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Private equity changes accounting career paths

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The increasing amount of investment from private equity firms in the accounting profession is transforming the ways accountants pursue their careers, according to a new report.

The Accounting MOVE Project, which is affiliated with Accounting & Financial Women’s Alliance, released a report Tuesday on the impact of the PE industry on CPA firms, while also releasing its lists of the Best CPA Firms for Women and Best CPA Firms for Equity Leadership. The report was co-sponsored by AFWA and accounting firm Moss Adams.

“While the influx of cash is grabbing headlines, we believe the real story is how this new structure will transform firm dynamics and career opportunities for its team members, particularly women and people of color,” said Accounting MOVE Project president Bonnie Buol Ruszczyk in a statement.

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The report pointed out that the partnership structure of most traditional accounting and advisory firms is only a “speed bump for return-hungry external investors.”

Outsiders such as private equity investors buy with the intention of restructuring the linear career paths that characterize firms, offering “incremental opportunities for rising talent to cash in or pivot to new career paths within the firm,” said the report. “The energy and expanded opportunities  — consulting, insurance, wealth management and more — afforded by outside investors have the potential to polish the profession’s appeal to ambitious Gen Z and younger millennials, women and ethnic minorities.”

For the report, the Accounting MOVE Project talked with industry leaders such as Allan Koltin of the Koltin Consulting Group, Bob Lewis of the Visionary Group and Terry Putney of Whitman Transition Advisors. 

Firms considering outside investment should closely evaluate the potential for synergy over conflict and look for private equity firms that prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion, suggested the report. “Partnering with a PE firm that embeds DEI into its core strategy will help firms drive greater innovation, where diversity initiatives become powerful catalysts for sustainable growth,” said the report.

“This is a conversation we need to have,” said Tricia Bencich, inclusion and social responsibility associate director at Moss Adams, in a statement. “Private equity investment has created a seismic shift in the accounting profession. While external investment enables firms to invest in infrastructure and growth, it is equally important to remain focused on the people who deliver the services and care for clients.”

The report also discusses the backlash against DEI and how DEI leaders can work to overcome skepticism and maintain momentum. MOVE Project firms are pursuing strategies to defy the opposition to DEI and cultivating a more engaged, better retained and thriving workforce.

The Accounting MOVE Project released its lists Tuesday of the Best CPA Firms for Women and Best CPA Firms for Equity Leadership.

The Best CPA Firms for Women, in alphabetical order, are:

  • Abbott, Stringham & Lynch
  • Armanino
  • BeachFleischman PLLC
  • BerryDunn
  • Bland & Associates, P.C.
  • The Bonadio Group
  • BPM LLP
  • Clark Nuber
  • Eide Bailly
  • Frazier & Deeter
  • James Moore & Co.
  • Moss Adams
  • Rehmann LLC
  • Schellman

The Best CPA Firms for Equity Leadership, in descending order of percentage of women partners and principals, among firms where women comprise at least 31% of a firm’s partners and principals, are :

  • 71%    KWC Certified Public Accountants
  • 64%    Clark Nuber
  • 58%    Abbott, Stringham & Lynch
  • 57%    BeachFleischman PLLC
  • 55%    Bland & Associates, P.C.
  • 53%    Kerkering, Barberio & Co.
  • 50%     James Moore & Co.
  • 47%    Jones & Roth
  • 46%    HBE LLP
  • 40%    Councilor Buchanan & Mitchell, PC
  • 40%    BerryDunn
  • 39%    The Bonadio Group
  • 39%    Frazier & Deeter
  • 36%    Rehmann LLC
  • 33%    BPM LLP
  • 33%    Armanino
  • 31%    Eide Bailly

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Accounting

In the blogs: Just in time

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BOI is back; phantom stocks; continuous compliance; and other highlights from our favorite tax bloggers.

Just in time

  • Tax Vox (https://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxvox): Who benefits and who loses from extending major provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act?
  • Taxing Subjects (https://www.drakesoftware.com/blog): The Republican party can shape legislative priorities for the next two years, setting the stage for long-term policy changes. A downloadable resource offers a breakdown of key policy areas and action steps for tax pros and small businesses. 
  • AICPA & CIMA Insights (https://www.aicpa-cima.com/blog): How the IRS and tax pros can both start prepping for any government shutdown.
  • Eide Bailly (https://www.eidebailly.com/taxblog): “Just in time for the holidays,” a federal appeals court has restored the Corporate Transparency Act requirement for businesses to disclose their beneficial owners.
  • Taxable Talk (http://www.taxabletalk.com/): And just like that, yet again, with an injunction’s stay, course is reversed.
  • Current Federal Tax Developments (https://www.currentfederaltaxdevelopments.com/): At least they extended the deadlines a whisker.
  • The Tax Times (https://www.thetaxtimes.com): The IRS continues to claw back from non-filers, to the tune of 10 figures and counting.
  • The National Association of Tax Professionals (https://blog.natptax.com/): Favorite headline of the week: “The best gifts for the tax pro in your life this holiday season.”
  • National Taxpayer Advocate (https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/taxnews-information/blogs-nta/): “‘Twas the night before tax season, and all through the land; Tax professionals were working, each with pen in hand; The forms were all sorted with numbers just right; who says tax accounting can’t thrill and excite?”

2025

Continuity

Size matters

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Accounting

H&R Block releases Santa Claus’s tax return

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That doesn’t look like a 1040 … .

H&R Block has given the world just what it wants to see this holiday season: Santa Claus’s tax return.

Santa has a lot of itemizations to consider. Eight tiny reindeer depend on him for food and shelter, for instance, but are they dependents? How much can you give to one person before reporting it? Does Santa keep good mileage records for his 41.5 million miles? Santa isn’t an employee, so compensation (even in cookie form) over the threshold may create a 1099-NEC.

Old St. Nick, who files MFJ with Mrs. Claus, did all right on 1040 Line 34, but some of his numbers do bear examination: 6.3 million cookies and 2 million gallons of milk means a third of a gallon of milk per cookie. Will the deduction of coal, magic dust and sleighbells stand up to audit? At least Santa has plenty of time on his hands between January and April to find a good preparer.

Santa's tax return

“Even the jolly man in red takes time to report taxes,” reads the announcement from the tax prep giant. “He’s probably the world’s most famous small-business owner, running a gift-giving workshop and distribution network across the globe … Santa is giving us the first ever peek at his tax return and showing us how he used H&R Block Online and AI Tax Assist to get his maximum refund.”

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Accounting

5 changes coming to IRAs and 401(k)s in 2025

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The SECURE 2.0 Act contained several changes to traditional and Roth individual retirement accounts and 401(k) plans that are being phased in over the coming years, with several notable changes coming in 2025. The Illinois CPA Society highlighted five changes coming to IRAs and 401(k)s in 2025:

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