The Arlington, Virginia-based Institute for Justice, on behalf of a couple of tax preparers, is challenging the Internal Revenue Service’s authority to regulate tax return preparers. The Institute plans to sue the IRS asking for an injunction against enforcement of the new Register Tax Return Preparer (RTRP) regulations. They claim that requiring tax preparers, who are not CPAs, Attorneys or Enrolled Agents, to pass a licensing examination (there is a fee of $116 to take the exam) and attend 15 hours of continuing education courses annually, will deprive them of their right to earn a living.
Well, I can tell you from personal experience: some of them need to be deprived.
When I was growing up, my dad was a struggling small business owner. He was one of those individuals who used an unregulated tax preparer. One year, the errors the preparer made on his return were so egregious that the IRS audited the return. Because of the nature of the errors, the agent went back and audited all open years. As a result my dad received a refund of over $1,000, which was a lot of money back in the 1960s, especially for someone like my dad who had struggled each year to pay those taxes.
There are three ways the group says these new regulations will negatively impact tax preparers and their clients:
1. It will put some tax return preparers out of business.
2. It could cause a financial hardship for their lower income clients resulting from the increased fees.
3. Their clients may have to find a new tax preparer.
My responses to the group’s allegations are as follows:
1. So be it. If they can’t pass a basic competency test they should not be preparing tax returns.
2. I don’t buy this. There are half a dozen or so entities that provide free tax return preparation, including the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. I realize that the free tax return preparation programs are primarily for the most basic tax returns, but if a return is more complex than a basic return you need the services of a qualified tax preparer. (See response 1 above.)
3. If they were using a qualified tax return preparer in the first place this would be a moot point, otherwise: See response 1 above.
What do you think?
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
RTRP Test Validation Concluded
The Internal Revenue Service has just announced that it has begun providing test results to tax return preparers who have taken the new return preparer competency test. Those who pass the test and a tax compliance check will be given a new designation: Registered Tax Return Preparer (RTRP).
Testing began in November 2011 and has been in a calibration phase since that time as the IRS validated the test questions and established the passing grade. The calibration phase has now ended. The test has a total of 120-question. A perfect score is 500. Preparers must score at least 350 (70%) in order to pass the exam. The test is part of a larger IRS effort to ensure competency and professional standards in the tax preparation industry. All RTRPs must also complete 15 hours of continuing education annually.
Although preparers have nearly two years to take the test (must pass the exam by December 31, 2013), the IRS encourages them to complete the requirement as soon as they can. Preparers with a testing requirement can schedule the test by accessing their PTIN account at IRS.gov/ptin. The test can be taken at more than 260 sites for a fee of $116. However, the IRS has announced that testing will be suspended for a two-week period beginning April 1 and resume on April 16, 2012. You can find more details about the test at IRS.gov/taxpros/tests.
If you're planning to take the test, check out the Registered Tax Return Preparers Competency Examination Prep Course from Gear Up, a one-day, comprehensive instructor-led course designed to provide you with the training you will need to pass the exam. Currently available this May or June in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Oregon, and New Jersey; click to view more information or call 800.231.1860.
Testing began in November 2011 and has been in a calibration phase since that time as the IRS validated the test questions and established the passing grade. The calibration phase has now ended. The test has a total of 120-question. A perfect score is 500. Preparers must score at least 350 (70%) in order to pass the exam. The test is part of a larger IRS effort to ensure competency and professional standards in the tax preparation industry. All RTRPs must also complete 15 hours of continuing education annually.
Although preparers have nearly two years to take the test (must pass the exam by December 31, 2013), the IRS encourages them to complete the requirement as soon as they can. Preparers with a testing requirement can schedule the test by accessing their PTIN account at IRS.gov/ptin. The test can be taken at more than 260 sites for a fee of $116. However, the IRS has announced that testing will be suspended for a two-week period beginning April 1 and resume on April 16, 2012. You can find more details about the test at IRS.gov/taxpros/tests.
If you're planning to take the test, check out the Registered Tax Return Preparers Competency Examination Prep Course from Gear Up, a one-day, comprehensive instructor-led course designed to provide you with the training you will need to pass the exam. Currently available this May or June in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Oregon, and New Jersey; click to view more information or call 800.231.1860.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Top 10 Ways to Manage Tax Season Stress
Tax season for me was always like a marathon, beginning in mid February and crossing the finish line on April 15. It was long hours, lots of coffee, and plenty of stress. I remember working late nights as the deadline approached and then around 10:00 p.m. on April 15 the managing partner would gather up all of the extensions for those returns we just didn’t have time to complete and made a mad dash for the local post office. So following is my top ten list of ways to reduce or at least manage your tax season stress.
