Latest news with #PublicAccountants
Qatar Tribune
25-05-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
PICPA Doha's webinar highlights CPA's role in cybersecurity, ICFR
Darlene Regis A free online webinar on cybersecurity and Internal Control over Financial Reporting (ICFR) for Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) was hosted by the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) Doha LLC (G) on April 11, via Zoom. The event featured industry experts who shared valuable insights on how accounting professionals can effectively navigate and adapt to digital risks. Glenn William Alcala, CPA, CISA, advisory partner and chief information security officer at Reyes Tacandong & Co., discussed the vital role of CPAs in fostering cyber resilience. He underscored the importance of remaining vigilant against cyber threats and shared practical tips using the acronym CPA: C – Be Conscious of social engineering attacks, P – Leverage strong Passwords, and A – Adopt cyber awareness when browsing the web and using devices. Alcala emphasized that CPAs are prime targets for cyberattacks due to their access to sensitive and valuable financial information as part of their work. Christian Bravo, CPA, senior manager at EY London's Capital Markets Finance Optimisation, discussed strengthening Internal Control over Financial Reporting (ICFR) in the context of digital transformation. His presentation highlighted the need to modernize control frameworks and address the new risks posed by automation and emerging technologies. The session drew interest from accounting professionals eager to enhance their ability to safeguard themselves and their organizations against cybersecurity threats while refining internal processes in today's rapidly evolving digital landscape. This initiative reflects PICPA Doha LLC (G)'s ongoing commitment to supporting finance professionals by providing relevant learning opportunities that address current challenges and elevate the standards of the accounting profession.
Forbes
29-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
CPAs Have Survived Another Tax Season—And Frankly, They Deserve A Parade
(Photo Illustration by) Getty Images Well, folks, we did it. Or more accurately, they did it. Our nation's Certified Public Accountants (and other tax return preparers)—those brave souls fluent in the ancient language of Schedule Cs and 1099s—have once again made it through tax season with their sanity mostly intact and only minimal crying in supply closets. Let us take a moment to thank these unsung heroes of April now that many of them have returned to their office following a two week vacation. While the rest of us were panicking over whether that dog-walking side hustle counted as self-employment (it does), CPAs were calmly navigating the Byzantine maze of the Internal Revenue Code, which, let's be honest, makes IKEA instructions look rudimentary and easy. Let's talk about the Internal Revenue Code, aka the IRS's cookbook of suffering. It's over 70,000 pages long with its corresponding explanatory Treasury Regulations. That's longer than the Harry Potter series, Game of Thrones, and War and Peace combined—with less magic and more audit threats. Inside this monstrous tome are rules about rules, exceptions to exceptions, and provisions so mind-bendingly convoluted they make the Matrix seem like a basic algebra class. There's an entire section that dictates how to depreciate a racehorse over three years (true story), but try finding a simple explanation of whether your crypto losses offset your W-2 income. Go ahead. We'll wait. CPAs, however, eat this spaghetti code for breakfast. They don't flinch when the IRS decides that a home office deduction requires a degree in architectural drafting and the patience of a saint. They smile politely when we bring them shoeboxes of receipts, sticky notes, and a half-eaten protein bar with 'Tax Stuff?' scrawled on it. To be a CPA during tax season is to endure more oddball client confessions than a bartender during happy hour. 'So, I got paid in crypto for selling NFTs of my cat's facial expressions, but I also drove for Uber in the evenings, and my mom pays me $50 a week to water her succulents—do I need to file a Schedule K?' Bless their number-loving hearts, CPAs don't even blink. They nod thoughtfully, adjust their glasses (all CPAs are issued glasses, whether they need them or not—it's part of the oath), and proceed to turn that steaming pile of financial confusion into a coherent return that hopefully won't get you flagged by the IRS's Robocop-auditor algorithm. From January to mid-April, CPAs exist in a caffeine-fueled dimension where weekends are theoretical and sleep is just something that happens to other people. Their world is color-coded in Excel, and they can recite deduction limits like lullabies. They dream in form numbers. "Sweet dreams, Form 1040. Nighty night, Schedule E." During tax season, their social lives vanish, their families leave snacks outside their home office doors like they're feeding a raccoon, and their only human contact is the client who emails 'Just one more quick thing!' at 11:58 PM on April 14th. Once the deadline passes, CPAs emerge, blinking into the sunlight like groundhogs who've been doing QuickBooks in the dark for four months. They walk outside, unsure of what day it is, and rediscover the joy of grass, birdsong, and not having to explain 'Why you can't write off your dog as a dependent' for the 19th time in a week. Some celebrate with a well-deserved spa day. Others collapse into a couch and binge-watch Netflix until their brains reboot. There are rumors of one CPA who retired and opened a goat sanctuary. Frankly, it tracks. The truth is, we should be thanking CPAs like we thank firefighters, teachers, and baristas who can spell our names right on the first try. Without them, we'd all be buried in late penalties, drowning in IRS jargon, and wondering if we can pay our taxes in leftover Bed Bath & Beyond coupons. CPAs protect us from audits, help us find deductions we didn't know existed (hello, energy-efficient water heater!), and often act as part financial advisor, part therapist, and part detective. They are the Watson to our tax-based Sherlock meltdown. So next time you see a CPA, buy them a coffee. Or a whiskey. Or maybe just give them a long, respectful nod, like two war veterans recognizing each other across a crowded room. Because tax season may be over (unless to filed for an extension), but the trauma lives on.
