F L O R I D A
florida C P A
TODAY
contents MARCH/APRIL 2014
VOLUME 30, NUMBER 2
A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E F LO R I DA I N S T I T U T E O F C E R T I F I E D P U B L I C A C C O U N TA N T S
cover story
24 departments
Cover Photo by Karl Alrichs, SPHR
The Perfect Storm Managing the Generations and Moving to Next Practices
features 8
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Chair’s message
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President’s message Staff reports News briefs DOR update On the move Marketplace
The 21st Century Workplace
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Your Bizcation is Back in Black (and Better Than Ever)
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Leadership Academy Renews Sense of Purpose
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YCPAs Visit the Capitol
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www.ficpa.org
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F L O R I D A
PRESIDENT/CEO Deborah L. Curry, CPA, CGMA SR. DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Jan Dobson, CAE, IOM EDITOR Suellen D. Wilkins GRAPHIC DESIGNER Loleta K. Bolden PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR Dianne Dearduff EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Michael S. Kridel, CPA, chair David J. Hochsprung, CPA, vice chair Douglas E. Day, CPA • Lynda M. Dennis, CPA Casey A. Fletcher, CPA • Troy Y. Manning, CPA Vicki H. Meyer, CPA William C. Quilliam, CPA, Ph.D. All articles submitted to Florida CPA Today are subject to technical review, Editorial Committee review, space availability and editing requirements and restrictions. Please contact the editor before submitting unsolicited manuscripts. Florida CPA Today publishes letters to the editor in its Members’ Forum. For information about the guidelines, visit www.ficpa.org/letterstoeditor. Statements expressed herein are those of the identified authors and not necessarily those of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Inc., nor should statements be considered endorsements of products, procedures or otherwise. The FICPA reserves the right to reject any editorial material or paid advertising that does not meet Florida CPA Today criteria or detracts from its ethical and professional standards. Florida CPA Today is published bimonthly by the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Inc., P.O. Box 5437, Tallahassee, FL 32314. Telephone: (850) 224-2727 or (800) 342-3197. (Street address: 325 West College Ave., Tallahassee, FL 32301.) Visit our website at www.ficpa.org. This magazine is provided to members of the FICPA. No specific amount of your dues, either expressed or implied, is for this publication. This magazine is not available for purchase by either FICPA members or nonmembers. For display advertising information, contact the FICPA Marketing Department at (850) 224-2727, Ext. 270. © 2014 by the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without the express written consent of the FICPA.
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chair’s
MESSAGE
Chapter Connection
Local Meetings Bring Members Together Ken Strauss, CPA
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arl Ahlrichs’ “The Perfect Storm” cover story in this issue of Florida CPA Today hits close to home. At Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants, LLP, identifying and adapting to emerging client needs always is a priority. As your chair, it’s my responsibility to lead the FICPA Board of Directors in developing strategies to meet member needs, and to support President/CEO Deborah Curry as she leads Institute staff in implementing those strategies. In her column on page seven, Deborah shares key strategic objectives the Board established at our January retreat. At those meetings, we also were honored to hear insight from Loretta Doon, chief executive officer of the California Society of CPAs (CalCPAs). California may be very different from Florida, but the two CPA associations have a similar goal: improving membership retention and recruitment. As Loretta spoke of how her society is addressing its membership challenges, she was adamant that chapters matter. The CalCPA leadership once considered eliminating chapters. Loretta is glad they didn’t. She explained that although for-profit businesses can replicate some of CalCPAs’ products and services, they cannot put people together the way her organization can. After Loretta’s presentation, your Board discussed California’s chapter experiences and spoke frankly about the present state of FICPA chapters. The FICPA provides many great networking programs and events for CPAs of all ages and experience. We agreed that our chapters are important, and that we need desperately to rejuvenate them. As Tom Hood points out in our cover story, “The challenge is the inertia of the way you’ve FLORIDA CPA TODAY
always done things holding you back.” We must broaden and increase the value our chapters deliver. Offering monthly CPE credits to a small segment of local members isn’t enough. Chapters can and should be the catalyst bringing people together in meaningful conversations – about careers, business challenges, work-life balance, laughter and friendship. In my travels this year, I’ve attended some really engaging chapter meetings. I recently visited an Emerald Coast meeting, which was held at a local wine shop and included wine tasting. Among the attendees was accounting student and Institute member Nicole Fryback. As part of a chapter initiative to engage students and YCPAs, FICPA member Sheldon Bernau had used LinkedIn to invite Fryback to attend the meeting. The result was a wonderful networking experience for Fryback and for members who shared career insights with her. This is the perfect example of a chapter proactively serving the needs of its diverse membership. It also exemplifies the positive impact that experienced members can have on accounting students, and those new to the profession. Good networking is powerful for everyone! Chapters are the FICPA’s grassroots, and they’re here to stay. We’re exploring ways to strengthen them, including evaluating the merits of redistricting at least some chapter boundaries. As we study how best to facilitate great local participation, I invite you to join the conversation. Whether or not you regularly attend meetings, what do you most need from your chapter? Please share your thoughts and ideas by emailing me at chair@ficpa.org.
“Whether or not you regularly attend meetings, what do you most need from your chapter?”
I hope to see you soon at your local chapter meeting, the Mega CPE Conference or another FICPA event. FCT www.ficpa.org
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president’s
MESSAGE
Working to Ensure Our Future Deborah L. Curry, CPA, CGMA
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ello, FICPA members! As we venture into the second half of our fiscal year, I want to update you on our 2013-14 strategic goals and our progress. I’ll also share several of our most important objectives for 2014-15. During the week of Jan. 4, I met with our three leadership groups: The Cabinet, Executive Committee and Board of Governors. Each meeting was intense and included open discussion about critical areas that need our attention if we intend to succeed in creating a sustainable future for the FICPA. Here are some of the current strategic objectives we discussed. • Gaining 700 members by June 30. Our goal is to represent at least 55.3 percent of licensed Florida CPAs with Florida addresses. • Contacting the 1,400 members who didn’t renew their membership. We want to learn how we could better have met their needs and retained them as valuable members of our association. • Creating a daylong YCPA Forum at the 2014 Mega CPE Conference; inviting area students and former AICPA Leadership Academy graduates; and including leadership-skills training. • Holding a Past Presidents’/Past Chairs’ Roundtable session at the 2014 Mega CPE Conference. • Introducing IMPACT Report, our new electronic newsletter. It highlights issues our Governmental Affairs staff are advocating; discusses negative legislation we’ve prevented; and tells members how they can have a voice in the legislative process. FLORIDA CPA TODAY
We then planned for 2014-15 by identifying ongoing activities and introducing additional aligned goals. Some of our priorities for next fiscal year include: • Designing and implementing a formal mentorship program, beginning with students and extending to the Cabinet level of leadership. • Asking Board members to give a two-minute summary at chapter meetings of current FICPA events and developments. • Actively recruiting members and retaining more of our existing members. • Assisting Morgan Watson, our new market development manager, as she plans to meet with 400 members to learn what we can do to enhance our value. • Hosting the regional AICPA Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop 2014. • Supporting my role in promoting positive business growth and education in Florida, which sustains the economy and keeps Florida competitive.
“You are the most important part of our equation!”
