News & Updates

If you are running a small or midsize CPA firm, you have probably had some version of this thought in the last year: Everyone seems to be offshoring.

Businesses that prioritize their team over profits often see better results in the long run. Putting your team first leads to a more engaged, loyal and productive workforce, which in turn drives greater success and sustainable growth.

Take proactive steps to better position your firm to ensure you are maintaining the right overall firm/client fit.

While companies everywhere are racing to implement AI tools, automate processes, and improve efficiency, many leaders are overlooking a more pressing question: What becomes more valuable about being human at work as technology becomes more capable?

The traditional “three-legged stool” remains one of the clearest ways to explain how to grow retirement income. Each leg plays a different role in helping retirees maintain financial independence and stability throughout retirement.

Traditional pathways, rigid expectations and outdated workplace norms are no longer sustainable in an environment where younger professionals are seeking meaningful work, transparent leadership and flexible structures. Creating a future-ready workplace requires more than just adjusting policies, it demands a deliberate cultural shift.

Opportunities to use AI are expanding. As vendors add AI features, firms face a familiar challenge: adopting useful innovation while managing risk. Due diligence is not optional. The real question is: How much diligence is enough for this situation?

The accounting profession is amid a seismic shift. Private equity (PE) is reshaping firm ownership structures, consolidation is reaching down to smaller firms, and partners nearing retirement are asking: Who will take care of my clients?

VSCPA member Lisa Germano, JD, CPA, will write a standing Disclosures column on retirement planning literacy. Here, she discusses her interest in financial planning and the biggest misconceptions she sees.

For almost 25 years, Virginia taxpayers have been able to purchase Land Preservation Tax Credits at a discount in the marketplace to save on their Virginia income tax liability. However, despite the passage of time, some professionals are still unfamiliar with the program.

As 2025-2026 chair of the VSCPA Board of Directors, Krystal McCants, CPA, brings more than 20 years of public accounting experience and a passion for relationship-driven leadership. We sat down with Krystal to learn more about her journey, her insights on the profession, and what inspires her both inside and outside the office.

Accounting is no longer just about numbers. It’s about navigating possibilities — and career paths should reflect that.

Successful implementation of new technology tends to be a rare phenomenon. As a result, most people groan at the first signs that a new technology implementation is looming. Consider these strategies to ensure successful technology implementations are the norm for your firm or department.

One of the biggest career accelerators for CPAs may be beyond the office. Serving in a volunteer position on a board, whether for a local nonprofit, professional group or other organization, can help you expand your leadership skills, make connections and serve the greater good.

Thriving without private equity isn’t about rejecting progress — it’s about pursuing a different, more self-directed vision of growth and success.

We can’t easily control external factors, such as the profession’s pipeline deficit, intense tax demands and busy seasons. However, perfectionism is something we do have control over, and it’s not to be dismissed or overlooked.

As consolidation continues to reshape the accounting profession, the $5–10 million revenue tier has emerged as a critical inflection point. But the advantages of reaching this size extend far beyond M&A appeal. For firms focused on long-term growth, talent development, and market relevance, the $5–10 million tier offers a compelling combination of scale, agility and strategic optionality.

After more than 10 years auditing everything from small nonprofits to government-funded entities to Fortune 500 companies, I’ve learned one thing for certain: auditors are translators. We take confusing situations, incomplete documents, complicated processes, and sometimes chaotic financial stories and turn them into clarity. And now, with the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, auditors also have the opportunity to bring efficiency like never before.

Divorce creates a web of financial and legal challenges that demand careful coordination between CPAs, financial planners and attorneys. The following sections bring together tax planning issues with valuation and forensic considerations to provide a cohesive view for practitioners.

This article outlines the structure of the alternative pathway and discusses its advantages and challenges, drawing insights from industry professionals and academic experts. It also provides an overview of ongoing alternative pathway adoption efforts across the United States. Finally, it examines the impact of CPA Evolution on CPA Exam pass rates over the past year.