% of the fees. That
leaves $500 which you, your organization, or some combination of the two
is responsible for paying.
What will be my commitment to the Society following graduation?
You will be expected to serve in a leadership role within your local chapter,
on a Board of Directors task force, or on one of the standing committees of
the ASCPA. In addition, you will act as a mentor for a member of Leadership
Academy Class III.
Applications are available on the home page of the
ASCPA website beginning November 7.
The Alabama CPA MAGAZINE
MEMBERS IN MOTION
Promotions and New Positions
The City of Auburn announced that Penny L.
Smith has been named Finance Director/Treasurer and Allison D. Edge (past president of the
East Alabama Chapter of the ASCPA) has been
promoted to Assistant Finance Director/Treasurer. Smith has been invested in governmental accounting for 18 years both in public practice and
local governments. Edge has been with the City
of Auburn for over 11 years with outside accounting experience from both the public and banking
sectors.
Aldridge, Borden & Company
P.C. recently announced the promotions of Jeremy K. Moreland, CPA, CVA and Cathy A.
Mozingo, CPA, PFS to principal.
Moreland practices in the firm’s
attestation division and serves
clients in a variety of industries,
including wholesale and retail
Jeremy
sales, construction, real estate,
Moreland
utilities, and various social services entities, with an emphasis on non-profit healthcare. Jeremy received his Bachelor’s degree and
Masters of Business Administration from Auburn
University Montgomery. Mozingo practices in the
firm’s tax department and provides tax consulting
and compliance services to individuals and closely
held businesses. She has also developed a specialization in the area of personal financial planning
with an emphasis on high net worth individuals.
Cathy received her Bachelor’s degree and Master
of Tax Accounting from the University of Alabama.
The firm also announced promotions of Callis Cogle and Michael Shaw to manager and Katey
Fuller, Matt Heilman, and Antony Ngichabe to senior staff accountant.
Kelly Clinton has joined Covenant Consulting
Group, LLC as a senior accountant. Clinton is a
native of Decatur and has extensive tax and audit
experience. She is a graduate of the University
of South Alabama and is enrolled in the executive
MBA program at the University of Alabama.
Alfa Insurance has appointed Executive Vicepresident of Business Development Steve Rutledge to direct the company’s marketing efforts.
He assumed the business development position in
March 2010 and adds marketing on the retirement
of Herman Watts. Rutledge has been with Alfa for
26 years, beginning as a securities analyst in the
investments department
Awards and New Designations
Jack Knight
Jack Knight was named
“Volunteer of the Year” from
The Arc of Alabama at the
recent Alabama ARC Conference. The Arc provides services and advocacy for children
and adults with intellectual
and developmental disabilities
across the state. Jack also
The Alabama CPA MAGAZINE
serves as President-Elect of the Board of Directors for The Arc of Jefferson County. Jack
Knight, CPA, CVA is a shareholder at Barfield,
Murphy, Shank & Smith with over 35 years of
accounting experience and focuses on providing auditing services to credit unions and notfor-profit organizations.
JamisonMoneyFarmer is pleased to announce
that Bobby Bragg has been
named director of practice
growth. Bragg brings more than
16 years of high growth experience with a global accounting and consultancy firm and
a series of successful start-up
ventures. His areas of experBobby Bragg tise include strategic new business development, mergers and acquisition, and
high growth management experience. Bragg relocates to Tuscaloosa after almost 20 years in
Austin and Houston, Texas. He holds a bachelor’s of business administration in accounting
and a master’s in professional accounting from
the University of Texas at Austin. Community News
Wilkins Miller Hieronymus LLC, one of
the largest accounting and advisory firms in Alabama, acquired the Mobile-based accounting
practice of Cherry Bekaert & Holland (CB&H)
on October 1, 2011. CB&H, headquartered in
Richmond, Virginia, is ranked among the nation’s 30 largest accounting firms. It made the
strategic decision, after serving the Mobile Bay
region since 1974, to focus its growth strategy
on other markets throughout the Southeast
and to leave Mobile. Since the Mobile office
is CB&H’s only office in Alabama, the firm decided to exit the Mobile Bay market. Through
the acquisition, CB&H’s clients will gain access
to the region’s largest accounting and advisory
firm with 60 employees, including 32 CPAs.
Sellers Richardson Holman & West LLP
(SRHW) is proud to announce they have been
named to INSIDE Public Accounting’s (IPA)
Best of the Best Firms list for 2011. The annual list recognizes 25 firms – selected from
400+ who are considered nationwide – for
their superior performance on more than 50
criteria. They have demonstrated the ability to
turn in exceptional performance, regardless of
outside factors and economic pressures.
“Best of the Best firms represent the top 25
accounting firms in the nation. Each firm demonstrates the right combination of vision, planning and execution to deliver superior performance,” says Michael Platt, principal of the
Platt Group and publisher of IPA. “Firms that
earn this designation represent the best of
what the accounting profession has to offer,”
Platt says.
O’Sullivan Creel, LLP has been named
one of the Nation’s Best Accounting Firms
To Work For by Accounting Today and Best
Companies Group. The survey and award
program identifies, recognizes, and honors
the best places of employment in the accounting industry, benefiting the nation’s
economy, its workforce and businesses.
One-hundred companies were recognized in
small, medium and large company categories. With 160 team members, O’Sullivan
Creel was named in the medium category
with 44 other firms. The rankings – the fourth
annual nationwide Best Accounting Firms
list – will appear in the December issue Accounting Today and on BestAccountingFirmstoWorkfor.com.
Dave Borden, chairman of
the board at Aldridge Borden & Company, has been
awarded The Maury D. Smith
Award for Excellence in Professional Ethics. The River
Region Ethics in Business
and Public Service Awards
Dave Bordan were presented Monday,
October 3, 2011. These awards are a program of The Samaritan Counseling Center, in
collaboration with Schools of Business and
Sciences at Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM). Borden is a lifetime member of
the Alabama Society of CPAs, has served as
president of the Montgomery Chapter and
holds the ABV and CFF certifications. His
volunteerism is legendary and he was recognized with the Montgomery YMCA’s Man
of the Year Award in 1997, the United Way’s
Alexis de Toqueville Society Award for 1998,
and the Montgomery Advertiser’s Citizen for
the Year in 2005. Borden chaired the 2009
United Way Campaign.