Our Strategic Initiatives/Business Plan outlines many more goals, and our dedicated Board of Governors leverages their knowledge and collaborates to create a platform based on a long-term perspective. I hope you find this information useful, and I ask for your continued partnership as the FICPA moves forward to create a stronger association at work for you. You are the most important part of our equation! FCT www.ficpa.org
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The 21st Century CPA firms are finding their place on the continuum toward more open, collaborative, efficient and flexible office space By HGA Architects and Engineers – Debra Barnes, IIDA, LEED AP, principal, associate vice president and director of interior architecture and design; Rich Bonnin, associate vice president; and Dave Paeper, AIA, principal
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n the last decade, new forces have been transforming the ways accounting professionals and firms conduct their work. Laptops, tablets, smartphones and Wi-Fi have made the workforce mobile and have given employees greater choice in where and how they do their work. Few professionals need to be tied to a desk anymore. Since the 2008 recession, companies have been under pressure to right-size their workplaces, resulting in office spaces geared toward greater efficiency and less square footage.
Photo provided by Steelcase image galleries, www.steelcase.com.
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Workplace As the economic recovery remains sluggish, many baby boomers are choosing to stay employed rather than retire. As a result, the workforce spans five generations, and those born in the digital age now work alongside older employees challenged with mastering technology. Furthermore, today’s knowledge work revolves around collaboration. Employees need shared spaces in which to meet, as well as private places in which to do highconcentration work and make private calls. As these forces converge, today’s professional workplace is transforming into one that supports multiple functions, activities and work processes. Goodbye, Dilbertville As Dilbertville recedes into history, accounting firms and many traditional businesses are moving away from a single type of enclosed office, a sea of designated cubicles and desks that are left only during lunch or breaks. Many companies are quickly adapting to new ways of working. Taking the place of Dilbertville are flexible, open-plan areas with a variety of settings and spaces to support employees as they engage in different tasks throughout the day. These settings include enclosed rooms for phone calls and high-concentration tasks; window-walled break rooms that double as meeting spaces; and “free-address” office systems. Free-address systems have no assigned offices or desks. Instead, each day, employees select the type of workspace most appropriate to the work they need to do. They can move from desk to table to lounge chair throughout the FLORIDA CPA TODAY
workplace and workday, depending on the task at hand, pairing their work settings with their need to concentrate, work as a team, participate in a meeting or socialize. This can be especially effective for employees who travel often or consult outside the office because it allows them to share desks and use them as touchdown spaces when at the office. In today’s professional CPA offices, as in many companies, the spaces where employees work are based on what they’re doing, rather than on hierarchy or status within the firm. Still, the extent to which professional firms are transforming their offices to support 21st century accountants and consultants varies widely. Some firms are taking the giant leap from cube farms and all-enclosed offices to open-office spaces with a freeaddress system. Not all firms, however, can financially or culturally make the leap from one end of the spectrum to the other. Many firms are taking an incremental approach to incorporating design solutions that support today’s mobile accountants and consultants. As a result, different firms land in different places on the continuum. But most, if not all, CPA firms are moving in the same direction: toward more open, collaborative, sustainable, efficient and flexible office spaces. Making the move: first steps The professional makeup of every firm is unique. One may have more consultants, while another has more tax professionals. The need for workstations and employees may expand – during tax season, for example – and contract. Some professionals specialize and have unique challenges and opportunities they address in their work. A firm seeking to move along the continuum into a more supportive and flexible workplace can start with a few simple initiatives. For example, reducing the heights of workstation or cube walls encourages more visibility, openness and collaboration while retaining a measure of privacy. Such an easy modification can change the entire work environment. ➡ www.ficpa.org
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Photo provided by Steelcase image galleri
Photo provided by Steelcase image galleries, www.steelcase.com.
Another strategy is to eliminate private offices. Invaluable mentorship opportunities occur when a young employee can hear a senior partner on the phone talking a client through a problem or handling a difficult situation. Firm owners also can free consultants from their desks and desktop computers by providing them with laptops or iPads so they can work more freely throughout the office. And not only are professionals collaborating more and with greater speed, they’re also meeting in smaller groups. So, four- to six-person meeting spaces are replacing the traditional 12-person conference room. Another incremental step involves rethinking the firm’s break room. Consider the design factors that contribute to the popularity of coffee shops such as Starbucks or Caribou Coffee. Free Wi-Fi and a variety of seating options – tables and chairs, standup tables, lounge seating, sofas with coffee tables – enable individuals or groups to comfortably work where they please. Some CPA firms start moving along the continuum by renovating the break room in this way. Adding technology to the break room will encourage people to bring their laptops and mobile devices for collaborative work sessions or meetings, or to have some “recovery” time. Consider
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adding a few small “phone rooms” for employees to conduct private phone conversations or consultations as the work environment becomes more open. Case study: Eide Bailly LLP Eide Bailly LLP, a regional CPA firm, moved from the suburbs to the U.S. Bancorp Center in downtown Minneapolis. In their new office, the firm gave the break room a prominent location: on the perimeter and in a corner, where large windows fill the room with natural light. The new break room is a multipurpose workspace that’s used throughout the day for short meetings and appeals to a variety of users. More than 25 percent of Eide Bailly’s 40,000-squarefoot office is collaborative space (including the break room), where employees can meet formally or informally with each other or with clients. Eide Bailly took other incremental steps on the continuum toward a completely open and flexible workplace. The firm standardized workstations with lower panels to allow light to penetrate the space, ensuring a more open environment for collaboration. Work areas are equipped with electrically height-adjustable desks that users may
ies, www.steelcase.com.
Photo provided by Steelcase image galleries, www.steelcase.com.
switch between standing and seated positions. To speed up the conversion to a paperless filing system, the firm greatly reduced its number of filing cabinets and now stores much more information digitally. Freedom of choice Although many CPA firms may not be ready to transition into a free-address office system, incremental changes toward mobility and flexibility can offer employees more freedom and choice. Today’s professional workplace is moving toward an invigorating, inspiring destination where employees experience camaraderie and collaboration. Access to a variety of workspaces is an increasingly high priority for employees, as is the desire for natural light. Employees value the ability to move easily among enclosed rooms for high-concentration tasks, light-filled collaborative spaces and independent workstations near others. These diverse environments give professionals the ability to choose where and how to work, which increases productivity and job satisfaction. It also reduces the need for square footage, increasing a company’s cost efficiency and sustainability.
Photo provided by Steelcase image galleries, www.steelcase.com.
Although they occupy different points on the continuum toward the more open and flexible workplace, today’s CPA firms recognize the need to design office interiors that allow them to remain relevant and successful, attract and retain talent, serve their clients and reinforce their brand. FCT Debra Barnes, CID, IIDA, LEED AP ID+C, is director of interior architecture and design and an associate vice president at HGA. Her 25-year career includes diverse experience with corporate real estate, project management, procurement and design. Rich Bonnin, an expert in workplace design, is an awardwinning designer whose work has been published nationally and internationally. Throughout his 18-year career, he has worked on a variety of project types with a specialty in the corporate and public market sectors. David Paeper is a planning principal at HGA. He adds more than 30 years of experience to his skills in problem definition, analysis and group facilitation to guide organizations through the critical first stages of a project. Reprinted with permission of the authors and the Minnesota Society of CPAs from the August 2012 edition of Footnote magazine.
STAFF
reports
Educational Foundation By Jason Zaborske, FICPA educational foundation development director and Lindsey Ferguson, writing intern
Tee Time Suncoast Scramble is Around the Corner
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he FICPA Educational Foundation is pleased to announce plans for the 2014 Suncoast Scramble Golf Tournament. Grab your nine-iron and your favorite golf buddies and come out to support Florida accounting students. The tournament again will be held at the East Lake Woodlands Country Club in Oldsmar. Located at the northern tip of the Tampa Bay, this club boasts two 18-hole championship courses that are challenging, yet fun. Compete to win the Florida CPA Champions’ Cup! The winning team’s name will be engraved
on the trophy, which they may display at their office until the 2015 Suncoast Scramble. Challenge your skills on the green while networking with the Bay Area’s top CPAs, accounting firms and industry professionals. The Foundation’s fundraising goal for the 2014 tournament is $20,000 and various sponsorship levels are available. Please consider sponsoring the tournament to help us reach – or even exceed – our goal. FCT Register today or view the sponsorship brochure at www. ficpa.org/golf.
