ASCPA Connections - Jul/Aug 2022

J U LY

P R O F E S S I O N A L E D U CAT I O N I S S U E

•

AUGUST

2022

+

Member Benefit Provider

CPACharge has made it easy and inexpensive to accept payments via credit card. I’m getting paid faster, and clients are able to pay their bills with no hassles.

– Cantor Forensic Accounting, PLLC Trusted by more than 150,000 professionals, CPACharge is a simple, web-based solution that allows you to securely accept client credit and eCheck payments from anywhere.

22% increase in cash flow with online payments 65% of consumers prefer to pay electronically 62% of bills sent online are paid in 24 hours

Client Invoice #0123-A Your Client **** **** **** 9995

***

TOTAL: $3,000.00

PAY CPA Get started with CPACharge today

cpacharge.com/alcpa 866-288-5181

CPACharge is a registered agent of Wells Fargo Bank N.A., Concord, CA., Synovus Bank, Columbus, GA., and Fifth Third Bank, N.A., Cincinnati, OH. AffiniPay customers experienced 22% increase on average in revenue per firm using online billing solutions

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

FEATURES 2022-23 ASCPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS S. Jon Heath, Chair James White, Jr., Chair Elect Mandy Barksdale Stacy Cummings Keary Foster Matthew Hilburn Kendra James Michael Kassouf Amanda Paul Paul Perry Sarah Propper Joseph Wynn Dennis Sherrin, AICPA Council Rep Jamey Carroll, AICPA Council Rep James Moody, Past Chair CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Jeannine Birmingham, CPA, CAE, CGMA CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jim Martin, CPA Chris Comer, CPA.com EDITOR Megan G. Hughes, APR

Advertisers in this issue CPA Charge .....................................................

2

Corporate Tax Advisors ......................... 9

10

Topic 606 Disclosures

12

Meet Jon Heath, CPA

Topic 606, formally called “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” is now in effect for all entities.

As the 101st ASCPA Board Chair, Heath will lead strategic efforts of ASCPA’s 15-person board to support the profession.

14

Summer of CPE

20

Annual Meeting Recap

Check out the remaining line-up of Continuing Professional Education available - both webinars and in-person conferences!

ASCPA’s 103rd Annual Meeting was held June 14 in Birmingham at The Club. See page 10 for event photos and updates!

Inside the ASCPA Message from ASCPA CEO, Jeannine Birmingham.............. 4 Message from ASCPA Chair, Jon Heath .................................6

Accounting Biz Brokers ............................ 21 Accounting Practice Sales .................. 28

Member News........................................................................... 22 Classifieds....................................................................................26

@ALsocietyofCPAs

July / August

3

MESSAGE FROM JEANNINE

Clusters CPE event was the first that we have offered in-person since 2019. I hope that you will consider attending next year as we promise to make it bigger, better, and more fun.

Greeting ASCPA Members and Happy Summertime! I am ever-thankful that the office and home air conditioners are working because, man-oh-man, it is H O T. The hot temperatures must also mean that it is CPE season and we have so much planned for you. ASCPA kicked off CPE season in Orange Beach where we may have had a few hiccups, but much gratitude to our speakers, CPAs and staff who were able to push through. The Beach

Thank you! Thank you for supporting a member-favorite event. ASCPA had an awesome Annual Member’s Meeting in June. Dr. Steve Robbins and Bill Pirolli, Florence Holland, and others shared such great insight into a variety of current topics.

We were also able to honor our outgoing ASCPA Board Members Allison Guice, Angela Hamiter and Dustin Hornbuckle, and recognize our incoming board leaders Amanda Paul, Joseph Wynn, Sarah Propper, James White, Jr., and Jon Heath as ASCPA Board Chairman. ASCPA thrives when we have exceptional leaders, and we are super excited to have the opportunity to work with all CPA volunteers who serve in this board capacity. Please see page 20 for photos. As a reminder, please mark your calendar for June 13, 2023: ASCPA 104th Annual Meeting, and please feel free

to share with me any suggestions that you have for this or any ASCPA event.

As mentioned, Jon Heath, Carr Riggs Ingram, Enterprise, AL, has now assumed the role of ASCPA Board Chair. Please take the time to read more about Jon on pages 8 and 9. Jon and I have been friends for thirty years. We are both Troy alumni and passionate, proud supporters of all things Troy University. We are going to have a fun year working on many new Alabama CPA ideas. In fact, Jon recently taught me the acronym, BHAG, pronounced “Bee Hag.” Perhaps you know this acronym, but in case you do not, like me, BHAG means “Big Hairy Audacious Goal” and is defined as a powerful way to stimulate progress. Known examples of a BHAG is “a computer on every desk in every home” (Microsoft); “every book ever printed in any language, available in 60 seconds” (Amazon). One of the 2022-23 ASCPA strategic initiatives is a BHAG – perhaps something around ESG or Pipeline. Much more to come on that, so stay tuned.

Pipeline, oh pipeline, there is so much conversation, preparation, tool kit revitalization, and more going on profession-wide. Alabama Society, State Board, Universities, firms, and others are all discussing how we can be a voice of success in our state in teaching future CPAs the possibilities our credential allows. I would like to share a few data points so that you can be aware of the gravity of where the profession is with pipeline and newly licensed CPAs: Top Left: (L-R) Mike Brand, 2020 Board Chair, Jeannine, and James Moody, 2021 Board Chair, at ASCPA Casino Night; Bottom Left (L-R) James White, Jr., 2022 Board ChairElect, Jeannine, and James White, Sr. at Annual Meeting; Left: Dr. Steve Robbins presenting at ASCPA Annual Meeting.

4

ASCPA Connections

•

2020 Report of World Economic Forum: Jobs increasing in demand include Data Analysis, Information Security, Digital Transformation and Risk Management.

your voice so that ASCPA resources can be exactly what is needed to educate high school advisors, teachers and parents. Want to help? Please contact me.

•

National Student Clearinghouse: During fall of 2019-2021, undergraduate enrollment has fallen 6.9%, 1,025,569 students, and Community College enrollment is down 13%, 706,106 students.

•

Projected college enrollment will continue to decline through 2029.

Lastly, so many awesome, fun chapter events have been planned for you. Please join ASCPA staff, your chapter colleagues, and student members at an event near you. Here is what we currently have on the calendar, but there will be more to come so keep an eye on events posted in the weekly Addition newsletter.

•

In 2021, 54% of accounting programs reported declining undergraduate enrollments.

•

2021 CPA Trends Survey: Accounting hires by U.S. CPA firms is 57% of total hires and 43% of total hires are nonaccounting.

•

While up slightly in 2021, new CPA candidates has decreased each year since 2016 as has the number of candidates that successfully passed all four sections of the exam.

These shared data points should startle you. This is a problem, a challenge, that everyone needs to become involved with or the future consequences for your organization will be tough. The ASCPA, like AICPA, NASBA and state boards, are in this journey together. We have established a Pipeline Committee and would love for any eager volunteer to join the committee. The committee will work to ensure that students know what skills and knowledge CPAs need in a technology-driven marketplace and how the opportunities for a CPA are endless and constantly evolving. We need members and volunteers to join university advisory boards, participate in high school and middle school career days and classroom presentations. We need

Thank you for supporting ASCPA. Thank you for being our valued member.

Thank you for being an incredibly important part of the profession’s future.

