May/June 2015 - Florida CPA Today | Volume 31, Number 3

florida C P A

TODAY

M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 5

VOLUME 31, NUMBER 3

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

16 Photo by TREW Media Inc.

Making an Impact Four FICPA members serve in Florida House

departments 5 Chair’s message 6 President’s message 22 DOR Update

26 Staff reports

28 News Briefs

features 8

The New GASB Pension Standards Putting large new liabilities on government balance sheets

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Effective Leadership Finding the key ingredient

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The 30th Annual Accounting Show Here’s what’s new

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FICPA CPE Check out the changes!

Take a Bow FICPA honors discussion leaders

30 CPAs in the Spotlight

32 Marketplace 34 Take Five

Meet U.S. Congressman Patrick Murphy Cover Photo by TREW Media Inc.

FLORIDA CPA TODAY

www.ficpa.org

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Florida A&A Requirements

What’s your opinion?

The FICPA is considering pursuing a statutory change allowing an alternative to the required Accounting and Auditing (A&A) continuing education every two years. Please weigh in by taking the short survey at www.ficpa. org/A&Asurvey.

F L O R I D A

PRESIDENT/CEO Deborah L. Curry, CPA, CGMA SR. DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Jan Dobson, CAE, APR, IOM EDITOR Suellen D. Wilkins GRAPHIC DESIGNER Loleta K. Bolden PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR Dianne Dearduff EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

(Note: Only voting-class FICPA members are eligible.

Thank you!)

David J. Hochsprung, CPA, chair Vicki H. Meyer, CPA, vice chair Walter C. Copeland, CPA • Douglas E. Day, CPA Lynda M. Dennis, CPA • Casey A. Fletcher, CPA Michael S. Kridel, CPA • Troy Y. Manning, 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. © 2015 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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MAY/JUNE 2015

chair’s

MESSAGE

Jeff Barbacci, CPA chair@ficpa.org

Vetting the Profession’s Changing Landscape

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e’re in the last two months of the FICPA’s 2014-2015 fiscal year and of my tenure as Board Chair.

We’re also in our most exciting and potentially turbulent time of year, when the Florida Legislature is in session.

As a volunteer FICPA leader I’ve often been part of the legislative process.

This year I’ve been involved with two bills that could impact the way in which many of our members conduct business – one that deals with localgovernment audits and one with firm licensure. These two bills alone have required a significant investment of the FICPA’s time and resources. The experience has been a good reminder that without our members’ support, the fate of our profession wouldn’t be in our hands. Your membership and support of the political action committees (PACs) ensures that we have a voice and can act quickly when our best interests are challenged.

My experiences during the past nine months have reinforced the fact that we’re in a rapidly evolving professional environment. Changes in technology, diversity, generational values and

FLORIDA CPA TODAY

education are shaping our members’ expectations and the ways in which the FICPA strives to exceed them.

The social landscape in Florida and in the U.S. also continues to change as our core values are redefined or challenged. More often than not, these changes have a financial or regulatory impact in which CPAs play a key role. FICPA President/CEO Deborah Curry’s membership and involvement in professional circles is helping the FICPA stay ahead of the curve on these issues.

I hope many of you will take advantage of our Mega CPE Conference in June. Treat the family to some rest and relaxation and hear high-level speakers from throughout the country.

At the end of the conference I’ll turn the gavel over to Mia Thomas, our current chair-elect. I’m confident that Mia, along with Deborah and the rest of our FICPA staff, will continue to lead the FICPA in a direction that will make our members proud.

I look forward to my service as past chair under Mia’s leadership, and to continuing my efforts to serve our profession. FCT

www.ficpa.org

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NASBA Collaborates with State Boards, C omplex:

Complicated, intricate or composed of many interconnected parts.

This word is on the minds of CPAs across the globe as we strive to stay abreast of the latest laws, rules and standards affecting our profession. One of the most important institutions dealing with the complexity of our profession is the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA).

In March I attended a meeting in Tampa hosted by NASBA President and Chief Executive Officer Ken Bishop. In attendance were over 160 representatives of the profession: 38 state board executive directors and 60 state board staff; 22 state society CEOs; 43 state board legal counsel and staff; and representatives from the AICPA. Also in attendance was the FICPA’s former Director of Governmental Affairs, John Johnson, who now is NASBA’s Director of Legislative and Government Affairs.

Here are key points of several topics addressed at the conference.

Ken Bishop, NASBA President and Chief Executive Officer

An interesting case regarding anti-trust involves the North Carolina State Board of Dental Examiners and the North Carolina Dental Society. To read about the case, visit nasba.org/files/2015/04/SCOTUS-IssuesDecision-Involving-Dental-Board.pdf.

BOAs and societies can have cohesive relationships without violating the spirit of separate entities, restricting trade or reaching beyond the boundaries of our profession. We must remain distinct in our actions to avoid anti-trust issues.

John Johnson, NASBA Director of Legislative and Government Affairs

Boards of Accountancy (BOAs) and state societies operate in the best interest of the profession, but their missions are not identical. BOAs are responsible for regulatory oversight under the authority of statutes and MAY/JUNE 2015

Attendees discussed how societies can support BOAs appropriately, since we are separate legal entities. This requires mutual respect. For instance, BOAs can be an important source of feedback, such as recommending continuingeducation topics to combat work-product deficiencies identified in probable cause cases.

Anti-trust issues

Missions: BOAs versus state societies

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rules. A society’s mission is to advocate on behalf of members and the profession while protecting members’ interests. BOAs may not always concur with legislation that societies advocate, but it’s important that they work together to reach common ground.

Mobility As interstate – if not international – business increasingly affects our profession, we address mobility of individual and firm licensees.

Roundtable participants explored state boards’ challenges in regulating licensees under “mobility.” They also explored how BOAs handle disciplinary procedures under mobility, and how licensees would be affected in their home states. Effective firm mobility would require some congruence among state regulations.

president’s

MESSAGE

CPA Societies Deborah L. Curry, CPA, CGMA curryd@ficpa.org

Impact of cannabis laws State medical marijuana (cannabis) laws create a challenge for state BOAs, regulators and CPAs. Cannabis is listed as a Class 1 drug under federal drug laws and there is no recognition of a medical purpose for cannabis in federal law. This creates friction between federal and state enforcement platforms.

State-level medical marijuana legislation is gaining traction. What does that mean for state boards? CPAs are looking for guidance to ensure they won’t be subject to losing their licenses for performing accounting, tax or advisory services for cannabis businesses.

BOAs may want to wait, or proceed with extreme caution, as this issue develops. Is it an act discreditable? What statements have BOAs issued? CPAs may not violate professional standards if they perform these services, but that doesn’t address federal law.

Can BOAs discipline CPA firms for performing professional services for cannabis operators, even when such services are required by statute or rule? Consider also the far-reaching consequences of these circumstances: • A lawsuit was filed against a “grow light” business that was not directly involved in the use of its product to grow marijuana plants. The business successfully defended the suit but incurred major legal expense. Could CPAs performing services for this lighting business have suffered consequences?

• A real estate business owned a strip mall and rented space to a cannabis dispensary. The bank that carried the mortgage on the strip mall called the loan because the real estate business was engaged in illegal activity under federal law. This might be extended into the area FLORIDA CPA TODAY

of money laundering. How does that affect the CPAs of the real estate business or the bank?