The 2014 Suncoast Scramble will take place May 2 at East Lake Woodlands Country Club in Oldsmar.
Save the Date The FICPA Educational
2014 Suncoast Scramble Golf Tournament East Lake Woodlands Country Club, Oldsmar
Friday, May 2 Three hours of CPE – 9-11:30 a.m. Registration, warm up and lunch – 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Shotgun start – 12:30 p.m. Cocktails, dinner and awards presention – 5 p.m. $200 per player (includes greens fees, lunch, dinner, practice balls, cart, contests, giveaways) Register at www.ficpa.org/golf
Foundation will hold its sixth annual Ocean Reef Family Retreat July 31-Aug. 3. Enjoy family fun, sunshine, education and casual networking with Florida’s top CPAs at the exclusive Ocean Reef Resort in Key Largo. This event sells out every year, so make your reservations today!
FCT
For more information visit www.ficpa.org/Retreat or contact Jason Zaborske, FICPA educational foundation development director, at (850) 251-7274 or zaborskej@ficpa.org.
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From FICPA staff reports
Governmental Affairs launches e-newsletter
New Members
The FICPA happily
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n February, the FICPA governmental affairs team launched IMPACT Report, a monthly e-newsletter highlighting statewide activities that may affect FICPA members. The newsletter provides an inside look at legislative, regulatory and advocacy efforts – all things political in which the Institute is involved on members’ behalf. IMPACT Report may be emailed more frequently during the 2014 Legislative Session. FCT To sign up to receive IMPACT Report, email the FICPA governmental affairs department at govaffairs@ficpa.org.
FLORIDA CPA TODAY
welcomes many new members throughout the year. To see a list of members who have recently joined, visit the FICPA website at www.ficpa.org/ meetnewmembers.
www.ficpa.org
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Your Bizcation is Back in Black (and Better Than Ever)
Register today for the 2014 Mega CPE Conference By Aubrey Glazman, CPA/ABV/CFF, FICPA executive vice president and chief learning officer
CPAs are busy this time of year with tax returns, audits, cash flows, profit projections and vacation planning. O.K., maybe vacation planning hasn’t been at the top of your to-do list – but don’t you wish it could be? Relax. The FICPA has done the planning for you and your family. If you’re looking for an exceptional vacation while earning your CPE credits, you’ll find that and more at the FICPA’s signature Bizcation event. Our Mega CPE Conference will be “Back in Black” June 11-14 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Lake Buena Vista/Orlando. We’ve combined serious professional learning, extreme value and the ultimate in family fun to create what’s sure to be your perfect conference experience. Last year more than 600 participants, along with their families and dozens of exhibitors, enjoyed all the Mega CPE Conference offered – Walt Disney World® Resort excursions; networking-cocktail receptions and dinners; the Women’s Leadership Summit; and more than 60 cutting-edge CPE sessions. This year’s conference will be even better with the addition of Accel 2014, Florida’s Young CPA (YCPA) Leadership Conference. Participants in 2013 gave high ratings to Mega’s exceptional speakers, including the engaging Karl Ahlrichs. Alrichs discussed generational issues and is the author of the related cover story in this issue of Florida CPA Today 14 MARCH/APRIL 2014
(see page 24). Another crowd-pleaser was the Honorable David Walker, former U.S. comptroller general, who inspired and challenged the audience during his address on restoring national fiscal responsibility. At this year’s conference participants will experience a fresh, informative lineup of topics including international and state taxation, practice management, employee benefits, litigation and many more. YCPAs can immerse themselves in Accel 2014, the one-day leadership conference created exclusively for them. YCPAs will learn about their natural leadership style and how to strengthen their leadership skills and effectiveness. And all conference participants will discover an even-better exhibitor area that will showcase relevant technologies and services for CPAs in industry and public practice. At the heart of the Mega CPE conference is learning. The FICPA is reaching beyond Florida, and even beyond U.S. borders, to bring you speakers with global experience and perspective. Here are a few of our conference thought leaders: Tom Hood, CPA is CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs and Business Learning Institute. He was named the second most influential leader in the CPA profession by Accounting Today; one of LinkedIn’s top 150 Influencers; and one of HR Examiner’s Top 25 Influencers.
In his June 12 keynote address, Hood will discuss the five fundamental shifts accountants face now – leadership, learning, technology, generational and workplace – as well as key learning and technological changes. On June 13, keynote speaker Michelle Golden, CPF, educator and author will take the stage. CPA Practice Advisor named Golden one of its 2013 Most Powerful Woman in Accounting. Her topic is “Getting Better Results: Improving Outcomes with the Result Triangle.” The Result Triangle, as Michelle explains, unlocks the secrets for inspiring, comforting and energizing so organizations can achieve success. Conference participants also may choose from a stellar lineup of technical topics. Cross-border wealth management experts Bob Keats, CFP and David Levine, CPA will discuss current cross-border tax issues and share the 10 most ➡ Pg. 16 FLORIDA CPA TODAY
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➡ Continued from Pg. 15 common mistakes foreign investors. Keats is founder and president and Levine is a principal of KeatsConnelly, North America’s largest cross-border wealth management firm. Participants interested in current forensic and litigation accounting trends can attend one or both back-to-back breakout sessions featuring Ian Ratner and Carol Fox. Both speakers are CPAs with GlassRatner, the well-known mid-market national restructuring firm. Ratner and Fox are at the forefront of the ups and downs of the U.S. and Florida economies. Their firm was retained by two of the first large banks the FDIC shut down in 2007. The firm has been involved in billions of dollars of restructuring transactions, from community banks to national and international real-estate transactions. On June 14, the learning will continue with “DoddFrank Whistleblowing and the New Race to Report.” Ron Schwartz, partner with Deloitte Financial Advisory Services, LLP will discuss the Act’s provisions and the SEC’s efforts around its whistleblower program. Schwartz will offer real-life examples of investigations the SEC and the Department of Justice have initiated, explain how the
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regulators approach investigations and discuss common pitfalls. He also will cover best practices companies should consider for their general compliance programs. On June 13, the “FICPA Magical Evening!” will be back by popular demand. This optional evening extravaganza will honor outgoing Board Chair Ken Strauss and welcome incoming FICPA leadership. The event includes an exquisite dinner party. Afterward, guests can watch the true magic unfold with the Wishes™ nighttime spectacular and fireworks show. FCT To register for the Mega CPE Conference, or for more information, visit www.ficpa.org/megacpe; see the brochure in the January/February issue of FCT; or call us at (800) 342-3197. *Park entry fees are extra and not included in Mega CPE Conference registration. Aubrey Glazman has been a CPA for 22 years. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto, a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Western Ontario and a Juris Doctor (Bachelor of Laws) degree from the University of London.
Leadership Academy Renews Sense of Purpose
The 2014 AICPA Leadership Academy included 37 young CPAs who were chosen from more than 120 candidates throughout the U.S. In addition to abundant learning and networking opportunities, their experience included some down time. Pictured here: After touring AICPA headquarters, Dena Harrison (fifth from right) and other Academy participants “tailgate” in the AICPA parking lot.
