Weinstein Spira’s blog, The Balancing Act, provides helpful information on technical accounting and CPA firm culture.
Top Categories: Culture Tax Audit Our Team Employee Benefit Plan Audits
In a world of resume advice, there is an abundance of helpful tips and guidance from various sources such as recruiters, HR departments, placement offices, friends and family. However, it is essential to prioritize your own comfort and confidence when creating your...
The Uniform Certified Public Accountant Exam (CPA exam) is a rigorous and challenging test that accountants must pass to obtain their CPA license. It requires extensive knowledge, dedication and commitment to prepare for and to pass. For decades, public accounting...
Whether you are just out of school or nearing retirement, a periodic review and update of all aspects of your short-term and long-term financial health is important. When my mother was turning 90, her doctor noticed in an X-ray, a spot on her lungs. The cancer doctor...
In today's fast-paced business world, companies are always looking for ways to improve their productivity and bottom line. One effective approach is cultivating a culture of ownership at the workplace. When employees feel that they have a stake in the success of their...
It is no secret that mental health is essential to our overall well-being. Taking care of ourselves both physically and mentally is vital, especially in the workplace where mental health can easily take a back seat to work demands. However, taking the time to care for...
Did you join a company during the pandemic when everyone was working from home? Are you still finding it hard to meet all your colleagues due to different hybrid work schedules? With some people only coming into the office twice a week, it’s possible you may not see...
In December 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was passed by Congress and signed by former President Donald Trump. This legislation reduced personal, corporate and estate taxes. Although many corporate tax changes were made permanent, most individual changes will...
Flexibility and adaptability to change is key when you’re a mom. I will share a bit about my experience and some tips that have helped me navigate working a full-time job in public accounting and being a parent. I’ve stopped trying to be a “super mom.” That is an...
Weinstein Spira’s Culture of Ownership Committee was created with the primary goal of accelerating and supporting our people’s growth and potential. The Committee was recently tasked with establishing a competency roadmap for each department (audit, tax and...
Are you facing another round of CPA exams? Don’t know where to begin? Having personally gone through the process multiple times, I know it can seem like an uphill battle, and feel as if you are alone on the field. But there are strategies, resources and other people...
A holiday shutdown is when a business closes shop during a holiday and for a specified period—employees do not work, and business operations cease. Holiday closures during the last week of the year, a time where many businesses close for Thanksgiving, Christmas and...
Traditionally, starting a new job has never been an easy undertaking. After COVID-19, many companies have transitioned to a hybrid working schedule, where employees are working both remotely and in-person. This change in dynamics makes it more difficult for new...
Studying for the CPA exam at any point in your career is not an easy task to accomplish. Whether you just graduated college or have been working in the corporate world for years, it can be tough to manage and find the time to effectively prepare for the exam. As a mom...
Accountants primary focus is often numbers, of course, but strong writing skills are critical to your advancement. Here’s why: 1. Basic communication calls for clear writing Most accountants dedicate a significant amount of time to writing emails and other...
Since I joined Weinstein Spira in November 2020, I have had several colleagues ask how my work at our firm compares to my experience at a Big 4 public accounting firm. In this blog, I will share what I believe are the seven primary differences between working in audit...
You have heard it a thousand times— “communication is important.” But communication styles, like pant styles, vary among generations, genders, and level of authority. Most people think they are expressing their thoughts in a way that everyone understands,...
Almost every accounting professional has considered taking the CPA exam, but the time, energy and stress that comes with passing all four sections can make it easy to push aside. Studying for the exam is a challenge but it’s also a marker of your competence, work...
In the accounting world, spring internships are typically what you hear about the most. However, I did my internship in the summer of my junior year of college and found it to be very advantageous for several reasons. In this blog post, I will share that less-traveled...
What is the typical day like for a staff accountant at Weinstein Spira? I am glad you asked! As a staff accountant who rotates between tax and audit, I can speak about my typical day, noting that things vary depending on the season and whether I am working from home...
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,...
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...
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,...
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...
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...