AICPA to Propose Internet IPO

At the AICPA's March 30 regional Council meeting in New York City, President Barry Melancon discussed plans to spin off some of the Institute's operations into separate corporations, including an Internet portal that could become an initial public offering. (Article)

AICPA and Other Groups Explore New Designation

The AICPA and seven other leading professional accounting institutes from around the world have formed a global task force to explore creating a new international business professional designation. This designation could redefine the accounting profession. (Article)

High Court Upholds Commuter Tax Repeal

On April 4, the New York State Court of Appeals upheld the State Legislature's repeal of New York City's commuter tax and further ruled that the tax could not be applied to out-of-state residents. (Article)

Camico and Society Finalize Partnership

On April 3, Camico Mutual Insurance Company became the first professional insurance company sponsored by the NYSSCPA in more than a decade. (Article)

April 15th has come and gone and so has my money. - Henny Youngman

What price honesty? This thought came to mind recently when I read about the many celebrities (most of whom are in their 20s and early 30s) who are accusing their money manager (age 37) of looting $6 million from their accounts. (Article)

Cyber Café Serves up Internet Access At May Show

Attendees at the 2000 CPAs' Finance, Business & Technology Show & Conference can keep in touch with their office and clients from the show's Cyber Café. The café's computer terminals will provide free Internet access and spotlight the latest features of www.nysscpa.org. (Article)

House Restores Installment Sales Method

The House of Representatives on March 9 passed a measure to restore the installment sales method to accrual-basis corporate taxpayers. The House included the provision in H.R. 3081, the Employment Growth Act of 1999 (the minimum wage bill), which President Bill Clinton has threatened to veto. (Article)

Jay Nisberg

The window of opportunity for the CPA profession could not be wider than it is at this moment. The new millennium brings an endorsement of unprecedented trust to the CPA profession, recognition long in development, the fruits of which are now ripening. CPAs face numerous challenges; however, none are as great as the depreciating human resources. (Article)

State Board Chair Speaks on Alternative Forms of Practice

Arthur S. Ainsberg, chair of the New York State Board for Public Accountancy, recently discussed the impact of alternative forms of public practice, warning that current independence standards do not adequately address the changing scheme of the profession. (Article)

Alcoa Chair Joins Public Oversight Board

The Public Oversight Board recently announced it has elected Alcoa Chair Paul H. O'Neill to the board, replacing the vacancy created when A.A. Sommer Jr. retired in February. (Article)

POB Audit Effectiveness Report Delayed

The Public Oversight Board's Panel on Audit Effectiveness will issue its draft report in April or May, according to David Pearson, director of the panel's staff. Panel Chair Shawn O'Malley had stated at the NYSSCPA's Auditing Conference in January that the panel planned to issue its initial report in February or March. (Article)

ISB Proposes Framework for Auditor Independence

The Independence Standards Board (ISB) issued a discussion memorandum on March 3 that proposes a conceptual framework for auditor independence to serve as the foundation for developing principles-based independence standards. Comments are due May 31. (Article)

State Bar President to Speak at Annual Conference

Thomas O. Rice, president of the 67,000-member New York State Bar Association, will participate in a panel on multidisciplinary practices at the NYSSCPA Annual Conference to take place June 3­6 at the Seaview Marriott in Absecon, N.J. (Article)

New York City Finance Commissioner to Speak at Luncheon

Andrew S. Eristoff, commissioner of the New York City Department of Finance, will speak at a May 16 luncheon sponsored by the NYSSCPA Cooperation with Bankers and Other Credit Grantors Committee. (Article)

Not-for-Profit Committee Meets with State Mental Health Representatives

On March 1, representatives from the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) and Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (OMRDD) met with the NYSSCPA Not-for-Profit Organizations Committee to discuss consolidated fiscal report (CFR) issues. (Article)

IRS Honors Society Members

The Internal Revenue Service recently presented awards to NYSSCPA members in recognition of their contributions in fostering relations between the Society and IRS. (Article)

State Board Recommends Self-Study Regulations Change to Board of Regents

The October unveiling of eMind.com (formerly Yipinet), the NYSSCPA's online education affinity partner, has brought to light some members' concerns regarding the number of credits earned through self-study forms of continuing professional education for New York­licensed CPAs. (Article)

Committee Updates CPAs on New Technologies

The NYSSCPA Emerging Technologies Committee, chaired by William Oliver, reviews the impact of new and existing technologies and helps keep CPAs up-to-date on the latest trends. (Article)

Website FAQs

Members can post inquiries and comments about www.nysscpa.org by clicking on the Technical Problems and Website Suggestions links at the bottom of the homepage. The following are recent FAQs posed to website editors: (Article)

E-business Offers Practice Opportunities for CPAs

This article is the first in a series by the NYSSCPA Emerging Technologies Committee to educate and inform CPAs about opportunities to expand their practices and improve client services by offering e-business consulting. Many people confuse e-business with e-commerce and assume the two terms are synonymous. (Article)

How Fast Can You Go?

With the popularity of the Internet today the question is not whether you use it, but the speed at which you connect. The most popular connection speeds available at home and office can be broken down into two separate categories, analog (modem) and digital (high-speed broadband). (Article)

Minority Role Models Encourage Profession's Diversity

In 1977, Pat Adams was one of only a few African Americans studying accounting at Pace University. She graduated in 1982 and began her career at Arthur Andersen. (Article)

Society Offers Free Web Hosting for Beta Alpha Psi

The NYSSCPA now offers New York chapters of Beta Alpha Psi, the national accounting fraternity, free web hosting privileges on the Society's website, www.nysscpa.org. (Article)

COAP Helps Aspiring CPA Reach Career Goals

In 1990, Gillann Napoleon was one of many students to sign up for Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP), a program that exposes minority high school juniors to careers in the business world. Now a successful auditor at Arthur Andersen LLP, she points to COAP as the impetus that solidified her career choice. (Article)

Website's Student Section Redesigned

To strengthen programs and services for accounting students, the NYSSCPA recently redesigned and updated the For Future CPAs section of www.nysscpa.org. (Article)

Society Visits St. John's University

In the NYSSCPA's continuing effort to strengthen relations with New York colleges, Recruitment for CPA Careers Committee member Don Kiamie met with more than 40 Beta Alpha Psi members at St. John's University on March 1. Kiamie spoke about the future of the profession, his career experiences, and Society benefits for students. (Article)

Ethics and regulation Q & As

The NYSSCPA offers assistance with members' questions on ethics and regulation. Inquiries address a variety of topics such as: (Article)

Supreme Court Cases Offer Employers Guidance on Sexual Harassment

During the past 18 months, the U.S. Supreme Court has handed down three decisions that offer guidance to employers on avoiding liability for sexual harassment claims, and the possibility of related awards of punitive damages, arising from the actions of supervisory and managerial personnel. (Article)

Filing for Commuter Tax Refunds

The NYSSCPA contacted the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance to determine how the department plans to address refunds of the commuter tax for out-of-state residents. (Article)

Life Insurance Provides Flexible and Affordable Coverage

The NYSSCPA group term life insurance plan is an affordable way for members to provide financial security for themselves and their families. (Article)

IMA to Honor Kessler

The Institute of Management Accountants' New York City Chapter will present its sixth annual Executive of the Year Award to Stuart Kessler at a reception and dinner on May 16 at the Marriott Financial Center Hotel in New York City. (Article)