Birmingham’s Pearce Bevill Leesburg
& Moore celebrated its thirtieth anniversary
in August. Established by Wray Pearce in
1981, along with Charles Leesburg and Steve
Moore, the firm is one of the largest locally
owned firms in Alabama. It provides services
to a wide array of clients in healthcare, legal,
construction, manufacturing and financial institutions.
“We are truly thankful to everyone who has
helped us over the past thirty years,” said
Pearce. “It’s a rewarding experience to look
back and see the growth and development of
the firm. But I think we’re more excited about
looking forward. There is enormous change taking place in our industry every day. Between tax
law changes and technological advancements,
there’s never a dull moment for us.”
Southeast Louisiana accounting firm Rebowe
& Company, CPAs, has merged with Carr
Riggs & Ingram, the third largest accounting firm in the south. Rebowe will retain its
current personnel and office in Metairie, Louisiana.
7
DOING IT BETTER
Creating a Crisis Comm
Making sure you’re in control when events overtake your organization
N
o one likes to dwell on the dark
side of life. That place where exemployees run amok and return
to the workplace intent on doing damage to property or people. That place
where employees elect to steal and
defraud. That place where sensitive information is left on a laptop, a thumb
drive or is otherwise unsecured. But all
of these situations have played themselves out in the news, affecting the
organization’s credibility and, ultimately,
corporate brand. Even worse, the company may be slow to respond in this day
of instant news, a vibrant and viral social
media scene, with a thirst for rumor and
speculation masquerading as facts. In
that situation, the public is free to jump
to his/her own conclusions about the
immediate crisis and the organization’s
ability to handle it.
How can you get a grip on managing
a crisis, responding in a clear-headed
and transparent way, while discovering
what the ramifications will be for your
organization?
Creating a crisis communication plan
will help in building a consistent message for both internal and external audiences. Think of how BP responded in
the first days of the oil spill and decide
whether they were effective in protecting their company brand while still reacting to the immediate crisis. Consider
the way in which Toyota investigated the
allegations about the safety of their vehicles. Reflect on the reaction of Mayor
Rudy Guiliani and his team on September 11, 2001.
How does the accounting profession
respond? Amy Echols, Marketing Director of JamisonMoneyFarmer shared
that they do not have a formal crisis
communications plan in place.
8
“We implemented some things following the April 27 tornadoes and will
make use of our social media outlets to
relay information in the future, but we
don’t have a cohesive plan. I would like
to have a policy created, it would really
make solid what we think we’d do in a
crisis.”
The Colorado Nonprofit Association
created a toolkit with the following mission statement for creation of a crisis
communications plan. You can download a pdf copy of their detailed template here: http://www.coloradononprofits.org/crisiscomm.pdf.
“To effectively manage communications through a formal, clearly-defined
channel in order to mitigate crisis or
serious negative repercussions for the
[organization] and maintain a reputation
of leadership and transparency on vital
issues and breaking news.”
A crisis communications plan is intended to serve as a guide to manage
communications around a crisis but not
suffice for an overall management plan,
such as an emergency procedures
manual or business continuation policy.
The objectives of a sound plan are the
following:
Cindy Scott, Director of Marketing for
Jackson Thornton, recently attended a
Public Relations Council of Alabama
(PRCA) professional development workshop where crisis communication was
the topic.
“The PRCA workshop inspired me to go
back to the office and see what we had in
place. I learned that the Firm had an Emergency Procedures Manual and Business
Continuity Plan which has been created by
an internal committee and I’m really proud
of the job they’ve done. I made lots of notes
and will do some polishing and updating,
but the basic policies are already there.
What I didn’t see was how to handle the
immediate aftermath of a crisis, that critical
first 24-48 hours. We need to designate
alternative locations that can be used as
media centers or crisis centers so I’ll be
adding that information as well,” she said.
n Prepare your staff to effectively and
nimbly manage crisis communications.
1 WHO
n Help staff respond in a unified, professional manner that reinforces organizational leadership and creates
loyalty.
n Strategically enhance the organization’s brand.
n Manage the distribution of critical,
often sensitive, information to the
media, clients/customers and public.
“What I didn’t see was how
to handle the immediate
aftermath of a crisis, that
critical first 24-48 hours”
Here are five steps
to get YOU started.
Decide who will be the primary company spokesperson – the CEO is the
best person in a major crisis – as well
as appointing two back-ups. Provide
everyone with media training to help
them communicate effectively and to
deal with the kind of challenging questions that they would be asked in a real
crisis situation. Clearly define the roles
of other key executives in both internal
and external communications. Identify
subject matter experts within the orgaThe Alabama CPA MAGAZINE
munication Plan
nization who may need to provide specialized information. Make sure that
your legal and public relations staff or
agencies are on board with your plan
and prepared to provide support.
2 WHAT
Responding quickly in a measured,
thoughtful way will ensure that you are
in control from the start. It’s vital that
you have a system in place that will allow you to issue and distribute an initial
public statement or internal communication, depending on the nature of the
situation, within an hour of a recognized crisis. Having a plan already in
place creates a solid base from which
to operate.
3 WHERE
Social media and online news move
extremely fast and will be talking about
the crisis before traditional channels,
often within moments of its happening.
Your company needs to have a social
media presence and to monitor what’s
going on in that world long before a
crisis occurs.
Key stakeholders and influencers
are part of establishing this presence.
Having something in place, but not
paying attention on a regular basis,
renders that presence meaningless.
4 HOW
During a crisis your website is
ground zero for your organization. It’s
less about products and services and
all about people and the company’s
response. Create one or more “dark
sites” (websites that contain content
related to a crisis and which are inactive until the crisis hits). A crisis communication plan also needs to take
into account how you will cope with increased server usage and how quickly
you will utilize keywords to provide access to your message when searches
The Alabama CPA MAGAZINE
are being made on the internet. Your internal network – intranet – needs to be
part of this, too.