1. Get rid of bad clients. Fire those clients that are not profitable, never have their information to you on time and usually cause you the most stress. We all have them, so do it now before tax season begins.
2. Organize your office. Having a disorganized workspace will only add to your stress, especially when a client calls and you can’t quickly find his or her file.
3. Hire a personal assistant. Having someone who can run errands for you will significantly reduce your stress.
4. Exercise and eat right. You will find that if you eat three healthy meals a day and exercise regularly you will reduce your stress and actually be more productive. But you have to do it consistently.
5. Get to the office early. Come in to the office thirty minutes to an hour before regular office hours. Use this time to get your day organized, respond to e-mail or do research while the office is quiet.
6. Take short breaks. Meditate for five or ten minutes, stand up, do a few exercises or take a walk around the block and just relax. Don’t think about work.
7. Prioritize your tasks. Time consuming but relatively unimportant tasks can consume a lot of your day. Focus on those returns that you can’t delegate to a junior staff person. Don’t jump from one return to another. Try to finish one before you start the next.
8. Set client deadlines. Manage your clients don’t let them manage you. Work on the returns of those clients who meet their deadlines. If the client doesn’t have their data to you when requested, file an extension. Don’t work till midnight to complete the return for a client who did not get his or her information to you when requested.
9. Finish before the deadline. Schedule your clients so that you have time to complete their returns a day or two before April 15. This is a built-in cushion for any unexpected problems and should reduce your level of stress created from last minute crises.
10. Make April 16 and/or April 15 an official holiday. A firm I once worked for made April 16 an official firm holiday. I always looked forward to that holiday as a chance to unwind and think about nothing relating to work.
So, put your running shoes on, see which of these suggestions you can use to reduce your stress level, and look forward to a less stressful tax season.
1. Get rid of bad clients. Fire those clients that are not profitable, never have their information to you on time and usually cause you the most stress. We all have them, so do it now before tax season begins.
2. Organize your office. Having a disorganized workspace will only add to your stress, especially when a client calls and you can’t quickly find his or her file.
3. Hire a personal assistant. Having someone who can run errands for you will significantly reduce your stress.
4. Exercise and eat right. You will find that if you eat three healthy meals a day and exercise regularly you will reduce your stress and actually be more productive. But you have to do it consistently.
5. Get to the office early. Come in to the office thirty minutes to an hour before regular office hours. Use this time to get your day organized, respond to e-mail or do research while the office is quiet.
6. Take short breaks. Meditate for five or ten minutes, stand up, do a few exercises or take a walk around the block and just relax. Don’t think about work.
7. Prioritize your tasks. Time consuming but relatively unimportant tasks can consume a lot of your day. Focus on those returns that you can’t delegate to a junior staff person. Don’t jump from one return to another. Try to finish one before you start the next.
8. Set client deadlines. Manage your clients don’t let them manage you. Work on the returns of those clients who meet their deadlines. If the client doesn’t have their data to you when requested, file an extension. Don’t work till midnight to complete the return for a client who did not get his or her information to you when requested.
9. Finish before the deadline. Schedule your clients so that you have time to complete their returns a day or two before April 15. This is a built-in cushion for any unexpected problems and should reduce your level of stress created from last minute crises.
10. Make April 16 and/or April 15 an official holiday. A firm I once worked for made April 16 an official firm holiday. I always looked forward to that holiday as a chance to unwind and think about nothing relating to work.
So, put your running shoes on, see which of these suggestions you can use to reduce your stress level, and look forward to a less stressful tax season.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
GAO Makes Major Changes to 2011 Government Auditing Standards
On December 21, 2011 the GAO issued the final revised 2011 Government Auditing Standards (The Yellow Book). Following is a summary of the major changes to the standards.
• Added a conceptual framework for independence to provide a means for auditors to assess their independence to activities that are not expressly prohibited. The conceptual framework requires auditors to make independence determinations based on facts and circumstances that are often unique to specific audit environments. The conceptual framework achieves further harmonization with AICPA and international standards.
• Removed specific references to personal, external, and organizational impairments, and overarching independence principles (GAGAS 2007). However, the underlying concepts related to these categories have been retained in the new conceptual framework for independence.
• Established requirements for auditors performing nonaudit services for entities they audit, to document their assessment of whether management possesses suitable skill, knowledge, or experience to oversee the nonaudit service (3.33-3.44).
