Up-to-the-minute briefings on critical issues facing accounting executives — tap in without leaving your office

FIN 48: Mastering the Practical Changes
August 21, 2008
1:00–2:40 pm Eastern

Strafford Accounting Teleconferences offer timely updates on critical issues facing senior corporate accounting and tax executives in a 100-minute interactive telephone conference format.

Each live program features presentations by a panel of nationally recognized experts, followed by a Q&A where speakers field your questions.

No special equipment is needed to participate just a telephone! And, best of all, you pay a single low fee for one person or an unlimited number of staff at your office location.

Strafford Publications has served corporate tax executives and tax advisors for nearly 20 years with a series of authoritative and well-respected management and legal products and services. Its newsletters, case law reporters, casebooks, and special reports include Tax Incentives Alert, Sales & Use Tax Monitor, State Income Tax Monitor, and Auditor Trak.

Strafford Accounting Teleconferences continue Strafford's long-standing commitment to serving the information needs of accountants and tax professionals.

Do you have an idea for an accounting teleconference? Send it to Jon McKenna, Executive Editor, Tax Publications: editors@straffordpub.com.

UPCOMING ACCOUNTING TELECONFERENCES

Business Valuation Services: Lessons Learned Under the New AICPA Standard

Valuation specialists at CPA firms now have several months of experience with SSVS No. 1, the AICPA's Statement on Standards for Valuation Services No. 1. It is the first specific standard for the accounting profession to ensure consistent quality in business valuation services.

Listen and participate from your telephone as our panel of experienced valuation specialists from accounting firms of all sizes offers their perspectives and what they've learned from recent experiences with the AICPA's new standard.

July 31, 2008
1:00–2:40pm Eastern

FIN 48: Mastering the Practical Changes

Nearly two years after the issuance of FASB’s Interpretation 48, better known as FIN 48, compliance still poses a challenge for companies and their outside accountants. What are the key strategies for keeping income tax accounting and compliance on track while surmounting the FIN 48 learning curve?

Listen and participate from your telephone as our panel of experienced corporate tax, finance, and accounting firm professionals shares their hard-won insights and experiences with FIN 48 compliance.

August 21, 2008
1:00–2:40pm Eastern

FAS 157: Meeting the Fair Value Challenges

Accounting firms and their corporate clients face significant challenges in acclimating to FAS 157, which took effect with fiscal years beginning on or after Nov. 15, 2007. FASB's standard makes companies use a new hierarchical framework to measure the value of assets and liabilities.

Listen and participate from your telephone as our panel of veteran advisers both bottom-lines the key terms of FAS 157 and suggests practical compliance strategies.

September 4, 2008
1:00–2:40pm Eastern

PREVIOUS ACCOUNTING TELECONFERENCES AVAILABLE ON CD

Form 990: Prepare Now for the New IRS Demands

The IRS recently performed its first major overhaul of Form 990, the annual public statement that non-profits must file, since 1979, in the name of improved transparency and compliance.

Listen and participate from your telephone as our panel of authoritative tax advisors gives you the briefing you need to answer the questions posed in, and produce the statements and schedules required by, the new Form 990 appropriately, completely and efficiently.

SAS Nos. 104-111: Meeting the Mandate for Tighter Audit Processes

Auditing firms continue to wrestle with how to best assess risk of material misstatements in clients' financial statements, under the AICPA’s Auditing Standards Board's Statements on Auditing Standards Nos. 104 through 111.

Listen and participate from your telephone as our panel of accounting profession veterans gives your audit staff not only the letter, but also the intent and nuance, of every material portion of SAS Nos. 104-111.

Mastering SSARS No. 16 and No. 17 on Compilation and Review Engagements

Accounting firms that perform compilation and review services face significant and detailed new practice rules under the AICPA's Statements on Auditing Standards No. 16 (SSARS No. 16) and No. 17 (SSARS No. 17).

Listen and participate from your telephone as our panel of accounting professionals helps your firm prepare to conduct compilations and reviews in full compliance with SSARS No. 16 and 17.

Business Valuation: Mastering Changes in Key Standards

On the heels of the AICPA's new SSVS No. 1 standard, accounting firms' business valuation practices now must adapt to even more changes in mainstream valuation standards. Effective Jan. 1, 2008, the Appraisal Standards Board overhauled its uniform appraisal standards, for 2008 and 2009.

Listen and participate from your telephone as our panel of experienced valuation specialists from accounting firms of all sizes analyzes all key provisions of the new USPAP and NACVA standards and advises firms and their clients on adapting to the new rules.

Auditing Standard No. 6 and FAS 154: Guiding Clients Through the New Requirements

In late January, the PCAOB approved Auditing Standard No. 6, an important piece of new guidance designed to improve auditors' reporting on items that affect the consistency of public and private company financial statements.

Listen and participate from your telephone as our panel of accounting veterans bottom-lines the key terms of Auditing Standard No. 6 and FAS 154, and suggests some practical approaches needed to adjust your oversight.

