Weinstein Spira’s blog, The Balancing Act, provides helpful information on technical accounting and CPA firm culture.
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Frequent users of Excel are routinely looking for ways to condense an enormous volume of data into useful information. Proficiency with the pivot table feature in Excel can provide a pivotal method by which to encapsulate numbers into what you and your viewers are...
Collaboration and productivity are considered high priorities in today’s workplace. With so many mobile apps available to support conducting business on-the-go, we are able to work and connect with others from virtually any place that has web access. There are also...
Are you tired of switching between tabs on your single Excel workbook? Want the ability to calculate backward? Fortunately, Microsoft Excel now has functions to solve these demands. In our newest addition to the Excel Hacks series, I will be showcasing the “New...
When most people hear the word ‘accountant,’ their vision is clouded by a set of preconceived notions based on old-school misconceptions about the profession. I’m about to debunk some of the common myths that not only get in the way of having a positive relationship...
It’s best to take a proactive approach at the front end when planning to acquire a target company. Any acquisition is an event that requires careful consideration and due diligence before signing on the line. To avoid problems after acquiring a given target company,...
One of my favorite work responsibilities is visiting college campuses, like Texas A&M, to recruit new grads to work at Weinstein Spira. I often present a slide show to students that depicts things to know when charting a career path in accounting. These are the...
Every company goes through an annual planning and budgeting process to operate their business, so they are able to meet both fixed and capital expenses—making changes as needed to react to inevitable ups and downs in the market. To grow their business, they may need...
As busy as we all are, it’s important to schedule some relaxation time to chill and de-stress. But, this doesn’t always have to mean going to the gym or doing yoga. It can take the form of exercising your mind, by listening to an interesting, informative podcast,...
Independent, third-party audits have long been viewed as a necessary component of doing business. It’s something that generally must be performed in response to outside forces (i.e., banking institutions, external equity holders, etc.) in order to maintain a...
Have you ever thought to yourself “there is so much to do and so little time”? If so, you are not alone. Everyone has had an overwhelming feeling at some point, but it is what we can do to overcome those feelings that make us successful. The biggest contributors to...
You’ve chosen a great career that, from everything we can see, will always be around. Regardless of technology advances, clients want someone to talk to, to ask questions, to help plan ahead and so on. With over 25 years as a tax accountant, I’ve seen it all. As I now...
It’s a cliché; I admit that. “I was in your spot just a couple years ago.” Yes, I was a college student who had determined that accounting was a solid major, a stable choice, and a sound decision. And accordingly, I began following through with all the steps. I looked...
Globalization Today’s marketplace is more globalized than ever before, with other countries investing in the United States and vice versa. Whether you want to build “inbound” or “outbound” business relationships with foreign companies, it is advantageous to have a...
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you wake up in the morning? Is it… What am I going to have for breakfast? What is the weather like today? How long will it take me to get to work? If you are like me (and most people), the first thing that may come to...
Accounting departments play a unique, business-critical role within organizations. An accounting department that works typically has a strong leader, which in turn makes for a strong group. Such strength helps alleviate the pressure that goes along with the job of...
Weinstein Spira focuses on making relationships count. What better way to establish, build or maintain a relationship than sharing a meal. As business professionals, we need to take into consideration several factors that would constitute an ideal business lunch....
A fresh, new year always brings up resolutions. These hopes and dreams usually surround health, love and money (and follow with many questions). Some of the money questions you might be asking are: Do you know where your money is going and are you investing it wisely?...
Houston is known for many great things – our World Champion Houston Astros, NASA Space Center, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, museums, theater, Tex-Mex, parks, Beyoncé, Mattress Mack, and ZZ Top, just to name a few. Houston is also well known for its traffic....
Tax season is hectic for everyone! But imagine how busy tax accountants must be during the months of February, March and April of every year. Being a numbers person, I can tell you that Weinstein-Spira, for example, currently prepares well over 2,500 tax filings, and...
We’ve all waited with bated breath and now it’s finally a done deal. After much anticipation and back and forth negotiations, the dust is just starting to settle with respect to the newly passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. We don’t yet fully know how the new laws will...
by Fernando Rodriguez I still remember the first day I went to a career fair while I was in college. I was 21 years old, clueless and had no idea how to talk to a recruiter. The only reason I ended up going to this event was because it was part of an assignment for a...
“Success often comes to those who have the aptitude to see way down the road.” - Laine Burns Short-term and long-term planning is critical to the success of any company, as CFOs well know. At the beginning and end of each year, business owners and leaders are busy...
Generation Z, or those born in 1997 or later, now make up nearly 26% of the country’s population and are about to enter and redirect our workforce. Similar to their millennial peers, Gen Z’ers have unique distinguishing characteristics and behavior patterns and will...
How often do you receive Excel spreadsheets from coworkers, clients or partners that have your head spinning? Incomplete or confusing spreadsheets often can result in incomplete or confusing data. Thankfully, with the right tools by your side, you can make any Excel...