5 WHEN
After you have drafted your plan, including brainstorming about potential
crises, creating your team, defining roles,
crafting key messages, conducting media training, building web pages or sites,
you will need to share it with company
leaders and department heads for feedback. Role play different scenarios and
responses to find the ones which ring true
for your organization. Evaluate the results
and incorporate changes as needed.
You may elect to have a public relations
consultant help you develop your plan or
conduct training.
What’s next?
Post-crisis review is the best way to
constantly update your plan.
n Secure any loose ends – if you’ve
changed your voicemail message,
change it back. The website should be
updated. Messages outlining the reso-
lution of the crisis should be shared.
All media contacts should be double
checked and any new names added to
the organization’s media list.
n Recognition of heroes – your team
will want to find the most appropriate
way to acknowledge special efforts
made during the crisis.
n Review – convene your team to evaluate the response, actions, what didn’t
work, what needs improvement, etc.
n Media coverage assessment –
Check for message consistency. Address any issues which need clarification.
n File and update – file notes, talking
points, clips into a folder. Revise the
crisis communications plan if necessary.
_________
This article would not have been possible without the cooperation and generosity of the Colorado Association of
Non-profits.
Unsure how to get some media
training for you and your staff?
T
hat’s precisely what the CPA Ambassador program is designed to
provide. Created by the AICPA following the accounting scandals of
the 2000s, CPA Ambassador was a way to re-build the CPA brand
from the grassroots up. Ambassadors were trained to be confident representatives of the profession in their own home towns; to be the faces and
voices of the profession, providing key messages about CPAs who did the
right thing for clients and businesses every day.
The next CPA Ambassador class will be held on January 20, 8:30-4:30,
at the Society office. Class size is limited to 20 and registrations will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. There is no charge and the class
is eligible for eight hours of “other” CPE. If the class fills up quickly, another
will be scheduled before busy season becomes too, well, busy. The crisis
communications plan from the Colorado Association of Non-profits will be
included in class materials and discussion.
9
DOING IT BETTER
A
Finding a professional home is tough –
no matter what the stage of your career.
member recently took up Chair John
Shank’s invitation to get in touch. This is
what he wrote:
“Dear Mr. Shank I just read your column in the September issue
of The Alabama CPA Magazine regarding the state
of the Society. It is impressive the job that everyone
has done during such difficult times. The purpose
of my email this evening is to bring to light the state
of one member and to wonder if there are others in
a similar predicament that might benefit by having
our stories told.
I graduated from UAB in 1991 and passed the
CPA exam on my first attempt in 1994. After being
gainfully employed my entire career, I struck out on
my own in 2008 in pursuit of a career in financial
planning. Unfortunately, that is about the same time
that the economy began to falter. I was also able
beginning to feel the feel the effects of what was
later diagnosed as an almost fatal illness. As a result, I was unable to make my sales quota for the
first quarter of 2009 and was terminated.
My illness hit full force in August 2009 and required six days of hospitalization followed by several months of recuperation under the watchful eyes
of my mother and grandmother. It was not until
early 2010 that my doctors allowed me to resume
my search for employment. I was able to secure a
three month temporary assignment in Tuscaloosa
through PANGEATWO. Since that time, I have
been working as a delivery driver for NAPA Auto
Parts to make ends meet while I search for an accounting position in the evenings. I have been applying for anything from clerical positions to senior
staff to assistant controller. I have been getting no
phone calls or interviews whatsoever.
I would welcome any insights that you could
provide.”
Dewayne Braswell is feeling isolated and frustrated. Not a good place to be in. He’s done everything he can think of for 18 months to find another
accounting position. He’s using social media, the
giant job posting sites, had business cards printed
up with his name, contact information and the fact
that he has 18 years of accounting experience, he’s
used search firms and networked like crazy. Nothing.
“It’s tough to come home at the end of the day
and get ready to open my laptop and begin my
second job, looking for work. I try hard not to get
discouraged; I know there’s something out there for
me.”
He uses the Indeed search engine each night
10 to find job postings made that day. Dewayne has a
wide net he’s casting, too. He doesn’t care if he has
to go back to ground zero and start all over again,
he’s ready. One of the unexpected payoffs of his job
with NAPA is that he’s worked on his customer service and interpersonal skills.
“I remain hopeful and know that some organization is going to end up with a really loyal employee.
Once I get an accounting position I’m going to bend
over backwards to make sure that I don’t end up
here again.”
At a dramatically different stage in his career is
Ansab Ali. Ansab’s claim to fame is that he was an
ASCPA intern for spring 2010 semester. He’s already
graduated from Auburn, with a double major in accounting and finance, a minor in information systems. But he’s having a tough time finding a position in accounting. He’s interviewed with about eight
firms, either for internships or for full-time placement.
He’s using the Auburn service, Tiger Recruiting
Link, and it has resulted in a couple of interviews.
Last week he stopped by the ASCPA office after an
interview with state government. And he’s got a second interview coming up with CNN in the next week.
Both are really good prospects.
“I’m putting a lot of pressure on myself. That six
month deadline, when I have to start paying back
my student loans, is really on my mind. I’m living at
home, that helps. I’ve got two part-time jobs I’ve had
for a couple of years, and that keep me in spending
money, and that helps, too. But it’s time for me to
have a real, grown-up job in accounting.”
Ansab plans to start sitting for the CPA exam as
soon as he finds a full-time job; he’s already got the
necessary hours. In the meantime, he’s doing all the
right things – using social media like LinkedIn, going
on the websites of companies he’d like to talk to, using family and AU connections. He’s going to get in
touch with a couple of his professors and see what
suggestions they have.
