November 2011Vol. 4 Issue 1

SkyscapesDECEMBER 2011Vol. 4 Issue 2

Newsletter of the Kansas Society of CPAs

IN THIS ISSUEReview of the KSCPA Annual Meeting

Everyone Loves a Winner: A Tale That Yields 7 Clear-cut Winners Jill Muschong

Refining Your Leadership Philosophy & StyleRich Drinon

Member Profile: Alisa Snavely

The Walls of Governance Lynn Fountain

2012 Professional Development Schedule

SERVICE TO PROFESSION.SERVICE TO COMMUNITY.

SERVICE TO GOVERNMENT.CPAs LEAD THE WAY.

OfficersRobert J. Schuster, Chair, Designated AICPA Council Representative M. Aron Dunn, Vice ChairMelinda A. Hitz, Secretary/TreasurerJohn H. Bruckner, Immediate Past Chair

Board of Directors(Term Expires 2014)Rebecca J. CaseySean M. CoppCharles GnizakTrisha A. CavanaughJames A. WurbsRodney G. Van Norden, KSBOA LiaisonGary C. Allerheiligen, AICPA Council Rep.

Board of Directors(Term Expires 2012)

Chet BuchmanM. George DurlerLewis R. EricksonGregg C. GoodwinMichelle Schneider

Educational Foundation Board of TrusteesJohn C. Rich, ChairNorman P. Hope, Vice ChairKenneth A. Selzer, Secretary/TreasurerKyle J. HawkJohn W. DenneyPaul T. MasonCheryl G. HaywardJohanna D. Lyle

Political Action CommitteeDenis W. Miller, ChairJames T. Clark, TreasurerDeAnn A. HillEric J. LarsonLeon C. LoganKathryn J. MitchellMichael V. Rogers

Mary R. MacBain, MS, CPA.CITP President/CEOKaren Mitchell, CPAFinance DirectorMarlene Shellenberger,Administrative ManagerDanielle Bulson,Membership & Communications CoordinatorKevin Moravec, Graphic DesignerRita Barnard,Peer Review Administrator

Editors: Mary R. MacBain, Editor-in-Chief

Contributing Writers: Jill Muschong; Rich Drinon;Lynn Fountain, CPA;Marlee Carpenter;Mike Urbom, CPA.CITP

The Kansas Society of Certified Public Accountants, Inc.100 SE 9th Street, Suite 502Topeka, KS 66612-1213Phone: 785.272.4366, FAX: 785.272.4468

Board of Directors(Term Expires 2013)

James K. BoomerGinger L. FarneyCarolyn C. GeorgeMindi A. OrmistonMatthew R. List

SkyscapesHappy New Year! As we wind down from the holidays and begin 2012, we

reflect on the season as not only a time of year when we purchase new

toys, visit with our loved ones and engage in chores that may make us

crazy, but also as a time to give back.

DECEMBER 2011Vol. 4 Issue 2

I am proud to be in a profession that continues to grow and to offer a depth and

breadth of unparalleled expertise to the organizations and clients we serve. We are truly blessed

to live in communities that help us succeed and to reap many rewards from the organizations

and clients for whom we are “the most trusted advisor.”

It gives me even more pride to know that so many of us give back, and that we give

back in many ways throughout the year and throughout our careers. This is why this issue of

Skyscapes, and the theme of our 80th year as the professional association for CPAs in Kansas,

is as follows:

SERVICE TO PROFESSION.

SERVICE TO COMMUNITY.

SERVICE TO GOVERNMENT.

CPAs LEAD THE WAY.

2012 is year of festivity for CPAs. Not only is the KSCPA celebrating its 80th

year, the AICPA is marking its 125th year, and my firm, Kennedy and Coe, was also founded

80 years ago. We are a long-standing profession that has weathered the storms and learned

to dance in the rain. The CPA credential is recognized and valued among business decision

makers and CPAs believe that the credential is valued and respected at their organizations. In

fact, the CPA is the most valued credential among business decision makers. Is this because

of our education, achievement of the credential, continuing education, or even our code

of ethics? Yes, but also because of who we are as individuals and the contributions that we

continue to make.

During the coming year, the KSCPA team will be contacting you about the

contributions you make within and outside of the workday. On November 14, 2012, at our

80th Annual Meeting, we will publish a history and recognize those who give back. Our

80th anniversary celebration will culminate at a black tie optional gala event at the Wichita

Hyatt honoring the past chairs of the KSCPA and our life members. Rich Caturano, chair of

the AICPA, will be on hand to help us celebrate. We will end the day with a formal dinner

and dance to the music of Lonnie McFadden. Please mark your calendar for this annual

meeting and gala – November 14, 2012 – Hyatt Wichita.

I look forward to this year and to serving as chair of the KSCPA.

Warm Regards,

Robert Schuster

79th Chair of the KSCPA

DRINON'S LEADERSHIP EXPRESS

Refining Your Leadership Philosophy & Style

Skyscapes

Statements of fact and opinion are made by authors alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of the officers or members of the KSCPA. Publication of an advertisement in Skyscapes does not constitute an endorsement of the product or service by Skyscapes or the KSCPA. Copyright © 2012 Kansas Society of CPAs; Topeka, KS. All rights reserved.

New KSCPA Members16

UPDATES AND UPCOMING EVENTS

FEATURES

Member News17Great Expectations: 2012 Legislative Session18Chapter News19Upcoming events & New CPA Recognition Dinners

Everyone Love a WinnerA Tale That Yields 7 Clear-cut Winners by Jill Muschong

120604 10Refining Your Leadership Philosophy & Styleby Rich Drinon

Member Profile: Alisa Snavely

CONTENTS

Annual Meeting Wrap-up21

Conference News30Photos from the 61st Annual Kansas Tax Conference and K2’s Heartland Technology ConferenceUnderstanding the New Chartered Global Management Accountant Designation34You Always Get More Than You Give35

The Walls of Governanceby Lynn Fountain, CPA

Alisa Snavely

MEMBERPROFILE

Photos from the Annual Meeting, Professional Issues Update, and Leadership Summit

Terri Polley, President/CEO of FAF Holds Roundtables in Kansas362012 Professional Development and Events38Classified Ads42

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December 2011

WIN – for the home owner WIN – for the non-profit organization who receives contributions WIN – for the community WIN – for the environment WIN – for the youth who need jobs and training WIN – for the homeowner as a taxpayer WIN – for the profession

Eleven years ago my husband and I bought a 1100 square-foot cedar home positioned on a serene bay in a private lake com-munity. We referred to our second home as “our peace of heaven” as this served our weekend retreat to gather with our children and extended family to escape the rigorous pace of our jobs in the Chicago area. Today, we are empty nesters with married children and a growing family in need of more square footage. It was time

to build our permanent retirement home. Our cedar home, although dated and small, was constructed with solid cedar panel-ing throughout, hardwood floors, and a tongue and groove pine ceiling with cedar beams. We had contractor quotes for an extreme remodel, but this option was impractical, and we were advised to tear down the home and build new. We were quoted $10,000.00 for the labor, heavy equipment operators, and landfill fees to tear down our lake home.