By Dena Harrison, CPA
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t’s easy to forget what a diverse population of professionals we are. Being a CPA typically means you’re on a pretty straight and narrow path, right? How diverse could a group of CPAs be?
I’ve been on a pretty straight and narrow path for a while. I earned my bachelor’s and master’s of accounting, sat for the CPA exam (and passed!), worked in external audit for three years, then turned to internal audit, which is where I am now. Don’t get me wrong – being a CPA has been a great career choice and path. However, attending the 2013 AICPA Leadership Academy at Duke University in Durham, N.C. renewed my sense of purpose and opened my eyes to how diverse CPAs are. And what a strong profession we are! During the five-day program, we learned about leadership theory and strategic-planning techniques, as well as tools for handling complex management challenges. I met CPAs from throughout the country – a CFO, a director of finance, a cost accountant, a senior audit manager and a partner of his own firm, to name a few. All were younger than 36 and are doing some pretty amazing things. I also met AICPA Chairman Richard Caturano and AICPA President and CEO Barry Melancon. I learned that Barry FLORIDA CPA TODAY
came from the small town of Houma, La. and became CEO of the AICPA when he was only 37. The Leadership Academy offered ample networking and learning opportunities. We covered topics such as strategic thinking, building our brand, PERMA (Positive Emotion; Engagement; Relationship with Others; Meaning and Purpose; and Achievement) and trends that will impact the accounting profession. We discussed the characteristics of leaders and assessed our own leadership characteristics. Did you know that as a leader, you don’t have to have all the answers? Phew! I learned that the four most important words of leadership are, “What do you think?” I now ask my colleagues this more frequently. We also focused on creating more collaborative work environments. I’m striving to give the introverts on my team (including myself) more opportunities to speak up. How liberating! We also discussed growing as leaders by using our strengths, rather than by improving in our areas of weakness. We focused on using our team’s strengths to offset our shortcomings as individuals. For example, ➡ Pg. 18 www.ficpa.org
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Since its inception in 2009, four FICPA members have attended the AICPA Leadership Academy – Allison Harrell (2009), Kirsten Burbridge (2010), Rudy Mayoz (2012) and Dena Harrison (2013). Harrell, Burbridge and Harrison also were among the FICPA 26 Under 36 (see the article on page 20 of the March/April 2013 issue of Florida CPA Today).
➡ Continued from Pg. 17 my top domains of leadership strength are executing and relationship building, but not influencing or strategic thinking. However, I can think of at least two other people on my team whose have these strengths. How empowering to know that our team has all the tools necessary to take a project from start to finish. During the Academy, we also had some fun! We watched a cooking demonstration at Southern Season at Chapel Hill; wore our favorite team jerseys and tailgated in the AICPA parking lot; and heard “tales” from Barry Melancon during a group dinner. What stories he told! It was refreshing to collaborate with diverse, yet like-minded people who are as excited and energetic about the profession as I am. How often do you get to spend four days with 37 young CPAs, sharing ideas with the purpose of bettering the profession and growing as a leader? Belonging to the AICPA and the CPA profession has given me more than I ever expected. I can’t wait to see what lies ahead for the profession, and for me as a part of it. FCT Dena Harrison is a senior consultant with Protiviti and provides internal audit and consulting services to clients in the Orlando area. Harrison has been a CPA since 2010 and is an active FICPA member. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s of accountancy at the University of Mississippi in 2008. For information about the AICPA Leadership Academy, visit www.aicpa.org/ leadershipacademy.
FICPA to Host Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop This summer, the FICPA will host an AICPA 2014 Accounting Scholars Leadership Workshop (ASLW). The workshop, now in its 20th year, is an annual invitational program for minority accounting students who plan to pursue the CPA designation. The two-day workshop will feature speakers, panel discussions and interactive programs designed to strengthen attendees’ professional skills and highlight the benefits of earning the CPA credential. Sessions will include topics such as acing the CPA exam, navigating corporate culture, financial literacy and thinking like an entrepreneur. The program also provides ample networking opportunities. The ASLW is an all-expense-paid event. The AICPA Foundation covers the cost of student attendees’ transportation, hotel accommodations and meals. The FICPA event will be held July 24-26. Here are other workshop hosts and dates. • Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, June 5-7 • Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants, June 26-28 • Kansas Society of CPAs, July 10-12 The workshop is open to ethnic minorities who are in their sophomore, junior, senior or fifth year. It also is open to graduate students who have declared a major in accounting, finance or tax with an intent to pursue the CPA credential. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and be actively involved in campus and community activities. They also must be AICPA Student Affiliate Members and be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. FCT For more information, or to apply for the ASLW, visit www.ThisWayToCPA.com/ASLW or email diversity@aicpa.org. 18 MARCH/APRIL 2014
Accel 2014 Florida’s New YCPA Leadership Conference Join us for this new Young CPA event on June 11 during the Mega CPE Conference in Orlando. You have the skills and the ambition, but are you prepared to enter the fast-paced, rapidly changing leadership environment? Join us and learn the skills you need to stay ahead of the game. Accel participants will earn CPE while discussing, analyzing, reflecting and building their leadership skills.
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YCPAs Visit the Capitol By Azuree Ashby, CPA
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he FICPA’s Young CPAs (YCPAs) just completed their third annual YCPAs at the Capitol event in Tallahassee. During the visit, they learned more about what the Florida CPA/PAC does and what issues are affecting CPAs of all ages in today’s environment. During the 2013 Legislative Session, 1,800 pieces of legislation were filed and 313 bills were passed. Of the 1,800 bills brought before the Legislature, the Florida CPA/PAC tracked 286 because of language that could have affected the CPA profession. While at the Capitol, we learned that FICPA lobbyists work day and night to protect the value of the CPA license and advocate for every CPA in Florida. Also during the 2013 Session, the Legislature passed SB328/HB39. The bill increased minority scholarships funded by CPA license fees from $100,000 to $200,000 and renamed the scholarship after Rep. Clay Ford, who died last year. The bill also mandated that, effective Jan. 1, 2015, firms performing audits must be enrolled in a peer review program. The campaign finance bill, SB2/HB7131, was effective May 1, 2013. It modified the language in the original bill, replacing “attest” with “agreed-upon procedures.” It also relieved CPAs from violation for incorrect information provided during the agreed-upon procedure. The Legislature also passed a bill giving the Board of Accountancy additional funding to investigate and stop unlicensed activity. During the 2014 Session, the FICPA will file SB1022/ HB943 regarding the Certified Audit Program, which is
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designed to aid in the collection of taxes owed to the state. The bill proposes to increase the amount of interest abated for taxpayers who voluntarily participate in the program, getting them current on sales tax. It also allows taxpayers to opt in after they receive a Notice of Intent to Audit letter from the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR). If the Legislature passes the bill, CPAs who offer the certified audit service would go through a certified audit training sponsored by DOR. Another bill the FICPA will propose this session, SB796/ HB725, would allow the Florida Board of Accountancy to verify that candidates for the CPA exam will be eligible for licensure. It also would allow CPAs with inactive licenses to reactivate their licenses with 120 hours of CPE if they meet certain deadlines. During their visit to the Capitol, the YCPAs got up close and personal with many legislators. Among them was Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, who has been a champion of the profession. Sen. Latvala currently is the sponsor of SB796, and he sponsored and made possible the passage of SB328 in 2013. Rep. Dan Raulerson, CPA, R-Plant City, discussed HB943, which he is sponsoring. He also was instrumental in passing HB39 on behalf of the profession in 2013. Other legislators who stopped by included Rep. Clay Ingram, R-Pensacola; Rep. Daphne Campbell, D-Miami Shores; Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland; Rep. David Santiago, R-Deltona; and Rep. David Richardson, CPA, D-Miami Beach. Others who visited the group were Ryan Duffy, communications director, Office of Speaker Will
3
4 Several of the FICPA’s YCPAs visited the Capitol Feb. 19. Pictured here with 1. Rep. Daphne Campbell, 2. FICPA President/CEO Deborah Curry, and 4. Sen. Jack Latvala are Azuree Ashby, Tabitha Branch, Trey Gunn, John Kirk, Katie Krblich, Manuel Lemus IV, Ana Long, Patrick Osborne, Mindy Rankin, Hudson Robillard, Annalise Triana and David White.