“I’m hoping that my MIS minor will show that I
have a broad range of skills. I know that it was really
fun to work with the ASCPA’s IT Task Force as it was
launching. Getting to know professionals who were
into technology at their accounting jobs encouraged
me to keep going in that direction. It’s just a matter
of time until things fall into place for me; I know that
many firms which laid people off in 2009 have not
completely recovered.”
The third member interviewed for this article has a
similar story to Mr. Braswell. Suzanne Smith (not her
real name) did all the right things, checked off all the
correct boxes in her life. She was graduated from
Auburn University, earning both an undergraduate
accounting degree and a MAcc. She was recruited
to a large firm with an office in Atlanta, but quickly
discovered the fast lane was not right for her. She
then completed her education and began work for
a Montgomery firm. Suzanne met the man she
would marry, but he had a job in Birmingham. That
necessitated another move, a good one for her,
joining a public accounting firm which soon was
merged with a growing regional firm. Life was good
until she decided to take a job in industry at the urging of a family member involved in the company.
Suzanne wanted to spread her wings a little and
start a family. Leaving public accounting for a job in
industry seemed like a great way to do both.
“So much of my identity was tied up in doing my
job and doing it well. I loved going to work, did not
mind (too much) those long hours, and truly saw
myself as an accounting professional first. I had
made a huge investment in that identity.”
That made the merger of the business, with her
position redundant, even more painful.
“I felt lost and embarrassed. After all, I did everything that was asked or expected of me, and I
still ended up out of work. It was a tough time for
me psychologically. I was reluctant to let fellow professionals know about my situation, and that was
really the biggest take-away from what happened.”
Suzanne had a running buddy and shared the
news of her layoff with her friend. In return, the friend
became her rescuer. A resume was reviewed, an
interview arranged, and soon she was working for
a bank in Birmingham. At half her former salary to
be sure, but working.
“And then the old adage about having a job
makes looking for a job easier kicked in. Someone
else I knew told me about an assistant controller
position with an Alabama multi-national. I did like
the idea of remaining in business and industry so
I went and interviewed. It’s been a great transition
and I’m enjoying working with such a large organization.”
What Suzanne Smith learned, that we all learn
eventually, is that who you know is still a better getthe-foot-in-the-door strategy than almost anything
else. There is no shame in being out of work, it’s
a sign of the times. Use your network, and move
outside of strictly professional circles. Maybe it’s
your friend at the gym, the parent in the carpool
line, someone you serve with on a community
board who is your ticket back to Regular Paycheck
Village.
A recent graduate who ran a classified ad in the
The Alabama CPA MAGAZINE
September issue, Kyle Demeester, called to say he’d
found a job. Not because of the ad directly, but because he was on Lake Jordan on July 4th! He was
talking to the dad of a friend, mentioned he had just
graduated from Alabama State with his MAcc and
was looking for work. The friend’s dad hooked him
up with Huntsville firm Beason & Nalley and he started
there at the end of July. The clincher to getting hired
was Kyle’s government contracting experience, but
having his resume seen by the right person at the firm
was critical.
What are the tools that the ASCPA can provide
you?
FREE CLASSIFIEDS – Available in the magazine
and periodically in the Tuesday Bulletin. Limited to
50 words, send them to Communications Director
Diane Christy, dchristy@ascpa.org.
CAREER CENTER – Available on the website.
You can post resumes at no charge, firms can review
the postings on a sliding scale, depending on what
time period they choose.
CHAPTER MEETINGS – It may be tough to admit, and we don’t advocate your becoming a stalker,
but let people know you’re looking. Have resumes in
your car or ready to send via email.
SEARCH FIRMS – The ASCPA partners with
PANGEATWO and ITAC Solutions on a variety of
projects. Give them a call and get on their rosters.
GUIDE TO ACCOUNTING FIRMS IN
ALABAMA – 2011 Designed to aid graduat-
ing students, request a copy and you’ll have the
contact information and profiles for 50+ firms at your
fingertips.
INTERVIEW REVIEW/RESUME TUNE-UP –
Your university will give you some help. Let those
tuition bills finally make sense by using resources
they offer. Contact your former professors and pick
their brains, too.
ASCPA OFFICERS AND STAFF – Call anyone
for help and a friendly ear. All contact information is
on the About Us tab of the home page.
KEEP IN TOUCH – Let the Society know when
you have success in your search!
In Memoriam
James L. Livingston
December 21, 1932 – August 26, 2011
Birmingham, Alabama
Certificate #1041
James Bomar Ryall, Jr.
December 19, 1942 – August 30, 2011
Selma, Alabama
Certificate #1522
Marvin Otis Tidmore
December 14, 1924 – September 14, 2011
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Certificate #382
The Alabama CPA MAGAZINE
Thinking payroll?
Consider the Benefits of Outsourcing
E
By Amanda McCown, District Sales Manager, Paychex, Inc.
very business owner and accountant knows that time is money, and the drive to increase efficiency
is related directly to a firm’s bottom line. But how does that apply to
payroll? While it may provide an opportunity for additional revenue,
there are many factors to consider when weighing your options.
The Great Payroll Debate – The goal of any accountant is to be their clients’ most trusted advisor.
With every service provided, the accountant strengthens that relationship and opens doors to new opportunities. However, that’s not the only aspect to consider when deciding whether or not to add payroll to your
firm’s suite of services. Accountants should also evaluate client demand, staff capacity, revenue potential, and
compliance risk. Accountants must identify and recommend the solution that meets clients’ needs, and makes
sense for their firm. If offering payroll isn’t a good fit, all is not lost. By choosing to outsource, accountants
can be assured their clients’ needs are expertly met, while they add value to their client relationships in more
consultative ways.
Understanding the Benefits of Outsourcing – While many firms see payroll as valuable
revenue opportunity, consider the following reasons why outsourcing is an attractive alternative.
Increased focus on business – Partnering with a best-in-class payroll, HR, and benefits provider allows
accountants to enhance their role as their clients most trusted advisor, offering services more consultative in
nature, and with greater revenue potential, freeing them from the administrative and compliance burdens of
payroll processing and allowing them more time to grow their firm.
