Here are some good thoughts on the benefit to hiring veterans and how to start a hiring program.

http://www.shrm.org/Publications/HRNews/Pages/0611ac_vets.aspx

This is shift in philosophy, but for 2013 there will be new accounting standards requiring property leases to be shown as an asset/liability rather than the commonly used footnote disclosure.  This could impact upwards of $2 trillion in leased property.    Call us if we can help you plan for the new rules.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/23/realestate/commercial/23fasb.html?ref=financialaccountingstandardsboard

Here is a good starting place to brush up on your compensation practices.

http://www.humanresourcesiq.com/benefits-compensation/articles/are-you-examining-your-compensation-practices-5-qu/

Here is brief look at the lending environment for small businesses in the Philadelphia region.  Please let us know if our expertise in lender relations and debt management can benefit your organization.

http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/mike_armstrong/20110613_PhillyInc__The_lending_climate_for_small_firms.html

Attached is a synopsis on the new disclosure rules for 401(k) plans.  In brief, the plan sponsor will need to provide clear information about what actual costs are passed onto the plan participant.  CFO.com says this may be an extremely difficult task for many small companies without a benefits and compliance expert on staff to sift through the new regulations.

http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/14570384/c_14574780

CFO Magazine gives simple suggestions on how to help your audit committee to do the best job possible.  The story makes an interesting example of how Lehman Bros  audit committee followed the letter of the law, but still did not have the resources to discover the most serious problems. 

http://www.cfomagazine.com/article.cfm/14565013/c_14569388

Here are a few timely HR issues to consider tackling if you haven’t already.  At the top of the list, have you considered how to handle issues with employees posting material on social media sites?

http://www.hrmorning.com/hrs-12-worst-worries-for-2011-%e2%80%93-and-how-to-cope/

Here are some clever ideas from hrworld.com on how to reward your employees without increasing payroll. 

http://www.hrworld.com/features/25-employee-rewards/

Accounting Today details the issue of repatriation of foreign profits.  Perhaps you caught the 60 Minutes story on companies setting up shell headquarters in Switzerland.  In brief, many U.S. based companies have been recording their profits in foreign countries, thus avoiding a large portion of U.S. taxes.  There have been suggestions in Washington to have a “tax holiday” on the repatriation of those profits.  Treasury has already stated their opposition to this plan.  Please contact us you would like to discuss how your company may be impacted by proposed accounting and legislative changes. 

http://www.accountingtoday.com/news/Treasury-Opposes-Corporate-Repatriation-Tax-Holiday-57833-1.html

Here is a good read from CFO magazine on the need for proper controls in preventing fraud at your company.  Please contact us if you would like more information about implementing fraud prevention measures.

Where There\’s Smoke, There\’s Fraud