Weatherford; Brian Mimbs, regional director for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio; Jennifer Green of Liberty Partners; Matt Dixon of Scripps; and Marshall Stranburg, executive director of the Florida Department of Revenue.
content/GovernmentalAffairs/PAC.aspx and consider contributing. Our lobbyists’ work to protect the integrity of the CPA license is a 24/7 job, and contributions make a difference. FCT
If you’re a YCPA interested in being part of this amazing experience, contact Angie Brooke, FICPA emerging professionals manager, at (850) 224-2727, Ext. 300 or brookea@ficpa.org. To find out more about what the PAC does to protect your license, visit www.ficpa.org/
Azuree Ashby is a CPA in the Land O’ Lakes/Wesley Chapel area. She is the owner and managing shareholder of her firm, Ashby Consulting, PLLC. She is a member of the FICPA Young CPAs Committee and Women’s Leadership Committee.
FLORIDA CPA TODAY
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21
NEWS
briefs
Children’s book increases awareness about CPAs The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) recently developed a children’s e-book to build awareness about various professions – including the CPA profession – among Florida children. The book, Follow Your Dreams in Florida, includes illustrations by Florida students. DBPR is encouraging parents and teachers to read the book with their children and students. After reading the
book, children may draw pictures of what they want to be in Florida when they grow up. DBPR invites parents and teachers to share the pictures on Facebook at Florida Department of Business and Regulation, and on Twitter at #dbprkidsdreamsfl. To download Follow Your Dreams in Florida, visit the DBPR Kids’ Corner at www. myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/ kids.html. FCT
Michel wins Writing Excellence Award
The FICPA Editorial Committee has named Yanick J. Michel, CPA, CGMA as the winner of the 2013 Writing Excellence Award. Michel received the annual honor for her article, “The New Goodwill and Intangible Assets Testing Rules: ASUs Amend Topic 350,” which was published in the July/August 2013 issue of Florida CPA Today. Michel is the managing director of Y. J. Michel and Associates, PA in Homestead. She is an active peer reviewer and serves on the FICPA’s Accounting Principles and Auditing Standards Commmittee. She also serves on the Federal Taxation Committee; Common Interest Realty Associations Section; Management of an Accounting Practice Section; and Valuation, Forensic Accounting and Litigation Services Section. She was named CPA Ambassador by the AICPA/FICPA in 2008. She was a college instructor for five years and taught intermediate accounting and finance courses to students already engaged in the accounting profession. FCT
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DBPR Secretary Ken Lawson reads Follow Your Dreams in Florida to a group of schoolchildren. DBPR hopes the new e-book will increase awareness about various professions, including CPAs, among Florida children.
Clarification In the January/February 2014 issue of Florida CPA Today, the article entitled “Estate-tax Issues Affecting Non-resident Aliens” stated that a unified credit of $13,000, reduced by lifetime gifts, was available to offset U.S. estate tax owed by a nonresident alien decedent.
tax as $155,800 and assumed that the unified credit had been exhausted. Absent the two exceptions cited above, the amount of estate tax is $142,800, which is the estate tax of $155,800 as calculated, reduced by the $13,000 unified credit.
Under section 2102(b)(3)(B), the $13,000 credit must be reduced by any credit allowed under section 2505 with respect to any gift made by the decedent during the course of their life. The unified credit against gift tax under section 2505(a) applies only to U.S. citizens and residents. Therefore, in the absence of a contrary treaty provision or a non-resident alien decedent that was able to utilize the unified credit under section 2505(a) during the course of their life (as a U.S. citizen or resident), the unified credit of $13,000 may only be used to offset estate tax, not gift tax during the lifetime of a non-resident alien decedent. The example cited in the article calculated the estate
In calculating the non-resident alien decedent’s gross estate, the article stated that any debt obligations that a U.S. citizen, corporation or governmental agency issues to a non-resident alien are treated as gross assets which need to be included within the decedent’s gross estate. Certain provisions, such as the portfolio interest exemption, may prevent certain assets from being included within the decedent’s gross estate. In determining allowable deductions, in the absence of a Qualified Domestic Trust (Sec. 2056), the marital deduction is not allowed to a non-resident alien if the surviving spouse is a non-U.S. citizen and thus will be disallowed whether or not the surviving spouse is a resident. FCT
From FICPA staff reports
FLORIDA CPA TODAY
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COVER
story
The Perfect Storm
Managing the Generations and Moving By Karl Ahlrichs, SPHR
F
loridians know about storms. We all watch the horizon and The Weather Channel. But when a storm actually hits, our reactions can be very different. Some of us ignore the chaos. A few get out in front of the storm and use the energy of the crisis as a force of change. But most of us retreat, hunker down and wait for the chaos to pass. This is a great metaphor for how our organizations handle the future. This year promises both planned changes and unplanned chaos blowing into our lives, so we need to consider what changes to make before the future arrives, and what to do when the storm hits. A fundamental shift in thinking is on the horizon for Florida CPAs. The profession historically has been cautious regarding core business issues, holding back at first, then embracing new ideas only after others have tried them. “CPAs historically have been both proactive and reactive,” said Jennifer Elder, CPA, president of the consulting firm Sustainable CFO and Thought Leader with the Business Learning Institute. “Firms tend to be proactive only when
“Go someplace new and do something different. Meet in a different style. Adopt a fresh strategy aligned with where your clients will be going next, and stick to your new resolutions.” 24 MARCH/APRIL 2014
it comes to looking for new clients. They are reactive in everything else, from the way they work with existing clients to how they run their core business practices. Unless there’s a change in tax rules, they’re focused on SALY – same as last year.” Leaders long have sought comfort and guidance in case studies, focus groups and best practices, using others’ experience to shape actions. With the acceleration of the business world, firms that wish to remain sustainable will need to match speed with their environment. Rather than taking a familiar route, the future will reward organizations that anticipate where client and workforce needs are going, and get there first. Simply put, CPAs need to move beyond best practices to “next practices.” History makes this difficult. The economic downturn in 2008 changed our world, with most organizations going defensive, controlling expenses and keeping bottom lines respectable while avoiding risks. Many firms and organizations still are stuck in neutral – tight on cash, feeling constraints on their credit lines, not hiring and not making the investments necessary to grow their businesses. However, economists are predicting continued growth, and wise CPAs will be prepared for a flurry of activity as client needs change and the nature of work shifts. This concerns Scott Price, CPA, managing director of A-lign CPAs in Tampa and a past chair of the FICPA Board of Governors. Price sees a disconnect between the challenge of adapting to a new workplace and the style of traditional firms. “The future is uneasy,” Price said. “CPAs like precision, and the future is imprecise. Now is the time to look at the top trends on the horizon, read the CPA Horizons 2025 Report from the AICPA and align your HR with the future.”