Diversity and inclusion NASBA has created a Diversity Committee to increase diversity among its leadership and other volunteers. Many state societies, NASBA and the AICPA are working with universities to increase the diversity of graduates seeking to pass the CPA exam. Many CPA firms long ago realized the need to diversify staff and provide mentorship and open-door policies to ensure diversity in firm ownership.

During the meeting, state BOAs and societies were challenged to review the makeup of their boards and committees.

Attendees learned about recent developments related to state government contracts. To be considered for these contracts, companies submitting RFPs may be questioned about company diversity.

The AICPA’s new monthly e-newsletter, Inclusion Solutions, focuses on positioning the profession as a leader in diversity and inclusion. It’s available to AICPA members and nonmembers. To sign up to receive it, visit aicpa.org and search for Inclusion Solutions.

I’m proud that the FICPA and the Florida BOA worked together to elevate the BOA’s Clay Ford Scholarship Program. The program awards significant scholarships each year to fifth-year minority accounting students at approved educational institutions. The application deadline is June 1 each year. For more information, visit myfloridalicense.com/ dbpr/cpa/MinorityScholarship.html.

These are just a few of the topics covered in the conference, and new issues appear on the horizon each year. The CPA profession faces complexities that will only grow, and the FICPA and its members will continue to face them head on. FCT www.ficpa.org

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The New GASB Pension Standards

Putting large new liabilities on government balance sheets

By Mark A. White CPA

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fter a lengthy deliberative process, the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) recently issued two landmark Governmental Accounting Standards. They are expected to significantly change financial reporting for pension costs in the governmental accounting and auditing community.

and district school boards participate in the Florida Retirement System (FRS), which is a multi-employer cost sharing plan. Single-employer pension plans are common in Florida municipalities for general employee, police officer and firefighter plans. There are few, if any, multiemployer agent plans in Florida at this time.

Statement No. 67 – Financial Reporting for Pension Plans, an Amendment of GASB Statement No. 25 prescribes reporting standards for the financial statement of pension plans. The effective date is for fiscal-year ends beginning June 30 and Sept. 30, 2014 for Florida’s state and local government pension plans.

The core

Statement No. 68 – Accounting and Financial Reporting for Pensions, an Amendment of GASB Statement No. 27 prescribes employer accounting and reporting for pension costs in the employer financial statements. It’s important to note that the effective date for this standard is for fiscal-year ends beginning June 30 and Sept. 30, 2015 for Florida’s state and local governments.

Each standard applies to defined-contribution and definedbenefit plans that are provided by trusts. However, most of the impact is for employer reporting for pension costs of defined-benefit plans.

The new standards apply to three types of defined-benefit plans: single-employer, multi-employer agent and multiemployer cost sharing. For example, Florida counties

FICPA CPE Resources Upcoming Webcasts Pension Accounting and Financial Reporting: New Standards (4152903B) May 26, 2015 – 8 AA Gary M. Caporicci, CPA, CGFM, CFF GASB 68 and 71: New Pension Standards (4152969C) Jun. 5, 2015 – 4 AA Gary M. Caporicci, CPA, CGFM, CFF For more information or to register, visit www.ficpa.org/CPE. 8

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Under No. 68, the employer of a defined-benefit pension plan will record the Net Pension Liability (NPL) and the related pension expense in their economic resourcebased financial statements. GASB defines the NPL as the difference between the Total Pension Liability (TPL) and the Net Plan Position (NPP). The TPL is the portion of the actuarial present value of projected plan benefit payments that is attributed to past period of employee service. The NPP is merely the equity or net position of the pension plan as of the same date that the TPL is calculated. Stated more simply, the NPL is net present value of future pension benefits earned as of a specific date, less the amount that is available in the plan to pay those benefits.

Economic resourced-based financial statements generally are understood to include all enterprise and internal service funds at the fund level and the government-wide financial statements for governmental funds. Thus for most utility and other enterprise funds there will be a direct fund level effect of booking this new liability. For governmental-type funds, the effect only will be seen at the government-wide level, similar to how other postemployment benefits currently are recorded.

The effect of this change is unknown, pending the result of actuarial reports. However, a major concern is that recording the NPL may severely decrease or eliminate the net position at the fund or government-wide level. Also, recording pension expense using the new methodology could create negative changes in net position at the fund level for enterprise funds, which could affect debt-service coverage ratios and bond ratings.

Actuarial requirements Statement No. 68 only addresses the financial reporting by the employer of a defined-benefit pension plan.

Therefore, actuaries will continue to provide actuarialfunding reports using methods and assumptions not affected by No. 68. However, a second actuarial report for GAAP financial reporting will be prepared in addition to the funding report. The new standards require full actuarial reports for the purpose of calculating the NPL at least every other year, with actuarial updates allowed in between.

Timing issues and other specifics Implementation of No. 68 is performed by retroactively restating the beginning of the year net position for the beginning balance of the NPL. This is similar to the accounting treatment of a prior period adjustment. Once the beginning NPL is established, it will be adjusted to the ending balance through pension expense and deferred outflows and inflows which are used extensively in the new standard. It is expected that the plan actuary will provide this information to the employer.

The standard allows an employer’s measurement date (MD) of the NPL to be calculated at any time within one year of the employer’s fiscal year end reporting date (RD). This allows the employer time for information to be submitted, determined, audited and recorded. The FLORIDA CPA TODAY

absence of this provision would create a bottle neck for actuarial reports, which ultimately would delay the financial statement issuance.

No. 67 (governing plan reporting and disclosures), unlike No. 68, does not provide for the one-year lag time for reporting by the plan. All plan notes and required supplementary information must be as of the plan’s year end.

Thus, single-employer plans that report only in the employer Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports must have their disclosures, which include the NPL, as of the year-end date. This likely will result in delays in the issuance of the employers’ financial statements awaiting actuarial reports. Many consider this an oversight in that GASB didn’t anticipate that so many Florida plans don’t issue standalone statements and, therefore, didn’t see this as a problem for the employer’s financial statements.

Florida Retirement System Since the Florida Retirement System (FRS) is a cost sharing, multi-employer pension plan, the members (employers) will be required to record their pro rata share of the FRS NPL in their 2015 economic resource-based financial statements. FRS officials have indicated they expect to be able to produce all information (audited by the auditor general) necessary for their members to implement the new standards and will make it available on their website. ➡ www.ficpa.org

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FRS officials have indicated this information will meet the requirements of recent AICPA audit interpretations addressing cost-sharing plan audits. Those interpretations require the plan auditor to audit the financial statements, the census data and the allocation of the NPL to provide local governments and their auditors with additional assurance about the reliability of their share of the plan’s NPL, which is expected to be material.

Because FRS reports on a June 30 fiscal-year end, school boards that also have June 30 year ends can take full advantage of the one-year time lag. Thus school board June 30, 2015 financial statements can report the NPL measured as of June 30, 2014. This information should be available well before June 30, 2015 and shouldn’t cause financial reporting delays.

Counties, on the other hand, have Sept. 30 fiscal-year ends and cannot use the FRS NPL calculated as of June 30, 2014 because it is outside the one-year parameter. They must use the NPL calculated as of June 30, 2015, which is not expected to be available until early spring of 2016.

This is expected to delay closing out enterprise funds and

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completing the government-wide conversion for counties as they go through their year-end audit process.