• Revised substantially the guidance on nonaudit services that always impair an auditor’s independence with respect to audited entities and on certain nonaudit services that may be permitted under appropriate conditions (3.45-3.58).
• Added a summary of requirements for documentation necessary to support adequate consideration of auditor independence incorporating requirements applicable under the new conceptual framework (3.59).
• Removed certain SAS and SSAE requirements that were repeated in GAGAS.
• Discussed separately the three categories of attestation engagements, (1) examination, (2) review and (3) agreed-upon procedures. Auditors are not permitted to deviate from the reporting elements prescribed by the AICPA.
• The reporting requirements for fraud now include only those occurrences that are significant within the context of the audit objectives for performance audits.
The numbers in parentheses refer to paragraphs in the 2011 Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS) unless otherwise noted.
The effective date for financial audits and attestation engagements is for periods ending on or after December 15, 2012. The effective date for performance audits is for audits beginning on or after December 15, 2011. Early implementation is not permitted.
• Added a conceptual framework for independence to provide a means for auditors to assess their independence to activities that are not expressly prohibited. The conceptual framework requires auditors to make independence determinations based on facts and circumstances that are often unique to specific audit environments. The conceptual framework achieves further harmonization with AICPA and international standards.
• Removed specific references to personal, external, and organizational impairments, and overarching independence principles (GAGAS 2007). However, the underlying concepts related to these categories have been retained in the new conceptual framework for independence.
• Established requirements for auditors performing nonaudit services for entities they audit, to document their assessment of whether management possesses suitable skill, knowledge, or experience to oversee the nonaudit service (3.33-3.44).
• Revised substantially the guidance on nonaudit services that always impair an auditor’s independence with respect to audited entities and on certain nonaudit services that may be permitted under appropriate conditions (3.45-3.58).
• Added a summary of requirements for documentation necessary to support adequate consideration of auditor independence incorporating requirements applicable under the new conceptual framework (3.59).
• Removed certain SAS and SSAE requirements that were repeated in GAGAS.
• Discussed separately the three categories of attestation engagements, (1) examination, (2) review and (3) agreed-upon procedures. Auditors are not permitted to deviate from the reporting elements prescribed by the AICPA.
• The reporting requirements for fraud now include only those occurrences that are significant within the context of the audit objectives for performance audits.
The numbers in parentheses refer to paragraphs in the 2011 Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS) unless otherwise noted.
The effective date for financial audits and attestation engagements is for periods ending on or after December 15, 2012. The effective date for performance audits is for audits beginning on or after December 15, 2011. Early implementation is not permitted.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
February—For a Short Month, It Certainly Seems Long
Congress passed legislation that extends the 2% employee payroll tax cut for another 10 months without significant tax offsets. As you may recall, the 2-percentage point cut was slated to expire on March 1, 2012. The bill also extends federal unemployment insurance benefits and prevents a scheduled cut in payments to Medicare providers from occurring during the remainder of 2012. The President signed the payroll tax cut bill on February 22. Last week, the President submitted his Fiscal Year 2013 budget and revenue proposals. It will be interesting to see what happens to these proposals as they work their way through Congress.
Since it is an election year, it is sometimes difficult to predict how Congress will react to proposals from the White House. In contrast to the rancor and political skirmishes that occurred on Capitol Hill in 2011 when Congress debated raising the federal debt ceiling limit and when Congress extended the 2% payroll tax cut for two months at the end of December 2011, last week seemed relatively calm inside the Beltway. For a couple of days, I thought that there was a big snow storm on the East Coast and that the Washington had shut down due to wintry weather. Instead, members of both parties decided to work towards a common goal—their re-election.
Although it is an election year, most individual taxpayers are more concerned about the filing deadline for their Form 1040. By now, taxpayers have received most of their 1099 forms. Some of us have also had the privilege of receiving a 1099 in their mailbox and an email later that same day from the payer indicating that an amended 1099 is going to be issued by the end of February. One point for the procrastinators who do not file their tax returns too quickly.
The full brunt of the busy season has arrived. Luckily, there was not a lot of major tax legislation in 2011. This is unlike the previous tax season where tax legislation was passed into law during a lame duck session of Congress in late 2010. The final 2010 federal tax forms were released later than normal as a result of that last minute legislation. The companies that produce tax preparation software are probably breathing much easier this year. If I were a betting man, I would say that they will not be so lucky next year.