Boomers
to Next Practices
Ages: 54 to 71 • Optimistic, want recognition • Teamwork and cooperation • Don’t accept change easily • Annual performance review
Price thinks Florida firms should take a hard look at their DNA, marketplace, clients, services and demographic makeup. “Some firms have systems that aren’t ready for the future,” he said. “They’re rewarding people for chargeable hours – not for creativity or adaptability. And they’re getting exactly what they pay for.” Richard A. Berkowitz, JD, CPA, CEO of Berkowitz Pollack Brant, agrees. “It was interesting to read the final report from the AICPA,” Berkowitz said. “Many of the key findings are issues we’ve been looking at for some time. We’re fortunate to be located in South Florida, so we have a head start on much of the country in terms of globalization and the technology that’s required; the changing marketplace and economy; and demographic shifts. A global perspective is essential.” How is Florida doing, compared to other states? “With the influx of population and the favorable business climate, I think Florida has more opportunities – many more than my home state of Maryland,” said Tom Hood, CPA and CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs. “The demographics and diversity can be an opportunity and a challenge for firms headquartered in Florida. The opportunity is to prepare for the next generation of clients and customers and build a firm capable of serving them. The challenge is the inertia of the way you’ve always done things holding you back.”
• Ambitious • Workaholic – ”Thank God it’s Monday”
Gen Xers Ages: 33 to 53 • Skeptical • Self-reliant and techno- literate • Adaptable to change • Quarterly performance review • Willing to take risks • Balance work and life
Millennials Ages: 32 and under • Hopeful • Meaningful Work • Moral mindset • Social activism • Daily performance review • Value diversity and change • Want immediate responsibility
Berkowitz echoed the importance of adapting to client needs. ➡ FLORIDA CPA TODAY
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“It’s critical to focus on developing the professional capabilities to provide consulting with value to the firm’s best clients,” he said. In an ideal sustainable future, CPAs would benefit from focusing on appropriate next steps rather than following traditional best practices. For example, many firms don’t have an effective strategic-planning process. They gather at short annual retreats and talk about old problems, but confront little and change nothing when they return. Better preparation for the future would be to use “next practices” and completely change an ineffective planning process. Go someplace new and do something different. Meet in a different style. Adopt a fresh strategy aligned with where your clients will be going next, and stick to your new resolutions. So, what should you pay attention to as you plan for the future? “The CPA Horizons 2025 report from the AICPA (see the excerpt on page 27) is a perfect resource for planning. Firms can use the trends to develop a strategic curriculum for learning that will greatly assist their talent retention and recruitment efforts,” Hood said. The report has several key points, but the last chapter – “Demographic Shifts” – deserves special attention. The perfect storm driving our profession is centered here. Demographic shifts within clients, employees and the very nature of accounting work all are occurring as we age, mature and make room for the next generation. According to the AICPA report, “Enormous changes are taking place within the profession as younger workers bring their own priorities to the workplace. • Younger CPAs (late-wave generation Xers and millennials) desire greater work/life balance, increased technological integration and innovation, and meaningful learning and advancement opportunities. • Older CPAs (baby boomers and the early-wave generation Xers) are concerned that traditional relationship-building and commitment to business and client needs are losing importance. Older CPAs can build bridges by mentoring younger CPAs and by meeting personal and family needs with flexible programs and benefits. Younger CPAs can leverage their technological skills in a rapidly evolving marketplace.” 26 MARCH/APRIL 2014
This is the time to align your human-capital strategy with your organizational strategy. If you don’t have a humancapital strategy, don’t feel bad. Most firms don’t. However, having one will be a competitive advantage and a large part of sustainability in the future. So, work on these two immediate “next-step” competencies: Understand the generations Surviving the storm will come down to people. “In our research on the future of the CPA profession, the top trend is the issue of handling the generations,” Hood said. “Having a workforce that is trained and poised to thrive in chaos is key.” To manage multiple generations, leaders must adapt to a more employee-focused style of communication. This is a significant challenge for firms that have hierarchical “command and control” environments and often struggle with attracting and retaining young associates. The tension can be palpable. Generations X and Y have taken the lead in driving cultural changes, while baby boomers continue to embrace the culture they helped to shape. And the millennials who are just arriving on the scene are every bit as different, and have their own challenges. Welcome to the “new normal.” Here’s a simple summary of the ages and issues. • Baby boomers, ages 54 to 71 in 2014, tend to be competitive, moralistic, optimistic and self-focused on career advancement. • Generation Xers, ages 33 to 53, define success by creating the life they want. They view themselves as free agents who aren’t indefinitely tied to any organization. • Millennials, ages 32 and younger, love freedom and responsibility. They expect consistent and positive feedback; bond closely with their peers through technology; and want to learn as much and as quickly as possible on the job. By studying these differences further, you can build a culture based on inclusion, understanding how employees of any generation can better communicate, work together and achieve objectives. This is particularly important when tension and miscommunication occur as boomers stay
longer, millennials want to move up and personality traits clash. The storm begins. Manage artfully Chaos changes the rules. Leaders traditionally were responsible for providing work assignments, dictating how to complete them and ensuring that employees did so correctly. Now, leaders must change their entire focus and communication style. In a workplace that assigns tasks to individuals or teams based on their preference and ability to get the job done, leaders are responsible for seeking opportunities for employees of all generations to work in the way that best suits them. The challenge Many people aren’t comfortable with the speed of the coming “new normal” world, which rewards organizational speed and resilience. The challenge for CPAs is to do more than keep up – they must lead the change. Sustainability comes from building a high-performing culture, and using “next step” thinking to plot a course into the future. This, then, is your perfect storm. FCT Karl Ahlrichs, SPHR is a national speaker and writer. He has started two successful consulting practices and has been a key member of multiple leadership teams. Alrichs is a “Thought Leader” with the Business Learning Institute and is a part of Gregory and Appel, a benefits and risk management consulting firm. Alrichs, who facilitates an invitation-only roundtable for CFOs, was a presenter at the 2013 Annual Accounting Show and a keynote speaker at the 2013 Mega CPE Conference. He recently gave a presentation for FICPA staff about generational differences in the workplace. FLORIDA CPA TODAY
Embracing the Future What have we learned? • It is a small world after all – every business is becoming a global business • The future is here – embracing the future now will ensure viability in the long run • Change is inevitable – technology already is changing the way we work … and the change will continue • Generations are working side by side – Baby Boomers are not retiring and Millennials are bringing a new set of skills and ideals to the workplace What must we do? • Be open to change – embrace, don’t fear, the future • Be nimble – adapt traditional services and establish new ones to take advantage of change • Be collaborative – work with each other and with the global community to shape and execute the standards and services that will emerge over the next decade • Be forward-thinking – assess and evaluate the current and future environments and plan accordingly How do we do it? • Technology: Address security and privacy concerns; adapt traditional services; utilize state-of-the-art tools to reach out to new markets • Education: Balance judgment with technical skills; teach soft skills; stay ahead of the curve on regulations and standards • Globalization: Understand international issues, trends, standards and regulations; identify new markets; explore new job opportunities • Promotion: Market the profession’s virtues of integrity, objectivity and trust to local, national and international audiences • Collaboration: Understand the different perceptions and realities of the generations and find ways to bridge the gap and take advantage of the best each can offer • Integration: Review our competencies and align them with new realities; enhance our role as a business advisor • Adaptation: Address changes in the marketplace, economy, business and regulations; immerse ourselves in domestic and international trends • Competition: Understand the numerous choices available to clients and employers; market the CPA value Reprinted with permission of the AICPA from the CPA Horizons 2025 report.