These two new standards are complex and will require an unprecedented level of coordination between plans, actuaries, employers and auditors to ensure timely compliance with plan- and employer-reporting requirements. It is important that all coordinate their efforts closely to make ensure that date-sensitive information will be available when needed to prepare the financial statements of the plans and the employers. FCT Mark White is an audit partner in the Ocala office of Purvis, Gray and Company. He provides auditing services to a variety of clients and industries with concentrations in local governments, public utilities and non-profits.

White serves on the Government Finance Officers Association Special Review Committee for the Certificate in Excellence in Financial Reporting, and on the Florida Government Finance Officers Association (FGFOA) Technical Resource Committee and Program Committee.

He has spoken at several FGFOA and Florida Association of Clerk Courts conferences and has authored numerous articles for FGFOA Newsletter and Florida CPA Today.

This article is the second of a two-part series by Dan Griffiths highlighting “soft skills” relevant to the CPA profession.

Effective Leadership

Finding the key ingredient

By Dan Griffiths, CPA, CGMA

“If most of us remain ignorant of ourselves, it is because self-knowledge is painful and we prefer the pleasures of illusion.”

– British writer Aldous Huxley

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very week I have the pleasure of working with executives who are committed to becoming more effective for themselves and the companies they lead.

They rely on me and others they trust to help them uncover blind spots and recalibrate their selfawareness so they can be more impactful.

Why do even the best leaders sometimes fail to get to know themselves, and lose their perspective? Are they so distracted with their smart phones, and other constant noise, that they don’t take the time for self-reflection?

Regardless, those who make the effort are far more effective in influencing others.

Self-awareness is the key ingredient of effective leadership. For truly powerful leaders, it goes beyond self-reflection. It’s about self-awareness “in the moment;” a knowledge of how others are experiencing us in real time. This is one of the keys to enhancing our ability to influence others.

Maya Angelou said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

That sums it up. Leaders must be keenly aware of the emotions they evoke in those they lead. How do we cultivate this heightened level of awareness? We actively solicit honest feedback from those around us.

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Can we handle the truth?

Have you ever left a business meeting and thought, “John had no idea how poorly he came across in that meeting.”

Your observation probably was accurate. All of us can be oblivious to the experience we create for others. To cure this blindness, we must seek honest feedback from those around us – but how do we get them to share it?

After you left the meeting with John, it’s rather unlikely that you’d visit with him and give him your feedback. The question we should ask is, “What would John have to do for me to be willing to open up and share that feedback with him?” Because guess what? All of us probably have as many blind spots as John does. The key is discovering how to get those around us to point them out.

What makes us unique?

Just as feedback can help us identify blind spots, it’s also vital to better understanding our greatest strengths.

Dr. Donald Clifton, one of the fathers of modern strengths theory, said, “A leader needs to know his strengths as a carpenter knows his tools, or as a physician knows the instruments at her disposal. What great leaders have in common is that each truly knows his or her strengths – and can call on the right strength at the right time.”

Here’s the challenge: By definition, our strengths are those things that come most naturally to us. This means that often, we scarcely are aware of their value. After all, if it seems easy, why would it be valuable and impactful?

To lead effectively, we need objective feedback to help us recognize our strengths and learn how to apply them in influencing others.

Be bold How can we get great feedback? First, create safety. In every interaction, our brains unconsciously are scanning for two things: warmth (“Do you mean me harm?”) and strength (“Do you have the capacity to carry it out?”).

Here are bold, effective steps to getting the feedback that can transform our leadership success.

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1. Show warmth. To create safety and increase your odds of getting honest feedback, show warmth.

Make certain the people around you know that you “come in peace.” Sometimes, all it takes is a smile. Other times, it’s best to state intentions up front. It may even make sense to change the venue from an office to a less formal location, or one that’s considered neutral territory.

2. Prime the conversation. Even if you’ve succeeded in creating safety, it still may be difficult for others to share direct, honest feedback. Try priming the conversation by showing some vulnerability. It could sound like this: “Based on the body language of some of the people in our staff meeting, I feel like my approach may have been a bit overbearing.

Help me out, here. What do you think I should have done differently?” This opens the door for coworkers to candidly share their experience with your behavior.

3. Start early in your career. You’ve probably heard it’s lonely at the top. There’s a lot of truth to that sentiment. The higher you go in an organization, the more difficult it becomes to get truly objective feedback. People generally don’t openly share that kind of feedback with their bosses, no matter ➡

www.ficpa.org

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how safe those conversations may be. Consider your time in the lower ranks of your organization as a gift and an opportunity to hear the unvarnished truth. That window of opportunity is limited and closes more tightly with each promotion.

Be brave Self-awareness leads to greater professional and personal success. It can be painful. But it also can be exhilarating and empowering. So dig deep, be brave and start with your strengths. Begin today. Ask 10 people you trust what they believe is your area of greatest strength. Their answers might surprise you! FCT Dan Griffiths, CPA, CGMA is the director of strategic planning at Tanner, LLC, a Salt Lake City-based firm. Griffiths is a graduate of the 2010 AICPA Leadership Academy. He serves on the executive board of the Utah Association of CPAs and represents his state as a member of the AICPA Governing Council. He served as the Leadership Forum Coach at the FICPA’s 2014 Accel YCPA Leadership Forum in Orlando and 2015 Accel YCPA Leadership Forum & Capitol Days in Tallahassee.

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FICPA CPE Resources Upcoming Webcasts Taking the Financial Executive’s Leadership to the Next Level (ACTFEL07) June 12, 2015 – 2 B Mario Flores, CPA Taking the Financial Executive’s Leadership to the Next Level (ACTFEL08) June 29, 2015 – 2 B Mario Flores, CPA Taking the Financial Executive’s Leadership to the Next Level (ACTFEL09) June 30, 2015 – 2 B Mario Flores, CPA Personal Leadership Skills (ACPLS04) June 11, 2015 – 4 B James T. Lindell, CPA, CGMA, MBA Personal Leadership Skills (ACPLS05) June 27, 2015 – 4 B James T. Lindell, CPA, CGMA, MBA The Trustworthy Leader: Ethics and Trust (ACTTL07) June 16, 2015 – 2 B Diane D. White, MBA, CPA, CMA The Trustworthy Leader: Ethics and Trust (ACTTL08) June 30, 2015 – 2 B Diane D. White, MBA, CPA, CMA For more information or to register, visit www.ficpa.org/CPE.

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story

Making an Impact Four FICPA members serve in Florida House

By Justin Thames, governmental affairs manager

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uring the 2015 Legislative Session, for the first time in Florida’s history, there would be four CPAs serving in the House of Representatives. Reps.

Michael Bileca, Dan Raulerson, David Richardson and newly elected Representative Cyndi Stevenson would bring their experiences and backgrounds as Florida CPAs to the policy discussion being considered during the 60day meeting of lawmakers in Tallahassee.

There were high expectations for the Florida Legislature.

Republican Gov. Rick Scott had returned to office after hard-fought campaign against former Gov. Charlie Crist, and there would be new leaders in the House of Representatives and the Florida Senate. The question was how the three would work together to accomplish the goals each had outlined in their vision for Florida’s future.

Early on, the main themes of Session seemed relatively clear and, to some, even audacious. With an expectation that the state would have more than $1 billion in surplus funds, there would be another push for tax cuts for Floridians. The Legislature would decide how to instigate water policies implemented by Amendment 1, which passed in 2014. Lawmakers would debate school testing and education policies. And the state’s budget would loom over everything during the 60-day exercise.