Speaking of tax form changes, some taxpayers have probably noticed line 1a, Merchant Card and Third-party Payments, in Part I on Schedule C (Form 1040). For 2011, the IRS deferred the requirement to report gross receipts received via merchant cards (credit and debit cards) and third-party network payments on line 1a. Taxpayers are supposed to enter zero on line 1a for 2011 and report all gross receipts on line 1b, including any income reported to them on Form 1099-K. It will be interesting to see what legislative and regulatory changes will occur in this area before the 2012 federal tax returns are filed in 2013. As always, the lobbyists will be busy.
In addition to the line for merchant card and third-party payments, taxpayers may have noticed some changes to Schedule D (Form 1040) this year. In general, taxpayers reporting 2011 capital gains and losses will first report the gains and losses on the new Form 8949, Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets. The totals from Form 8949 are then carried over to Schedule D. Once there, the taxpayer will be on more familiar ground.
While preparing their Form 1040, some taxpayers may notice that the Making Work Pay credit has disappeared. This credit expired and cannot be claimed on the 2011 federal individual tax return. The 2% employee payroll tax cut might reduce the sting of no longer having the Making Work Pay credit, but most taxpayers would prefer having both benefits.
How do you keep up with these changes? For those individuals with Smartphones, the IRS recently announced the availability of their updated Smartphone application, IRS2Go 2.0. This is an expanded app designed to provide taxpayers with easier access to tools and information. The new app is available for both the Apple and Android platforms. It has a new YouTube feature, news feeds, and tax transcript service. You can also check the status of your refund using the app.
Last week, there was another item of interest from the IRS. The Service issued its annual “Dirty Dozen” ranking of tax scams. There were no big surprises. Number one on their list was identity theft, and number three was return preparer fraud. The Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) requirement and Registered Tax Return Preparer (RTRP) program should help reduce return preparer fraud in the future. Many articles in the print and electronic media have started to educate taxpayers about seeking qualified tax preparers and asking for their PTIN.
One last item came to my attention this morning. There is a lot of talk in Washington about corporate tax reform. There is also some talk about individual tax reform in speeches by various presidential candidates. However, most tax professionals are currently concerned with filing 2011 tax returns. By April 17, many of us will have formed our own opinions on how to best reform the tax system, but the various tax provisions that expire at the end of 2012 will be foremost in our minds. It looks like the real fun begins when the lame duck session of Congress carefully deliberates how to handle that issue after the general election in November.
Since it is an election year, it is sometimes difficult to predict how Congress will react to proposals from the White House. In contrast to the rancor and political skirmishes that occurred on Capitol Hill in 2011 when Congress debated raising the federal debt ceiling limit and when Congress extended the 2% payroll tax cut for two months at the end of December 2011, last week seemed relatively calm inside the Beltway. For a couple of days, I thought that there was a big snow storm on the East Coast and that the Washington had shut down due to wintry weather. Instead, members of both parties decided to work towards a common goal—their re-election.
Although it is an election year, most individual taxpayers are more concerned about the filing deadline for their Form 1040. By now, taxpayers have received most of their 1099 forms. Some of us have also had the privilege of receiving a 1099 in their mailbox and an email later that same day from the payer indicating that an amended 1099 is going to be issued by the end of February. One point for the procrastinators who do not file their tax returns too quickly.
The full brunt of the busy season has arrived. Luckily, there was not a lot of major tax legislation in 2011. This is unlike the previous tax season where tax legislation was passed into law during a lame duck session of Congress in late 2010. The final 2010 federal tax forms were released later than normal as a result of that last minute legislation. The companies that produce tax preparation software are probably breathing much easier this year. If I were a betting man, I would say that they will not be so lucky next year.
Speaking of tax form changes, some taxpayers have probably noticed line 1a, Merchant Card and Third-party Payments, in Part I on Schedule C (Form 1040). For 2011, the IRS deferred the requirement to report gross receipts received via merchant cards (credit and debit cards) and third-party network payments on line 1a. Taxpayers are supposed to enter zero on line 1a for 2011 and report all gross receipts on line 1b, including any income reported to them on Form 1099-K. It will be interesting to see what legislative and regulatory changes will occur in this area before the 2012 federal tax returns are filed in 2013. As always, the lobbyists will be busy.
In addition to the line for merchant card and third-party payments, taxpayers may have noticed some changes to Schedule D (Form 1040) this year. In general, taxpayers reporting 2011 capital gains and losses will first report the gains and losses on the new Form 8949, Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets. The totals from Form 8949 are then carried over to Schedule D. Once there, the taxpayer will be on more familiar ground.
