President's MessageReflectionsOctober 27, 2008
In the early part of my first tax season, the managing tax partner took all the neophytes to lunch. In the course of the lunch, someone asked the partner, “Does tax season get easier as you progress through your career?” He answered: “No, it becomes increasingly difficult because a successful career only grows as one meets and overcomes new and greater challenges. However, experience provides the knowledge, judgment and temperament to cope with the increased difficulty.” I have been through many tax seasons, both with a small firm and as a solo practitioner. My experience has been exactly as that partner predicted so many years ago. Last month I saw an ad directed to CPAs that stated: “It’s not too late to sell your practice before the start of the next tax season.” I infer from that ad and anecdotal evidence that there are a significant number of CPA firm owners, and by extension, their employees, who are not coping very well with increasingly difficult and stressful tax seasons. To paraphrase Robert Frost, they are overtired by the amount of work they, themselves, desired. The good news is that help is available through CalCPA’s website, the Education Foundation and other CalCPA members, all of which have answers to your questions. Additionally, if for whatever reason you just need to exit the accounting profession, CalCPA provides succession planning information and training that will allow you to maximize the value of your practice. Ours is a profession that requires commitment, hard work and long hours, as well as continual retraining and re-education. If you do not have an effective support network, this can be a prescription for burnout. Fortunately, we have CalCPA. I don’t understand how a solo or small practitioner can afford not to be an active member of CalCPA. What do you think? — Jerry Sample, CPA Chapter NewsTax-Aid Gears Up for Economic Fallout on Bay Area Families
San Francisco Chapter CPAs each year support Tax-Aid, a nonprofit organization that offers free tax return preparation for low-income families at more than 20 Bay Area locations. This year the organization is expecting a 10 percent increase in clients seeking help. Tax-Aid is adding new locations in San Francisco, San Mateo and Sunnyvale to meet the demand and is hoping that more chapter members will step up to volunteer. Tax-Aid provides equipment, software and training, and a typical volunteer donates six to 12 hours over a couple of Saturdays during tax season. Interested chapter members can e-mail their name, firm, address, phone and e-mail information. Members unable to volunteer, but wishing to help, can send a tax-deductible contribution to Tax-Aid; 55 Second St., Suite 1400; San Francisco, CA 94105. Excel Users Group Getting Started
The San Francisco and Oakland/East Bay chapters of the Institute of Management Accountants are launching an Excel users group to focus on Excel 2003 as it relates to management accountants. Anyone who wants to grow in his or her Excel proficiency is invited to attend. Details are online. (This group is an offshoot of the IMA group previously co-sponsored by CalCPA’s San Francisco Chapter.) CalCPA NewsHow’s Your Succession Plan?
Is your success plan due for a checkup? Or, perhaps, are you due to get started? At the Education Foundation’s 2008 Succession Planning Conference, national experts will help you make sure that your succession plan is on track and that you maximize the value you have created in your firm. Register today: CalCPA Member Discounts on CCH Tax Guidebooks
CalCPA members can order CCH’s 2009 U.S. Master Tax Guide and the Guidebook to California Taxes 2009 at significantly discounted rates:
CalCPA Leaders Wanted
If you’re interested in helping shape the next group of CalCPA leaders, nominate a member for the job. Or, if you’re interested in a leadership role, self-nomination is the best way make your interest known. The CalCPA Nominations Committee is accepting nominations until Dec. 1 for 2009–10 CalCPA officers and council members at large. Learn more and download an application. Women’s Leadership Forum
Join CalCPA Dec. 3 for a day of leadership development, professional growth and recognition at the 2008 Women’s Leadership Forum. From tips and strategies for attaining leadership positions within the profession to handling difficult situations, mentoring and public speaking, this event designed by women CPA leaders will feature top speakers dedicated to helping women advance their careers. Register today! Plus, a lunchtime celebration will feature winners of CalCPA’s first Women to Watch Awards presented in cooperation with the AICPA. Learn more or download a nominations form. Then join other women as they finish the successful day of networking at the Women’s Leadership Forum with a networking dinner. |
|
|||||||||||||||
|
| ||||||||||||||