Minimized burden of payroll complexity and tax law changes – Another important consideration is the
increasing complexity of state and federal tax regulations. New rules and regulations are proposed and
enacted at the federal and state levels at an overwhelming pace, making it difficult for accounting professionals who are offering payroll as a value-added service to stay up to date. Partnering with an experienced
provider makes it easier for accountants to meet the full HR needs of their clients, and ensure they remain
in compliance.
Reduced potential for tax penalties and IRS scrutiny – There are numerous tax law changes every year –
each bringing more complexity to the payroll process – and there are significant penalties for not complying
with those changes. A poorly carried out payroll compliance program can hurt an employer in often costly
ways. They could overpay, underpay, or misreport information on federal, state, and local tax authorities. And
it isn’t just financially that employers will suffer for failing to be compliant. Their reputation, revenue streams,
and client confidence can suffer, too.
Fraud reduction and greater confidentiality – When choosing a payroll partner, make sure to vet them
properly. It’s important to choose a partner who is bonded and insured to protect against future risk. Also,
your payroll partner should use state-of-the-art security to ensure that the storage and transmittal of client
and firm information is protected.
Enhanced, integrated employee benefits – As more and more business owners look beyond payroll processing for a comprehensive HR offering, CPA firms often find it challenging to provide all of the functionality
clients have come to expect – including retirement services, pre-tax benefits, health insurance, and workers’
compensation administration.
Peace of mind and accounting efficiency – Partnering with an industry leading provider allows accountants to elect their desired level of payroll participation. Accountants who choose to play more of an advisory
role can partner with a provider to offer their clients a comprehensive suite of payroll and HR services that can
be tailored to meet the clients’ needs. State-of-the-art online tools and resources also allow accountants to
access their client information when they need it, and truly maximize their advisory role.
To learn more about the benefits of partnering with a best-in-class payroll, HR, and benefits provider,
such as Paychex, visit www.paychex.com.
Start celebrating
the New Year early.
Your CPE planning starts in January
with the release of the Alabama
Society of CPAs’ continuing
professional education calendar.
2012 is looking good already!
11
DOING IT BETTER with the young CPAs
Golf Tournament
on the Ball
T
he annual PANGEATWO Charity Golf Tournament, brought to you by the Alabama
Young CPAs, will be here before we know it.
Join us for a great day of networking and charity.
• The 2011 tournament netted over
$35,000, thanks to the generosity of 42 golf
teams and 17 sponsors. The Tournament proceeds support The Exceptional Foundation
and the Alabama Society of CPA’s Educational
Foundation.
• The event will be held on June 6, 2012,
at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Oxmoor
Valley. Registration begins at 10:30 followed
by lunch and a 12:30 shotgun start. Bragging
rights and awards will be presented at 5:30.
• For more information regarding the golf
tournament, sponsors, or charities, please
visit our website at ascpa.org.
If you have any questions about the
PANGEATWO Charity Golf Tournament, please
contact Jody Jones at jjones@PANGEATWO.
com or Jeannine Birmingham at jbirmingham@ascpa.org. Staff level liaisons are Kelly
Campbell, kcampbell@PANGEATWO.com and
Amanda Freeman, afreeman@ascpa.org.
12 The Alabama CPA MAGAZINE
State BOARD News
JULY-AUGUST 2011 CPA EXAMINATION
Grades from the July-August 2011 CPA Examination were mailed to
candidates on October 7, 2011. There were 240 total candidates who
sat for a total of 321 sections of the examination and passed 141 sections for a section-passing rate of 43.93%. The 240 total candidates were
comprised of 59 first-time and 181 re-examination candidates. A total of
34 candidates passed. There were 40 candidates who passed section(s)
to receive credit status, 42 candidates who passed a section to improve
their credit status, and 124 candidates who passed no sections to remain
status quo. There were 167 candidates who sat for one section of the
examination, 65 candidates who sat for two sections of the examination,
eight candidates who sat for three sections of the examination, and no
candidates sat for four sections of the examination.
ALABAMA
PERCENT PASS
NATIONAL
PERCENT PASS
AUDIT
39.25%
47.06%
BEC
37.14%
52.06%
FAR
46.99%
49.52%
REG
55.74%
45.37%
SECTION
OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2011 CPA EXAMINATION
Testing for the October-November 2011 CPA Examination will close on
November 30, 2011. During the month of December 2011, testing will be
closed for systems and databank maintenance. We anticipate receiving
and distributing the grades from the October-November 2011 CPA Examination between December 9, 2010 and January 12, 2012.
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2012 CPA EXAMINATION
Testing for the January-February 2012 CPA Examination will begin
on January 3, 2012 and close on February 29,
2012. During the month of March 2012, testing
will be closed for systems and databank maintenance. We anticipate receiving and distributing
the grades from the January-February 2012 CPA
Examination between March 9, 2012 and April
10, 2012.
On January 1, 2011 a “New 2011 Uniform
CPA Examination” was implemented. A guide
has been assembled to assist candidates with
the changes. We encourage each CPA examination candidate to review this guide on the CPA
Examination website located at www.cpa-exam.
org.
CPA Examination scores are available
on-line through the Board’s website at www.
asbpa.alabama.gov/exam.htm.
Examination
candidates will need their “Section ID Number”
and “Date of Birth” to access their scores. The
Board also mails official scores to candidates as
soon as they are received and processed.
