strategy

charles postal, sp&co.: investing in people and mergers

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strategy 2012: battling for market share

what are your critical challenges for 2012, and what can do you about them? a number of the profession’s leading lights have been sharing their thoughts with accounting today. here’s one:

charles postal
santos postal & co.

we see a shrinking market share of small and medium-sized businesses with the need for premium accounting services caused by increased competition from larger firms with greater resources.

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bill hagaman, withum: metrics for partners

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strategy 2012: talent, pricing, accountability

what are your critical challenges for 2012, and what can do you about them? a number of the profession’s leading lights have been sharing their thoughts with accounting today. here’s one:

bill hagaman
withumsmith+brown

we see the top challenges as retaining talent, pricing and partner accountability. we’ve worked hard at creating a culture that our professionals want to work in.

read all the 2012 strategies:

this starts with our philosophy that no jerks are allowed at any level and while we will work with partners and staff to mentor them regarding the proper behavior in the office we will not tolerate any unprofessional conduct toward our staff. read more →

benchmark 1040 fee flattens out at $233

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rates up only $4 in two years for “main street” firms.

most tax professionals will be charging an average of $233 for a typical itemized return this year, relatively unchanged since the beginning of the recession, according to a new survey of national society of accountants members.

the new $233 benchmark represents barely a $4 increase in the two years since the last biennial survey, when accountants posted a 10% advance from the 2007 poll, which followed a scant 2% gain from $201 in 2005.

the survey of nearly 8,000 tax preparers by the nsa found that the average fee for preparing an itemized form 1040 with a schedule a and a state tax return cost taxpayers only $233 this year. rates for non-itemized returns are also largely unchanged at $128 for a form 1040 and state return without itemized deductions.

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