The fact that only slightly more than 1,700 bills were filed during session – the fewest in 15 years – indicated just how focused the Legislature would be. At the midway point, it was clear that the budget and the conflict between the state and the federal government over health care funding would take center stage. The disagreements regarding the federal government’s renewal of the Low-Income Pool Program, which funds lowincome patients receiving services in hospitals, and the state’s decision on expanding Medicaid created a stalemate with two weeks of Session left. Without any clear path to a resolution before Session was set to end May 1, the Legislature agreed to hold a Special Session to resume negotiations and, hopefully, pass a balanced budget.

Excluding the budget, the Legislature would address all other policy issues. Look for updated information in an upcoming issue of IMPACT Report, the FICPA’s governmental affairs e-newsletter.

Public Accountancy Bill

Photo by TREW Media Inc.

Top of staircase down: Reps. David Richardson, Cyndi Stevenson, Michael Bileca and Dan Raulerson make up the four-member CPA caucus of the Florida House of Representatives.

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As in years past, the FICPA approached the 2015 Legislative Session with the goal of providing value to all licensed CPAs in the state. After evaluating the regulatory framework to which firms are required to adhere, Rep. Dan Raulerson, CPA, R-Plant City and Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, filed legislation that would clarify the licensure requirements for CPA firms. The legislation, Senate Bill 636 (SB 636) and House Bill 373 (HB 373), clearly outlines the criteria a firm would have to meet to be required to be licensed by the Florida Board of Accountancy (BOA). The bills incorporate the framework for firm licensure provided by the Uniform Accountancy Act constructed by the AICPA and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy. Under the bills, it is clear to practitioners that firm licensure is required under 437.3101 if:

Fourth CPA sworn in to House On April 7, the citizens of St. Johns County elected Cyndi Stevenson, CPA to the Florida House of Representatives in a special election to House District 17 in Northeast Florida.

“The FICPA is extremely proud of Cyndi’s success in her efforts to be elected to the House of Representatives,” said FICPA President/CEO Deborah Curry, CPA, CGMA. “We look forward to working with her on issues important to the profession and are excited to have one more CPA serving in the Legislature.”

The day after her election, Stevenson was sworn in

by Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga and immediately was seated as a member of the House, making her the fourth member who is a CPA. She joins fellow CPA Reps. Michael Bileca, Dan Raulerson and David Richardson in the chamber.

“I don’t think I’d be here today without the support of the Florida CPA/PAC and the efforts of the FICPA team who believed in me,” Stevenson said.

Stevenson, an FICPA member, is 30-year resident of Northeast Florida and has been a Florida-licensed CPA since 1982. She received her accounting degree from • a firm performs those engagements included under 473.302(8)(a) • a firm uses “CPA” or “CPA Firm” in the firm name, or uses any device that indicates that it is a CPA firm The intent of the legislation is to provide practitioners with certainty about how they’ll be required to conduct business in the state.

Both bills, SB 636 and HB 373, unanimously were supported during the legislative committee hearings during session. HB 373 also was co-sponsored by all the other CPA legislators as the bill was considered by the full voting membership of the Florida House and Reps.

Michael Bileca, R-Miami; David Richardson, D-Miami Beach; and newly elected Rep. Cyndi Stevenson, R-Ponte Vedra Beach.

On April 23, the Senate voted unanimously to approve HB 373 and send the bill to Gov. Scott for his approval.

At press time, he had not signed the legislation into law.

Look for updated information in an upcoming issue of IMPACT Report.

Government accountability Early in the 2015 Session, the House Finance and Tax Committee discussed, among other initiatives, changes FLORIDA CPA TODAY

Photo by Meredith Geddings

FICPA member Cyndi Stevenson was sworn into the Florida House of Representatives on April 7. Stevenson is the fourth CPA-member of the Florida Legislature.

Stetson University and is an alumna of KPMG Peat Marwick of Jacksonville. She recently served on the St. Johns County Commission, to which she first was elected in 2004.

Stevenson will run for re-election to the Florida House in 2016. to the audit procedures for local governments. The concepts discussed were included as part of legislation sponsored by Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Destin, and Rep. Steve Metz, R-Groveland. The bills, Senate Bill 1372 (SB 1372) and House Bill 1063 (HB 1063) sought to increase local government accountability.

In addition to requiring local governments to establish internal controls and providing definitions of fraud, abuse and waste, the bills included a provision that would have limited audit contract periods and prohibited the selection of audit firms that had conducted the audit of the local government for two years after a contract period had ended. As FICPA Board Chair Jeff Barbacci mentioned in his column on page 5, the FICPA invested significant time and resources to educate lawmakers about the potential effects the changes to the auditor selection process and contract periods would have on the audit process.

Additional input from FICPA members, including the CPA lawmakers in the House of Representatives, ultimately affected the position of the bill sponsors and their decision to include the provisions that would impact the audit process in the legislation. The sponsors excluded the changes from the bills as they moved through the committee process. ➡ www.ficpa.org

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story

The profession’s advocacy efforts and the sponsors’ willingness to hear the FICPA’s concerns prevented this well-intended legislation from imposing unintended consequences.

At press time, neither chamber had taken a final vote to approve this legislation. Look for updated information in an upcoming issue of IMPACT Report.

BOA appointments and state budget funding Leading up to the 2015 Session, Gov. Rick Scott appointed bank executive Tracy Keegan as one of the two consumer members of the Florida Board of Accountancy (BOA). Gov. Scott also re-appointed CPAs David Dennis of KPMG, Dr. Bud Fennema of FSU and consumer member Steve Vogel, Esq. to the BOA in January.

The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee, as required by statute, voted to support the confirmation of all four appointees. At press time, the full membership of the Senate had not voted to confirm more than 200 gubernatorial appointees, including the four BOA appointees.

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Two more BOA seats will become available in November 2015 for four-year terms. We encourage FICPA members who are interested in being considered for appointment

by Gov. Scott to contact FICPA Governmental Affairs staff.

In addition to BOA appointments, the FICPA monitored the state’s annual budget process to ensure the BOA; the Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Unlicensed Activity Campaign; and the Clay Ford Scholarship continued to be funded. Gov. Scott, the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee all maintained the current funding levels leading up to the budget conference process. The FICPA continued supporting these provisions as they were considered and monitored their progress through the budget negotiations.

FY 2015-2016 state budget priorities for BOA

• $100,000 to fund DBPR’s Unlicensed Activity Campaign o Five dollars from each license fee is used to combat the unlicensed practice of public accounting.

• $200,000 for funding of the Clay Ford Minority Scholarship Fund o Ten dollars from each license fee is used to fund the scholarship fund.

At press time, the Legislature had not completed budget negotiations.

Look for updated information in an upcoming issue of IMPACT Report.

FCT

During the 2015 Legislative Session, the FICPA was represented by its Governmental Affairs Department and contract lobbying team, led by FICPA President/CEO Deborah Curry, CPA, CGMA. Deborah L. Curry, CPA, CGMA President/CEO Florida Institute of CPAs Justin Thames Governmental Affairs Manager Florida Institute of CPAs Jennifer J. Green, CAE, DPL President & Owner Liberty Partners of Tallahassee, LLC Melanie Shanks Bostick Vice President Liberty Partners of Tallahassee, LLC Thomas C. Hobbs Director of Operations & Government Relations Liberty Partners of Tallahassee, LLC

FLORIDA CPA TODAY

www.ficpa.org

19

The Annual Accounting Show

Back for 2015 – Save the Date!