Upcoming Chapter events •

July 28 | (11:30 - 1) East Alabama Chapter Luncheon with Mayor Anders Moore’s Mill Club

•

August 10 | (8:30 - 12) East Alabama Chapter CPE update with Kevin Robinson Auburn Chamber of Commerce

•

August 11 | (8:30 - 12) Tuscaloosa Chapter Tax Update with Lisa McKinney and Karen Miller Virtual

•

August 11 | (8 - 4) Wheeler Basin Chapter A&A Update with Jim Martin Doubletree Riverfront, Decatur

•

August 18 | (3 - 5) Huntsville Chapter Sip & CPE Ethics with Mike Brand Stove House

•

October 20 | (4 - 6) Montgomery Rooftop Social Ravello Ristorante

July / August

5

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

GRATITUDE! My heart is humbled and grateful to serve as your 2022-2023 chair. I want to thank our outgoing chair, James Moody, for his years of service and leadership out of our virtual world and back to in-person meetings and events.

James’ leadership made that transition both productive and successful. As immediate past-chair, James will continue to serve in various roles and on several committees. I also want to thank Jeannine and her outstanding team. The ASCPA team works tirelessly to educate us, advocate for us, and engage us in ways that enhance the profession in Alabama and nationally. I want to share my gratitude to the Board for all of their teamwork and dedication to the profession. And finally, a heaping helping of appreciation is shared with you – our members. You, your firms, your organizations, your teams, and your families give so much to serve the public interest, your clients, and many other stakeholders with high quality and integrity.

You inspire all of us on the board to serve with that same passion. We thank you for being the most trusted advisors in the most trusted profession. That reputation is built on, earned through, and maintained by your service. It’s because of you that this tag line is true – America Counts on CPAs… Alabama Counts on CPAs! 6

ASCPA Connections

I’ll introduce myself to those of you with whom I haven’t had the pleasure to meet. I was born and raised in Enterprise, Alabama. My maternal grand-parents were farmers from the metropolis of Black, Alabama. My paternal grand-parents served in the military and law-enforcement.

My parents were a civil-servant at Fort Rucker and a policeman in Enterprise and Ozark. In fact, law enforcement and service run deep in my family with an older brother and nephew who are also law enforcement officers. My twin brother and I graduated from Enterprise High School, and I was blessed to earn academic and athletic scholarships to Troy University (the artist formerly known as Troy State University). After graduating with my undergrad and Masters from TROY, I worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Atlanta for almost a dozen years. In 2005, I was blessed with the opportunity to return home to Enterprise as a partner with Carr, Riggs, & Ingram, LLC – where I’m now a partner in our Corporate office. In that role, I focus on all of the services the firm offers in terms of process, process improvement, quality, training, and client service. I am the very, very proud father of two amazing daughters – I promise there’s no dad brag in that comment, really. PJ is an incoming Junior at TROY University and working to earn her degree in Multimedia. Maddi is an incoming Junior at Spanish Fort High; her passions are dance and cheer. Both

of them are kind enough to join me at – read “put up with” – TROY and Enterprise football games. I enjoy football, physical fitness, faith, and family time.

Education is at the core of our profession, the ASCPA, and this issue of Connections.

I told myself when I passed the CPA Exam in 1995 that I wasn’t going to study again.

WRONG! As I look back with much more clarity, I’m so happy that my youthful pining was incorrect. I’ve heard at least one well-known speaker say that change is one of the profession’s super-powers.

At the heart of that change is continuous learning and education. In fact, the older I get, the more important continuous learning and education seem. Learning is all around us. Our colleges and universities work so diligently to prepare their students, who become our candidates, teammates, and (hopefully) partners and leaders. Our clients are learning new skills and technologies to advance their teams and businesses. Our stakeholders such as clients, customers, regulators, financial institutions, investors, etc. count on us to be well-informed regarding every financial topic including, but not limited to taxes, auditing, personal finance, systems and processes, cybersecurity, supply chain, and government programs.

How do we stay informed, relevant, and ready to serve those stakeholder needs?

The answer is Professional Education!

Jon with daughters PJ (left) and Maddi (right) before a Troy football game.

Today, it primarily starts in our colleges and universities. It continues through our firms, businesses, or organizations. The AICPA and ASCPA provide us with excellent course offerings to keep us informed, up-todate, and ready for the next challenge. It’s demonstrated via the current CPA Exam and other badges or certifications.

Just like the rest of the world, Professional Education is being re-imagined. Both the AICPA and ASCPA are working on initiatives to go deeper into the pipeline – into junior colleges, community colleges, high schools, and early education arenas – to share about the opportunities the profession provides people of all backgrounds. We need volunteers to share their stories of success with the next generation or two of CPAs – to inspire a diverse group of people to enter the profession and serve. Those changes continue in new curricula in colleges and universities to broaden skill sets to include information technology, analytics, process, personal finance, sustainability, governance, etc. After several years of exploring changes through the CPA Evolution Initiative, the new CPA exam is scheduled to take effect in 2024. While the exam will remain four parts, it will be administered via three core sections and a chosen discipline section.

These changes are reflective of the AICPA, State Societies, and National State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) joint efforts to address the ever-evolving responsibilities CPAs undertake.

your firm or on your own. You may want to know more about “soft skills” (which seem, ironically, very hard to master) or other initiatives in the profession such as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). You may want to know more about mental health or working from home. You might need an accountant to help you keep track of all of the topics and options. Better yet, I offer you the ASCPA; they engage us, advocate for us, AND they educate us. The ASCPA team is dedicated to positioning you and your firm, business, government, or organization to serve today and into the future.

I speak not only for myself, but also the ASCPA Board and staff, when I say THANK YOU; we are grateful to serve you. We would love to hear from you to learn how we might better serve you and your team.

You may be in Business and Industry, Government, Academia, a university, or a firm. You may be looking for traditional CPE topics like Tax, Accounting, and Auditing.

You may be looking for emerging topics like Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), analytics, controls, or cyber. You may want to demonstrate that knowledge with a license, badge, or certificate. You may want to take courses in-person, on-line, or selfstudy. You may want to take the course via

July / August

7

MEET CTA, INC.

In the spring of 2014, with a staff of six and a line of credit,

Mike Woeber and Dawson Fercho started a new company called Corporate Tax Advisors, Inc. Like many new startups, the road was not always paved or smooth.

“In the first three or four months three of those six people left the company,” said Woeber. “Back in those days Dawson and I didn’t have a big travel budget, but we would go to trade shows and meet with people. We were headquartered in Huntsville, but we did a lot of travel to Atlanta, Knoxville, all over Alabama, Tennessee, ventured out to Texas - all in an effort to start some brand recognition.”

Their efforts paid off, as three months into their business venture CTA secured their first client.

“So, the elevator pitch is simply, ‘we focus on those tax specialties that garner huge benefit in areas where traditionally a CPA is not equipped to take or handle it, or be comfortable with it,’” said Fercho.

“We can put together a model that delivers this at a better price,too,” added Woeber. “Not only a better price, but also at a higher level of service.”

CELEBRATING CTA’s HISTORY Embarking on their ninth year in business, CTA has nearly 30 employees - half are located in their Huntsville headquarters and the other half work remote in various states, such as Kansas, Georgia, California, South Carolina, Texas, and Arkansas.

“It was a company out of Denver, Colorado, and we worked for them for a couple of years,” said Woeber. “The first year was difficult. I can remember at the end of 2014, we were waiting on a couple of checks to come in right at the end of the year and we really had to have those to keep going.

It was stressful, but I think that is how a lot of the startups feel.”

“We can support anyone geographically in the country,” says Woeber. “We do a lot in the architectural and engineering business space and are looking to grow in the software and pharmaceutical industries - always looking to grow by increasing awareness.”

Fortunately, those checks did come in and for CTA 2015 began with plenty of traction and new clients.

Woeber and Fercho often reflect on their early days and reminisce on hard work that certainly paid off. One example they enjoy sharing is from 2015 – when, having been in business for just over a year, Fercho had an idea to meet people in a very efficient manner.

CTA SERVICES According to Fercho, the body of tax law is the largest body of law in the world. So large, in fact, he compares it to modern medicine.