Tax Return Preparer Sanctions: A Harsh New World

The government's new regimen of tax return preparer penalties—spelled out in temp regs issued by the IRS in January—is a tough one. Accountants have long faced possible penalties if they sign income tax returns with too-aggressive positions, but now they also face new conduct standards.

Listen and participate from your telephone as our panel of veteran accounting and tax professionals bottom-lines the new tax return preparer environment and what it means for accountant–client relationships.

FASB Statements 141R and 160: Meeting the Compliance Challenge

The rules of the game for how auditing firms help corporate clients account for business combinations and non-controlling interests in subsidiaries changed in December when FASB issued final versions of Statement 141R and Statement 160.

Listen and participate from your telephone as our panel of veteran advisors take you to the bottom line of the new FASB guidance—both the material terms and specific steps your accounting firm should take to prepare for them.

Federal Estimated Tax Payments: Meeting Tougher New Demands

For more than 20 years, U.S. companies were able to estimate quarterly federal income tax payments under 1984 regulations that were so brief and open to interpretation that taxpayers could keep payments artificially low. No more.

Listen and participate from your telephone as our panel of veteran federal tax advisors brings you up to speed on all important aspects of the new estimation regimen and suggests vital adjustments to your company's compliance process.

FIN 48: Mastering the Practical Changes

After several fiscal quarters of complying with FASB’s Interpretation 48, better known as FIN 48, what have American corporations and their outside accountants learned? What are the keys for keeping income tax accounting and compliance on track while climbing the FIN 48 learning curve?

Listen and participate from your telephone as our panel of experienced professionals from the corporate tax and finance, and accounting firm sectors shares their experiences with FIN 48 compliance.

SAS Nos. 104-111 Demand Tighter Audit Processes

The AICPA’s Auditing Standards Board reinvigorated how auditing firms assess risk of material misstatements in financial statements when it issued Statements on Auditing Standards Nos. 104 through 111. Those eight standards are effective for clients’ fiscal years starting January 1, 2007 or after.

Listen and participate from your telephone as our panel of accounting profession veterans gives your audit staff not only the letter, but also the intent and nuance of every material portion of SAS Nos. 104-111.

Tax Return Preparer Sanctions: A Harsh New World

The U.S. government's new regimen of tax return preparer penalties is much more than straightforward penalty increases applied to a few new returns. Accountants who have long faced possible penalties if they sign income tax returns with too-aggressive positions also face new conduct standards.

Business Valuation Services: Understanding AICPA's Newest Guidance

Assessing the value of businesses and their physical and intangible assets is a vital practice area for accounting firms. However, until recently, the accounting profession had no specific standard to ensure consistent quality when it came to business valuation services.

Listen and participate from your telephone as our panel of experienced valuation specialists from accounting firms of all sizes analyze all key provisions of the AICPA's new standard and advises firms and their clients on adapting to the new rules.

Corporate-Owned Life Insurance: Mastering the New Accounting Policies

Companies invest in life insurance products to protect from the loss of a key executive, enrich an executive's compensation package, and even to help finance benefit plans. However, these investments trigger complex accounting and tax issues, such as when to recognize the benefits and liabilities.

Listen and participate from your telephone as our panel of seasoned accounting professionals and expert consultants provides you with their perspectives on the new guidance and how to prepare your staff and your clients to adapt to the new issues.

Overcoming Ethical Challenges in Attest Engagements

AICPA's Ethics Interpretation 101-3 for independence in providing attest services continues to vex many accounting firms. The onus is on the firm to objectively assess its independence and persuade its attest clients to agree to implement necessary steps on their end.

Listen and participate from your telephone as our panel of accounting veterans, each of whom is experienced in analyzing ethical standards for the profession, offers you solutions for working through ongoing difficulties with implementing Interpretation 101-3.

Business Valuation Services: Understanding AICPA's Newest Guidance

Assessing the value of businesses and their physical and intangible assets is a vital practice area for accounting firms. However, until recently, the profession had no specific standard to ensure consistent quality when it came to business valuation services.

Listen and participate from your telephone as our panel of experienced valuation specialists from accounting firms of all sizes analyzes all key provisions of the AICPA's new standard and advises firms and their clients on adapting to the new rules.

FIN 48 Experiences: Mastering the Practical Challenges

After the first two fiscal quarters of complying with FASB’s Interpretation 48, better known as FIN 48, what have American corporations and their outside accountants learned? What are the keys for keeping income tax accounting and compliance on track while climbing the FIN 48 learning curve?

Listen and participate from your telephone as our panel of experienced professionals from the corporate tax and finance, and accounting firm sectors shares their experiences with FIN 48 compliance.

SAS 104-111 Demand Tigher Audit Processes

The AICPA’s Auditing Standards Board reinvigorated the way auditing firms assess the risk of material misstatements in financial statements when it issued Statements on Auditing Standards Nos. 104 through 111. Those eight standards are effective for clients’ fiscal years that started after Dec. 15, 2006, making them very timely – and extremely relevant – for auditing firms right now.

Join us as our panel of accounting profession veterans gives your audit staff the intent and nuance of every material portion of SAS Nos. 104-111.

