CPAs in Industry

NYSSCPA member Brian Aryai has played a key role in federal and state investigations into Bovis Lend Lease, the construction company that was investigated after two firefighters died responding to a fire at the Duetsche Bank Building in August 2007, according to the New York Times.

Getting a loan and keeping it current is very difficult these days. As a result, many individuals and companies struck by default or foreclosure—and, in turn, their CPAs—are facing difficult conversations with lenders.

If you’re a Yankees fan, the high cost of tickets in the Bronx Bombers’ new stadium may have you scratching your head and missing more than a few home games... even though the owners decided to slash some of the highest prices.

But there’s some rhyme and reason behind the team’s $90 nosebleed-section seats -- the cheapest available -- said valuation expert Dr. Peter L. Lohrey, and at a meeting of the Entertainment and Sports Committee this morning, he explained the factors considered in the valuation of a sports franchise.

Women CPAs with an interest in personal financial planning are invited to join the NYSSCPA’s Personal Financial Planning Committee and Smith Barney for an evening of cocktails and hors d’ oeuvres on May 14. The evening’s speakers will discuss expanding the services you offer to clients by incorporating personal financial planning into your career.

True or false: You don’t need to delve into your past experiences on a job interview because it’s all written down right there on your resume.

False. Your resume may be near and dear to your own heart, but consider that your interviewer probably glanced over it in just a few minutes. How many times have you hurriedly read something and only absorbed about one-quarter of it? In fact, you shouldn’t assume your interviewer read your resume at all, according to Michael Rosenblatt, president of Quest Organization. Instead, be prepared to discuss each previous position in detail during a job interview, including your reasons for leaving, and highlight skills and experience relevant to the job you are applying for. Rosenblatt and other presenters shared this and other job tips during a recent Banking Committee event, "Accounting Opportunities in Financial Services: Outlook and Strategies for the New Year." You can view the webcast below.

Other job interview do’s and don’ts: 

It's registration time for auditors of nonpublic broker-dealers.

Until recently, by order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, registration with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board was not a requirement. But now, the expiration of the SEC order means financial statements of nonpublic broker-dealers for fiscal years ending after Dec. 31, 2008 must be certified by a registered public accounting firm.

Accountancy reform has officially come to New York state.

The new law, signed by Gov. David A. Paterson on Jan. 27, makes sweeping changes to the state's regulations for the accounting profession, including bringing a larger number of CPAs under the state's regulatory structure and requiring CPAs working in industry to complete continuing professional education courses.

Work is no place for wallflowers. You should strive to be visible and proactive at your current job, according to Bruce Friedman, associate director of recruiting at KPMG LLP. Friedman and other presenters shared tips for making yourself indispensable at your current job, along with strategies for finding a new one, at a recent NYSSCPA Banking Committee event.

You’ve read about the new accountancy reform law on CPA.BLOG, or perhaps you’ve seen it written up in the Compliance Reporter, WebCPA, AccountingWeb or another publication. Now you can get the full story on what you might need to do differently in terms of your CPE, peer review and firm registration. CPAs in industry will be particularly affected by the new law.

The NYSSCPA’s CFO Committee has scheduled a wine and cheese event at the NYSSCPA offices (3 Park Ave. at 34th Street, 19th Floor) on Feb. 23 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. You can also sign up for the webcast here. (You must register for the event by 4 p.m. on Feb. 20. Click here for full registration details.)

Don’t underestimate the power of the online network when it comes to building your career. LinkedIn is a powerful career tool, and if you’re not using it to the fullest extent possible, you should be, according to Bruce Friedman, associate director, recruiting at KPMG LLP.

Friedman and other presenters shared tips for CPAs in the job marketplace on Jan. 28 at the seminar “Accounting Opportunities in Financial Services: Outlook and Strategies for the New Year,” organized by the NYSSCPA Banking Committee. View the webcast here, or read coverage of the event in the Trusted Professional.