Read Blog Posts

2020 MSCPA Fitness Challenge

By Amy Pitter posted 22 hours ago
Be the first person to like this.
With winter and busy season upon us, the MSCPA is excited to bring back our popular Fitness Challenge to help you stay healthy and active over the next few months. Sponsored by  Integrated Partners , this friendly competition is a great way for your office to come together as a team to out-step other challengers!     The fourth annual Fitness Challenge  will begin at 12:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 5 and end at 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15.  Steps will be tracked using the Challenge Runner app or by manually inputting them via  ChallengeRunner.com . To sign up and to join/create your team,  click here .    Team totals will be calculated by ...
0 comments

January Events and Conferences

By Amy Pitter posted 7 days ago
Be the first person to like this.
I am writing to you today from Newport Beach, California, where I have been this week attending our annual midwinter meeting with the CEOs of other state societies throughout the country. Naturally, the highlight of the meeting was a candid conversation with Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA, president and CEO of the AICPA and CEO of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, who heavily focused on CPA evolution, sharing how we can continue to retain top talent while providing them with the essential skills they need to adapt to the rapidly changing profession. He also discussed why we must focus on the future of assurance and stressed the ...
0 comments

Hear from Experts on All Things Tax at This Month's State Tax Conference!

By Amy Pitter posted 14 days ago
Be the first person to like this.
Happy New Year! I hope your 2020 is off to a wonderful start. For many members in public accounting, the beginning of a new year is a sign that busy season is just around the corner, and I want to remind you that we are here to help. On January 16, we will host our State Tax Conference that will cover tax reform, tax policy changes, developments in the cannabis business, gifting tax and the qualified business income deduction, audit compliance and much more. You'll also hear from leaders at the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) on the latest administration initiatives, news from rulings and regulations and a briefing from the taxpayer advocate. ...
0 comments

Takeaways from This Week's Board Retreat

By Amy Pitter posted 29 days ago
Be the first person to like this.
The accounting profession is experiencing tremendous changes in technology, client expectations, staffing needs and in well, pretty much everything. We find that change is impacting our members in so many ways depending on firm or company size, strategy, services, etc. At the MSCPA, we want to make sure that we keep pace with these changes, so we can evolve with you and provide you with the tools and skills you need to successfully navigate this new landscape.    To achieve this, we seek guidance from our board. Earlier this week, we had a board retreat to talk about where we are and where we are going. Much of the discussion centered on how we can be more ...
0 comments

This Week's Federal Tax Camp

By Amy Pitter posted 12-13-2019
Be the first person to like this.
Thank you to the 800+ of you who attended Federal Tax Camp this week! We've heard wonderful feedback from you about this conference, and I hope the information from our tax guru Sue Smith, CPA will help you have a smooth busy season! At the Society, Tax Camp signifies that the end of the year is fast approaching. Many of us look at the New Year as a fresh start. One of my goals in 2020 is to do more to help you learn and network in your career. Coming together with your peers to share ideas, challenges and resources is one of the most valuable aspects of membership, and that's why I'm so excited for our Firm Administrator/Operations Manager Luncheon on January ...
0 comments

Make a Difference in a Student's Life

By Amy Pitter posted 12-06-2019
Be the first person to like this.
Like so many of you, giving back is at the core of our beliefs and values at the Society. We know there are a lot of demands on your generosity this time of year, but they say charity begins at home and there are loads of amazing young people who need your help in realizing their dreams of becoming a CPA ( you can read some of their stories here ). That's why I'm asking for you to consider giving back to your profession with a donation to the MSCPA's Educational Foundation Scholarship Program .   Thank you to everyone who donated on #GivingTuesday – it was our best year yet! Even though the day is over, you can still donate to the Scholarship Program through ...
0 comments

Greetings from Our Annual New England Practice Management (MAP) Conference!