Everyone Loves a WinnerA Tale that Yields 7 Clear-cut WinnersARTICLE BY JILL MUSCHONGJILL MUSCHONG

Featured Article

Skyscapes - Newsletter of the Kansas Society of CPAs

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A combination of sentiment and a desire for charitable giving led us to call Habitat for Humanity to donate our home. They referred me to Rockford Community Solutions. I spoke with Bill Howard, Project Manager/ Green Deconstruction. He was immediately interested in the project and visited our home site. He described his program called YouthBuild/Rockford. YouthBuild is a unique program serving out of school youth ages 16-24 who are from low-income communities who have dropped out of school and are unemployed. It provides aca-demic education, vocational skills training, personal counseling, positive peer support, leadership development, job placement and follow-up support. Young people spend half their time in academic programming and the other half learning skills in con-struction or computer technology. Leadership development is a key part of the program, with classes, activities, and leadership positions within the or-ganization providing a foundation for preparing youth to play important roles in their communities. Youth participate in the governance of the program through an elected Youth Policy Council and Community Leadership Committee; serve on lo-cal, state and national groups, including the Illinois YouthBuild Coalition, the national YouthBuild Young Leaders and Alumni Council, and others. Graduates have the opportunity to serve on the agency Board of Directors. We were quoted a contribution of $8,600.00 to Youth-Build to deconstruct our house. We obtained an appraisal on our home without the lot. After the deconstruction process, YouthBuild/Rockford furnished us a list of recycled materials, board feet of cedar, pine, pounds of copper, etc. which we con-tributed to YouthBuild. An appraisal of the reclaimed value of the materials contributed is $45,000.00, which is tax deductible when claimed on Form 8283 of our 1040 (Non-cash Charitable Contributions). All of the materials have been salvaged with the excep-tion of the roof, the drywall and the foundation. A crew of 4 YouthBuild students arrived on our property and in 3 weeks, exactly the timeline quoted to us, our home was deconstructed in an orderly fashion. Each day, the materials were hauled off the site to the organization’s store in Rockford, Salvage Too...the equivalent of a Home Depot for recycled goods. The framing materials for our home were posted on eBay and the frame was sold on eBay within 3 weeks. The proceeds from the materials sold at the Salvage Too store and the sale of the house framing kit on eBay yielded more funds for the organization. It was rewarding for us to watch this process unfold. Our beloved lakehouse was not going into a dump. We did not have to write a check for $10,000.00. We anticipate a positive cash flow of $2,000.00 when we file our income tax. We got to know the YouthBuild crew and watching young people work hard and take pride in their work is always a rewarding experi-ence. We felt good about donating to a charitable organization, and knowing some new family would be enjoying a least a part of our home.

Click here to view instructions for Form 8283

YouthBuild U.S.A.YouthBuild is a national youth and community development program where low-income young people ages 16-24 work toward their GEDs or high school diplomas, learn job skills in the construction trades and serve their communities by building affordable housing while trans-forming their own lives. There are 273 YouthBuild programs across the country where 100,000 YouthBuild students have built 20,000 units of affordable and increasingly green housing since 1994.

Click here to find more information about YouthBuild Kansas City.

Jill Muschong is a native of Chicago-land and currently resides between her subur-ban Chicago apartment and and her lakefront home west of Rockford, Illlinois. She attended Illinois State University and was one of only 3 female students major-ing in Industrial Technology/ Graphic Arts Sales and Service. She is a Senior Account Executive at Darwill, a 60 year old privately held communications firm that produces highly personalized multi chan-nel marketing pieces. Passionate about art and design, Jill is currently accumlating eclectic and reclaimed pieces for the new lakehome, in-cluding an 1800’s reclaimed hand hewn barn beam for the fireplace mantle, a reclaimed gas fireplace from a home teardown, and lighting fixtures from the 1920’s found at resale shops. She is married to Nick Muschong has 3 grown children and is a breast cancer survivor.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Watch this video of the deconstruction!

We Provide High Quality Business Education that Enhances the Economic Vitality of the Region

1700 SW COLLEGE AVE. . TOPEKA, KS 66621 . 785.670.1308 Washburn.edu/business

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December 2011December 2011

Refining Your Leadership Philosophy & Style

DRINON'S LEADERSHIP EXPRESS

Rich Drinon, M.A., is a leadership speaker, trainer and coach. Over the past 25 years he has presented thou-sands of sessions for hundreds of or-ganizations throughout the U.S. and Canada, including KSCPA. He has also conducted individual communi-cation coaching for hundreds of lead-ership and management executives.

Rich has worked in leadership posi-tions for local, statewide, national and international for-profit and non-profit organizations. He’s a University of New Mexico Journalism graduate, and has a Master’s Degree in Com-munication & Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University. His maga-zine articles have appeared in Kansas Business News, New Mexico Business Journal, The New Rock Times Music Magazine and Sports Illustrated. His book, “Stepping Up to Leadership” is the text for a Washburn University sponsored program he instructs on Di-rections in Organizational Leadership.

DEFINING LEADERSHIP

Over the past century much research has been conducted on the topic of leadership. These studies have produced many theories and differing views on the subject. Most definitions contain similar elements; leaders, followers, a hierarchy, some form of influence, and a purpose to be served or goal to be achieved. Because there is no one definition of leadership, the leader is free to choose the elements he or she favors in order to manage one’s situation and get results through others. This article will prepare you to state, develop or define your own unique leadership philosophy and style.

EXAMINING LEADERSHIP STYLES & SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT

Each leader communicates in their own way, based on a variety of factors, including personality, role models, experience, education, training and the situation. Each follower also has their unique way of reacting or responding to any given leader. It’s challenging to get the leadership – follower fit just right. Leaders must work at developing their skills while better understanding their followers. Followers often have to adjust to a leadership style that does not perfectly suit them. This discussion of leadership styles looks at some basic approaches to leading people.

Drinon’s Leadership Express

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Skyscapes - Newsletter of the Kansas Society of CPAs

Man, Trait, Contingency, Situational, Behavioral, Participative, Management and Relationship Theories. She writes, “Early leadership theories focused on what qualities distinguished between leaders and followers, while subsequent theories looked at other variables such as situational factors and skill level. While many different leadership theories have emerged, most can be classified as one of eight major types” (2009). This article is available at http://psychology.about.com/od/leadership/p/leadtheories.htm?r=et

An examination of these major theories raises the following questions:

1. Are people “born leaders,” do some have traits that make them better suited to leadership or can leaders be made? (Great Man, Trait, Behavioral)

2. Does one style fit all when it comes to leading others, or is it more effective to evaluate and respond to each follower and situation differently? (Contingency, Situational)

3. Should power reside with one person at the “top” of an organization or is it better to distribute power, authority and decision making among participants in an organization? (Participative)

4. Is there an effective system of rewards and punishment for improving performance of members in an organization? (Management or Transactional)

5. How important is the relationship or engagement between a leader and followers? How concerned should a leader be with the growth, fulfillment and well being of followers? (Relationship or Transformational)

ESTABLISHING AUTHORITY & UTILIZING POWER WITH FOLLOWERS

One essential leadership challenge is developing authority with followers. When it comes to the subject of authority – one must consider power, leverage and influence. Although these words can mean the same thing at times, this article assigns each a slightly different application.

Power Power can be obvious or not so. Either way, power usually gives one some sort of advantage over, or with, others. Power can include physical, economic, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual or relationship strengths we possess. Power involves who we are, who we know, what we are able to do and what we have at our disposal.