“If you have an issue with your knee, your general physician would know the anatomy well enough to identify it, but if you have something going on, you are probably going to venture into the orthopedic, or the specialty realm,” explains Fercho. “Well, we are no different. There are over 9,000 code sections, and though the CPA might know and have some awareness around certain sections, they are going to stick with their bread and butter - what they do day in and day out. The accounting and financial statements, 1040s, 1120-Ss, 1120s, etc.. and we fill in the gap in the specialty tax realm.”

When Woeber and Fercho started the company their goal was to build a firm that would be an augment, or an addition – a true value-add for their clients, which to them included their clients’ CPA relationship.

“We want to work with your accountant,” said Woeber. “This is our expertise, we are highly focused on a couple of areas within the Internal Revenue Code. We are going to work with your CPA, we are going to make your CPA’s life a little bit easier, knowing that this burden of calculating these items is not resting on the CPA’s shoulders. That should make their life during busy season a lot easier.”

8

ASCPA Connections

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, ONE RV TRIP AT A TIME

“The genesis to this idea has real life messaging around it,” said Fercho. “It was a new environment. I saw things flip flop almost overnight from relational to transactional. From a very client-centric fee approach, to just a fee-centric approach. No relationship.”

Fercho knew the ‘X-factor’ was not only building the business relationship, but also the relationship in-person.

When he looked at his travel schedule, he realized he was spending close to 220 days on the road. (Almost missing his middle child’s second year of life!) So, what did the Fercho family do?

“My wife quit her job, we homeschooled the kids, we rented out our house and got an RV. We traveled to these different places for me to build relationships with clients,” said Fercho. “It worked out because I was more efficient in my travel. I had 200+ people on a webinar at once teaching them R&D from my master bedroom - but the participants didn’t know it at the time.”

MEET CTA, INC.

RV tracks from 2015 - 2016

This client-centered strategy truly propelled CTA, and by 2016 they were able to pay off their line of credit - and have been debt-free ever since. But that’s not what sticks out in Fercho’s mind.

“Now I have great relationships,” said Fercho. “Our growth has been great.”

While Fercho is no longer on the road in the RV, client relationships are still a priority for CTA. “The incentives that CTA can help clients with all have a scientific element to them,” said Woeber. “And by ‘scientific’ I mean that someone has to make a scientific evaluation of what that client is doing.”

“We have the people on staff that are full time employees to take that science, evaluate it, and translate it into a tax credit or tax deduction,” said Woeber. “And that is all we do. If you call us and say we need this done now, we can jump in and do it. We aren’t bound by due dates, and that is one reason we are so helpful to accountants.”

CTA credits their success to their relationships with clients.

Because they listen, align, and solve.

“Ultimately, it isn’t extravagant,” said Woeber. “We just want to build relationships with our clients, not just be transactional.”

CTA is partnering with ASCPA to sponsor August’s Member Appreciation Series Webinar. This CPE is free for all members.

Register at alabama.cpa. Webinar will be held Aug. 25 at Noon.

You r P artne r for Su cce ss CTA does not provide other accounting or audit services.

Instead, we act as an extension of your firm to bring value to your clients.

Research and Development Tax Credits 179D Energy Efficient Tax Deduction Cost Segregation Studies Opportunity Zone Credits Employee Retention Credit

EXPERT ADVICE

ACCURATE RESULTS

Corporate Tax Advisors www.corporatetaxadvisors.com

Heather Fisher 256.419.5546 O | 931.808.9345 C HeatherF@corporatetaxadvisors.com

FREE PRELIMINARY CONSULTATIONS

LASTING RELATIONSHIPS

July / August

9

PROFESSIONAL ISSUE UPDATE

TOPIC 606 DISCLOSURES ARE HAUNTING THE PROFESSION Topic 606, formally called “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” is now in effect for all entities. While the numerical impact and changes to timing of revenue recognition as a result of adopting the standard is typically minimal, the revenue recognition disclosures are a little more voluminous. The purpose of this article is to try and clarify exactly what disclosures are necessary on an ongoing basis to comply with Topic 606.

obligation behind the sale of one gallon of paint from a Benjamin Moore store would be characterized as the transfer of control of a gallon of paint. The performance obligation behind the painting of a house would be transfer of control of the painting service to the buyer.

3.

Determine the transaction price. The “transaction price” is the amount that the seller expects to be entitled to when or as it satisfies the performance obligation (s)).

4.

Allocate the transaction price to each performance obligation.

This is usually done by reference to a stand-alone selling price associated with the good or service.

5.

Recognize revenue when or as the performance obligations are satisfied. There are two ways to satisfy a performance obligation: at a point in time or over time. Most sales of an inventory item are satisfied at a point in time (usually point of sale or fob shipping point or destination), whereas most sales of services are recognized over time (usually as service is provided).

First, a brief review of the workings of Topic 606. It is a five-step plan of revenue recognition with the 5 steps as follows: 1.

2.

10

Identify the contract with the customer. This involves determining if there is an enforceable contract between the parties. The buyer and seller each have obligations and collectability of consideration is probable.

Identify the “performance obligations” under the contract.

Most transactions involve a single performance obligation, which is defined as a distinct good(s) or service(s) being transferred to the customer. For example, the performance

ASCPA Connections

PROFESSIONAL ISSUE UPDATE

Most businesses who adopted the Topic 606 standard determined that it did not have a significant impact on the amount or timing of recognition of revenue. Apparently, as a result, entities did not (are not) mentioning the change in the financial statements in the year of adoption citing materiality. The entity (and accountant) should note that ASC 250-10-50-1 requires that an entity shall disclose, among other items, the following in the year in which a change in accounting principle is made: 1.

The nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle.

2.

The method of applying the change, including a description of method of adoption and impact of the change on individual financial statement line items.

While this might seem to be satisfied by showing the ending balance of accounts receivable for each period, please note that many are not disclosing the beginning balance as of the start of the earliest period presented in the financial statements. Some present this disclosure in words (narrative), others do it in a table and still others do it in a roll forward schedule.

3.

a. When performance obligations are typically satisfied (fob shipping point, at sales kiosk, as service is rendered, etc.) b. Significant payment terms (upon transfer of control, or financing component, if the consideration amount is variable, etc.)

The accountant should also note that AU-C Section 708 requires an emphasis of a matter paragraph be placed in an auditor’s report (and the AR-C discusses emphasis of matters paragraphs in non-audits) in the year of change if the change in accounting principle has a material impact on the financial statements. See comment on materiality later in this article.

Topic 606 also requires several more revenue disclosures than had previously been required under Topic 605. According to peer reviewers, many practitioners have apparently been neglecting these disclosures.

c. The nature of the goods or services the entity has promised to transfer, highlighting any performance obligations where the entity is serving as an agent d. Obligations for returns, refunds and similar obligations 4.

Significant judgments affecting the determination of the amount and timing of revenue from contracts with customers and any changes in those judgments. This includes judgements related to the timing of the satisfaction of performance obligations and transaction price and amounts allocated to performance obligations.

5.

For performance obligations that are satisfied over time, the methods used to recognize revenue (i.e., input or output methods used and how they were applied).

6.

Amount of bad debt expense related to contracts with customers.

Topic 606 has over 10 pages of disclosure requirements. FASB was kind enough to allow most disclosures to be optional for private businesses.

However, there are several that are still required with the major ones as follows: 1.

Revenue disaggregated based on the timing of transfer of goods or services (point in time versus over time) What this means is that on the face of the income statement, or in the notes, the reporting entity has to break down how much of their “revenue from contracts” (which means revenue from what they do for a living) is from performance obligations satisfied at a point in time (typically, sales of inventory) and those satisfied over time (typically, service revenue). Simply put, a single line called “Sales” or “Revenue” no longer suffices if you have sales and service revenue.