While preparing their Form 1040, some taxpayers may notice that the Making Work Pay credit has disappeared. This credit expired and cannot be claimed on the 2011 federal individual tax return. The 2% employee payroll tax cut might reduce the sting of no longer having the Making Work Pay credit, but most taxpayers would prefer having both benefits.
How do you keep up with these changes? For those individuals with Smartphones, the IRS recently announced the availability of their updated Smartphone application, IRS2Go 2.0. This is an expanded app designed to provide taxpayers with easier access to tools and information. The new app is available for both the Apple and Android platforms. It has a new YouTube feature, news feeds, and tax transcript service. You can also check the status of your refund using the app.
Last week, there was another item of interest from the IRS. The Service issued its annual “Dirty Dozen” ranking of tax scams. There were no big surprises. Number one on their list was identity theft, and number three was return preparer fraud. The Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) requirement and Registered Tax Return Preparer (RTRP) program should help reduce return preparer fraud in the future. Many articles in the print and electronic media have started to educate taxpayers about seeking qualified tax preparers and asking for their PTIN.
One last item came to my attention this morning. There is a lot of talk in Washington about corporate tax reform. There is also some talk about individual tax reform in speeches by various presidential candidates. However, most tax professionals are currently concerned with filing 2011 tax returns. By April 17, many of us will have formed our own opinions on how to best reform the tax system, but the various tax provisions that expire at the end of 2012 will be foremost in our minds. It looks like the real fun begins when the lame duck session of Congress carefully deliberates how to handle that issue after the general election in November.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
CPE and Me
I had a birthday this month. Now, I am not going to tell you how old I am, but it did remind me that, in addition to being one year older, my annual Continuing Professional Education (CPE) reporting deadline had arrived. I am licensed in a state that requires CPAs to report the number of hours of CPE completed in the twelve-month period ending on the last day of the month in which they were born. The requirement is usually stated in terms of minimum required number of hours of credit and specific requirements such as number of hours earned from technical and non-technical topics and ethics. Failure to complete the minimum hour requirement as well as the specific course requirements can result in suspension of your license to practice.
A summary of CPE reporting deadlines for the 50 states and 4 territories are as follows:
• 28 – December 31st.
• 12 – June 30th.
• 8 – Other
• 5 – Birth Month
• 1 - None
The Wisconsin state board does not require its CPAs to obtain CPE: however, most Wisconsin CPAs voluntarily take CPE in order to stay current with the ever changing accounting and tax rules and regulations.
Five states have birth month reporting periods. These are mainly the large states; California, New York, and Texas. Arizona and New Mexico have also adopted reporting based on the month you were born.
The majority of the states-(74%) have either June 30th or December 31st-as their reporting date.
Often reporting periods do not correspond to the license renewal date, so you need to be careful to complete the required number of hours of CPE within the renewal period. Also, limits on the number of hours of credit you may report for a specific type of CPE (self-study vs. instructor led or technical vs. non-technical) need to be carefully monitored so you do not run afoul of the requirements.
If you are licensed in only one state, keeping up with your CPE requirements may not be that challenging. However, if you are licensed in multiple states, it can become a daunting task. The good news is that there is help available. Thomson Reuters CE Tracking, available on Checkpoint Learning©, tracks over 70 organizations that regulate licensing and certification requirements, including all 50 states. Just follow the link for more information.
https://checkpointlearning.thomsonreuters.com//Courses/CpeTracking
Features of CE Tracking include:
• Automatic determination of compliance periods.
• Enforcement of limits/prohibitions on credits earned.
• Notification of rule updates and changes.
• Monthly e-mail reminders to keep you informed of your CE compliance status.
Check it out for yourself. It can save you time and ensure that you meet all of the continuing education requirements mandated by each of your licensing bodies.
A summary of CPE reporting deadlines for the 50 states and 4 territories are as follows:
• 28 – December 31st.
• 12 – June 30th.
• 8 – Other
• 5 – Birth Month
• 1 - None
The Wisconsin state board does not require its CPAs to obtain CPE: however, most Wisconsin CPAs voluntarily take CPE in order to stay current with the ever changing accounting and tax rules and regulations.
Five states have birth month reporting periods. These are mainly the large states; California, New York, and Texas. Arizona and New Mexico have also adopted reporting based on the month you were born.
The majority of the states-(74%) have either June 30th or December 31st-as their reporting date.