Basic Leadership Styles

According to Kendra Van Wagner, in Lewin’s Leadership Styles (2009), what started as a study with schoolchildren turned out to have a dramatic impact on how we’ve viewed leadership styles for the past 70 years. Kurt Lewin, one of the preeminent psychologists of the 20th century, led a team of researchers in 1939 in identifying different styles of leadership. Although new styles of leadership have been named over the years, this study was influential and established the name and description of three major styles: Authoritarian, Democratic and Laissez-Fair.

Leaders with the Authoritarian, or Autocratic style, set clear expectations for what needs to be accomplished, when it should be done and how it should be done. Since authoritarian leaders make decisions independently of the group, there is generally a clear distinction between leader and followers. Autocratic leaders can be viewed as controlling, bossy and dictatorial when this style is abused.

The most effective style, according to Lewin’s study, was the Democratic or Participative style. Although participative leaders encourage group input, they typically retain final say in making decisions. Group members under this style of leadership feel more engaged in the decision making process and are generally more creative and motivated. Although their contributions are of a much higher quality, members of this group may be less productive than those under authoritarian leadership.

The Laissez-Fair or Delegative style of leadership best suits situations where group members are able and willing to work independently. If unable to work independently, members of this group will probably be less productive and make more demands on the leader. They may be less cooperative since Delegative leaders offer little or no guidance to group members, and leave decision making up to the group.

In summary, the more independent the followers, the less controlling needs be the leader. And, the more independent the followers, the more likely they will want to take initiative and responsibility for planning, action and results. With more dependent followers, the leader needs to assume control and responsibility for direction, activities and outcomes.

Schools of Leadership Thought

There are at least eight major leadership schools of thought today. Each school includes various approaches to leadership. In an online article entitled Eight Major Leadership Theories, Kendra Van Wagner describes these major theories as: Great

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December 2011December 2011

Authority The match between a leader’s values and actions generally gives them credibility, integrity -- and authority with others. A leader with authority is one that people WANT to follow. Followers watch how closely the leader lives in alignment with the truth he or she pronounces. Walking the walk, talking the talk and living the life – this gives one authority with others.

Leverage Leverage also gives the leader an advantage with others. Leverage often pertains to things like rules, policies, procedures, laws and other protocol people must follow to get along, get things done and keep their jobs. As a leader, it’s important to know what legal and policy leverage we have with followers.

Influence Influence involves the relationship between the leader and any individual follower or group of followers. The Gallup Organization (2006) did an extensive study that revealed the importance of relationship between leaders and followers. The 20 year study, with 80,000 managers and their organizations, revealed that leaders have a huge impact on the commitment, engagement and productivity of their followers. Key influencers for these followers were feeling cared for by a supervisor or someone at work, receiving recognition on at least a weekly basis and having someone encourage their development. FOLLOWERSHIP

The Gallup article revealed the results of a study on worker engagement. Worker engagement has to do with an employee’s committed and positive involvement in the workplace. Gallup placed respondents in three categories: Engaged, Not Engaged and Actively Disengaged. The study indicated that worker happiness and wellbeing can boost engagement and productivity. One important factor that influenced employee happiness and well being was their relationship with their supervisor. Of course, a big part of this issue has to do with the followers. According to Barbara Kellerman author of Followership: How Followers Are Creating Change and Changing Leaders, the follower’s degree of involvement plays a large role in determining the nature of the superior-subordinate relationship. She categorizes followers as Isolates, Bystanders, Participants, Activists and Diehards (2008). Isolates function in a detached manner. Bystanders observe but don’t participate. Participants care enough to try

and make an impact. Activists have strong feelings about their leaders and organizations, and act accordingly. Diehards, are prepared to go down for their cause – whether for or against the leader. Most leaders prefer followers who do something rather than nothing, and who are more engaged in the organization rather than not engaged or actively disengaged. One important aim for the leader is to find ways to develop participants who are enthused and committed about the work, but not overly zealous or destructive in their devotion. While followers may lack authority, most of us have learned they certainly do not lack power and influence (Kellerman, 2008).

IDENTIFYING FOUR PILLARS OF LEADERSHIP

Displaying Character Because leaders are on display 24/7/365, they’re always exposed to issues of character, integrity, credibility and trust. There’s no escaping the expectations of others. For this reason alone, not all people are cut out to be leaders. A good starting point in developing one’s character is to begin with an idea of who you want to be and by what standards you choose to live. Integrity means living in alignment with the ideals we embrace. This is also a source of our credibility, and it’s our “credibility” that gives us “credit” with others.

Maintaining Commitment One’s family, followers and public can also be sensitive to the individual’s every decision when it comes to keeping commitments. Leaders are expected to keep their commitments. People are disappointed when they don’t. Leaders, however, can also become over-committed when elected, invited or volunteered to serve in multiple leadership roles. At some point, this can result in exhaustion and burnout. Leaders must evaluate how many commitments they have at any given time, and consider which ones stay and which ones are ready to be handled by others.

Increasing Consciousness In The Congruent Leader, Corrales & Rhodes (2001) identify three levels of personal growth as Emotional, Rational and Integral stages. The Emotional level refers to a less mature stage where one is more concerned with self and tends to be reactive towards things they don’t like. At the Rational stage life becomes about self and others. At this stage people respond rather than reacting to life’s challenges. At an Integral stage of development, a person sees things as being about everyone and becomes more proactive. From this level the leader can take a higher, inclusive, long term look at the world, and their industry, organization, followers, families, community, etc. Although humans can’t always

Drinon’s Leadership Express

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Skyscapes - Newsletter of the Kansas Society of CPAs

make themselves grow, the individual can take aim at higher perspectives and work on developing new behaviors until he or she grows into a new level.

Practicing Continuation This fourth C, after character, commitment and consciousness is continuation. Many organizations today are asking, “Who will lead us in the future?” It’s not uncommon to see a once inspired group of people, who were rallied by a great leader, begin to falter when there is no replacement in sight. For this reason, it’s important for leaders and members of an organization to identify upcoming talent that can be taught, encouraged, coached and mentored. If we believe in our work and want the organization or movement to continue, we must make leadership continuation a priority.

CREATING YOUR UNIQUE PHILOSOPHY & STYLE

My boss, at my first job after college, was a highly respected individual named Lee. When Lee spoke, people listened. Since Lee was also our mentor, other managers and employees often quoted him when speaking to others by saying, “Lee’s philosophy is….” Back then I used to wonder when I would be experienced enough to have my own philosophy. Well, that time has come! Here is a statement that neatly sums up my leadership style and philosophy:

My Philosophy Title: Results through Relationships

Brief Statement My philosophy is entitled “Results through Relationships.” I can only get results if I develop relationships with followers that allow for mutual influence and take us towards the goal. The Schools of Leadership Thought driving my philosophy are Relationship, Situational and Trait Theories. My influences include parents, coaches, teachers and managers, as well as several historical figures. Now, I invite you to draft your leadership philosophy by reviewing the schools of leadership and taking these steps.

1. Give your philosophy a short, concise title. 2. Briefly describe your philosophy. 3. Name which parts come from what Leadership Theories. 4. Name your most important influences.

Regardless of your philosophy or style, you and your followers will be able to function more effectively if they understand your frame of reference and you understand theirs, and everyone finds ways to work together to accomplish the end results.

SOURCES

• Corrales, R. & Rhodes, C. (2001). The congruent leader (First ed.). Overland Park, KS: Self Mastery Publishing

• Kellerman, B. (2008). Followership: How followers are creating change and changing leaders (1st ed.). Boston, MA: Harvard Busi-ness Press.