2.

Beginning and ending balances of the following items from contracts with customers: a. Receivables b. Contract assets c. Contract liabilities

What this means is that the beginning and ending balance of accounts receivable (which represents claims against customers only waiting for payment to be made) or contract assets, which are generated recorded when the entity recognizes revenue from a contract with a customer but is not yet entitled to collect it, or contract liabilities which are generated when the entity has received cash or assets related to contracts which the entity has yet to recognize in revenue, have to be disclosed.

Information about performance obligations in contracts with customers, including a description of the following items:

Please note that these disclosures are qualitative (written) disclosures for the most part and since revenue is a material item in the financial statements, they are required regardless of the quantitative impact of Topic 606.

To summarize, Topic 606, even when it doesn’t materially impact net income, still has reporting and disclosure issues that need to be addressed. Happy A&A to all!

JAMES (JIM) MARTIN, CPA, CGMA has specialized in both income tax and accounting and audit areas for 35 years. In addition to serving the accounting and tax needs of his clients, he performs almost 100 continuing education seminars per year for CPAs and attorneys throughout the United States. Jim’s philosophy of CPE is simple: spend the class time on topics of applicability and relevance to all and present the topics in an entertaining and fast-moving manner.

Jim also regularly consults with CPA firms throughout the United States on a variety of accounting and auditing technical issues and serves as expert counsel in litigation matters.

July / August

11

Meet Jon Heath

The Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants is proud to introduce to you our 101st Board Chair Jon Heath of Enterprise. As Chair, Heath will lead strategic efforts of our 15-person board to support the profession, and continue working with the Society to move our initiatives forward. Heath will serve a term as President for one calendar year, then will move into a past-president role. Dedicated to spending this year working strategically on leadership, growth, talent and technology, Heath has objectives in place and is ready to go to work for ASCPA Members.

Where did you grow up?

Enterprise, AL When did you decide on accounting as a career?

During my first year in college. One of my teammates introduced me to Dr. Ratcliffe at TROY. And my roommate (and teammate at the time) attended Principles I with me. All of us are now partners at Carr, Riggs, & Ingram, LLC. What advice would you give to a smart, driven college student about to enter the “real world”?

My boss, Mr. Carr, has this saying that we sometimes look at things as being done TO us rather than being done FOR us. He also says, “where there’s chaos, there’s opportunity”. My advice is two-fold. My boss is basically saying that our perspective makes a huge difference. So for the first piece of advice, I’ll borrow from him. Look for the positives in life, and you’ll probably find them. The second piece of advice is to find someone wiser than you and listen – a lot.

What prompted you to enter public accounting instead of another sector?

I thought public accounting could teach me a lot about a bunch of different industries, companies, processes, cultures, etc. I could use that knowledge to figure out what I wanted to be or what I wanted to do. Turns out that helping people grow and finance their business via public accounting is exactly what I want to do.

In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your life?

There are several. Spiritually, I ’m a very faith-based person. I meditate on scripture and share a prayer with family and friends most every day. Mentally, I’ve centered on this book “Can’t Hurt Me” by David Goggins, a former Navy SEAL. He shares his life story and many lessons that can be applied. And physically, breathing and cold therapy (e.g., jumping into my unheated pool when it’s 27 degrees outside) are things that I’ve applied from “The Wim Hof Method”.

What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments of time, money or energy you’ve ever made?

My children. I try to be present with them and supporting them as much as possible. They are definitely the best investments of my time, money, AND energy.

When you feel overwhelmed or have lost your focus, what do you do?

I slow down and breath. Box breathing, which is a technique that Navy SEALS use, is a great way to get focused.

What’s your greatest take-away from 2021?

The importance of acceptance and agility. Accepting both people and situations as they come to us. Exercising the agility to make the most of the relationships and situations presented to us.

What prompted you to become a member of the ASCPA? What benefits have you seen from being a member? If I’m completely honest, I “became” a member because that’s what we do, right? But seeing benefits from membership required something of me, my time and effort. Like most things in life, when I started investing, I started reaping significant benefits. I’ve been part of AICPA Council; it helped in becoming part of the Auditing Standards Board. Through the ASCPA, I’ve also met and worked with senior partners and young, talented professionals across the state. I would recommend investing in the ASCPA. If you sew, then you’ll definitely reap many rewards and gain much insight.

Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in Enterprise, Alabama – the son of a retired policeman and retired civil-service worker. I have an older brother, who is also a retired policeman. I am a twin; sadly, my twin brother passed away four and a half years ago. He did power plant and airframe work on aircraft. I’m father to two daughters. PJ, who will be 20 by the time this is published, is a multimedia major and incoming Junior at TROY. Maddi, who is 16, a competitive dancer and cheerleader, and an incoming Junior at Spanish Fort High School. My favorite role in life is “Dad” to those amazing young ladies; I am truly blessed to be their dad. I am a huge college (Go TROY) and high school (Go Wildcats) football fan. I enjoy working out and giving back to those programs that shaped my life. I am a member of the First United Methodist Church in Enterprise and have

July / August

13

Register at alabama.cpa/FAAC

Register at alabama.cpa/GAAF

GENERAL CPE SCHEDULE Summer Education Conference (SEC) Gulf Shores 7/18/2022 (8:00AM-3:30PM) Various | 6 AA, 4 TX, 10 Other Peer Review Update Hybrid | Gulf Shores 7/19/2022 (12:30PM-4:00 PM) Brand, Michael L. | 4 AA 2022 Ethics Course for CPAs in Public Practice - A Case Study Approach (ETHPSEC) | Gulf Shores 7/20/2022 (1:00PM-2:40PM) Oestriecher, Kurt G. | 2 Ethics 2022 Ethics Course for CPAs in Business & Industry- A Case Study Approach (ETHISEC) | Gulf Shores 7/21/2022 (1:00PM-2:40PM) Oestriecher, Kurt G. | 2 Ethics Member Appreciation Series: Paychex Virtual 7/26/2022 (12:00PM-12:50PM) TBD | 1 Other Governmental Auditing Update: Yellow Book & Uniform Guidance What You Need to Know | Virtual 8/10/2022 (8:30 AM-12:00PM) Galasso, Melisa | 4 AA Not-for-Profit Accounting Update Virtual 8/10/2022 (12:30PM-4:00 PM) Galasso, Melisa | 4 AA Member Appreciation Series: CTA Virtual 8/25/2022 (12:00PM-12:50PM) TBD | 1 Other Buying and Selling a Business: Tax and Structuring Overview | Virtual 8/18/2022 (8:30 AM-12:00PM) Frost, Michael A. | 4 TX

Succession Planning for the Small Business Owner: Finding the Exit Ramp Virtual 8/18/2022 (12:30PM-4:00 PM) Frost, Michael A. | 4 TX

Accounting in Uncertain Times: A Closer Look at Pandemic Accounting Issues Virtual 8/26/2022 (12:30PM-4:00 PM) Martin, Jim D. | 4 AA

Independence and Recent Developments in Professional Ethics Virtual 8/19/2022 (8:30 AM-10:10AM) Brand, Michael L. | 2 Ethics

Conquering the New Leasing Standard It’s Finally Here! | Virtual 8/26/2022 (8:30 AM-12:00PM) Martin, Jim D. | 4 AA

