March 11, 2008

> Introducing…the MSCPA Career Center!

Just launched a week ago, this new Missouri-CPA centric online career center is expected to become a popular and highly sought-after recruiting resource. Free for job seekers; employers, enjoy 50 percent off during the month of March. Enter INTRO in the promotional code box!

_____________________________________________________________________

> Register Now for 2008 Industry Networking Roundtables!

Join us for the 2008 MSCPA Industry Networking Roundtables! Take advantage of this opportunity to meet other CPAs in the industry sector, exchange ideas, and discuss the issues that are important to you.

All roundtables meet 8:30am-11:00am and offer 3 hours of CPE credit for just $50.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008 in Cape Girardeau, MO
Thursday, June 26, 2008 in Jefferson City, MO
Tuesday, July 22, 2008 in St. Joseph, MO
Thursday, July 24, 2008 in St. Louis, MO
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 in Kansas City, MO
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 in Springfield, MO

Special deal: Register for more than one roundtable and pay just $45 per session! For more information, please call Holly Moriarity at 800.264.7966. http://www.mocpa.org/content/22188.aspx

_____________________________________________________________________

> MSCPA Committee Day is Approaching!

If you want to build business contacts, learn best practices, and swap ideas…join one of MSCPA’s fast-paced and rewarding committees! MSCPA committees represent many facets of the CPA profession, as well as an array of MSCPA operational functions. Register now for the next MSCPA Committee Day!

Friday, May 16, 2008
9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Courtyard by Marriott
Columbia, MO
Register now!

Review the list of MSCPA committees and sign up today!

http://www.mocpa.org/Content/CommitteesMain.aspx

_____________________________________________________________________

> LAST CHANCE! 2008 Annual MSCPA Awards
Do you know someone who has made a unique contribution to the accounting profession? Nominate that person for the 2008 Annual MSCPA Awards! Each year, the MSCPA recognizes CPAs who have served their profession and/or community above and beyond their responsibility. Nominations are accepted in five categories:

Outstanding Educator Award
Outstanding CPA in Government
Innovative User of Technology
Public Service Award
Outstanding CPA in Business & Industry

Nominations are due March 14, 2008.

http://www.mocpa.org/Content/awards.aspx

_____________________________________________________________________

> FASB Votes To Change Structure
The board of trustees of the Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) has voted to approve major changes to the oversight, structure and operations of the FAF and its two standard-setting Boards, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
http://www.fasb.org/faf/nr022608.pdf

_____________________________________________________________________

> AICPA Survey Reveals Continuing Decline In the U.S. Economy
Expectations for the U.S. economy turned sharply negative among senior-level executive CPAs as the outlook for finance, real estate and retrial trade declined in the first quarter, according to a survey conducted by the AICPA.
http://www.aicpa.org/download/news/2008/CPA_Financial_Executives.pdf

_____________________________________________________________________

> CFOs Report On Second-Quarter Financial Hiring Outlook
Chief financial officers expect hiring activity in accounting and finance to continue growing in the second quarter, although at a more moderate pace, according to the Robert Half International Financial Hiring Index. Nine percent of CFOs interviewed said they plan to add full-time professionals and 5 percent anticipate staff reductions. The net 4 percent increase is down two points from the first-quarter forecast. The majority of respondents, 85 percent, anticipate no change in personnel levels.
http://www.mocpa.org/Content/files/newsletters/2008/Accountemps031108.htm

_____________________________________________________________________

> Companies Not Prepared To Meet Health, Wealth Needs Of Baby Boomers
AccountingWeb reports that financial services firms, insurers, and healthcare payers admit they will need to add new capabilities as they prepare to serve baby boomers, who will control some $40 trillion in retirement assets by 2020.
http://www.accountingweb.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=104746&d=883&h=884&f=882&dateformat=%o%20%B%20%Y
_____________________________________________________________________

> Common Auditing Screw-ups

CFO Magazine asked 172 partners at the Big Four firms across Europe for their honest appraisal of their clients' biggest shortcomings. Fix these problems, auditors say, and audits will go more smoothly, relationships with auditors will improve and, possibly, fees will fall.

http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/10792765?f=home_featured
_____________________________________________________________________

> GASB Acts to Improve the Reporting of Fund Balance Information for the Benefit of Financial Statement Users

Last week, GASB issued an exposure draft of a proposed GASB Statement, Fund Balance Reporting and Governmental Fund Type Definitions. The proposed Statement is intended to improve the usefulness of information provided about fund balance by providing clearer, more structured fund balance classifications, and by clarifying the definitions of existing governmental fund types.

http://www.gasb.org/news/nr022908.html

_____________________________________________________________________

> GASB Acts to Improve the Reporting of Fund Balance Information for the Benefit of Financial Statement Users

Sponsored By: Information, Inc.