The Board accepts submission of CPA Examination Applications during any month of the
year. If you have questions, please contact Anna
Baker at the Board office at 334-242-5700 or instate 1-800-435-9743. CPA Examination Application Forms, Application Instructions, and CPA
Examination Qualifications may be downloaded
from our website at www.asbpa.alabama.gov/
exam.htm. We encourage each CPA Examination Candidate to review the “Test Tips For CPA
Candidates” and “CPA Candidate Bulletin and
Test Tutorial and Simulations” on the Exam Applications page of the Board’s website.
registration form can be found on the Board’s website at www.asbpa.alabama.gov/registration.htm. Licensees registering on-line for 2011-2012
will not be assessed convenience fees in addition to the required permit
or registration fee. Individual and firm registration packets for 2011-2012
were mailed to all licensees on September 26, 2011. If you have not received your packet and wish to file a paper registration, please contact the
Board office or visit our website and download individual and firm registration forms and instructions. The completed individual and firm registration
forms for 2011-2012, along with the appropriate fee(s), were due in the
Board office on October 1, 2011. CPE must be earned during the period
October 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011 and reported on this registration form. If you failed to meet the CPE requirements by September
30, 2011 due to reasonable cause, please contact the Board office to
formalize a CPE completion schedule. Registrations received after December 31, 2011 will be delinquent. A $100.00 late renewal penalty is due
for registrations postmarked January 1, 2012 through March 31, 2012.
The late renewal penalty increases to $500.00 for renewals postmarked
April 1, 2012 through September 30, 2012. After that date disciplinary
actions ensue for unpaid fees, late renewal penalties, and CPE deficits.
Licensees are encouraged to file timely in order to avoid the escalating
late renewal penalties. If you have questions concerning your 2011-2012
registration(s), please contact the Board office.
ADDRESS CHANGES
Board rules require that all licensees keep the Board advised of any
change of address and/or change in business affiliation. Such changes
must be in writing and may be submitted electronically by visiting the
Board’s website and completing the On-Line Change of information Form
found on the “Change of Information” page. You may also submit such
changes by mailing or faxing (334-242-2711) to the Board office.
2011-2012 REGISTRATIONS
On-line registration is available for 2011-2012
for CPAs, PAs, and Firms. The link to the on-line
The Alabama CPA MAGAZINE
13
We Welcome NEW members
TYRONE A. AARON, CPA
TAMMY ABERNATHY
RONIA AHSAN, CPA
DEVYN ALBRECHT
THAD ALDRIDGE
CATALINA ALUPII
LACY R. ANDERSON, CPA
CHRISTOPHER B. ANTHONY
AMY ARELLANO
FRAN ARMSTRONG
ADAM S. ARNOLD
PHILIP A. ARTHURS, CPA
MAURICE R. ATHEY
CHASE B. AVERITT
LAUREN B. BAILEY, CPA
NICOLE BAILEY
TAYLOR C. BARKER, CPA
MILLARD M. BARNES JR,CPA
KIRA R. BARNETT
WILLIAM S. BARRY, CPA
LACIE J. BARTHOLOMEW, CPA
KELLY R. BARTKO, CPA
EMILY M. BELLKNAP
MATTHEW B. BENNICH, CPA
MICHAEL A. BENSON, CPA
KIM K. BICE, CPA
CHRISTIE L. BLAYLOCK
LOU S. BLUNDELL, CPA
SARAH E. BOEHMIG
PAUL M. BOOKER, CPA
ROSEANNA M. BOYLE
MEGAN S. BRANNON, CPA
CRYSTAL BRANTLEY
NATASHA L. BREWSTER
LISA D. BROWN
WILSON BRUMMAL
ASHLEY BRUNNER
KRISTI W. BRUSSO, CPA
AMBER N. BRYAN
TAMARA BRYCH-FUSILLO
REMIGIJUS BUKELIS, CPA
STACY W. BURKE
KATHERINE A. BURKS
LORI BURKS
THOMAS W. BUSH
TRAVIS L. BUSKEY
JOHN C. CALLAGHAN, CPA
K S. CALVERT, CPA
STEVEN D. CARR, CPA
MATTHEW D. CARRINGTON, CPA
LAUREN A. CASH, CPA
MELINDA K. CATLETT, CPA
STEPHANIE M. CHAMPION
MARY E. COLE
RUSSELL M. COLE
AMY M. COLEMAN
REBEKKA COLLIER
HALEY M. COOEDY
KEVIN D. COOK, CPA
MEREDITH M. COOK
JASON B. COOPER, CPA
NATASHA D. COOPER
MARCINE E. CORLEW, CPA
CHAD B. COUNTS
DARLENE D. COX
KASSANDRA A. COX
ANNA G. CRUZ
KENNETH J. CUPP II, CPA
JORDAN P. DANIELS, CPA
14 JILL H. DATEMA, CPA
CODY D. DAUGHTRY
CAROLINE W. DAVIS, CPA
DEMETRIA L. DAVIS
JOEL B. DAVIS, CPA
KENDRA V. DAVIS
ROBERT D. DAVIS, CPA
KYLE J. DEMEESTER
MELANIE R. DORMAN, CPA
ADOVA M. DOTHARD
AARON EBERT
JOSEPH EILAND
KEVIN R. ELLIOTT, CPA
RACHEL D. ELLIS
ALAN W. EVANS III
AYESHA S. FARIER
APRIL FINEDORE
JASON P. FISHER
KEVIN R. FLEMING
LATRESHA T. FREDRICK
SAGAR GAIRE
R N. GARCIA MS.