• Krueger, J., & Killham, E. (2005). At work, feeling good mat-ters. Gallup Management Journal Online, , 1. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.foley.gonzaga.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=19656241&site=bsi-live

• Nahavandi, A (2008). The art and science of leadership. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall

• Van Wagner, K. (2008). Leadership theories. About.com. Re-trieved June 25, 2008 from http://psychology.about.com/od/leadership/p/leadtheories.htm

• Van Wagner, K. (2008). Lewin’s leadership styles. Retrieved July 6, 2009 from http://psychology.about.com/od/leadership/a/leadstyles.htm

• Yukl, G. (2006). Leadership in organizations (Sixth ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Recognizing & Relating to Four Behavioral Styles

Managing Your Image, Perception & Mis-Perceptions

Facing the Challenges of Diversity & Generational Differences

Leading Groups & Making Presentations

Developing Credibility & Trust with Others

Maintaining Focus, Multitasking & Managing Time

Getting Results through Others with Coaching Skills (Part 1): Expectations, Delegation & Motivation

Getting Results through Others with Coaching Skills (Part 2): Evaluation, Praise, Correction & Discipline

Resolving Conflict (With Conflict Style Assessment?)

Navigating Change Curves & Using Persuasion to Promote Change

Practicing Subjective, Objective & Intuitive Problem Solving & Decision Making

REGISTER TODAY!Click on one of the upcoming videocast links to register!

36 November 2011

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10

December 2011 Member Profile

Alisa SnavelyMEMBERPROFILE

1. Name, title, current employer, family:

a. Alisa D. Snavely, Director, Berberich Trahan & Co., P.A. b. Husband-Sean, girls-Madison, age 11 and Libby, age 8

2. What is your current KSCPA involvement?

a. Graduated from the initial “20 up to 40” Leadership class b. Was on the board for the Nor theast Chapter for 6 years and served as Secr/Treas and President

3. What was your first Job?

Besidesbabysitting,myfirstrealjobwasasadishwasherattheHiawathaElksLodgeatage14.

4. What are three words that best describe you?

Caring,Dedicated,Dependable(Iknow...boring.)

5. What book (if any) are you currently reading?

JustfinishedIronHousebyJohnHar t-action-packed!

6. What are your hobbies?

I(tryto)scrap-book,lovetoreadforpleasure,andkeepplentybusybetweenworkandkeepingupwiththegirls.

7. What activities are involved in outside of work?

a.DowntownRotary-thisismy3rdyearservingasTreasurer b.Volunteering-seebelow

8. Do you volunteer in any community service work, if so where and what made you choose that activity(ies)?

a.TARC’sWinterWonderland b.CashierattheannualTSCPLbooksale c. Involvement in the UW Christmas Bureau d.Activitiesthroughthegirls’schoolwhenpossible Ourfirmdoesvolunteeractivitiestogetherandmakeitalotoffun,andit’salwaysrewardingtohelpothers.

9. Who is the person you most admire and why?

Myparents;theytaughtmehardworkbyexampleandgavememyethicalfoundation. 10. Name one person (dead or living) you would like to meet. Why?

EleanorRoosevelt-shewassuchacourageousleaderanddidsomuchforwomen’srightsaswellasforcivilrights.Shehasso many great quotes.

Service to Community

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Alisa Snavely

Would you like to be profiled in the KSCPA Newsletter? This is one of the most widely read articles! Our members want to know more about other members.

Join in the fun! Send an e-mail to Danielle@kscpa.org.

Skyscapes - Newsletter of the Kansas Society of CPAs

11. What is your greatest accomplishment or greatest impact you have had?

MypromotiontoDirector.Allthehardworkispayingoff!

12. How do you achieve balance between your personal and professional life?

It’snevera50/50balance;thepercentageisalwaysshifting.Sometimesfamilyhastocomefirstandothertimesworkhastocomefirst.I’msofor tunatethatI’minasituationwherebothsidesunder-stand.

13. What would you like to get around to doing when you have time?

TraveltoHawaii

14. What might people be surprised to learn about you?

IgottotakeatriptoEthiopiawhenmydadwasworkingoverthereforacoupleofyears.IwillneverforgettheexperienceandlearnedtoappreciateandbethankfulforeverythingIhave.

15. How would you like to be remembered?

As a giving person

16. Why did you choose to pursue the CPA designation?

Havingthoselettersbehindyournamegivesyouthatextracredibility.

Skyscapes - Newsletter of the Kansas Society of CPAs 23

October 21, 2011Ritz Charles Overland Park

Brian WaltonHalstead, KS

Jessica WinkelManhattan, KS

Nicole WittMaize, KS

Jennifer WoltersPortis, KS

Catherine WoodsLawrence, KS

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December 2011

It is a bit amazing that the topic of governance is still one that is widely written about and dis-cussed in the professional world yet governance issues continually occur in many companies. You can open a newspaper or the Wall Street Journal on any single day and find instances where a company’s governance processes are in question. Just recently, there was an article regarding a whistleblower for the SEC who reported improprieties with the manner in which records were maintained. In addition, the PCAOB has issued warnings to public companies regarding business conduct in emerging countries, particularly China. Another recent example that is just beginning to unfold is the Olympus scandal. Yet, with all of the talk about governance, why do we still continually see many instances of questionable activities within the cor-porate walls? In theory, governance refers to the act of governing. It relates to decisions that define expectations, grant power, or verify performance. It consists of either a separate process or is part of management or leadership processes. In the case of a non-profit organization, governance relates to consistent management, cohesive policies, guidance, processes and decision rights for a given area of responsibility. Governance can be seen as the foundation of a company’s overall control environment. Examples include: internal policies; internal governance boards and committees, external boards, internal and external audit, compliance and

The Walls of GovernanceARTICLE BY LYNN FOUNTAIN, CPA

In the early 1990’s, I was a young auditor at a large company. I recall a fellow staff member being assigned a “governance audit”. To be honest, at the time I wasn’t even sure what a governance audit would entail. When the report was issued, I was interested to better under-

stand what types of things involved governance. The report did not have any findings that were considered significant at the time. The company had an external Board of Directors, an Audit Committee, a Code of Conduct, Ethics training, well-defined operating and accounting policies and various other elements that were tagged as part of the governance structure. Interestingly enough, just a few years later, two of the top executives in this company were indicted for various allegations of financial mis-conduct and personal use of company funds and resources. In today’s corporate world, we know that simply having the existence of the various factors considered part of governance is not sufficient. If any type of evaluation of a company’s governance process is to be effective, it must be able to measure how well the company’s various governance processes actually work and not just focus on their existence.