Key Partnership and S Corporation Tax Planning Strategies | Virtual 8/19/2022 (12:30PM-4:00 PM) Frost, Michael A. | 4 TX Revenue Recognition: Identifying the Contract & Performance Obligations Virtual 8/19/2022 (10:30AM-12:10PM) Brand, Michael L. | 2 AA Surgent’s Individual Tax Planning Ideas Virtual 8/19/2022 (8:30 AM-12:00PM) Frost, Michael A. | 4 TX Critical Issues That CPAs in Industry Will Need to Face This Year | Virtual 8/25/2022 (12:30PM-4:00 PM) Hamilton, Marc | 2 AA, 2 TX Gaining a Competitive Advantage: Critical Skills for CFOs and Controllers Virtual 8/25/2022 (8:30 AM-12:00PM) Hamilton, Marc | 4 Other Guide and Update to Compilations, Reviews, and Preparations | Virtual 8/25/2022 (12:30PM-4:00 PM) Brand, Michael L. | 4 AA Small-Business Accounting, Audit, and Attest Update | Virtual 8/25/2022 (8:30 AM-12:00PM) Brand, Michael L. | 4 AA

Technology Trends and Hot Topics Impacting the Accounting Profession Virtual 8/26/2022 (8:30 AM-12:00PM) Hamilton, Marc | 2 AA, 2 Other Member Appreciation Series: AON Virtual 9/15/2022 (12:00PM-12:50PM) TBD | 1 Other Common Yellow Book & Uniform Guidance Deficiencies | Virtual 9/20/2022 (12:30PM-4:00 PM) Galasso, Melisa | 4 AA What’s Going on at the GASB Virtual 9/20/2022 (8:30 AM-12:00PM) Galasso, Melisa | 4 AA ASCPA’s 2022 Sales and Use Tax Workshop | Virtual 9/22/2022 (8:30 AM-12:00PM) Thistle II, William T. | 4 TX Maximizing Your Social Security Benefits | Virtual 9/22/2022 (8:30 AM-12:00PM) Frost, Michael A. | 4 TX Required Minimum Distributions: Compliance and Planning | Virtual 9/22/2022 (12:30PM-4:00 PM) Frost, Michael A. | 4 TX

GO TO ALABAMA.CPA FOR NEW CLASSES AND MOST CURRENT INFORMATION. 16

ASCPA Connections

GENERAL CPE SCHEDULE Advanced Trust Issues: A Roadmap for Success in an Increasingly Complex Area Virtual 9/23/2022 (12:30PM-4:00 PM) Frost, Michael A. | 4 TX Controller/CFO Update: Hot Topics Facing Today’s Financial Professional Virtual 9/23/2022 (8:30 AM-12:00PM) Hamilton, Marc | 4 Other Planning and Strategy Formulation for Your Organization’s Financial Success Virtual 9/23/2022 (12:30PM-4:00 PM) Hamilton, Marc | 4 Other S Corporation Taxation: Advanced Issues Virtual 9/23/2022 (8:30 AM-12:00PM) Frost, Michael A. | 4 TX

The New Auditing Standards Virtual 9/29/2022 (8:30 AM-10:10AM) Martin, Jim D. | 2 AA

Member Appreciation Series: February Virtual 2/15/2023 (12:00PM-12:50PM) TBD | 1 Other

ASCPA’s Financial Accounting & Auditing Conference (FAAC) Hybrid | Montgomery 9/30/2022 (8:00AM-3:30PM) Various | 8 AA

Member Appreciation Series: March Virtual 3/15/2023 (12:00PM-12:50PM) TBD | 1 Other

Member Appreciation Series: October Virtual 10/14/2022 (12:00PM-12:50PM) TBD | 1 Other Member Appreciation Series: Paychex Virtual 11/17/2022 (12:00PM-12:50PM) TBD | 1 Other

2022 Preparation, Compilation & Review (SSARS) Update for the Local Firm | Virtual 9/28/2022 (12:30PM-4:00 PM) Martin, Jim D. | 4 AA

ASCPA’s Governmental Accounting and Auditing Forum ATTENDING BOTH DAYS (GAAF) Hybrid | Montgomery 12/8/2022 (1:00PM-4:00PM) & 12/9/2022 (8:30AM-12:00PM) Various | 8 AA

Accounting & Auditing for Tax People Who Absolutely Detest Accounting & Auditing | Virtual 9/28/2022 (8:30 AM-12:00PM) Martin, Jim D. | 4 AA

ASCPA’s Governmental Accounting and Auditing Forum DAY ONE ONLY (GAAF1) Hybrid | Montgomery 12/8/2022 (1:00PM-4:00PM) Various | 4 AA

Peer Review Team Captain Part 1 Virtual 9/28/2022 (8:30 AM-12:00PM) Brand, Michael L. | 4 AA

ASCPA’s Governmental Accounting and Auditing Forum DAY TWO ONLY (GAAF2) Hybrid | Montgomery 12/9/2022 (8:30AM-12:00PM) Various | 4 AA

2022 Real World Ethics Update for All Practitioners | Virtual 9/29/2022 (10:30AM-12:10PM) Martin, Jim D. | 2 AA Peer Review Team Captain Part 2 Virtual 9/29/2022 (8:30 AM-12:00PM) Brand, Michael L. | 4 AA

Member Appreciation Series: April Virtual 4/17/2023 (12:00PM-12:50PM) TBD | 1 Other

Member Appreciation Series: CTA Virtual 12/6/2022 (12:00PM-12:50PM) TBD | 1 Other Member Appreciation Series: AON Virtual 1/19/2023 (12:00PM-12:50PM) TBD | 1 Other

This CPE schedule is subject to change. Please refer to alabama. cpa for the most current list of offerings.

GO TO ALABAMA.CPA FOR NEW CLASSES AND MOST CURRENT INFORMATION.

July / August

17

Firms are using the new .cpa domain to supercharge their online presence. Here’s how.

By Chris Comer, Director of Operations, CPA.com

Put a good idea in the hands of CPAs, and they’ll find innovative ways to make it even better. That’s exactly what’s happening right now with the new .cpa web domain.

When .cpa was launched in fall of 2020, there were plenty of good reasons for firms to take notice.

For starters, it’s a practical way to enhance client trust – when clients see a firm with a .cpa domain they know it’s a firm they can trust rather than some questionable fly-by-night operation. That’s because only individually-licensed CPAs and licensed CPA firms can obtain a .cpa domain through a verification process managed by CPA.com, a subsidiary of the AICPA. There’s also the issue of security: When firms adopt the .cpa domain, they’re better able to protect firm and client data from phishing and other security threats, since top-level domains like .cpa are more resistant to fraud than the less-regulated, more commonly used .com.

And then there are the brand benefits. When it comes to using the .cpa domain to support their brand and marketing strategies, firms have been steadily innovating, creating new opportunities and advantages that weren’t immediately obvious. As a result, in only a short time the profession has seen a host of new domain strategies take flight – and they’re just getting started.

If you’re wondering whether your firm should make the move to a .cpa domain, here are some domainbased brand strategies (in addition to the benefits of heightened security and trust) that your peers in the profession are already putting to work.

“Let’s use this as an opportunity to rebrand.”

Rebranding is perhaps the most obvious opportunity presented by the .cpa domain. If your firm feels tethered to a name or web address that it had outgrown, but couldn’t find a better option in the overcrowded realm of .com domains, the .cpa domain allows the firm to start fresh. Stuck with JonesCPA.com even though Jones retired five years ago? This is a rare chance to get the website address that fits the firm’s present and future ambitions.

“We need a shorter domain!”

As the internet matured, all the good domains were quickly snatched up. If you wanted to own the JonesCPA.com address, it was probably already held by some other Jones CPA, or by a squatter who bought it in the hopes of selling it at a higher price.

18

ASCPA Connections

This led to some very long domains that are virtually impossible for clients to remember. The .cpa domain offers the opportunity for firms to secure shorter, more memorable domains – a simple and effective boost to your brand and marketing efforts. That’s why Texas- based DWG CPA jumped at the opportunity to secure the dwg.cpa url, which is easy for clients and prospects to remember and supports the firm’s branding efforts.