AMANDA GARGUS
BRADLEY L. GARLAND, CPA
JON P. GASTON, CPA
JOHN L. GIDDENS
NATHANIEL I. GIESMAN, CPA
LAUREN E. GILBERT
KIMBERLY GILLIAM
LINDSEY C. GODDARD
SKYLER L. GRAHAM
LISA D. GRAVES
DR MITZI C. GREEN, CPA
LEVI J. GREENE
LILY E. GRIFFIN
LINDSEY HAIRSTON
SHELIA D. HAMMON
CHELSEA H. HARRIS
PAIGE P. HARRIS, CPA
DAVID HARRISON
JEFFREY J. HARTKOFF, CPA
AMBER R. HARTLEY
CHER E. HARVEY
KRISTY HASSELTINE, CPA
JESSICA S. HEAD
TAMARA L. HERRON, CPA
MELISSA HIGGINS
MARA R. HOGUE
LEAH A. HOLLAND, CPA
WILLIAM T. HOLLINGSWORTH
WILLIAM A. HOPPER
LAUREN HORNER, CPA
KENNY R. HOUSH
JENNY HUGHES
KRISTY A. HULL
AMANDA R. IVEY
LEIGH A. IVEY, CPA
DONNA M. IVY, CPA
REBECCA B. JACKSON, CPA
STACY A. JACKSON, CPA
OLIVIA J. JAMES
BETSY L. JARNIGAN, CPA
KELLSON J. JEFFERY
EBONY C. JENNINGS
GRETCHEN J. JENSEN, CPA
NATALIE K. JETT
FRAN BLACKSTON JOHNSON, CPA
GEORGE M. JOHNSON III
RASHUNDRA R. JOHNSON
RICHARD JOHNSON
REBECCA L. JOLLIFF, CPA
HILARY L. JONES
STEVEN T. JULAKA
STEPHEN J. KANE, CPA
TAYLOR M. KARDOES, CPA
SHANNON E. KEE, CPA
SAMUEL A. KERCHEVAL
ASHLEY KIBBEY, CPA
BAILEY M. KIKER
MONICA N. KIRK
CHITRA R. KIRPALANI
CHRIS KNIGHT
CHERIE LAWRENCE
MARGARET J. LAWSON, CPA
LAUREN A. LEATH
JOHN C. LEE
KEVIN L. LOONG
RAY C. LOPER, CPA
PHILIP E. LOVINGUTH
REBECCA L. LYNCH
COLLEEN C. MACON, CPA
STEPHEN D. MADELEY, CPA
ROBERT A. MADISON
ZEHRA A. MALIK, CPA
DOUGLAS G. MARKHAM, CPA
JOHN W. MARKWOOD III
ZACHARY R. MARTIN
PAUL E. MATTOX
KRISTOPHER J. MCBRIDE
CHRISTOPHER MCCAULEY, CPA
SALLY E. MCCLANAHAN, CPA
JARED R. MCCOY, CPA
VALIECE M. MCKELVY, CPA
ERIC D. MCKENNEY
ASHLEY MELDRUM
J N. MILLER, CPA
JARED R. MILLER
EMMY L. MOODY
SOPHIA MOORE
MACKENZIE MOOREHEAD
PRESLEY R. MORGAN
SHERRY G. MORGAN
LEONEL N. NGENDUNG
ALLIE C. O’CONNOR, CPA
JASON T. OGLETREE, CPA
JON M. OGLETREE, CPA
VERNA H. ORR, CPA
ARION PARKER
JIMISH PATEL
KISHAN S. PATEL
TIMPLE PATTERSON
KARYN L. PENCE, CPA
MARY L. PENTON
POLLY W. PERRY, CPA
JULIE E. PHILLIPS, CPA
OLGA PIKRUN
MICHELLE O. PINOCHET
JERRY D. PITTMAN, CPA
JACQUELINE F. PITTS
LETESIA S. POOLE
JOHN F. POWELL JR, CPA
JEFFREY D. PRICE
SCOTT L. RAINS, CPA
HANNAH B. RAY
STEPHANIE RECTOR, CPA
MICHAEL J. REICHERT
CHRISTOPER D. REYER, CPA
ALICIA D. RICE
RAOUL R. RICHARDSON
JAMES W. RIGSBY
JAELA H. ROBBINS
R K. ROBERTS
TAMMY M. ROBINSON
JENNIFER L. ROGERS
JASON S. ROSE, CPA
ANN B. RUNDQUIST, CPA
DIANA E. RUSSELL, CPA
CLARISSA L. RYANS
ADAM J. SALVADOR
THOMAS C. SANDERS
T A. SCARBROUGH
TAMMY W. SCHRAMM, CPA
JENNIFER R. SCRIVANO
WILLIAM SHEEHAN II
YE JUNG SHIN, CPA
JOSEPH P. SILVEY JR
JULIE SIMONS
TREVOR SMALL
ELLIOTT SMITH
LAUREN W. SMITH, CPA
MARGARET A. SMITH
MASHON S. SMITH
CANDACE M. SNIDER, CPA
JAIME M. SOUTH
JOHN L. SPALDING, CPA
BETHANY N. SPATES
MICHAEL S. SPEIGLE
ARIANA S. SPIVEY
BENJAMIN STANLEY
FELICIA STAUB
KIRSTEN O. STUART
CHRIS TANNER
LAQUISHA N. TARVER
MARY E. TERRELL, CPA
JOE D. THRASHER
JENNIFER TRESNAN
JANICE TURNER
DESIREE C. TYREE
JAYCE VAUGHN
HOLLY N. VERNON
GEORGE I. VOLTZ, CPA
ANDREW D. WAGES
CASSANDRA WARD
HEATHER N. WARD
DOUGLAS H. WATSON
JANA G. WEAVER
SELINA WHATLEY
MICAH L. WHEELER,CPA
ANDREW T. WHITAKER
JOSEPH A. WHITEHEAD
PATRICK J. WHITWORTH
JESSICA L. WILBURN
JOSH A. WILLIAMS,CPA
KATELYN H. WILSON
LANCE R. WILSON
BRADLEY M. WITHERSPOON, CPA
GABE WOLFE
MORGAN YARBROUGH, CPA
JAEGYU YOO,CPA
DEREK YOUNG
HAYDEN YOUNG
JENNIFER M. YOUNGBERG
KELLEY ZALOPANY
EMILY G. ZEIGLER, CPA
The Alabama CPA MAGAZINE
C P E
C a l e ndar
2 0 1 1
ASCPA CONFERENCES 2011
AFTC GAAF Nov. 17-18 Dec. 7-8
AFTC
GAAF
65th Annual Federal Tax Clinic 24th Annual Governmental Accounting & Auditing Forum
Bryant Conf Center
Birmingham
ASCPA SEMINARS 2011
No.