Fountain’s Governance Express

Lynn is an executive practitioner and expert trainer in the risk/internal audit and corporate compliance arena. She is president of Fountain GRC, LLC, a successful consulting firm that delivers strategic financial expertise. Whether it’s internal audit, ERM, Sarbanes-0xley (SOX), governance and compliance, or other areas where your company wants to optimize efficiency and reduce liability/exposure, Lynn has proven expertise that will help you increase productivity. In addition to operating her own consulting firm, Lynn has experience as AVP Internal Audit with Black & Veatch Corporation and served as the Vice President, Risk Assessment & Audit for Aquila, Inc. Lynn has significant experience in internal audit in both private and publically-traded companies. Lynn leads the KSCPA’s Risk Conference (scheduled for May 7, 2012 in Overland Park) and is the course instructor for fraud, internal control, and risk management courses for the KSCPA. She is a 2011 AICPA/KSCPA “Women to Watch” nominee.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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risk committees, etc. It is intriguing to listen and to discuss all the well-pub-licized instances of governance mis-steps over the past decade. Those are often examples where the violations were significant and we’ve learned that their advent may have been rooted in the very foundation of the culture and business actions of these companies. A past colleague recently had the opportunity to listen to an auditor who was involved in the World Com scandal discov-ery. He relayed to me that it was interesting to listen to this individual’s chronology of the events. They were a bit different than those we’ve all heard and read about. The auditor indicated that he had brought concerns re-lated to accounting issues to management many months before the actual discovery was brought to light. His recollection was that the early identification coincided with bonus in-centive and salary adjustment timing and that the findings were “shelved” until a bit later in the year. Regardless of whether this recollec-tion is indeed true, it brings to mind the con-cerns many compliance, risk and internal au-dit professionals have regarding their attempts to bring potential issues to the attention of management. Is it possible that the gover-nance structure surrounding the evaluation of issue significance could be variable based on attributes like: where the issue exists in the organization, time of the year of occurrence or some other reason? As professionals, we would hope this isn’t the case but we often find that this is a common practice. In today’s world where issue impact is often asked to be quantified related to financial performance, it is easy to mini-mize policy violations or specific governance discrepancies. Let’s take an example: it is observed that the company’s authorization policy (governance attribute) has not been updated in five years. The company’s policy requires it to be reviewed annually. How big of a deal is this? It could be viewed as simply an administra-tive exercise. But what if the company’s business has dramatical-ly decreased in this time period? This may mean that authorities assigned are no longer aligned with the size of the business. So we’ve determined the cited issue is a policy or governance viola-tion. Now let’s dissect the issue further. Company ABC has revenues of $3B annually. The CEO has been assigned an authority level of $1M for non-cap-ital expenditures. In 2011 the company divested of a portion of its business. Revenues are now $1.5B annually. Does the Board and shareholders believe that the CEO’s approval level should remain constant? There may not be a true black and white an-swer here. It could depend on the company’s industry, the size of the organization structure or the tolerance level of the Board. In any event, the control finding that the authorization policy has not been updated may be an important issue for manage-ment to address. Still, if management requires a quantification of the impact of not having an updated and approved authoriza-

tion policy, this can be a difficult task to accomplish. What do you look at? How do you quantify this type of impact? How deep do you look? And just because you may have had individu-als approving items that are above what would be expected, how do you know whether these approvals should be questioned? The answer points back to the need to be able to articulate the

importance of control gaps and overall gov-ernance processes. Many computations could be developed only to conclude that there has not been any improper expenditure authorized even though the authorization policy has not been updated. However, what consideration is given to what potentially could occur? In other words, the authorization policy is a governance document established to direct the level of ex-penditures management is comfortable with assigning to personnel. If it is not regularly reviewed, updated and adjusted; what level of probability can be associated with potential approval of expenditures outside management tolerance? This is virtually impossible to de-termine and points to some of the difficulties when trying to explain to management various issues or findings that may relate to policy vio-lation or governance gaps. Can you now visualize the walls that the con-cept of governance may create? We build these walls by establishing governing policies and

processes and declare that we have a sound governance system because these things exist and the organization is supposed to operate within these walls. Now a gap in one or more of these policies has been identified. How do we measure the impact on the overall governing structure of the company? Or should we consider whether it even matters what impact has occurred, only that the gap exists and what risk the gap presents should an event occur? Possibly this dilemma is the very reason we continue to see governance mis-steps in corporate America. Considering all of these factors, how do we effectively establish the walls of governance and ensure they are solid and can withstand unforeseeable pressures? Here are some thoughts for consideration:

Tone at the Top Tone must be more than just a phrase. It must be dis-played in everyday business activities and dealings. Stated cor-porate values like respect, accountability, shared ownership etc. must be displayed at all levels of the organization and examples should be readily noted. Things to consider when determining your company’s “tone at the top” may include:

• How visible and accessible is senior management? Is there an open door policy or is everything controlled by calendars and appointments?

• Are there significant variances within the organization when defining compensation structure, incentive pay, ben-efits? If so, are those variances relational to the contribution

“In today’s corporate world,

we know that simply having the existence of the various factors

considered part of governance is not

sufficient.”

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December 2011

those positions provide to the organization? If not, is there proper justification for the variance?

• What working atmosphere is embedded in the organization and does the atmosphere allow for a culture of openness?

• Are communication methods utilized by manage-ment regarding corporate strategy and growth sig-nificantly varied in the organization? If so, does this create any type of employee morale issues?

• How do office amenities compare for individuals at different levels in the organization? If there is varia-tion, is it considered reasonable related to the orga-nizations business?

• Are there any variances for who is allowed to attend training or external events? If so, can the variances be readily supported as to their reasonableness?

• Are there variations in travel trends and spending habits? If so, can the variance be substantiated and validated related to their reasonableness?

• What are the official protocols for communication in the organization? Are there stated or even unstated rules to fol-low the chain of command? If so, how is this viewed by the general employee population? Are employees free to verbal-ize their thoughts and observations openly? Is there any fear of repercussions when employees do express their opinions?

• How is change embraced within the organization? Is it en-couraged and embraced or is change slow to happen? If it is slow to happen, can reasons be substantiated or is it ex-plained away by a reasoning such as, “that is just our cul-ture”?

• Are key decisions made in a collaborative style or dictated style?

• Are goals reasonable and achievable with all business areas being held to the same performance metrics?

• How is the code of conduct emphasized throughout the company? Are there any requirements for periodic updates to the code and re-affirmation by employees? Is the code readily available for employees to read? How do you know individuals understand the code? Are vendors provided in-formation about the code?

• Are there employee turnover trends in certain areas of the company and if so, can the reason be justified?

• Is the corporate hotline anonymous and free from repri-sal? Is it well publicized and communicated to employees? Management should consider hotline activity or non-activ-ity when determining if the process is known, understood and utilized.

Policies and Procedures Policies that exist should be enforced, monitored by management and regularly evaluated to ensure they are aligned with the objectives of the business. Distinction should be clear between documents that are considered corporate policy and those that are considered mere guidelines. Things to consider when evaluating the effectiveness of policies and procedures in-clude:

• Does management pro-actively monitor their policies and compliance or do they wait until someone comes in to check for compliance?

• How frequently are policies updated to ensure they align with the business? Is there a central repository for policies or is there a process required to periodically certify that policies are updated?

• Are policy gaps timely remediated and appropriately evalu-ated to ensure the remediation was effective?

• Do individuals responsible for the policies have the appro-priate authority in the company to ensure they are properly enforced?

• Is there a reporting mechanism to ensure that policy vio-lations are brought to the attention of the proper level of management?

• Is it clear which policies are true corporate requirements and which are primarily guidelines?

Internal Committees Internal committees are established to govern particu-lar policies. If the organization deemed the need for a committee, it should exist further than just in name. Internal Committees may be established for governance over IT processes, authoriza-tion expenditure processes, disclosure committees for financial statements, operation standard committees, safety committees etc. When evaluating the effectiveness of a committee that is established as part of the company’s governance structure, con-sider:• Does the committee have a distinct purpose? Is there a

charter available for the committee which outlines author-ity and deliverables expected?