“Over ten years ago, we secured dwgcpatx.com for our newly launched firm,” said Managing Director Darrell Groves, CPA, CGMA. “But as our firm grew and matured over the years, it became clear that our domain name was just too long and hard to remember. When we thought about the value of marketing our firm, and of having a shorter url, it didn’t take us long to decide we needed to make the move to a .cpa domain,” he said.

“Let’s target specific markets with our domain.”

Specialization continues to grow in importance as a tool for firms to distinguish themselves from the competition and tap into a deep well of clients. For example, some firms focus on serving the restaurant industry, or manufacturers. Others specialize in certain types of services – taxes, SOC audits, or client accounting services (CAS), to name only a few.

Some focus on segments such as startups. Some firms distinguish by geography and are looking to market themselves within specific towns, regions, or states.

Many firms have already started to adopt domain names that reflect their specific niche, making it easier for clients to find them in online searches and reinforcing their commitment to specific markets.

Acosta Tax & Advisory’s MiamiBeach.cpa is one example of this hyper-targeted strategy in action, helping the firm appear prominently in the online search results of prospective clients looking for a CPA in the area. Another is SOCAudit.cpa. Guess what they specialize in?

Firms can even heighten the impact of these urls through a multiple domain strategy. By leveraging website redirects, they can advertise marketspecific or geotargeted url’s that stand out from the competition and then redirect web browsers to a primary website.

This enables firms to have a primary website, such as Cromer.cpa, but to advertise catchy, branded domains such as TaxGuru.cpa or BayArea.cpa, while not having to manage multiple websites.

The .CPA domain hasn’t been available for very long, so right now is the best time to secure your firm’s top pick.

It’s easy to do – just visit Domains.cpa. You’ll find all the details you need to inform your decision, including a whitepaper, case studies, and video interviews with leaders at firms who have already made the switch. In these short videos, these leaders share their tips and best practices for transitioning to a .cpa URL.

ANNUAL MEETING RECAP The Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants gathered at Birmingham’s The Club Tuesday, June 14 for the organization’s annual meeting. The day-long event included breakfast, keynote speaker Dr. Steve Robbins, multiple member recognitions, lunch and a full day of relevant and meaningful continuing education presentations.

Outgoing ASCPA Chair James Moody opened the 103rd annual meeting by reflecting on not only the past year, but the past three years. Moody recognized the two past presidents that came before him during the height of a global pandemic - Michael Brand (2020 Chair) and Dennis Sherrin (2019 Chair).

Dr. Steve Grice, recently retired from Troy University School of Accountancy and the Botts Professor of Accounting, was honored with the Lifetime Member Award. Also recognized were outgoing board members: Allison Guice, Jackson Thornton; Dustin Hornbuckle, ALFA; and Angela Hamiter, JamisonMoneyFarmer.

(L-R) Sarah Propper, Joseph Wynn, James White, Jr., Amanda Paul, and Jon Heath.

Mary Leslie provided a report for the Nominations Committee, and introduced new board members for 2022-23. These new members are: Sarah Propper, Pearce, Bevill, Leesburg, Moore, P.C. (Birmingham); Joseph Wynn, Wear, Howell, Strickland, Quinn & Law (Decatur); and Amanda Paul, Troy University (Troy). Leslie also recognized incoming Board Chair Jon Heath, of Carr, Riggs, & Ingram (Enterprise) and Chair-elect James White, Jr., of Banks, Finley, White & Co. (Birmingham).

Thank You

Bronze

Silver

(Pictured Above) 2022 Board Chair Jon Heath with Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Dr. Steve Grice.

Gold

Title

Sponsors!

(Above Left) 2022 Chair Jon Heath with 2021 Chair James Moody; (Above Right) Outgoing Board Member Angela Hamiter with 2021 Board Chair James Moody.

NEW CPAS

Congratulations to Alabama’s newest CPA Licensees The following individuals have successfully passed all four parts of the CPA exam - Congratulations!

Makenzie Rae Anthony, Wetumpka

David Michael Robinson, Gulfport, MS

Mariam Aslam, Latham, NY

Ashtyn Hope Stinebaugh, Pelham

Ani Oritsetsemaye Binitie, Huntsville

Wilhelmina Tutu Stubblefield, Birmingham

Austin Bradley Boothe, Madison

Shelby Reed Styron, Elba

Mark William Cantey, Fairhope

Mary Angela Watson, Roswell, GA

Christopher William Clark, Montgomery

Anna Marie Zahumensky, Birmingham

Taylor Breanna Dean, Athens Collin Mitchell Hall, Birmingham

These individuals completed all four parts within the March 1, 2022-April 30, 2022 time frame.

Tiffany Ann Houser, Birmingham Bianca Danielle Ingram, Charlotte, NC Chelsea Monea Jones, Birmingham Lakeshia Danyell King, Union Springs Kaitlin Moye Miller, Columbus, GA Marise Mostert, Warrior Mary Catherine Norris, Montgomery

Selling your firm is complex.

Let us make it simple.

Krista Dale Patterson, Clanton Hope Katherine Reband, Antioch, IL

Kathy Brents, CPA, CBI: Christy Hudson, CBI: Office:

501-514-4928 501-499-4357 866-260-2793

kathy@accountingbizbrokers.com christy@accountingbizbrokers.com

Learn more and get a FREE Market Analysis at

Experienced

Professional

Confidential

www.AccountingBizBrokers.com

July / August

21

MEMBER NEWS Anglin Reichmann Armstrong announced the appointment of Brandon C. Smith, CPA to Managing Partner, effective July 1, 2022.

Current Managing Partner Gary Anglin, CPA, CGMA, transitions to chair of the firm’s board of directors. Anglin will maintain his focus on client consulting while being available to the management team as needed. He will stay involved in the profession through CPAmerica and state CPA societies such as serving on ASCPA’s ethics committee.

has helped with many projects in Crow Shields Bailey’s fastest growing line of business.

This historic announcement marks the 32nd anniversary of the firm and the next chapter of its strategic plan, according to Gary Anglin. “Brandon’s role is a very intentional piece of our growth strategy, and he will continue to work closely with our internal team while also maintaining direct client contact. He has a natural skill set for building relationships and implementing strategy, which perfectly matches who we need as the next managing partner.”

Finnorn is a graduate of The University of South Alabama, and is being promoted to a Supervisor on Crow Shields Bailey’s Audit Team. He specializes in audits of construction contractors, manufacturers, employee benefit plans, and oil and gas support services.

Smith joined the firm in 2006 shortly after switching his career interests from computer science to accounting. He achieved his Master of Accountancy degree in 2007, and he has since served clients in a variety of industries as an outsourced CFO and business advisor. He expressed excitement for the managing partner role, noting that his background in IT and business advisory services (rather than a specific tax or audit track) is similar to the evolution of the public accounting industry today. “I grew my career at Anglin through our consulting practice, and this emphasizes where our firm is and where the profession is going — advisory services beyond compliance work.”

Crow Shields Bailey recently celebrated three employee promotions. Tyler McKeown was promoted to CAAS Implementation Specialist, while Brooke Bunting, CPA and Andrew Finnorn, CPA were promoted to Supervisors.

McKeown, a graduate of The University of South Alabama and a volunteer at Surge Church services and community activities, 22

ASCPA Connections

Bunting is a graduate of Spring Hill College and The University of Alabama, and is being promoted to a Supervisor on Crow Shields Bailey’s Tax Team.

She specializes in business, individual, trust and estate tax preparation; monthly and yearly write-ups for small businesses; tax planning for businesses and individuals; and assisting clients with accounting software.

Dent Moses recently welcomed Wendy Adams, CPA as a Senior Manager.