Florida’s Must-Attend CPE Show Returns

• Build Your Agenda o New & Expanded CPE Tracks: Real Estate, Tax and Fraud • Get More Out of Your CPE o Enhanced Discussion with Innovative Classroom Technology • Walk a Whole Lot Less o Convenient Layout for 2015 Puts You Near Everything

Improved ROI for Sponsors & Exhibitors

• Put Your Brand in the Action o New Third Floor Location Puts You Close to Prospects • Get in Front of Your Audience o Speaking Opportunities Available, but Limited – Hurry!

• Make an Impact with Sponsorship o Revamped Sponsor Packages Deliver Your Needs

30th

Sept. 16-18, 2015

Broward County Convention Center Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

www.ficpa.org/AnnualShow

#AnnualShowFICPA

20 MAY/JUNE 2015

Ethics FICPA ethics courses revamped for 2015.

New instructor.

New perspective.

FICPA Seminar Days Essential Courses. Multiple Topics.

Convenient Locations. Low Price.

We’ve expanded to new locations and added new sessions.

Your New

CPE We’ve expanded the LearnLinx CPE catalog with more than 1,000 of the best webcasts, webinars and OnDemand courses available.

i/o Participate. Engage. Learn.

FICPA Conferences now feature sessions with Conferences i/o interactive technology.

CPExpress We partnered to bring our members 450+ courses from the AICPA CPExpress online library for the FICPA member price of just $221.

Available for purchase with your 2015-16 FICPA membership renewal.

New Blended Learning Workshops Learn the fundamentals first with four one-hour OnDemand sessions. Then meet in the classroom for dynamic & interactive discussion about real-world applications.

www.Ficpa.org/CPE FLORIDA CPA TODAY

www.ficpa.org

21

DOR

update

Revenue News Notes

By Renee Watters, chief of public information

D

OR redesigns web pages and logo The Florida Department of Revenue (DOR) recently redesigned its logo and several pages on its website. The redesigned pages include the home page and the landing pages for DOR’s tax administration, child support and property tax programs. This is the first phase of a comprehensive redesign effort that will encompass hundreds more pages and many applications, including the Revenue Law Library.

DOR’s home page now has information about verifying a contact from DOR. To confirm the authenticity of a call, letter, form or other communication, call DOR at (800) 352-3671 (tax assistance) or (800) 6225437 (child-support assistance). Members of the public who suspect they’ve been targeted for a scam may contact DOR’s Office of Inspector General at (850) 617-8152.

To view DOR’s redesigned web pages, visit dor.myflorida.com/dor/.

Retailers collect E911 fee on prepaid wireless service The 2014 Florida Legislature passed legislation (Sections 1 & 2, Chapter 2014-196, Laws of Florida) requiring retailers that sell prepaid wireless services to collect a 40-cent fee on services that allow callers to interact with the Enhanced 911 (E911) System. The law became effective Jan. 1, 2015.

22 MAY/JUNE 2015

Retailers that sell prepaid wireless service must register each business location with DOR to collect, report and remit the E911 fee.

For more information, visit dor.myflorida.com/ dor/taxes/e911.html. To register, visit www. myflorida.com/dor/e911reg.

Access annual resale certificates online The 2015 Florida Annual Resale Certificate for sales tax and communications services are available to download or print using the business tax-account information. To access the links, visit dor.myflorida.com/dor/ and see the item under Current Topics.

DOR offers FL Tax mobile app DOR is committed to expanding technologies to broaden taxpayer and customer self-service capabilities. DOR’s first mobile app now is available. It allows users to verify sales-tax resale or exemption certificates before making taxexempt sales. Plans for more mobile apps are in progress. FCT For information about DOR’s mobile products, visit dor.myflorida.com/dor/mobile/.

Are there topics you’d like the Department of Revenue to cover in DOR Update? Email suggestions to wilkinss@ficpa.org.

Take a Bow

FICPA honors discussion leaders

T

he world’s great teachers share two trademarks: the power of knowledge and the passion to share it. CPE discussion leaders are put to the test, regularly tackling the challenge of clearly communicating technical course material and difficult concepts.

Each year, the FICPA recognizes the CPE discussion leaders who receive the highest evaluation scores from seminar participants for their robust knowledge and presentation skills. Here are those with tabulated scores of 4.5 (or higher) out of 5 for knowledge and 4.0 (or higher) out of 5 for their presentation skills.

Congratulations to the highest scorers of 2014!

DISCUSSION LEADER OF THE YEAR

Michael Rosenberg Packman, Neuwahl & Rosenberg, PA Coral Gables

2014 OUTSTANDING DISCUSSION LEADERS William “Bill” Blend Moore Stephens Lovelace, PA Orlando

Charles E. Newman Newman, Seland & Oppenheimer, PA Orlando

Richard Gray Daszkal Bolton, LLP Boca Raton

Cecil “Pat” Patterson Jr. Patterson CPA Group Inc. Ponte Vedra Beach

J. Edward Grossman CliftonLarsonAllen Lakeland

Marc A. Spiewak Spiewak & Associates, PA Davie

Michael S. Kridel Rehmann Boca Raton

Kenneth J. Strauss Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants, LLP Fort Lauderdale

Bonnie L. Mackey Mallah, Furman & Company, PA Fort Lauderdale Joseph C. Moffa Moffa, Gainor & Sutton, PA Fort Lauderdale FLORIDA CPA TODAY

Irving Uncyk Irving Uncyk, CPA, PA Pembroke Pines

www.ficpa.org

25

STAFF

reports

Educational Foundation

By Jason Zaborske, FICPA educational foundation development director and Elise Caruthers, event coordinator

Let’s Get Together!

The 7th Annual Ocean Reef Family Retreat

Foundation shouts out 1040K, Suncoast Scramble supporters

T

he Foundation extends a huge thank you to the City of Miami, as well as our sponsors and runners, for supporting the Foundation’s 1040K Run on its 25th Anniversary! This year, the Foundation has provided more than $10,000 in scholarships to South Florida accounting students. Thank you for supporting Florida’s aspiring CPAs!

FICPA Educational Foundation Past Presidents George Gulisano and Jose Valiente (far left and right), FICPA Executive Committee member Ed Duarte and Coco of Tama Leo’s Polynesian Productions enjoy last year’s Ocean Reef Family Retreat.

T

he FICPA Educational Foundation invites you and your family to join us at the 7th Annual Ocean Reef Family Retreat July 30-Aug. 2.

Located in tropical Key Largo, Ocean Reef Resort is the ideal spot to relax, enjoy and make memories while supporting the Foundation.

The Foundation also thanks the sponsors and golfers who participated in this year’s Suncoast Scramble.

With your help the Suncoast Scramble raised over $20,000 in scholarships, which will go to some of the most deserving students. FCT

What: 7th Annual Ocean Reef Family Retreat When: July 30-Aug. 2 Where: Ocean Reef Resort, Key Largo Cost: $175 per person, per night (children free in parents’ room) CPE: Two complimentary hours

The Foundation has hosted this event since 2009, promoting awareness about the CPA profession and raising scholarship funds for Florida accounting students. Previous retreats have attracted over 900 CPAs and their family members and raised over $75,000. The retreat’s relaxed atmosphere offers the perfect vacation and lends itself to networking opportunities and CPE courses.

Attendees will enjoy talks with

CPA leaders, cocktail parties and a beachside moonlit luau.