By Amy Pitter posted 11-22-2019
Be the first person to like this.
Greetings from Foxwoods! I'm writing to you from our annual New England Practice Management (MAP) Conference and have spent the last three days networking with 160 firm leaders and learning from experts in the accounting industry. Conversations have centered on the latest trends transforming how firms operate and what we should do now to adapt to the sweeping changes affecting our industry. This conference was developed by the MSCPA's Management of an Accounting Practice (MAP) Committee, and I'd like to thank them, our sponsors and Society staff for not only making the conference possible, but for making it a roaring success! To learn more about the MAP Committee, ...
0 comments

Join the Find a CPA Directory

By Amy Pitter posted 11-15-2019
Be the first person to like this.
The Society is always looking for opportunities to help our members succeed. One of the ways we do that is by increasing your exposure to potential clients. Our Find a CPA Directory is a popular search engine for individuals and businesses looking for a CPA firm in Massachusetts. There were over 8,000 visits to the Directory in the last year, and the MSCPA actively promotes the Directory through advertisements targeting the general public and Massachusetts businesses throughout the year.  Sign up today and grow your client list before busy season! Firms that join the Directory will be listed through December 31, 2020, and those in our Firm Sponsored Membership ...
0 comments

MSCPA Firm Visits & More

By Amy Pitter posted 11-08-2019
Be the first person to like this.
What a week! I've been visiting firms across the state to discuss trends in the profession and ways that we can better serve our members. One way we're trying to reach more of you is by making our programs and events more accessible to members throughout the Commonwealth (traffic, as we all know, is a nightmare for everyone). We recently expanded our regional roundtables to nine locations, and we've heard great feedback from members that you would like more opportunities to connect with local peers to share ideas, challenges and build your network. Our roundtables are topic-based, so if you have any suggestions for topics you'd like us to cover, please reach ...
0 comments

Recent and Upcoming MSCPA Events

By Amy Pitter posted 11-01-2019
Be the first person to like this.
Last week was one of my favorite MSCPA events – our Women’s Leadership Summit – where over 200 attendees celebrated seven outstanding women in the profession. Congratulations to our 2019 Women to Watch Award winners Rebecca Connolly, CPA, Danielle Donovan, CPA, MSA, Kristen Longobardi, CPA, Mon Chau, CPA, Laura McNeil, CPA, Laura O'Brien, CPA, MST and Amy Phelan, CPA . You are extraordinary role models for other women in accounting and I look forward to witnessing first-hand as you continue to change both our profession and community for the better.  One highlight for me was the Women to Watch panel, which was expertly moderated by one of our keynote speakers ...
0 comments

The AICPA's Fall Council Meeting

By Amy Pitter posted 10-25-2019
Be the first person to like this.
This week was the AICPA's Fall Council Meeting, which is an opportunity for CEO Barry Melancon and his team to share their views on the top challenges in the profession, and what they're doing to address them. Much of the discussion centered around CPA Evolution, and its potential changes to the licensure process and CPA Exam, which will focus more on technology and data science. This will help attract students with those skills and help firms find qualified new hires. The concept of CPA Evolution centers on these principles about the profession: We must adapt quickly due to technological disruptions such as data analytics, robotics, artificial intelligence ...
0 comments

Attend the MSCPA's First Cannabis Networking Group Meeting

By Amy Pitter posted 10-18-2019
Be the first person to like this.
This summer, MSCPA staff attended the annual Interchange Conference, where state societies come together to learn, network, share ideas and discuss the latest trends we're hearing from members. One topic that was heavily discussed was the evolving cannabis industry and how our members can get involved, which led to a post on  the HUB , where we presented the idea of creating a Cannabis Networking Group for interested members.   With that being said, after receiving interest from 30+ members,  I am pleased to share that we will be kicking off our first meeting on Wednesday, October 30 at the MSCPA's Boston office from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.  If you are practicing ...
0 comments

2019 Federal Tax Camps

By Amy Pitter posted 10-10-2019
Be the first person to like this.
I know that this is a busy time for many of our members as the October 15 deadline looms, and I wanted to let you know that the Society is here to support you. If we can be of any assistance to you during this time, please feel welcome to contact our main line at 617.556.4000 or you can contact me directly at apitter@mscpaonline.org . And, you can always ask your fellow MSCPA members questions by posting on the HUB, our member-only online community .  They say once tax season is over, a new one begins, and the Society has designed our Federal Tax Camps to help you prepare for what’s ahead. Offered in three locations and on broadcast, Tax Camp will bring ...
0 comments