Adams brings more than 36 years of experience specializing in consulting, planning and tax compliance for corporations and pass-through entities in multiple industries. She also provides consulting and tax services to highnet-worth individuals and business owners. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Alabama.

Himmelwright Huguley Boles send congratulations to Mary Katherine Holton, Kyleigh Kichler, and Alessandro Rovere on their recent promotions. Holton was promoted to Accounting Services Specialist, Kichley to Manager and Rovere to Senior Manager.

Jackson Thornton, a certified public accounting and consulting firm headquartered in Montgomery, is pleased to announce the addition of Justin K. Clark and Susan S. Barnes to the firm.

Clark is a principal in the firm’s Auburn/Opelika office and joins Jackson Thornton Asset Management (JTAM) as a financial advisor. Prior to joining JTAM, Clark was a partner in an Auburn-based real estate development company providing consulting services to a variety of clients, ranging from commercial single tenant properties to multifamily properties. Clark also has a CPA firm background where he provided accounting and assurance, transaction advisory, and consulting services to a wide range of industries including real estate and construction, financial services, and manufacturing.

Clark is a Leadership Montgomery graduate and former treasurer, served as treasurer of Bridge Builders of Alabama, was active in the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce, and served as a board member of the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants (ASCPA). He holds both graduate and undergraduate degrees from Troy University. Clark also holds professional membership in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the ASCPA. Barnes is a Senior Manager in the firm’s Montgomery office and provides Outsourced Controller/ CFO services to clients. She has a CPA firm background and consulted with clients to develop processes and procedures to better utilize their current accounting software. Barnes also assisted clients in the implementation of new accounting software systems.

Prior to that, she served as Chief Financial Officer of Anchor Mortgage for 18 years and helped develop their accounting systems and compensation programs when the company was founded in 1988.

Barnes is a graduate of Auburn University. She holds professional membership in the AICPA and ASCPA. Barnes is a member of Christchurch Anglican where she serves on the finance committee.

“We’re excited to welcome Justin and Susan to the team,” said John Fendley, Jackson Thornton’s President & CEO. “Their depth of experience

MEMBER NEWS and backgrounds working for a large CPA firm position them to be valuable resources for the firm and our clients.”

Pierce, CPA & Advisors is proud to announce that Lykethia Pierce, CPA, CB is a Birmingham Business Journal Who’s Who In Accounting 2022 Honoree.

The individuals recognized are leaders in Birmingham’s accounting industry.

They have a track record of helping individuals and businesses reach their milestones like planning, development, growth and resiliency.

Pierce is the founding member of Pierce, CPA & Advisors and serves as the entity’s chief executive officer.

Beginning in 2014, she has provided start-up to 7-figures businesses with business and accounting solutions.

Doug Marshall, President and CEO of the Presbyterian Home for Children had the unique honor and responsibility in April of 2022 at the Annual Meeting of the United Methodist Association Health and Welfare Ministries to be elected for a 3 year term to the national UMA Board of Directors. The mission of UMA is to promote, inspire, recognize, and empower excellence in human service ministries.

The Presbyterian Home for Children will now actually be the only Presbyterian Church - USA organization in the entire country represented directly on the UMA Board. Marshall was appointed to its Finance Committee in addition to continuing to serve on the EAGLE Accreditation Commission.

Warren Averett CPAs and Advisors is pleased to announce that 10 members of the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants were recently promoted.

Rusty Pickering, CPA, CSC, was promoted to Principal and serves as Director of Recruiting in the Birmingham office. He oversees the

internal recruiting for all Warren Averett locations and works with external clients, specializing in executive recruiting for accounting/ financial positions, information technology and office/administration roles.

Sarah Beth Clement Magette, CPA, CFE, was promoted to Senior Manager in the firm’s Security, Risk & Controls Group of the Birmingham office.

She joined the firm in 2019, and she is responsible for internal audit and internal control projects including identifying, evaluating, designing, implementing and testing controls.

Daniel Reyer, CPA, was promoted to Senior Manager in the Tax department of the Birmingham office. He joined the firm in 2014. Daniel’s daily responsibilities include tax planning and compliance for closely held and private-equity owned companies. He specializes in multi-state partnerships and corporations.

Gabe Wolfe, CPA, was promoted to Senior Manager in the Audit department of the Huntsville office.

He joined Warren Averett in 2012 and serves clients in multiple industries including government contracting, manufacturing, higher education, nonprofit and technology.

Robin Sharp, CPA, was promoted to Principal in the Tax department of the Huntsville office. She has more than 25 years of public accounting experience and specializes in business taxation.

Shalimar Sarriera, CPA, was promoted to Principal in the Tax department of the Huntsville office. She has more than 23 years of accounting experience.

Shalimar works on privately held companies throughout various industries.

Hunter Smith, CPA, was promoted to Manager in the Tax department. He joined the firm in 2016, and his primary responsibilities include preparing tax returns at the corporate, partnership and individual level. Hunter also focuses on assisting clients in the construction industry.

Cody Daughtry, CPA, CITP, was promoted to Senior Manager in the Audit department of the Montgomery

office. He started at Warren Averett in January of 2020. Cody’s primary focuses are employee benefit plan audits and serving the real estate industry.

Steven Nobles, CPA, was promoted to Senior Manager in the Tax department of the Mobile office. His primary job responsibilities include preparing federal and state information and income tax returns for individuals, corporations and partnerships.

Todd Martin IV, CPA, was promoted to Senior Manager in the Tax department of the Mobile office. Todd provides core tax services to high-net-worth individuals and closely held businesses in a variety of industries including manufacturing, real estate and retail.

Warren Averett also celebrates two employee honors from outside the firm. Michael Beringer, CPA, of the Montgomery office graduated from Leadership Montgomery’s Legacy Class XXXVIII. The program is nine months long and utilizes the expertise of established community leaders, combined with site tours, panel interviews, interactive sessions and hot topic discussions to prompt participants to think critically about education, healthcare, the economy, public service sectors and the roles of the local, state and federal governments.

And Cody Daughtry, CPA, CITP, of Warren Averett’s Montgomery office recently received the Technology Advisory Standing Ovation award from AICPA and was presented during the AICPA and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants’ (CIMA) ENGAGE 2022 event in Las Vegas.

The Technology Advisory Standing Ovation award is a part of the AICPA’s Standing Ovation program, which recognizes CPAs under 40 who exhibit exemplary professional achievement in specialty areas. They must also maintain an active CPA license and be an AICPA member in good standing. Daughtry was one of only 12 CPAs honored during ENGAGE. The awards recognized CPA efforts in specific accounting specialty areas, excellence in volunteer efforts or significant contributions to the accounting profession.

July / August

23

FIRM NEWS BMSS Celebrates End of Busy Season, AKA Success Season To celebrate the end of their second official “Success Season” (BMSS’ renaming of busy season) their team members celebrated with a firm cookout, homeroom outings and a ladies spa day!

Warren Averett Recognized, Best Place to Work Warren Averett CPAs and Advisors’ Birmingham office has been recognized by the Birmingham Business Journal as one of the 2022 Best Places to Work. The Best Places to Work distinction identifies and honors employers in Birmingham whose companies are the ideal places to work and who have gone above and beyond to create outstanding workplace environments.

BMSS construction experts met with other pros in the field at the Subcontractors Association of Alabama’s Meet the GC’s Expo. And in May, BMSS hosted Zebrafest, an annual Summer Leadership Program for college students interested in future internships and learning more about the accounting world.

(L-R) Warren Averett team members Will Aderholt (Tax Member), Larry Pirkle (Audit Member), Ashten Legg (Regional Marketing Manager), Tommy Sisson (Office Managing Member), Van Trefethen (Tax Member) & Stephen Schaaf (Audit Member).