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DOR
update By Jermane Wright, senior attorney, DOR
Corporate Income Tax Computation of Net Operating Loss Carryover
F
The Florida Corporate Income Tax Code does not provide for the carryover of net operating losses resulting from a Florida subtraction. Therefore, taxpayers must limit the corporate income tax net operating loss carryover to the amount of the federal net operating loss (multiplied by the current year apportionment factor). FCT
lorida law (220.13(1)(b), F.S.) substantially follows federal net operating loss procedures, with certain important exceptions. One such limitation is that Florida subtractions may not create or increase a federal net operating loss (NOL), but may offset the amount of additions. Thus, taxpayers are allowed to carry over the net operating loss, for Florida purposes, up to the apportioned amount of the federal net operating loss for the current year.
Jermane Wright, Esq., CPA, LL.M., is a senior attorney for the Florida Department of Revenue. His primary focus is corporate income tax.
The following example illustrates the computation of a Florida net operating loss and the computation of the Florida net operating loss carryover (with limitation).
The statements in this article do not reflect the official position or opinions of the Florida Department of Revenue.
ABC Corporation, Year 1 Federal net income (loss): ($1,400,000) State income taxes deducted on 1120: $2,000 Total nonbusiness income: $150,000 ABC Corporation’s Florida net operating loss available for carryover is computed as follows: Federal taxable income (Line 30) (1,400,000) Adjustment Subtotal Additions and Subtractions: State tax add back 2,000 Federal NOL add back - Nonbusiness income subtraction (150,000) Net additions and subtractions Adjusted federal taxable income Apportionment Factor Florida net income Current year NOL
(1,400,000)
(148,000) (1,548,000) 0.900000 (1,393,200) (1,393,200)
A Florida addition or subtraction under s. 220.13(1), F.S., never creates an NOL or increases the amount of federal NOL. Thus, a taxpayer’s Florida NOL may not exceed the federal NOL multiplied by the apportionment factor. This means ABC Corporation’s Florida NOL carryover for Year 1 is limited to $1,260, 000 ($1,400,000 x .900000). NOL carryover to Year 2:
28 MARCH/APRIL 2014
(1,260,000)
ABC Corporation, Year 2 Federal net income (loss): ($1,000,000) State income taxes deducted on 1120: $2,000 Total nonbusiness income: $450,000 Federal NOL deduction: $650,000 ABC Corporation’s Florida net operating loss available for carryover is computed as follows: Federal taxable income (Line 30) (1,000,000) Adjustment Subtotal
(1,000,000)
Additions and Subtractions: State tax add back 2,000 Federal NOL add back 650,000 Nonbusiness income subtraction (450,000) Net additions and subtractions
202,000
Adjusted federal taxable income Apportionment Factor Florida net income
(798,000) 0.700000 (558,600)
Current year NOL
(558,600)
ABC Corporation has a Florida NOL carryover of $1,818,600. The Florida rule against a subtraction increasing a federal loss is not relevant in this year because the Florida NOL ($558,600) does not exceed the Federal NOL multiplied by the apportionment factor ($1,000,000 x .700000 = $700,000). NOL carryover from Year 1: (1,260,000) Current year NOL: (558,600) NOL carryover to Year 3: (1,818,600)
FLORIDA CPA TODAY
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ON THE
move Transitions
Miami: Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra, LLC announces the promotions of Alexander E. Binelo to principal in the audit department and Frank Gonzalez to principalin-charge of the audit department.
Amelia Island: The Hurst Company is pleased to announce that Danielle Rienks joins the company as audit manager.
John B. Brannan
Clearwater: CBIZ Kirkland, Russ, Murphy and Tapp and Mayer Hoffman McCann PC announce the hiring of Shane Burda and Christopher Nix as assurance senior associates in the Tampa Bay office. Also, David Enick has been promoted to managing director.
Danielle Rienks
Ocala: Duggan, Joiner & Company announces Donna E. Blaes as the newest member of their professional team.
Coral Gables: Verdeja & De Armas LLP announce that Richard F. Puerto has been promoted to partner in the tax department. Frank Gonzalez
Chris Howell
Michael Kalifeh
30 MARCH/APRIL 2014
Gainesville: Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC names these new partners – Lorie Keegan in Gainesville; Destin Cobb in Niceville; and Ann Marie Sale in Panama City. Gainesville: James Moore, with headquarters in Gainesville, announces that Jill Carlton and Kelly Shaer have been hired as associate accountants; Nadia Batey has been promoted to manager; Nicholas Bilotta, Brittany Bowman, Douglas Gillikin and Brendan McKitrick have been promoted to senior accountant; Katie Davis has been promoted to senior manager; and Varsha Mohinani and Jeremy Wright have been promoted to manager. Hollywood: Jewett, Schwartz & Associates, PL announces that Susanna Martinez has become a partner of the firm. Maitland: HMS Certified Public Accountants announces that Nicole Roger Finegan has become a new firm partner.
Mount Dora: Greenlee, Kurras, Rice & Brown, PA announces the promotion of David A. Donofrio to principal in the firm.
Sheri Fiske Schultz
Miami: Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants announce the promotion of Whitney Schiffer to the role of director in the audit and attest services practice. Miami: Kabat, Schertzer, De La Torre, Taraboulos & Co. announces that it will merge with Conn and Sharp, PA. Miami: Moore Stephens Lovelace recently relocated its South Florida operations to an office in the Bank of American building (701 Brickell Ave.) in downtown Miami.
Orlando: Cross, Fernandez & Riley, LLP announces that Cindy Baker and Ellen Thornton have been promoted to partners. Port Orange/Daytona Beach: Raposa Young and Brandon S. Perry, CPA, PA announce a merge resulting in the creation of a new firm – Raposa Perry Young, LLC. St. Petersburg: Whiteman and Company, PA and Spoor + Associates, PA announce a merge and will operate under the Spoor + Associates name. Tallahassee: Thomas Howell Ferguson PA welcomes Chris Howell to the firm as a senior manager in the assurance services department and announces the promotion of Michael Kalifeh to director of the tax services department.
For more news about members and other Florida CPAs, visit CPAs in the Spotlight at www.ficpa.org/Content/News/Spotlight.aspx. The space for Who’s News, Transitions and other announcements published on this page is limited to news focusing on promotions and new hires for FICPA members; speeches by members at professional conferences; and other firm news, such as recognition of business achievements. We do not publish FICPA committee appointments as a part of this feature because of space limitations. Submissions for On the Move can be emailed to communications@ficpa.org.
Tampa: Dwight Darby & Company announces that John B. Brannan has been named managing partner. Titusville: Parrish Medical Center has named Tim Skeldon as executive vice president for corporate finance.
Who’s News Chuck Cleaver of Martin Health System in Stuart recently was named vice president and chief financial officer. John Dougherty of JBH Accounting and Tax LLC in Spring Hill was reappointed by Gov. Rick Scott to the Pasco-Hernando Community College Board of Trustees. Kerkering, Barberio & Co. in Sarasota announces that employees who participated on the firm’s Team KBeatIt!, established to raise funds for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer campaign, donated $15,250 to the American Cancer
FLORIDA CPA TODAY
Society. In another fundraising effort, participating employees donated $17,650 to the United Way of Sarasota County. Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company PA in Fort Myers has been named the title sponsor for the 2014 Distinguished Entrepreneur Award, presented by the Small Business Development Center at Florida Gulf Coast University. Myers, Brettholtz & Co. in Fort Myers announces that Bob Janes Triage Center/Low Demand Shelter is the winner of the inaugural Uniting Nonprofits In Teaming for Excellence (UNITE) Award and the $25,000 cash prize. Also, employees donated 157 pounds of turkeys to the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida. Scott G. Price of A-lign in Tampa, who served as the 2012-2013 FICPA board chair, has been reappointed to represent Florida for a second term as an elected member of the AICPA Council.