• Is there a pre-defined membership and are attendance re-quirements adhered to?

• Does the committee have appropriate accountability and authority to ensure it can effectively execute its responsibili-ties?

• Are expected deliverables and appropriate reporting respon-sibilities delivered on a timely basis?

• Does a periodic evaluation process exist to ensure the com-mittee is functioning appropriately?

External Boards and Committees Often, governance concepts begin with these bodies. External boards and committees should ensure they are fulfilling their charters and obligations both in form and content. When evaluating effectiveness of external compliance organizations, consider:

• Are members appropriately qualified for their positions? Do they have experience and background in the business or have do they possess other aspects of knowledge that will ef-fectively contribute to strategies? Are members put through some type of a vetting or qualification process prior to be-ing considered?

• Are activities of the boards and committees evaluated for effectiveness on an annual basis? If so, how is the evaluation

Fountain’s Governance Express

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completed, who is involved, what happens with the results?• Is there periodic rotation in members to ensure adequate

independence and facilitate new ideas and strategies? How is the timing of that rotation established?

• What role does the board take in understanding risk man-agement practices and corporate strategy processes? Is the role simply informative or are they engaged in the process in some manner? Do they have access to internal personnel in order to properly execute their oversight role?

Internal and External Audit Both Internal and External Audit are important ele-ments of a company’s governing structure. Of course, depending on the company, its industry, its classification of public/private/not-for-profit/governmental etc., the roles of internal and exter-nal audit can have variation. If you’ve ever reviewed benchmark-ing studies of internal audit groups, you will see how varied the approach can be both within industries and between industries. Much of the determining factor on responsibilities lies in how the organization views the role of the internal auditors. Some companies may require a very compliance-oriented role where others have a focus on risk assurance, risk awareness and risk validation. In any case, one of the most important elements of governance is to ensure that the role of a company’s internal au-dit function is well-defined and understood. With the advent of internal quality assurance reviews, many functions have tried to enhance their audit charters to reflect the stated role that corre-sponds to requirements of the Institute of Internal Auditors. As auditors, that is where the profession is guiding the evolution of responsibilities. However, it is imperative that if charters include many broad sweeping attributes, management must have agreed and bought into the concept. As with any policy or charter doc-ument, it is important that if it is outlined that a specific action is to be executed in a particular way, the organization must have the ability to execute upon that. Internal Audit (IA), must often become an advocate for change as well as an instructor for the organization regarding the value that can be provided in accept-ing some of the newer direction for the function. Management and the Board must be able to clearly understand the benefits that a fully engaged Internal Audit function could provide and they must also understand the resources as well as limitations that may be inherent in evolving to that structure. If changes are warranted and agreed to, then IA must define the path that must be taken to get to that stage. From an external audit perspective, variations in how companies manage their relationships can be as broad as how we see Internal Audit functions managed. If you work for a publi-cally-traded company, your external auditors are going to follow a much more stringent and detailed approach to their validation of the financial statements. In other instances, the auditors may be providing a certain level of assurance due to debt or bonding issues or even regulatory issues. As such, the role of the external auditors in a company’s governance structure can also be differ-ent. Some items to consider when evaluating the effectiveness of your current arrangement with your external auditors:

• What is the primary purpose for the audit? Is it due to SEC reporting requirements, regulatory requirements or other reasons? This will often impact the depth and breadth of the work that the auditors are required to perform.

• Do the auditors have full access to individuals in the orga-nization that they may require to obtain relevant informa-tion? This includes everyone from individuals on the Board all the way to individuals at the staff level?

• When was the last time your organization changed audi-tors? Is this something that should be considered to ensure appropriate independence?

• What is the relationship between the external auditors and the internal auditors? Is there clear and open access between the two? Do the external auditors receive all reports issued out of the internal audit function? What reliance do they place on these reports when performing their work?

• What level of work do the external auditors do to evalu-ate the potential for fraud in the organization? They are required to do the typical fraud interviews with executive management but is there any process they follow to go be-yond those requirements?

• How does the fee structure work with the external auditors? Are the fees appropriately aligned with the business and the changing nature of the business?

• Are there variances in opinion between management and the external auditors on areas deemed as significant defi-ciencies or material weaknesses?

• What other work do the external auditors provide for the company? Has it been approved by the Audit Committee?

• What is the relationship between the external auditors and the Audit Committee? Do they meet with the Audit Chair at any time outside of regular meetings?

Compliance Program With the new Dodd-Frank act as well as the SEC’s new guidelines on whistleblowers and the issues surrounding Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) compliance, many companies are scurrying to solidify their compliance programs. Yet even as this is occurring, we often see much more in the way of form over function. Just like policies, it is extremely important to have a solid compliance program document, but if the organization cannot support that outline, then they are creating additional problems. Some items to consider when evaluating the effective-ness of your compliance program are as follows:

• Is there a full-time compliance officer assigned or is this a responsibility assumed by a professional who has another full-time responsibility? If it is a part-time role, can the organization reasonably execute upon compliance require-ments they are held to?

• Does the compliance function have available resources to execute its responsibilities?

• Where does the compliance function administratively re-port? Is it appropriately independent?

• Is there a compliance council to support the compliance program? Does it meet regularly? Does it have a defined

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membership and are the members at an appropriate level in the organization to enforce rules?

• How is the effectiveness of the compliance program moni-tored?

• What type of training is utilized for the compliance pro-gram? How often does it occur and who receives and ex-ecutes the training? If the training is on-line, how is its effectiveness evaluated?

• When was the last time all employees were required to re-affirm the code of conduct and conflict of interest policy?

• Is there a separate policy for officers? If so, how does it dif-ferentiate from the policy that covers all employees?

• How is information regarding the compliance program communicated to the Board?

• What processes are in place to monitor for violations to the compliance program? Specifically, are there processes in place to evaluate for violations of FCPA, Environmen-tal, Health and Safety or regulatory type violations?

• What processes are in place for remediation of identified issues related to an element of the compliance program?

The above areas are not meant to be an all-inclusive list of considerations that anyone who is evaluating the effec-tiveness of governance should look at. However, it is a strong starting point for measuring not just the existence of gover-nance elements within your company but the effectiveness of their execution. We must keep in mind that failures of corpo-rate governance systems are rarely due to a policy or procedure not existing; it is more often due to non-compliance with one or more elements of the governance process.

New KSCPA Members!

Clinton BakerKennedy and Coe, LLCWichita, KS

Jaclyn K. DeutschFlint Hills ResourcesWichita, KS

Susan R. HornbeckBKD, LLPKansas City, MO

Keith K. KnickerbockerThe Louis Berger GroupKansas City, MO

Jennifer H. PatelGottlieb, Flekier & Co., P.A.Overland Park, KS

Rebecca ShawBerberich Trahan & Co., P.A.Topeka, KS

Jacqueline C. SmithEdison Operating Company, LLCWichita, KS

Jonathan J. TwidwellMutual of Omaha Financial AdvisorsOverland Park, KS

Michael S. YoungCarlisle Power TransmissionSpringfield, MO

CPA Members

Student Members

Henry G. HaakeWichita State University

Joseph ZulkeyWashburn University

We Need You as a Key Contact!

We need you to volunteer to contact legisla-tors when the need arises. Please help us to continue to be an effective voice in legislation by volunteer-ing to contact any of the legislators you know or would be willing to contact.

