Tech Knowledge Gains in Importance for Top Finance Executives

Finance and technology go hand-in-hand in companies today, a new survey confirms.

Half (50 percent) of chief financial officers (CFOs) interviewed recently said other than knowledge of accounting and finance, information technology experience is most useful in their careers.

This is nearly double the response when this question was asked five years ago. Operations experience also ranked high, with 45 percent of the response.

http://www.mocpa.org/Content/files/newsletters/2008/RobertHalfmr082608.htm

AICPA Study Reveals Pessimism About The Economy

AICPA reports that CFOs and senior-level CPAs surveyed remain negative about the economy.

For a third consecutive quarter, CPAs continue to foresee slowing economic growth ahead. They also report increased pressure on profits from rising costs without the ability to raise prices.

In addition, 62 percent of CPA respondents said they were pessimistic or very pessimistic about the economic outlook over the next 12 months.

http://www.aicpa.org/download/news/2008/AICPA_UNC_3rd_Q_RELEASE_Final.pdf

So...What Is Web 2.0 Anyway?

Wondering about all the talk about blogging, social technologies, and more?

Our counterparts in Maryland have developed a blog to help CPAs learn more about Web 2.0 concepts and strategies.

You may not think you'll ever want to twitter, blog, or facebook someone...but the younger generations and future employees you'll be working with will.

It might not be a bad idea to take a look and begin learning about it. The explosive growth of Web 2.0 and social technologies have proven that it is not only here to stay, but continue to grow!

http://www.cpalearning2.com/

Who Will Teach Our Future CPAs?

The Accounting Doctoral Scholars program has been created to help reverse a shortage of Ph.D. accounting faculty in U.S. colleges and universities.

The program seeks to encourage persons with significant public accounting experience to become PhDs in the audit and tax disciplines.

To date, more than 70 of the country’s largest firms, along with several state CPA societies, have committed a total of $15 million to the program.

The MSCPA Board of Directors voted at it's last meeting to contribute $25,000 to the Accounting Doctoral Scholars program. We are really happy to do our part to help this crisis in accounting education.

The program will be administered by the AICPA Foundation. Read the press release. For further information contact ADSprogram@aicpa.org, 919-402-4524 or visit www.adsphd.org.