Years ago, the nonprofit CFO’s role was mainly operational: overseeing functions such as accounting, budgeting and investments. But today’s CFO must be on top of governance, information technology, funding, compliance regulations, risk mitigation, insurance, employee benefits, time management and contracts, said Ronald F. Ries, a partner at WeiserMazars LLP and a panelist at the Foundation for Accounting Education’s 39th Annual Nonprofit Conference on Jan. 12. 

With New York state having launched its medical marijuana program in January 2016 and all of its neighboring states administering their own medical marijuana programs, the NYSSCPA hosted its first Marijuana Symposium on Dec. 13, in order to educate the profession and the public, inform local and national decision makers, and host a forum for open and thoughtful discussion on one of the United States’ fastest growing industries. 

Movies like “Scarface” and TV shows such as “Narco” glamorize drug lords for using banks to funnel their money into legitimate accounts and businesses. But money laundering is a serious crime, and CPAs must remain vigilant to avoid being used as unwitting intermediaries, according to panelists at the Foundation for Accounting Education's recent Anti–Money Laundering Conference in Manhattan. 

Hans Hoogervorst begins his second term as chair of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) in July. When appointed in 2011, he was facing a global economy still recovering from the economic crisis, as well as several major projects with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). He took the time to talk to the Trusted Professional about his reflections on his first term, as well as his priorities for the future.