Often reporting periods do not correspond to the license renewal date, so you need to be careful to complete the required number of hours of CPE within the renewal period. Also, limits on the number of hours of credit you may report for a specific type of CPE (self-study vs. instructor led or technical vs. non-technical) need to be carefully monitored so you do not run afoul of the requirements.
If you are licensed in only one state, keeping up with your CPE requirements may not be that challenging. However, if you are licensed in multiple states, it can become a daunting task. The good news is that there is help available. Thomson Reuters CE Tracking, available on Checkpoint Learning©, tracks over 70 organizations that regulate licensing and certification requirements, including all 50 states. Just follow the link for more information.
https://checkpointlearning.thomsonreuters.com//Courses/CpeTracking
Features of CE Tracking include:
• Automatic determination of compliance periods.
• Enforcement of limits/prohibitions on credits earned.
• Notification of rule updates and changes.
• Monthly e-mail reminders to keep you informed of your CE compliance status.
Check it out for yourself. It can save you time and ensure that you meet all of the continuing education requirements mandated by each of your licensing bodies.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Do Mondays (Whether Rainy or Not) Always Get You Down?
Do Mondays (Whether Rainy or Not) Always Get You Down?
• Do you wake up Monday morning and wish the weekend was one day longer?
• When your boss pops into your office, do you think, "What now?"
• Are you working more but enjoying it less because of longer hours and demanding deadlines?
Does this sound familiar? The recession impacts both the employed and unemployed as every top-line and bottom-line dollar is squeezed out of business financial statements. In addition, attrition policies and restructuring may have blocked your career path, overwhelmed you with responsibilities, or even pushed you into a promotion that has you struggling. You used to love your job! Now the lack of options has you feeling desperate.
Before you change your LinkedIn setting to “Actively Looking,” consider one of your best options. In order to succeed in a down economy you may need better or different skills. To obtain those skills you will need training. Unfortunately when an organization tightens its budget belt, training is often the first area to be cut. This is not the time to give up; it is the time to invest in yourself—your career. After all, if your knowledge and skills stay the same, then your skills are falling behind. Staying current with industry standards and expanding your skills will show your employer that you want your job (Let’s be frank, you may feel that you hate your job, but you would hate being unemployed even more!). The benefit to the firm will not be lost on your employer; the investment in yourself should convince your employer that you are a keeper. So how are you going to get this training? Here is how.
Online training can equip you with the skills needed to meet or exceed your client’s expectations. Thomson Reuters has a deal that will knock your socks off—access to hundreds of course for a one year period for one set fee - $299. That is less than $25 a month ($.82 per day). Are you ready to hone your skills or acquire new ones? How many topics could you tackle? Which courses would give you the edge that you need?
The Premier CPE Package (https://checkpointlearning.thomsonreuters.com//Bundle/Index ) provides a terrific range of learning options designed specifically for accounting professionals like you.
So, are you ready to tackle Monday, now?
• Do you wake up Monday morning and wish the weekend was one day longer?
• When your boss pops into your office, do you think, "What now?"
• Are you working more but enjoying it less because of longer hours and demanding deadlines?
Does this sound familiar? The recession impacts both the employed and unemployed as every top-line and bottom-line dollar is squeezed out of business financial statements. In addition, attrition policies and restructuring may have blocked your career path, overwhelmed you with responsibilities, or even pushed you into a promotion that has you struggling. You used to love your job! Now the lack of options has you feeling desperate.
Before you change your LinkedIn setting to “Actively Looking,” consider one of your best options. In order to succeed in a down economy you may need better or different skills. To obtain those skills you will need training. Unfortunately when an organization tightens its budget belt, training is often the first area to be cut. This is not the time to give up; it is the time to invest in yourself—your career. After all, if your knowledge and skills stay the same, then your skills are falling behind. Staying current with industry standards and expanding your skills will show your employer that you want your job (Let’s be frank, you may feel that you hate your job, but you would hate being unemployed even more!). The benefit to the firm will not be lost on your employer; the investment in yourself should convince your employer that you are a keeper. So how are you going to get this training? Here is how.
Online training can equip you with the skills needed to meet or exceed your client’s expectations. Thomson Reuters has a deal that will knock your socks off—access to hundreds of course for a one year period for one set fee - $299. That is less than $25 a month ($.82 per day). Are you ready to hone your skills or acquire new ones? How many topics could you tackle? Which courses would give you the edge that you need?
The Premier CPE Package (https://checkpointlearning.thomsonreuters.com//Bundle/Index ) provides a terrific range of learning options designed specifically for accounting professionals like you.
So, are you ready to tackle Monday, now?
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