When the work is over and it’s time to play, enjoy a round of golf at one of the resort’s three championship greens – and don’t forget to register for the Ocean Reef Golf Tournament July 31. Attendees also can experience a guided eco-kayak tour around the resort; take a historical Ocean Reef bike tour; or dance and have fun at the Burgee Bar! Experience beautiful Key Largo and all the 2,500-acre resort offers.

This affordable event offers fun for the whole family, so mark your calendars! FCT For more information or to book a room, visit www.ficpa.org/ OceanReef. Or, contact Ocean Reef Resort at (800) 741-7333 or reservations@oceanreef.com.

New and Newly Certified Members The FICPA welcomes many new members throughout the year and congratulates those who recently have become certified.

Meet our new members at www.ficpa.org/newmembers.

Congratulate our newly certified members at www.ficpa.org/newlycertified.

26 MAY/JUNE 2015

From FICPA staff reports

Governmental Affairs

By Rivers Buford III, director of governmental affairs

PAC directors meet the candidates

O

n March 2, several Florida CPA/PAC directors traveled to Tallahassee to meet candidates for public office. PAC Directors Hank Hurst, Trey Gunn and Phil Price met several candidates, including Rep. Cyndi Stevenson, R-Ponte Vedra. Stevenson was elected to the House of Representatives in April (see page 17).

The directors also met elected officials to whom the PACs previously have contributed, including Rep. Michael Bileca, R-Miami, and all enjoyed Associated Industries of Florida’s pre-session reception. Also representing the profession at the reception were FICPA President/CEO Deborah Curry; FICPA Board Chair Jeff Barbacci; Executive Committee member Abby Dupree, FICPA Past President Winston Howell; accounting coalition representative Tammy Valesquez; and FICPA members Rodrick Harvey and Keith Dean.

Your Governmental Affairs team, Rivers Buford and Justin Thames, attended and made introductions.

The PAC Board of Directors encourages all CPAs to contribute to the PAC so the profession can continue to have influence in the political process.

Become involved or be prepared to live with the results of those who are! FCT To contribute to the PAC, visit www.ficpa.org/PACcontribute.

FLORIDA CPA TODAY

www.ficpa.org

27

NEWS

briefs

Gov. Scott appoints Gunn to advisory council

G

ov. Rick Scott recently announced the appointment of FICPA member Marshall “Trey” Gunn III, CPA to the Continuing Care Advisory Council.

T

he FICPA congratulates Christopher Pumo, Alec Roberts, Robert Waldbillig and Kenneth Wilbur, who recently received the AICPA’s 2014 Elijah Watt Sells Award.

Gunn, of Jacksonville, is a partner at Gunn Chamberlain. He succeeds Dennis Schelper and is appointed for a term beginning Feb. 23, 2015, and ending Sept.

30, 2016.

The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

Marshall “Trey” Gunn III, CPA FCT

Former senator and FICPA consultant passes away

A

fter a three-year battle with ALS, former Sen. Ken Plante, a great friend of the CPA profession, passed away March 1. He was 75.

Plante served in the Florida Senate from 1967 to 1978, then owned a lobbying firm. In 1999, newly elected Gov. Jeb Bush invited Plante to join his team as legislative affairs director for a year. Plante then returned to the private sector, where he maintained a select clientele list.

FICPA congratulates Elijah Watt Sells Award winners

“We’re thrilled that four Florida accountants have been named as winners of this prestigious award,” said FICPA President/ CEO Deborah Curry, CPA, CGMA. “They are valuable members of our profession and we wish them much success in their future endeavors.”

The award is based on candidates’ top performance on the Uniform CPA Examination. Of the more than 91,000 candidates tested last year, only 60 met the criteria to receive the award. Winners must receive a cumulative average score of 95.5 or higher on all four

Ken Plante Former Florida Senator

The FICPA was fortunate to have worked with him as a contract lobbyist/consultant for over 14 years.

sections of the exam and pass all sections on their first attempt.

Pumo, a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a master’s in accounting, is employed with EY in Boca Raton. Roberts, a graduate of Florida International University with a bachelor of accounting and the University of Central Florida with a master of accounting, is employed with Deloitte in Miami. Waldbillig, a graduate of the University of Florida with a BS in accounting and Florida Atlantic University with a master of taxation, is employed with Crowe Horwath in Fort Lauderdale. And Wilbur, a graduate of the University of Florida with a BS in accounting and a master of accounting, is employed with EY in Boca Raton.

FCT

Gov. Scott reappoints Heeb to hospital board

G

“Sen. Plante was always available when we needed his input and knowledge,” said FICPA President/CEO Deborah Curry, CPA, CGMA. “The profession was fortunate to be the benefactor of that knowledge. We also are grateful for the friendship he shared with FICPA members and staff throughout the years.”

ov. Rick Scott recently reappointed FICPA member Ferdinand N. “Ferd” Heeb of Edgewater to the Southeast Volusia Hospital District Board of Commissioners. Heeb, 80, is a retired CPA. He will serve a term that ends March 31, 2018.

“Ever since we were in kindergarten together, you always knew where you stood with Kenny,” said Florida Board of Accountancy member and FICPA member Jim Lane, CPA, a lifelong friend of Plante’s. “If he told you something, you could take it to bank. He will be missed by more than just his family.” FCT

The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate. FCT

The board is overseeing the merger of Bert Fish Medical Center in New Smyrna Beach with Florida Hospital.

Ferdinand N. “Ferd” Heeb, CPA

The FICPA is working to engage and increase membership benefits for CPAs in business and industry. In March, the FICPA held an Accounting Leaders Roundtable featuring an AICPA PowerPoint presentation, “The CFO of the Future.” Participants identified numerous topics of interest for future roundtables, including an April roundtable on the topic of talent development.

Pictured left to right: Debra Penton, Hill Ward & Henderson; Karena Thomas, PPI Technologies Group; Bruce Narzissenfeld, TECO Energy; Norm Tousignant, The Food Group; Deborah Weber, Sims Crane; Brian Machek, FICPA; Ken Kelly, retired, McCormick Spices; Jack Davis, FIS Global; Barry Payne, AICPA; Jay Meder, WRH Realty Services; Anne Marie Hicks, CAE USA Inc.; Casey Fletcher, PalletOne Inc.; Ashok Noah, AICPA. 28 MAY/JUNE 2015

FICPA

OFFICIAL NOTICE

In compliance with Articles III and XI of the FICPA Bylaws, be it known that the Annual Meeting of the Members will be held at 9:45 a.m. and the Board of Governors’ meeting will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Friday, June 12, 2015, at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts, Orlando, Florida.

FICPA volunteers appear on Ask-ACPA panel

S

even FICPA-member volunteers recently appeared on the Tampa Fox 13 “Good Day Tampa Bay” morning show’s Ask-A-CPA panel. The CPAs fielded over 100 calls and took turns talking with the show host about various tax topics.

The FICPA thanks member volunteers Kristen Brand, Terry Kuhn, Susan Rickles, David Springsteen, Thuy Tra, Ginny Veit and Marsha Weisse. FCT

FLORIDA CPA TODAY

Seven FICPA-member volunteers recently appeared on the Tampa Fox 13 “Good Day Tampa Bay” morning show’s Ask-A-CPA panel.

www.ficpa.org

29

C PA s I N

the spotlight

Transitions

Jacksonville: Shorstein & Shorstein announces that the firm has promoted Melissa Stephens, Jeffrey Phillips and Phil Campbell to firm principals.