State and Local Tax Incentives

Not all state and local tax incentives are set in stone. The most common incentives are based on how many new jobs you create or how much capital you invest. Many other tax credit, exemption or grant programs offer additional opportunity for companies to negotiate the incentives they receive, if they can impress the right decision-makers.

Join us as our panel of veteran corporate tax pros and advisors, who bring a wealth of experience negotiating tax incentives and grants to the table, give you their valuable guidance on approaches that can work.

New FIN 48 Demands on Transfer Pricing Strategies for Accounting Advisors

The influence of FASB's Interpretation No. 48, better known as FIN 48, doesn't stop at everyday federal and state corporate income tax positions. Clients using transfer pricing in cross-border transactions also must deal with FIN 48's tougher analysis and documentation standards.

Join us as our panel of savvy advisors and transfer pricing experts explains all of FIN 48's material implications for transfer pricing.

Transfer Pricing of Services: Understand The New IRS Rules

The IRS’ new temporary regulations on transfer pricing are positive for business despite the IRS’ belief that companies are improperly moving income attributed to U.S. intangible assets off shore for taxation.. Tax counsel must work with their client’s or company’s tax specialists to take full advantage.

Join us as our panel of experienced tax attorneys analyzes all key aspects of the new IRS regulations on international transfer pricing and reveals their opportunities for taxpayers.

SOX 404 Internal Control and AS2 Audit Reforms

Just recently, at the end of May, the SEC and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board announced new standards for inspecting controls for financial reporting.On May 23, the SEC voted to relax the standards for public companies to comply with Sect. 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, so that their management could focus on those internal controls posing “a reasonable possibility” of leading to errors on financial statements. This is expected to minimize the amount of time auditors have to spend scrutinizing multiple controls.

Join us as our authoritative panel of accounting profession experts gets you prepared immediately to thrive under the new SEC and PCAOB standards.

Mastering Compliance In SSTP States

Are your tax professionals keeping up with all of the recent redefinition of terms in the sales tax codes of the 21 SSTP (Streamlined Sales Tax Project) states? Can you trust the certified service providers? Do you have any issues with vendors accepting your company's SSTP-approved resale certificates?

Listen in as our panel of experienced corporate tax professionals helps you navigate your sales and use tax compliance for the steadily growing list of SSTP member states.

Create or Energize Your CPA Partner-In-Training Program

A dearth of qualified successors to partners has long plagued U.S. accounting firms. Firms that would prefer to remain independent frequently merge as senior partners approach retirement, simply because they’ve failed to groom a next tier of motivated partners.

Join us as representatives from accounting firms with successful partner-in-training programs, and insightful consultants to the profession, help your firm get a partner-in-training program off the ground or reenergize an existing effort.

New IRS Rules for Transfer Pricing of Services

Despite the IRS' position that companies improperly move income attributed to U.S. intangible assets off shore for tax purposes, the agency’s new temporary regulations on transfer pricing are positive for business.

Join us as our panel of experienced tax attorneys analyzes all key aspects of the new IRS regulations on international transfer pricing and reveals their opportunities for taxpayers.

Walking the Fraud Tightrope with Audit Clients

Auditing firms have labored under FASB’s Statement on Auditing Standards No. 99, better known as SAS 99, for several years without full confidence about what is expected of them in unearthing fraud.

Listen and participate as our authoritative panel of accounting profession veterans brings you completely current on the latest standards for fraud detection in audits.

Mastering the New Federal Schedule M-3

In the interest of speeding up audits and improving transparency of corporate financials, the IRS in recent months finalized significant changes to Schedule M-3, the detailed income/loss reconciliation statement.

Listen as our panel of IRS representatives and veteran tax advisors helps to demystify Schedule M-3 in time to prepare 2006 tax year returns.

FIN 48 Compliance: Are You Ready?

FASB’s Interpretation 48, better known as FIN 48, creates the most significant shift in federal and state income tax accounting in years. It has major implications for your firm’s tax and attest clients.

Listen as our panel of experienced tax advisors and veteran FASB-watchers help you unscramble the latest guidance.

Bracing for SAS 112

Due to the AICPA’s statement on auditing standards No. 112, better known as SAS 112, accounting firms need to now identify and communicate audit clients’ “significant deficiencies” and “material weaknesses” in the same fashion for both public and private companies.

Our expert panel of speakers evaluate every key aspect of SAS 112 and identify the implications for accounting firms and their audit clients.

Managing Sales Tax Audits - The Auditors Speak

While a state sales and use tax audit can't help becoming adversarial at some point -- sometimes very adversarial -- it behooves a corporate tax department to know going in what the other side expects. Having that advance competitive intelligence helps the company plan for a smooth audit.

Listen as our panel of sales tax audit administrators from major states evaluates corporate audits from their side of the aisle. You'll find out how audit supervisors think companies can help ensure a well-run audit and what mistakes they absolutely don't like to see repeated.

RELATED NEWSLETTERS AND PRODUCTS TO CONSIDER: Strafford Tax Products. Tax Incentives Alert. Sales & Use Tax Monitor. State Income Tax Monitor.

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