Date
Location
Field of Study Title
ACCOUNTING & AUDITING
204
1/12/12
Birmingham AA/Other
The Roles of Financial Professionals in Divorce
206*
1/13/12
Mobile AA6/MG2
Financial Statement Analysis: Basis for Management Advice
YB-YB1 11/1/2011 Birmingham AA
A Complete Guide to the New 2011 Yellowbook
YB-YB2 11/2/2011 Montgomery AA
A Complete Guide to the New 2011 Yellowbook
TAX
195
11/14-15/11 Birmingham TX
AICPA's 2011 Corporate Income Tax Returns Workshop
196
12/1/11
Birmingham TX
AICPA's Annual Federal Tax Update (Birmingham) CPE Value Course
197
12/2/11
Huntsville TX
AICPA's Annual Federal Tax Update (Huntsville) CPE Value Course
198
12/8/11
Montgomery TX
AICPA's Annual Federal Tax Update (Montgomery) CPE Value Course
199
12/9/11
Mobile
TX
AICPA's Annual Federal Tax Update (Mobile) CPE Value Course
200
1/11/12
Birmingham TX
Closely Held Business Taxation: 49 Practical Ways to Cut Taxes
201
1/11/12
Birmingham TX
Effective And Efficient Senior-Level Review Of Tax Returns In Busy Season
203
1/11/2012 Montgomery TX
What You Need to Do Now in Estate Planning Under the New Tax Law
205
1/12/2012 Birmingham TX
The Complete Guide to Preparing Limited Liability Company, Partnership, and S Corporation Federal Income Tax Returns
207
1/13/2012 Mobile
TX
Preparing Individual Tax Returns for New Staff and Para-Professionals
(*) asterisk indicates AICPA 8 hour seminar; take advantage of a $30 discount applied to the ASCPA fee if you are an AICPA member.
ASCPA 4hr Clusters or CPE Value Seminars do not receive $30 discount. New Courses are in BOLD type. Early Bird Registration Discount - Save $25
REGISTRATION FORMS AND ENTIRE CPE SCHEDULE AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE WWW.ASCPA.ORG • Birmingham CPE Classes held at Pelham Civic Complex
2012 Calendar
IMPROVING THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF ALAbAMIANs
2012 Financial
Fitness Calendar
from the ASCPA
Get ‘em while
they’re hot!
Just in time to be a holiday “lagniappe”
(a little something extra) for staff, clients,
and friends, the 2012 ASCPA Financial
Fitness Calendar is yours for the asking.
50 copies will be delivered to you free
of charge (we do ask for shipping costs of
$10) when you complete the order form
[hyperlink] and return it to us.
The calendar is loaded with reminders so that you don’t forget key financial
deadlines and ASCPA financial education
programs. Formatted in a compact size,
it can go anywhere and is branded with
the ASCPA logo. For further customization, stamp with your own or your company’s contact information.
24/7/365, it’s all about being a CPA!
Go to the ASCPA website for an
order form by clicking on the
About Us tab/financial literacy/
financial fitness calendar.
The Alabama CPA MAGAZINE
15
Presorted Std
US Postage
PAID
Permit No. 131
Montgomery, AL
NOVEMBER
2011
The Alabama Society of Certified
Public Accountants
1041 Longfield Court
P.O. Box 242987
Montgomery, AL 36124
Address Service Requested
CAlendar of Upcoming Events
DateEventLocationTime
15
16
17
17
22
15
21
N O V E M b e r
Mobile Professionals Night
Southeast Alabama
Huntsville Chapter
East Alabama Chapter
Tamara’s Downtown Fairhope
Dothan Country Club
Redstone Federal Credit Union
Saugahatchee Country Club
5:30 – 7:30
12:00
12:00 Noon
12:00
North Alabama Chapter
Shoals Chamber of Commerce
12:00 noon
D E C E M b e r
Birmingham Young CPAs
Salvation Army Christmas Party
Southeast Alabama Dothan Country Club
For more information on these events, visit our website www.ascpa.org
6:00
12:00 noon
C l assifi e d
CONTROLLER WANTED for metal distributor in Gulfport
MS. Accounting degree, financials and administrative experience required. Excellent pay and benefits. Email resumes to careers@goldinmetals.com.
NON-PROFIT SEEEKING PRESIDENT/CEO The Central
Alabama Community Foundation is seeking a President and
CEO to provide leadership and management for this growing
nonprofit organization. The Foundation was established in
1986 by a group of local citizens interested in providing charitable capital for the area. Today, CACF manages 190 different funds and provides over $2,000,000 in grants each year.
The Foundation has a proven record of initiating and leading
transformational change in the communities it serves. The
Foundation serves five counties in the River Region and five
counties in the Wiregrass. The President, under the guidance
of the Board of Directors, leads and oversees all aspects of
the Foundation. The President works with a staff of five fulltime and four part-time professionals to provide donor development, planned giving development, fundraising, public
relations, marketing, leadership in community collaborative
projects, grant-making, program support, financial management and oversight, human resource management, and staff
and board development,. Beyond these responsibilities, the
CEO is responsible for the public accountability and legal
obligations of the Foundation. A specific job description is
available on the Foundation’s website at www.cacfinfo.org.
Resumes may be submitted to CACF Search Committee,
434 N. McDonough Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 or online
at cacf.hr@cacfinfo.org.
Experienced CPA Available Bachelor’s degree, actively licensed CPA, analytical thinker, strong attention to detail,
and excellent communication skills. Able to quickly learn and
apply new tasks. Easy to get along with and functions well
in a team environment. Seeking permanent, full time position
with room for personal and career growth. For resume, call
(205) 266-0088 or email dwaynebraswell@ymail.com
RECENT GRADUATE SEEKING POSITION Trustworthy,
dedicated and energetic professional looking for an entry-level
spot. Dual degrees in accounting and finance with technology
experience. Candidate is a former ASCPA intern currently
sitting for the CPA exam. Willing to relocate. Call or email
Ansab Ali for resume; 334-524-8570, ansab@auburn.edu.
PART TIME POSITION available with established accounting and tax firm in east Birmingham. Prefer a retired
practitioner desiring to work as a contractor during the
February-April filing season. Tax update classes and tax
software training available in January 2012. Email resume
to taxseason2012@hotmail.com.