Boca Raton: Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants has expanded its presence with an office move that doubles the firm’s footprint.

Catherine Carver

Mary Gelinas

Jonathan Lee

Boca Raton: Daszkal Bolton recently released a new brand identity to include a modified logo, refreshed website, new slogan and other material. Additionally, Mary Gelinas has been named as a principal at the firm.

Florida offices: James Moore announces that Scott Balloon has been promoted to manager; Kris Hutchins has been promoted to senior accountant; Stacy Joiner and John VanDuzer have been promoted to senior manager; Matthew Norris and Jeremy Smith have been promoted to associate accountant; and James Buresh has been promoted to staff accountant.

Fort Myers: Myers, Brettholtz & Company announces that Veronica Sanchez has joined the firm’s audit department.

Canita Peterson

Fort Myers: Stroemer & Company LLC announces that Alexandra Smith and Ana Perez have joined the team as part of the audit department.

Stephen Roeder

Brad Shipley

Miami: MBAF announces that Kane & Company PA has joined the firm.

Sarasota: Kerkering, Barberio & Co. announces that Ashley Salter, David Cumberland and Matt Reynell have been promoted to managers; Alex Kryssine has been promoted to senior accountant; and Annamaria Kiss, Colleen Bankuty and Dawn Morgan have been promoted to incharge accountants. Also, Kerri Blenker has joined the firm as a tax supervisor.

Fort Myers: Wiltshire, Whitley, Richardson & English PA announces that Joseph L. D’Ambrosio and Brad Shipley have been named shareholders.

Tallahassee: Carroll and Company, CPAs announces that Stephen Roeder received his CPA designation and has been promoted to manager.

Jacksonville: The LBA Group announces that Jonathan Lee has been promoted to tax manager.

Tallahassee: Thomas Howell Ferguson welcomes Catherine Carver and Mark Hays to the firm.

Jacksonville: Portnoy CPA Accounting Advisors announces the opening of a second office in the Nocatee area. The second location will be in Panther Plaza at 10440 U.S. Highway 1 North, Suite 103 in St. Augustine.

Winter Park: Kevin Gaines has started his own accounting firm – Kevin Gaines, CPA LLC.

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 CPAs in the Spotlight can be emailed to communications@ ficpa.org.

30 MAY/JUNE 2015

Who’s News Accounting Today named several CPAmerica International firms as national and regional leaders in their Top 100 listing in March.

Michael Kalifeh of Thomas Howell Ferguson in Tallahassee has been appointed to the Tallahassee market advisory board for Hancock Bank.

Canita Peterson of Thomas Howell Ferguson in Tallahassee has been recognized by the National Academy of Public Accounting Professionals as one of the Top 10 Public Accounting Professionals in Florida for 2014. The individuals selected for this prestigious list have demonstrated an extraordinary amount of knowledge, skill, experience, expertise and success in their field.

Thomas Howell Ferguson, PA in Tallahassee, in partnership with Florida State University, College of Business, The Florida Catastrophic Storm Risk Management Center, announces the 2015 Insurance Conference on Financial Reporting.

The conference will be held Oct. 7-8, 2015 at The Alfond Inn in Winter Park.

Templeton & Company LLP in West Palm Beach celebrates 25 years of providing high-level accounting and consulting services.

Wiltshire, Whitley, Richardson & English, PA in Fort Myers celebrated 25 years of doing business in Southwest Florida in January. FCT

OFFICIAL NOTICE FICPA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION ANNUAL MEETING In compliance with Article II, Section 4 of the Bylaws of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants Educational Foundation, be it known that the Annual Meeting of the Members and Board of Trustees will be held on Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts in Lake Buena Vista, Florida immediately following the FICPA Educational Foundation Board of Trustees’ Meeting.

FLORIDA CPA TODAY

www.ficpa.org

31

MARKET

place

Positions available Kendall-area CPA firm is seeking to hire a tax manager(s) CPA w/ near-term partnership potential. The candidate(s) must have a strong tax background & personal skills.

Compensation will be commensurate w/the candidate’s ability. Our firm has a good reputation & is wellestablished & profitable. Reply to reply@ficpa.org & reference file number F PA 05 06 15.

Senior Tax Accountant – Moore, Ellrich & Neal, P.A. is currently looking for a senior tax accountant located in Palm Beach Gardens. Our firm has been privileged to serve as trusted advisers to (individual & business) clients since 1988. The firm offers a wide array of services including tax, audit, forensic accounting, business valuation, business advisory solutions & consulting engagements.

Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree, licensed CPA & five plus years of experience & include tax preparation for individual, corporate, partnerships & fiduciary taxation.

Technical proficiency in tax software, including Ultratax, QuickBooks & Creative Solution, is a plus. Strong organization skills including ability to multi-task & establish priorities.

Qualifications required: bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field; min of 5 yrs’ related exp; licensed CPA; expertise in tax return preparation & tax research; technical proficiency in tax software; general knowledge of federal & state law; knowledge of accounting principles & practices.

Please do not apply if you are not a CPA w/at least 5 yrs’ exp.

For confidential consideration, please submit your resume to diane@mencpa.com.

The Florida State University (FSU) College of Medicine is seeking a financial operations manager for the Florida Medical Practice Plan, Inc. (FMPP), a non-profit component unit of FSU. Interested candidates should have a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate field & two yrs of exp, w/preference given to applicants w/accounting exp. The position is responsible for the day-to-day financial operations of FMPP, including transaction review; receivable & disbursement management; & financial report development. For more detailed information about the position & qualifications, & to apply, please visit the FSU Employment Opportunities webpage at https://jobs.fsu.edu & search for Job ID #38404. FSU is an Equal Opportunity/Access/ Affirmative Action Employer.

Smyth & Hauck PA is seeking a senior accountant to join our wellestablished firm in North Palm Beach. Candidates should have 2-4 yrs of public accounting experience, w/strength in preparing complex tax returns & financial statements.

Quickbooks knowledge would be a plus. Those who are looking for the next career step are encouraged to apply. Email resume to reply@ficpa. org & reference file number F PA 05 06 15.

Purvis, Gray and Company, LLP, a full-service CPA firm w/four locations in Florida, seeks entrylevel & experienced tax accountants & auditors in our Gainesville & Ocala offices. Bachelor’s degree in accounting required, CPA candidate and/or CPA preferred. Attention to detail w/excellent communications skills & computer proficiency required. Knowledge of accounting, tax & audit software preferred. Visit us at www.purvisgray. com. Resumes should be emailed to dmeans@purvisgray.com.

Experienced Auditor – Carroll and Company, CPAs is seeking an audit professional w/3-5 years of public accounting experience. CPA or CPA eligible. Excellent compensation & benefits. Please email resume to tcreel@ccrcpa.com.

Italian Terrazzo & Tile Co. is seeking a general accountant for Melbourne home office. Responsible for overseeing the general ledger, monthly reconciliations & other general accounting responsibilities.

Bachelor’s degree in accounting required. CPA/CMA license preferred. Email resume to careers@ferrazzano.com.

Tampa – part-time CPA 8+ yrs exp; flexible schedule 2-3 days per week for Fortune 100 Co.; proficient w/tax filings for all entity types. Financial reporting/consulting & private sector exp a plus. Perfect for semi-retired or sole practitioner. Reply w/resume & contact info to tampacpa1@gmail. com.

