Claim Chronicles 121-A

A man in a hood typing on a desktop computer

*Previously known as War Stories Topic: Phishing, Social Engineering Scheme Services: Auditing Steve Ryckman, managing partner of Ryckman-Harris & Associates, is alerted one day after receiving a call from a firm employee who asked if he requested to share a file with her (via email) from a file hosting service. Because he hadn’t, the firm’s … Read more

Claim Chronicles 121-B

Old-school phones connected to each other

Topic: Fraudulent Wire Transfers, Social Engineering SchemeServices: Bookkeeping and Bill Pay Worthingham Financial, an established accounting firm, has been providing bookkeeping and bill pay services to consumer finance business Smart Money Express. The process is consistent — Smart Money receives its invoices from its Chief Operating Officer Larry Tollefson. If the invoices are for more … Read more

CAMICO Reports Gains in Policyholders’ Surplus, Written Premium

Three workers looking at a tablet

Details Released in 2021 Operations Report SAN MATEO, Calif.- CAMICO, the nation’s largest CPA-owned and directed program of insurance and risk management for the accounting profession, posted total policyholders’ surplus of more than $46 million and gross written premium of more than $65 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. CAMICO has continued to … Read more

Disengaging with a Client to Benefit Your Firm

A man and woman talking at a desk

By Suzanne M. Holl, CPA Even CPAs who are highly skilled at bringing in new clients and nurturing those relationships will periodically encounter situations that call for a client disengagement. Disengaging with a client has the potential to be unpleasant, but this measure can be a practice management tool that increases firm profitability and creates … Read more

Documentation, Engagement Letters Key to Tax Risk Management

Documentation - engagement letters are the key to tax risk management

By Suzanne M. Holl, CPA and Duncan B. Will, CPA/ABV/CFF, CFE CPA liability exposures during tax season are always a concern, regardless of economic or professional conditions. However, in the wake of the pandemic, liability exposures during this tax season are even more exacerbated given the added complexities associated with the magnitude and state of … Read more

Remote Work Security from Hackers and Malware

Remote work security from hackers and malware for CPA's and accounting firms

by Randy R. Werner, J.D., LL.M./Tax, CPA With some professionals returning to the office while others are choosing a hybrid or remote work setup, working outside the office is opening new access points and vulnerabilities for hackers to exploit. CPA firms are already target-rich environments for identity thieves, and any new vulnerabilities exacerbate the profession’s … Read more