Carmen Richardson of the Palm Beach County Tax Collector’s Office in West Palm Beach has been selected to serve as president of the Florida Government Finance Officers Association, Palm Beach County Chapter. Sheri Fiske Schultz has been recognized by the South Florida Legal Guide as one of the Top CPAs and Financial Support Professionals for 2014. Bill Tapp of CBIZ Kirkland Russ Murphy & Tapp and Mayer Hoffman McCann PC in Clearwater recently was presented with the Chester James Award. Warren Averett LLC has been named LEA Global’s 2013 Innovative Firm of the Year. Wiltshire, Whitley, Richardson & English of Fort Myers partners and employees participated in Meals of Hope and packaged meals on Christmas Eve during Holidays Without Hunger to feed hungry families in Southwest Florida. FCT
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MARKET
place
Positions available Staff Accountant Tax & Audit – Lakeland public accounting firm is seeking a full-time staff accountant to provide a full range of professional tax, accounting & auditing services including preparing tax returns & performing analytics for reviews; audit field work & compilations of financial statements for an expanded client base of companies, in a variety of industries. Candidates must have exp w/tax preparation of individual, S corporations & partnership returns, (including multi-state tax returns) as well as some level of financial-statement preparation or bookkeeping. Qualified candidate should have 1-3 yrs of public accounting exp; CPA or CPA candidate preferred. Must be a local area candidate. No phone calls please. Resumes should be sent to Mweeks@ walltitus.com. Sr. Tax/Audit Accountant – Outstanding small public accounting firm in Lakeland seeks a licensed senior tax accountant for an exceptional career opportunity. Exp & confidence in working w/clients, ability to tackle & research tax issues. Embraces working closely within a team & assisting other team members when needed. Some review exp a plus. Must possess the communication, people skills & drive to advance within the firm. Job requirements – bachelor’s degree or master’s w/CPA designation or candidate; 5+ yrs
current tax compliance exp in public accounting. Prefer exp w/ audit, reviews & compilations; tax compliance; exp w/individuals, partnerships, corporations & tax research. Exp w/Ultra Tax is a plus. Opportunity for professional growth & engaging directly w/ clients. Candidates must be located in the near area. No phone calls please. Resumes should be sent to Mweeks@walltitus.com. Duggan, Joiner & Company, CPAs in Ocala is seeking an accountant w/3-5 yrs of recent tax-return preparation exp. The position is seasonal w/opportunity for permanent employment after April 15 depending on technical ability. Fax resume to L. Allen (352) 867-1370. Staff Accountant/Junior Partner – Retirement-minded Tampa CPA looking for CPA/CPA candidate as a junior partner. We are a longestablished firm that loves to help clients & have fun! Job involves lots of bookkeeping & tax work. Computer technology skills are critical. Person inquiring about this job must have great people skills & be growth oriented. Respond to reply@ficpa.org and reference file number E PA 03 04 14. Halifax Health is seeking a Senior Internal Auditor to develop & lead risk based audits. Will report to the Director of Corporate Compliance & Audit Services. Requires: CPA, CIA, CISA, or other; master’s degree in related discipline; min 3 yrs
exp; excellent written, verbal & nonverbal communication; & utilizes COSO, GAAP & GASB. To apply: https://www. healthcaresource.com/hmc_i/ index.cfm?fuseaction=search. jobDetails&template=dsp_job_ details.cfm&cJobId=145288#. Chief Operating Officer – Bush Ross, P.A., a law firm based in Tampa, is seeking an experienced COO. This position will report to the managing partner & will be responsible for managing business functions as well as the overall operations of the law firm. The ideal candidate will have a min of 10 years of exp & 5 yrs in a professionalservices environment. The candidate will be a graduate of a recognized college or university w/major coursework in business administration, management, accounting or finance. The candidate must have knowledge of professional-service organizations & exp managing business operations such as finance, accounting, human resources, technology, facilities, insurance & marketing. We offer competitive compensation & benefits. If you possess the required exp, send your resume to shancockphillips@bushross. com. Strict confidentiality will be maintained. Only candidates contacted for an interview will receive a response. Bush Ross is an equal opportunity employer. ➡ Pg. 34
For complete classified policies, visit www.ficpa.org/Content/CPAResources/ClassifiedsJobs/Classifieds.aspx. 32 MARCH/APRIL 2014
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➡ Continued from Pg. 32
Positions wanted West Palm Beach – Semiretired, licensed CPA (FL, NY) & attorney (NY) specializing in taxation available for per diem work preparing or reviewing tax returns, consulting, IRS & state representation. Please call (561) 833-3440 or write LGinsbergEsqCPA@comcast.net.
Office space Office for Rent - E. Fort Lauderdale. 1,700 square feet, first floor, garden-view office suite. Reception room, secretarial office, 5 additional offices, bathroom plus kitchenette. Ample parking. Attractive location. Call (954) 563-5861.
employment opportunities available. Please contact Jeffrey Taraboulos at info@ksdt-cpa.com or (305) 670-3370. Established quality Fort Lauderdale CPA firm seeks to acquire practice from retirementminded CPA w/transition of your choice. Email inquiries to ajcpapa@aol.com or call Cary at (954) 985-1040. Orlando CPA firm seeks to purchase CPA firm or CPA practice in Orlando. Continuing employment opportunities available. Reply to Rick at (407) 522-0123 or rick@profitcoach. com.
For sale
Practices wanted for purchase or merger Growing S. Florida CPA firm looking to purchase a practice from a retirement-minded CPA in Dade County. Favorable purchase terms offered w/continuing
Successful transitions require experienced, confidential, professional services you can trust. This is what Akins
Access Florida CPA Today Archives Online For your convenience, Florida CPA Today articles from 1997-present are posted on the FICPA’s website at www.ficpa.org/Content/Members/ Tools/Publications/FCT/Archives. aspx. The archives provide a variety of previously published information, including technical articles written by member CPAs, legislative updates, DOR and IRS updates and much more. 34 MARCH/APRIL 2014
Professional Brokerage provides. Specializing exclusively in the brokerage of CPA firms, we have no upfront fees. List your firm w/a professional. Call David Akins, CPA at (877) 2770272. Visit our website at www. ProfessionalCPAbroker.com.
Practices wanted! Cash buyers waiting! List your practice w/ U.S.A.’s No. 1 Accounting Brokerage Firm. No upfront fees. Recent references available. Selling practices in Florida for 30+ years. Contact Erwin Rosenblatt (561)666-6737 or Leon Faris (800)729-9031 w/ Professional Accounting Sales or visit our website at www.cpasales.com.
Miscellaneous Oil & Gas attorney representing investors paying top dollar for oil & gas royalty & working interests. Overriding royalty interests, royalty, non-operating, operating. Petroleum engineer providing certified valuation of oil & gas interests. (239) 254-0004. Semi-retired practitioner offering tax-return prep services & also subcontract services to CPAs in Florida. We are also offering CFO services to your clients who may need short-term help. Please contact us. CPA & CFO Services (407) 739-5151 or visit our website at www.PaulJMurrayCPA.com for our information.
FLORIDA CPA TODAY
www.ficpa.org
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F L O R I D A
Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants P.O. Box 5437 Tallahassee, FL 32314-5437
Ft. Lauderdale
Tampa