Weinstein Spira’s blog, The Balancing Act, provides helpful information on technical accounting and CPA firm culture.
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Did you know? The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) issued several new auditing standards a few years ago, which are effective for the December 31, 2021 audits. Many of the standards affect what auditors do and how we document our work, so you...
QuickBooks is one of the most popular accounting software programs used by small businesses to keep track of their income and expenses. It is also used inside of many large companies by the bookkeeping department for everyday accounts receivable (AR) and accounts...
Throughout my career in public accounting, I have been a big fan of networking and it paid off enormously in both my professional and personal life with a long list of business connections and friends. But recently, I found it more challenging to make new connections,...
This blog article highlights potential oversimplification hazards that controllers and accountants may face with their fundamental, yet superficial, knowledge of ASC 842. Read time: 3 minutes. Avoid the Risk of Not Knowing ASC 842 By this time, most accountants are...
What work perks can you expect when choosing a career in public accounting? When evaluating a potential employer (and career path), it helps to know what to expect. This will depend on the size of the firm; however, there are some universal perks that apply to working...
The cash flow statement is an important part of a company’s overall financial statements. It provides a close look at the actual cash inflows and outflows for the period presented (typically one year). Simply put, it summarizes the changes in cash and cash equivalents...
Weinstein Spira, the Houston public accounting and business advisory firm for discerning high net worth individuals and privately held businesses, is celebrating its 60-year anniversary. Co-founders Stanley C. Weinstein and Joel Spira set out to create a firm that...
Companies that offer retirement plans know how hard it is to incentivize people to take complete advantage of this benefit. The hesitancy could be due to a lack of financial education regarding the power of compound saving or the lack of sophistication regarding the...
As current international president of the Association for Accounting Marketing (AAM) (2021-2022), I speak from direct experience, having worked my way up through the ranks of this niche organization. I can honestly say, no matter what level your participation,...
It is important for a restaurant to have successful accounting records, especially in the beginning, start-up phase and when making critical decisions that will drive growth. A key contributor to a restaurant’s ultimate success is an accurate, complete set of...
The pandemic has changed the way we do business in so many areas, and human resources is no different. As we continue to recruit accounting employees and interns—in almost all cases, remotely—we are relying on new ways to interview, having in-depth discussions about...
Background The process of choosing a career path in the field of public accounting can be daunting. Sometimes it is a conscious decision and other times it may be something you fall into by chance. For me, I had little understanding of how my degree would materialize...
Weinstein Spira, the mid-market public accounting and business advisory firm for Houston’s top high net worth individuals and privately held businesses, is delighted to announce three promotions within the firm’s management team. Amanda Buford is now a senior tax...
Having a meaningful mentor when starting college will help smooth your path to becoming the accountant you want to be. But this does not mean finding a mentor just to be able to say you have one, or to tick off an item on your to-do list. It’s about finding the...
Despite current challenges regarding the pandemic, whether offering carry-out or dine-in options, restaurants remain a mainstay in many communities around the country. Owning or operating a restaurant comes with a unique set of requirements for reporting and paying...
The way you finish an internship really matters. You create a lasting impression. If you can leave on a high note, that’s what people tend to remember the most. Regardless of how your time went along the way, you can go out with a bang if you focus on the following...
Weinstein Spira, the mid-market public accounting and business advisory firm for Houston’s top high net worth individuals and privately held businesses, is pleased to announce that Karl Wolpert and Tobias McFaul have been admitted as shareholders. Wolpert began his...
Need a Cost Segregation Study? If you own a restaurant or hotel establishment, the answer most certainly could be “YES!” As a tax accountant with clients in this space, I urge you to consider conducting a cost segregation study to maximize your tax deductions. In this...
Networking is an important aspect of doing business in the accounting world, where personal, authentic relationships really do count. It does not have to be formal networking, per se, as connections can be made anywhere, anytime you are around other people (virtually...
What is a NextGen Mentor? In this context, a NextGen mentor is someone who coaches an employee in the accounting profession, where the person coached has less than five years of experience. Whether you are mentoring Generation X, Y, or Z…being an early career coach is...
Prior to the pandemic, Weinstein Spira allowed everyone to work from home once a week as part of the firm’s work-life balance philosophy. Now that we are working from home every day, there are some ways to avoid “remote work burnout.” Since I moved during the...
Taking the CPA exam at any time is a huge challenge, as those who have been through the process will attest. It can be a challenge trying to work full-time while studying, so most people want to take the exams as quickly as possible upon graduation. In light of the...
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 is a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill signed into law on March 11, 2021. Some of the highlights of the business provisions include: Employee retention credit – Extended for quarters through December 31, 2021 The...
Updated in March 2022 The Employee Retention Credit (ERC), established by the CARES Act, provides a dollar-for-dollar credit against employment taxes to qualifying companies impacted. The credit availability extends through September 30, 2021 for most taxpayers (the...