Mid East Info
13-03-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Saudi CFO Summit 2025: Navigating Digital Change & Business Growth, Physical Conference at Radisson Blu Minhal, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: CFOs in the digital era do more than just run the financial operations of the organization: They now also sit atop the organization where they lead the charge toward financial digitization. CFOs have an eminent role to play here in driving process standardization and automation efforts and ensuring that their organizations on board with technologies such as RPA, AI, and machine learning. With the continuous advancement of these technologies, however, the CFO is left wrestling with the issue of assessing critically which of these instruments would add real value and which ones are simply trends. A CFO should confirm that he or she does not show any biases and will also use sound judgment in arriving at decisions with respect to new technologies rather than blindly following the latest fad. Achieving this balance while navigating a dynamic environment is the major challenge of today's CFO: the technocrat should balance the adoption of technology with corporate foresight, with the understanding that innovation should facilitate long-term financial goals and operational the Middle East, there's a growing misunderstanding about the roles of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) and Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), which is creating challenges for effective financial leadership and overall business performance. While CPAs are focused on compliance, audits, and ensuring financial accuracy, CFOs are responsible for steering the company's overall financial 25th Edition CFO Leadership Summit, taking place on April 23rd, 2025, at the Radisson Blu Minhal in Saudi Arabia, will help address this by bringing together over 200 finance leaders to dive into the latest trends and disruptions in the industry. Through engaging presentations, panel discussions, and real-world case studies, the event will offer valuable insights to help finance professionals sharpen their skills and stay ahead in a rapidly changing market. The sessions will cover everything from making strategic decisions and managing investments to effectively communicating with stakeholders and navigating risks around cash flow, capital allocation, and regulatory compliance. Who will Speak? ➤ Heni Jallouli, Group Chief Financial Officer, Jahez International Company. ➤ Ozgur Oncu, Group Chief Financial Officer, Petromin Corporation. ➤ Mohamed Helal, Group Chief Financial Officer, Al Watania For Industries. ➤ Amit Kauntia, Group Chief Financial Officer, Abdul Mohsen Al Tamimi Group. ➤ Sarfaraz Ahmed,Group Chief Financial Officer,Saudi Cable. ➤ Arif Idrees,Group Chief Financial Officer,Tahweel Holding. ➤ Hussam Abdullah,BukhariGroup Chief Financial Officer,Takamol Holding. ➤ Rami Abuelsamen,Regional Chief Financial Officer,Almana Group of Hospitals. The event will cover topics like: ➤ CFO's Playbook: Navigating Strategic Communication. ➤ Investing in Tomorrow: CFO Strategies for Sustainable Growth. ➤ Future-Proofing Finance: Advanced Scenario Planning for Complex Business Environments. ➤ From Numbers to Narratives: Debunking Common Misconceptions. ➤ Driving Business Growth: Advancing with AI and Automation. ➤ Adaptability in the Face of Change:The Evolving Role of the CFO. For more information on the 25th Edition CFO Leadership Summit : Link About Exito: Exito, which means success in Spanish, embodies our commitment to the success of our customers. Each year, we host over 240 virtual and in-person conferences globally, bringing together audiences with world-class thought leaders and C-level executives across industries. Our meticulously crafted agendas, based on extensive research and valuable industry insights, facilitate business, knowledge transfer, deal flow, and impactful messaging for brands. Author: Karthik SooryaFor Media Enquiries, contact:Kasturi Nayak (Sr.) Marketing Executive) Exito Media Concepts