Please send the names of the Kansas legislators or Congressional representatives to mary@kscpa.org.

Service to Government Member News

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Thank you to E. Kent Smoll, CPA/PFS, CWS for your service to the Kansas State Board of Accountancy!

December 13, 2011, Topeka - Governor Sam Brownback an-nounced today that Kathryn J. Mitchell (Kathy) was ap-

pointed to a 3-year term on the KSBOA. Kathy is the Operations Partner for Brungardt Hower Ward Elliott & Pfeifer, LC in Hays, KS. Kathy joined the KSCPA in 1982 and has a long-standing history of service to her community and the profession. Kathy served on the KSCPA board of directors, executive committee, and as chair of the KSCPA. Kathy currently serves on the Legislative Executive Committee and a member of the KSCPA PAC. In 2010 Kathy was named Experienced Leader “Woman to Watch” by the AICPA / KSCPA. Kathy is the co-founder and past-president of Western Kansas Council on Estate Planning and Giving and a member of the FHSU College of Business and Leadership Dean’s Executive Advisory Council. The Kansas Board of Accountancy is the regulatory body of the State of Kansas that is charged with the responsibil-ity to carry out the laws and the regulations governing CPAs. The KSBOA is a member of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). The Kansas Society of CPAs, the professional associa-tion for CPAs in Kansas, works closely with the KSBOA. The chair of the KSBOA is an ad hoc member of the KSCPA board of directors and assists the KSCPA leadership in identifying and communicating issues affecting the well-being of KSCPA mem-bers.

Kathryn J. Mitchell, CPA Appointed to Kansas State Board of Accountancy

E. Kent Smoll (Kent) is the Managing Shareholder of Smoll & Ban-ning, CPAs, LLC in Dodge City, KS. If anyone serves as a shin-ing example of how CPAs give back, it is Kent Smoll. The KSCPA wants to thank Kent for more than 10 years of service to the Kansas Board of Accountancy (KSBOA).

Kent joined the KSCPA in 1980 and served on several KSCPA committees and as a peer review team captain. Kent served on the KSBOA since 2001. He is also a Doge City Commissioner.

Kent continues his service to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). Kent is the Treasurer of the Asso-ciation and a Director-at-Large. He is the 2012 Committee Charge of the Administration and Finance Committee.

The KSBOA is a member of NASBA. For further information on NASBA, go to www.nasba.org.

E. Kent Smoll, CPADirector at Large/TreasurerCommittee Charge,Administration and Finance Committee

Member News

18

December 2011 Chapter NewsLegislative Update

Prior to each legislative session, we have great expectations of what the session may bring. Tax reform. STAR Bonds reauthorization. New school finance law. Unemploy-

ment Insurance tax reform. Medicaid reform. Immigration re-form. And, of course, politics. It’s an election year, not only in Kansas but on the na-tional level as well. Whether an issue comes to the forefront for debate and how legislators will vote on it will greatly depend on how it could impact an election. Additionally, this election year could prove costly to the Kansas Senate. As we saw in the Kansas House, conservative Republicans have increased their numbers after the 2010 election. Now, they are setting their sights on the Kansas Senate. It is anticipated that each moderate Republican in the Kansas Senate will have a conservative Re-publican opponent in the 2012 primary. These moderate Senate Republicans will be looking toward the primary elections during every vote and debate during the 2012 Session. In addition, legislators must pass a redistricting bill this session. Each district (legislative, Board of Education and Congressional districts) are drawn based on population figures and must represent the same number of Kansans. Many Kan-sans have migrated to the east and bigger towns, leaving western Kansas with less population. This trend has many implications. Some districts may lose their seat simply based on redistrict-ing. A new redistricting map could also take advantage of party stronghold areas—a predominately Democrat county could end up in a different district that is mostly Republican, forcing Democrats to lose their stronghold (and votes) in that area.

One of the biggest issues facing legislators this session will be taxes. Governor Brownback will be announcing during his State of the State Address in January his tax reform plan. This plan is expected to reduce both corporate and individual income taxes. Its goal is to increase private sector employment, increase capital flow, and make Kansas more attractive to out-of-state cor-porations and residents who would want to move here. Another proposal that will be debated is one by Senator Carolyn McGinn, Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Com-mittee. She will pre-file a bill that will speed up the reduction in the state’s sales tax six months before its expiration of June 30, 2013. This sales tax increase (to 6.3%) was passed in 2010. Her proposal would reduce the sales tax revenue to the State General Fund by about $113 million in the upcoming fiscal year. Senator McGinn says this proposal is being made as the Kansas economy is rebounding and the budget situation is looking brighter. As part of this proposal, the .4 cent of the penny increase dedicated to the Kansas Department of Transportation would state in effect, leaving the state sales tax rate at 5.7%. This proposal is in contrast to the Governor’s income tax reduction proposal that is expected to use this sales tax revenue to further reduce income taxes. As the legislature debates these issues and others, no matter the politics, your voice needs to be heard in Topeka. Your input and participation in the process will be a key as we pro-vide expertise and illustrate the case of how proposed tax changes will affect Kansas businesses and individuals. We look forward to working with you to help obtain the best possible results for busi-nesses in Kansas.

Great Expectations: 2012 Legislative SessionARTICLE BY MARLEE CARPENTER

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Chapter News

Metro Chapter Meeting

UPCOMING CPA RECOGNITION DINNERS! Three KSCPA Chapters will honor new CPAs at upcoming “New CPA Recognition Dinners”. New CPAs and one guest will receive a complimentary dinner. Other guests and members are welcome to attend for $15.

METRO CHAPTER: January 10, 2012 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.

Ritz Charles 9000 West 137th Street Overland Park, KS 66221

Guest Speaker: Dan Crumb, CFO, Kansas City Chiefs

NORTHEAST CHAPTER: January 12, 2012 5:45 - 7:30 p.m.

Washburn University Bradbury Thompson Center 17th & Jewell Ave. Topeka, KS

Guest Speaker: Ginger Powell, Managing Director, Berberich Trahan & Co., P.A.

WICHITA CHAPTER: January 24, 2012 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Wichita Country Club 8501 E Thirteenth Street Wichita, KS

Guest Speaker: Jack Deboer, Entrepreneur, Author, and Philanthropist

Chapter News

Northeast Chapter Meeting Wichita Chapter Meeting

January 18, 2012Registration: 11:00amMeeting: 11:30am - 1:00pmOverland Park Chamber of Commerce

Program presented by Todd Geiman and Teresa Commerford, National Bank of Kansas City.

January 18, 2012Registration: 11:30amMeeting: 12:00pm - 1:00pmTopeka Country Club

January 19, 2012Registration: 11:30amMeeting: 12:00pm - 1:30pmPetroleum Club

Tax Update with Angela Antholz, Managing Director, Tax, Grant Thornton

CLICK TO REGISTER

CLICK TO REGISTER

CLICK TO REGISTER

Kansas State University’s College of Business Administration o�ers high quality accounting programs with the training you need to succeed in the real world. From high school through grad school we are helping students create their path to a successful future.