BMSS Zebrafest BMSS Advisors & CPAs employees continued the tradition of local service with a spring BMSS Legacy Serve Day. On May 12th, team members devoted their time, talents and financial support to nonprofits across the state to help aid the disadvantaged in their communities. Annual firm serve days, individual employee volunteer time and firm financial support are a part of BMSS Legacy. Here are some pictures from our recent BMSS Legacy Serve Day.

As proud members of the BDO Alliance USA, BMSS was thrilled to be awarded the 2022 Excellence Award in Client Experience, as well as one of the Best Places to Work of 2022 for young professionals in a large company by the Birmingham Business Journal. Congratulations BMSS!

24

ASCPA Connections

The finalists were determined by a survey through Quantum Workplace, a third-party survey software company. The survey methodology assessed communication, manager effectiveness, personal engagement, team dynamics and more. Quantum compiled and evaluated these survey responses to determine finalists.

Warren Averett won second place in the extra-large business category, comprised of employers with more than 250 employees. Warren Averett was a finalist and contender from 2014-2017, and for the past two years the firm has placed within the top 3.

Earlier this month, some of our CPAs, advisors and other professionals celebrated at the Best Places to Work 2022 event held at the McWane Science Center in downtown Birmingham. Our team members enjoyed an interactive and lively networking reception where they got to interact with some of the McWane Science Center’s exhibits and enjoyed each other’s company.

“It is an honor for the Birmingham office to have been recognized again this year as one of the Best Places to Work in Birmingham,” said Tommy Sisson, CPA, Managing Member of the Birmingham office. “Our firm culture, including our open and honest communication style, benefits offered as well as our collaborative and flexible work arrangement, has led to a team that is thriving professionally. I appreciate being part of an organization that cultivates an environment of strong relationships among its employees and clients, and I am looking forward to seeing our team excel over the next year.”

It’s Membership Renewal Time!

Renewing for your organization?

Request a company invoice!

O

R E NE W

We’ll send you a single invoice and

T

also give you online access to manage memberships for everyone at your organization.

Contact Bethany Booth for more information.

* bbooth@alabama.cpa (334) 386-5751

Didn’t receive your invoice?

Save time with auto-renew Need to update your contact information?

As part of the renewal process, you’ll have the option to automatically renew your membership going forward when you pay with a credit card.

You can access your account and update your information online anytime on your member dashboard at alabama.cpa. Still have questions?

Reach out to bbooth@alabama.cpa or call (334) 386-5751

CLASSIFIEDS SELLING YOUR FIRM IS COMPLEX. LET US MAKE IT SIMPLE. Accounting Biz Brokers has been selling CPA firms for over 17 years and we know your market. We have a large database of buyers ready to purchase. Our “Six Steps to Success” process for selling your firm includes a personalized, confidential approach to bring you the win-win deal you are seeking. Our brokers are Certified Business Intermediaries (CBI) specializing in the sale of CPA firms. We are here to help you navigate through the entire sales process – from marketing to negotiating, to closing and successfully transitioning the firm. Contact us TODAY to receive a free market analysis.

Listings: NEW: East Memphis Suburb $900k; W Middle TN $318k; Knoxville 600k-SALE PENDING; Memphis Gross $708k - SOLD; Bartlett, TN Gross $550k-SOLD; Huntsville Gross $200k-SOLD; NE MS Tax & Bookkeeping Firm Gross $850k-SOLD. Kathy Brents, CPA, CBI Kathy@AccountingBizBrokers.com Cell 501.514.4928, Office 866.260.2793 Visit us at www.AccountingBizBrokers.com

YOUR PRACTICE WANTED Thinking about selling your practice? Accounting Practice Sales delivers results, bringing you the best price, optimal terms and a buyer who represents an ideal fit for your clientele. Contact us today for a confidential discussion. Our current listings include: •

_Near Tuscaloosa & Birmingham CPA grossing $55K * New *

•

_30 Miles North of Florence tax practice grossing $205K * New *

•

_South of Birmingham (Shelby County) CPA grossing $150K * Available After 10/15 *

•

_Northwest of Birmingham CPA grossing $315K * Sold *

•

_Cullman County CPA grossing $340K * Sold *

•

_Baldwin County CPA grossing $245K * Sold *

•

_Nashville area accounting and tax practice grossing $180K * Available *

•

_Nashville area audit and review practice grossing $30K *Available *

•

_Southwest TN / Northeast MS tax and accounting practice grossing $160K * New *

For more information on these listings or to sell your practice, contact Lori Newcomer, CPA and Tim Price, CPA at (888) 553-1040 or PNgroup@APS.net, or visit www.APS.net.

Wilkins Miller is looking to add a driven, innovative, adaptable Senior Tax Associate to our award winning team. As the largest accounting and advisory firm headquartered in the Mobile Bay region, we are committed to helping our employees and clients achieve their goals. How do we stand out? Community service hours to focus on other passions, flexibility to balance life outside the office, opportunities to hone your skills, generous paid time off & additional holidays. Successful candidates will have excellent interpersonal skills, at least 3 years of public accounting experience, vast knowledge of federal and state income tax, the ability to supervise staff, manage complex engagements, and meet deadlines.

Interested candidates should submit their resume to careers@wilkinsmiller.com. To learn more visit wilkinsmiller.com.

Poythress, Hughett & Mathews, LLC is seeking a CPA with 5+ years of experience in public accounting/income tax advisory and preparation. We are a small local accounting firm and our office is in the North Shelby County area. This is an opportunity to become a partner with potential ownership in the LLC by systematically taking responsibility over the clientele of a partner who is on the path to retirement. Send inquiries to brad@cpabhm.com.

26

ASCPA Connections

ASCPA MEMBER CHAPTER EVENTS

Connect with other professionals

AUG

East Alabama Chapter CPE update with Kevin Robinson August 10th Auburn Chamber of Commerce 8:30 - Noon | 4.0 Ethics and A&A Tuscaloosa Chapter Tax Update with Lisa McKinney & Karen Miller August 11th Live Webcast 8:30 - Noon | 4.0 Tax Wheeler Basin A&A Update with Jim Martin August 11th Doubletree Riverfront, Decatur 8 - 4 | 8.0 A&A Huntsville Chapter Sip & CPE Ethics with Mike Brand August 18th Stovehouse 3 - 5 | 2.0 Ethics

Birmingham Chapter Update with Jim Martin September 23rd The Harbert Center 8 - 5 | 8.0 A&A

OCT Montgomery Chapter Rooftop Social October 20th Ravello Ristorante 4-6

For more information contact Zack Camerio at zcamerio@alabama.cpa.

NOV

East Alabama Chapter Luncheon with Mayor Anders July 28th Moore’s Mill Club 11:30 - 1:00

SEPT

JUL

Stay plugged in to your community by attending a local chapter event.

Connect with the CPAs who live and work near you.

ASCPA Emerging Leaders Summit November 4th Avondale Brewing Co. 9-2

Birmingham Chapter SALT Update with Bruce Ely November 4th The Harbert Center 8 - 12 | 4.0 Tax ASCPA Cornhole Tournament November 5th Avondale Brewing 11 a.m.

Tuscaloosa Chapter Luncheon with Mayor Maddox November 10th The District Room 11:30 - 1

JAN Birmingham Chapter Tax Update with Lisa McKinney January 12th The Harbert Center 8 - 5 | 8.0 Tax

Presort Std US Postage PAID Permit No 131 Montgomery, AL

The Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants 1041 Longfield Court P.O. Box 242987 Montgomery, AL 36124

346 Practices Sold in 2021!

Is It Time For...

Family Life A Change

Time to SELL?

Scan Here

Delivering Results - One Practice At a time Lori Newcomer, CPA & Tim Price, CPA PNgroup@aps.net

888-553-1040

www.APS.net ASCPA Member