Office Space Dadeland-area CPA has ofc & cubicles available for lease in CPA suite. Furnished, floor-toceiling windows, conference room, kitchen, telephone & other ofc equipment, filing cabinets & Internet access included. Free parking. Call (305) 661-1040 or email ronweintraubcpa@bellsouth.net.

Practices wanted for purchase or merger Established, quality Fort Lauderdale CPA firm seeks to acquire practice from retirement-minded CPA w/ transition of your choice. Email inquiries to ajcpapa@aol.com or call Cary at (954) 985-1040.

For complete classified policies, visit www.ficpa.org/Content/CPAResources/ClassifiedsJobs/Classifieds.aspx.

32 MAY/JUNE 2015

accomplish your firm’s short or long-term goals. Join our list of satisfied clients. Call Robert Shapiro, CPA (954) 755-6660.

Growing S. Florida CPA firm looking to purchase a practice from a retirement-minded CPA in Dade or Broward counties.

Favorable purchase terms offered w/continuing employment opportunities available. Please contact Jeffrey Taraboulos at info@ ksdt-cpa.com or (305) 670-3370.

Broward County CPA has an extraordinary opportunity to transition a practice. Requires experienced (10+ yrs) CPA in client management & tax. Additional skills should include business acumen & operational efficiency. No money required. Send background in confidence to GJJL947@gmail.com.

Appelrouth Farah & Co., a Miamibased public accounting firm w/ three offices, seeks to acquire a Broward County CPA practice. The practice should have between 6-15 personnel, inclusive of CPAs. Please visit our website at www.appelrouth. com to learn about the firm.

Retirement & non-retirement minded interests are welcome. If you are thinking about merging your practice or retiring, or just want to discuss this opportunity, please call Stewart L. Appelrouth at (954) 728-8989 or email stewart@appelrouth.com.

We are a boutique business advisory firm, the most active in Florida, focused on assisting CPA firms looking to acquire or merge w/suitable candidates. We are small by design, committed to treating the firms that we work w/as clients and not just “listing opportunities.”

Our team of seasoned executives, w/a combined 35 yrs exp working w/CPA firms, is the best option to FLORIDA CPA TODAY

Broward County practice for sale or merger. No audits or reviews. Longterm staff. Mid- to high six figure revenue w/more than two-thirds being billed monthly. Email interest to gajjhh67@gmail.com.

For sale

Successful transitions require experienced, confidential, professional services you can trust.

This is what Akins Professional Brokerage provides. Specializing exclusively in the brokerage of CPA firms, we have no upfront fees. List your firm with a professional. Call David Akins, CPA, at (877) 2770272. Visit our website at www.

ProfessionalCPAbroker.com.

Practices wanted! Cash buyers waiting! List your practice with Florida’s No. 1 accounting brokerage firm: Professional Accounting Sales.

No upfront fees. No long-term listing agreements. Recent references available. Selling practices in Florida for over 31 years. Available for sale include Palm Beach Gardens $650,000… Tampa Bay $1,500,000…

St. Pete area $950,000… Southwest Broward $285,000… Port Charlotte $300,000… Pembroke Pines $165,000… Gainesville-Ocala area $650,000… Fort Lauderdale $1,250,000… Sebring area $160,000… many others! Contact Erwin Rosenblatt (561) 666-6737 or Leon Faris, CPA (800) 729-9031 w/ Professional Accounting Sales or visit our website at www.cpasales. com.

Established Hallandale Beach Practice w/annual revenue of approx. $200,000 seeks merger/ buyout for retirement-minded owner. Email replies to reply@ficpa. org and reference file number A FS 05 06 15.

Pinellas County/Largo small business CPA accounting/tax practice grossing approximately $250K. Owner flexible in assisting w/transition. Respond to reply@ ficpa.org and reference file number B FS 05 06 15.

Miscellaneous Seeking Accounting Firm Bids – Alliance for Aging, an Area Agency on Aging organization, is seeking interested accounting firms for our 2014 financial audit.

We are a not-for-profit 501c3 funded by the Florida DOEA. Interested firms should contact Laurie Semo at SemoL@AllianceforAging.org, or call (305) 671-6391 for the RFP packet.

Practice stagnant? Disrupt the status quo. Break free from the herd. Certified Digital Marketing offers lead generation, payper-click, website ‘refresh’ and/ or development expertise. ALL businesses are digital. Use electrons to level the playing field. First consultation free. (786) 529-2025.

Start Your Own Accounting, Payroll & Income Tax Practice. Succentrix Business Advisors is America’s cloud -based accounting franchise designed for today’s accountant w/small business clients. With over 100 yrs of exp, we provide an inexpensive way to quickly start & grow your own practice.

Succentrix provides all systems, ongoing training & marketing support needed to reach your financial goals. A job is just a job, a business is your future. Call today or visit our website. (844) 286-5406 or Succentrix.com.

www.ficpa.org

33

TAKE

five

Congressman Patrick Murphy, CPA Meet Patrick Murphy, CPA, U.S. Congressman from the 18th District. Born and raised in Florida, Congressman Murphy graduated from the University of Miami with degrees in accounting and finance. He is one of only nine CPAs serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and recently declared his candidacy for the U.S. Senate.

Elected in 2012, Murphy serves on the prestigious House Financial Services Committee and has championed issues important to the CPA profession. He actively has opposed taxreform drafts that would require personal-service businesses – including CPA firms – to switch from the cash method of accounting to the more complex and costly accrual method.

He also has been a strong supporter and cosponsor of Mobile Workforce legislation that makes income-tax filings easier for employees who complete temporary work assignments in different states.

W

hy did you want to be a CPA? I grew up learning that anything you do should be done efficiently, and done right.

As a CPA, I audited Fortune 500 companies at Deloitte & Touche to find ways to improve productivity. These are the same principles I brought with me to Washington, and they’re why I’ve led efforts to tackle wasteful spending and outdated regulations.

Why do you want to be a U.S. Senator?

I believe I can have an even greater impact on the issues I’m passionate about in the U.S. Senate. Washington is broken, and Floridians deserve a senator who will put his full focus on improving the lives of the people of this state. We can’t afford another partisan politician who refuses to get anything done.

While in Washington, I’ve proven myself to be an independent voice for all Floridians, whether it’s reducing government spending; fighting for the middle class; preserving Social Security and Medicare; or working to protect the Everglades. This is what the Senate – and Florida – need.

34 MAY/JUNE 2015

How does being a CPA help you make policy decisions that impact Floridians?

As one of nine CPAs serving in Congress, I immediately saw the wasteful and duplicative spending that was preventing us from getting the nation’s fiscal house in order. That’s why I worked to form the bipartisan United Solutions Caucus, and led efforts to cut billions in government waste. As a CPA in the Senate, I’ll continue to work across the aisle to find solutions to continue getting our economy on track.

What’s the one thing you want Floridians to know about you?

I’m a consensus-builder who wants to work to address the important issues our state faces. By putting partisanship aside and working together, I’ve shown that we can come up with innovative solutions that will move Florida and the nation forward.

If you could have dinner with one President, past or present, who would it be and why?

President Harry Truman took office at the end of World War II and oversaw the American economy as we entered the Baby Boom era. This was a turning point for contemporary society and culture, and one that would be fascinating to discuss. FCT

F L O R I D A

Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants P.O. Box 5437 Tallahassee, FL 32314-5437