The AICPA 2019 Trends Report

By Amy Pitter posted 10-04-2019
Be the first person to like this.
The AICPA has just released its 2019 Trends Report. This biennial report identifies key trends in the U.S. for both supply (accounting enrollments and graduations) and demand (hiring of new graduates in the public accounting sector).  On the supply side, there is good and bad news. Bachelor and graduate enrollments are down, but still at historically high levels. The number of people sitting for the CPA Exam dipped to its lowest level in 10 years. Some, but not all of that can be attributed to candidates rushing to take the Exam in 2016 before a scheduled change to its length and complexity. The good news is that our efforts at increasing diversity in the ...
0 comments

Changes to the MSCPA Educational Foundation Scholarship Program

By Amy Pitter posted 09-27-2019
Be the first person to like this.
I'm thrilled to announce that we've made some recent changes to our Educational Foundation's Scholarship Program . Our strategy is to provide fewer scholarships in higher amounts, so that we can have a greater impact on the lives of these students as they pursue accounting degrees and the CPA designation. Click on the video below to learn more: Please click here to donate . The deadline to contribute to our 2020 Scholarship Program is December 31, 2019. Thank you for your continued support
0 comments

2019 Women's Leadership Summit

By Amy Pitter posted 09-20-2019
Be the first person to like this.
In honor of our year of Diversity and Inclusion, our annual Women's Leadership Summit will feature two powerful speakers: Kim Drumgo and Terri Trespicio. Kim is the is the director of diversity and inclusion at the AICPA where she provides expertise in driving cultural change through cross-functional team engagement and inspiring a community of understanding. Her presentation will explore the key characteristics of an inclusive leader and how they are helping to grow the accounting profession. Terri is an award-winning writer, speaker and brand advisor who works with individuals and organizations to help nail their messaging and engage clients, customers and ...
0 comments

Your Donation Makes a Difference

By Amy Pitter posted 09-13-2019
Be the first person to like this.
The start of a new school year is exciting, but for the many students who struggle to afford pursuing their accounting degrees, it's also a challenging (and scary) time. Offering scholarships to accounting students is one way we can help fuel the accounting pipeline and build a diverse talent pool. As our Educational Foundation enters a new fundraising year, I'm asking for your support. By donating to the Foundation, you will help deserving students move one step closer to achieving their dreams of entering our profession, and you'll have a direct impact on their lives. "Thank you to all my donors for helping to grant me the MSCPA's Women in Accounting ...
0 comments

MSCPA Career Fair Prep Webinar Recording

By Hannah Naranjo posted 09-11-2019
Be the first person to like this.
Listen to our Career Fair Prep Webinar hosted by Babson College to learn about how to make the most of your MSCPA student membership, what to expect from the new version of the CPA Exam and how to perfect your personal pitch and resume to stand out among your peers. To listen to the recording, click here . To sign up for the Career Fair & Graduate School Expo, click here
0 comments

Suggestions for Working on Your Business This Fall

By Amy Pitter posted 09-06-2019
Be the first person to like this.
It was in the low 60s when I left the house this morning, so I think summer is really over! That means we are all back to the whirlwind of activity that characterizes our profession – as we like to say... it's always the 15 th of something. We are all challenged by the dual pressures of working both in and on our business.  I have two suggestions for working on your business that you can start this fall. The first is to attend the New England Practice Management (MAP) Conference at Foxwoods in November. It's filled with great speakers who will share ideas for how to make the changes that will lead to new successes for your firm, and it's packed with networking ...
0 comments

What's in Store This Fall

By Amy Pitter posted 08-30-2019
Be the first person to like this.
Summer is winding down, but the MSCPA is gearing up for a busy fall! We’ve spent the summer months planning programs for you to network and learn (and earn CPE) with your peers. I’m excited to share what we have in store for you! We’ve lined up some incredible speakers for our fall conferences. They include  Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA , president and CEO of the AICPA; national speaker  Terri Trespicio, who’s TEDx talk has more than 5 million views  and who was recently named one of the “Top 15 Female Speakers who are Killing It” by  HubSpot ; and Sue Smith, CPA who’s back by popular demand at our  Federal Tax Camps  (which will be offered in three ...
0 comments