Accounting Pilot and Bridge Project | Bachelor of Science in Accounting | Master of Accountancy

cba.k-state.edu 785-532-6184109 Calvin Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506

College of Business Administration

Skyscapes - Newsletter of the Kansas Society of CPAs

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Executive Committee Meeting

KSCPA Board Meeting

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December 2011

KSCPA Annual Meeting

Service to the Profession

BELOW 79th Chair of the KSCPA, Bob Schuster

The Annual Meeting of the Educational Foundation of the KSCPA and the KSCPA was held on November 16, 2011 at the Sheraton Overland Park. Highlights of the meeting:• Presentation of $5,000 to Dr. Dan Deines from the Foundation to support the Accounting Bridge Project.• Video of the events during 2010-2011 and of John Bruckner’s year as chair. John Bruckner shared remarks about his experience

as chair.• Twenty-four life members were voted on and accepted by the membership. Each life member has 40 years of membership and

numerous contributions to the success and advancement of the KSCPA and profession. • Recognition of outgoing board members.• Presentation by Dominic Ortiz on the AICPA Leadership Academy• AICPA Council Update by Kyle Hawk. Kyle also received the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award for his numerous contributions

to the KSCPA and the profession.• Resolutions of sympathy. This year, a slide show of those who passed away was shown with photos and a flag indicating service

to our country.• Election of new board members, administration of oath to Robert Schuster, the 79th chair of the KSCPA.• Award to John Bruckner for his service as chair. • Final remarks by Robert Schuster.

BELOW New Life Member Keith Olson

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Skyscapes - Newsletter of the Kansas Society of CPAs

BELOW 79th Chair of the KSCPA, Bob Schuster

ABOVE Kyle Hawk receives Life-time Achievement Award from John Bruckner

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December 2011

ABOVE Speaker Greg Anton, Chair of the AICPA

BELOW Scholarship winners receive their awards

ABOVE New Life Member Gary Heyka

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Professional Issues Update

ABOVE Dan Deines announces KSCPA Scholarship winners

Skyscapes - Newsletter of the Kansas Society of CPAs

with Greg Anton, Chair, AICPA

The Professional Issues Update was eloquently presented by Greg Anton, CPA, chair of the AICPA. Greg discussed issues related to the record debt levels and the impact this may have on the future of social security and other govern-ment entitlements. He explored our relationship to the global market and discussed the professional reputation of CPAs which continues to stand strong in the market. Greg discussed several legislative issues including SOX section 404(b), White House Jobs Council, the mobile workforce legislation, and the Dodd-Frank act. PTIN issues were covered as well as other taxation issues, private company financial reporting with conclusions of the blue ribbon panel versus recommendations from FAF. Greg’s comments then moved to the future, including CPA Horizons 2025 project results, IFRS, the new Chartered Global Management Accountant credential, and resources provided by the AICPA, especially those available to members of Private Company Practice Section (PCPS). If you would like slides from this presentation, please contact mary@kscpa.org. Greg can be contacted at ganton@aicpa.org.

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December 2011 Service to the Profession

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KSCPA Leadership Summit• Seventy leaders of the KSCPA contributed their energy and ideas to update the action plans of the KSCPA “Big

Rocks.” Detailed action plans will be outlined in the January issue of Skyscapes. The 2011-2012 “Big Rocks” are as follows:

• Leverage Technology to Communicate Member Value, Jim Boomer, Champion and Chad Allen, Co-champion• Enhance Professional Development, Michelle Schneider, Champion and Keri Henning, Co-champion• Advocacy, Gary Allerheiligen, Champion and Marlee Carpenter, Co-champion• Membership Growth, Matt List, Champion and Russell Shipley, Co-champion• Accounting & Assurance, Aron Dunn, Champion and Terrell Rohr, Co-champion• Taxation, Gregg Goodwin/Cheryl Hayward, Champion and Krista Burdick, Co-champion• Young Professionals, Trisha Cavanaugh, Champion and Mindi Ormiston, Grace Friedel, and Elizabeth Light

Co-champions• Student Insight, Norm Hope, Champion and Lauren Just, Co-champions

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December 2011

ABOVE The “20 up to 40” graduates at the KSCPA Annual Meeting on November 16, 2011

Leadership - Service to the Profession

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ABOVE The “20 up to 40” Participants take a tour of Indigo WIld company in downtown Kansas City

BELOW The “20 up to 40” Participants enjoy an evening of bowling at Incred-a-bowl.

“20 up to 40” Overland ParkThe “20 up to 40” 2011 program concluded in Overland Park, following 4 other events throughout the year and state of Kansas. The group project, which revolved around com-munity service was completed and presented to the leadership. A $2,000 contribution was made to the Kansas Council on Economic Education following the presentation to support the program. The “20 up to 40” group utilized the resources of the Council to provide financial literacy education. The group toured the facilities of Indigo-Wild, a manufacturer of soaps, lotions, and other fragrant and organic products and enjoyed a social event at IncrediBowl in Olathe.

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December 2011

61st Annual Kansas Tax Conference

Conference News

Over 150 individuals attended the Annual Kansas Tax Conference held at the Sheraton Overland Park. Participants were very satisfied with the speakers, food, and facilities. Average rating for the speakers was 4.14. Top speakers were Jeff Lanza, Chris Kuehl, Randy Johnston, Gary Allerheiligen, and Roger McEowen. The 62nd Annual Kansas Tax Conference will be held on November 15 and 16, 2012 at the Hyatt Wichita following the 80th Annual Meeting and Gala Dinner Dance on November 14. Mark your calendars for the 80th anniversary celebra-tion and tax conference.

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December 2011 Conference News

Skyscapes - Newsletter of the Kansas Society of CPAs

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K2’s Heartland Technology Conference

K2 Enterprise again presented an invigorating 2-day technology conference at the Ritz Charles in Overland Park to 130 participants. Dr. Bob Spender, Dr. Will Fleenor, and Dr. Mac McLelland updated the participants on a variety of topics, including cloud computing, Outlook, Windows 7, Excel Macros, technology update, security update, pa-perless offices, Office 365, and QuickBooks. The 2012 conference will again be held in Overland Park on December 6-7. The conference received rave reviews, and we promise to make sure we have enough band width so all of those bringing laptops and tablets will have ample internet access.

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December 2011

When the officials of our great state of Kansas need help with tax and financial strategies, where do they turn? To the members of The Kansas Society of CPAs. Many of our members have stepped up to the plate over the years to serve not only on the Kansas State Board of Accountancy (see article on Kathryn Mitchell and Kent Smoll), but also other board and commissions, and even the state legis-lature. All CPA members (Kent, Kathy, Paul Allen, Jeff Leiserowitz, and Ginger Powell) of the Board of Accountancy are members of the KSCPA, and Patricia O’Sullivan, a public member and accounting instructor at WSU, is an affiliate member. Lynn Jenkins, a KSCPA member, is currently serving in Congress. Repre-sentative Jenkins is in her second term, serves on the House Ways & Means Commit-tee, and is a member of the newly-formed “CPA and Accountants Caucus.” There are ten individuals in this caucus – eight CPAs and two accountants – who are trying to change things in Washington. Lynn regularly visits the KSCPA office to meet with members to gain feedback from CPAs. Lynn visited the KSCPA and met with 25 lead-ing taxation strategists in August. Steve Anderson, also a KSCPA member, is the Kansas Budget Director. Steve is a speaker at KSCPA conferences and participates in the KSCPA leadership. Gubernatorial appointments are an ongoing process, with appointments occurring throughout the year. The Governor is seeking qualified CPAs to serve on various boards and commissions. There are three types of boards and commissions; namely, advisory, policy, and supervisory.

Applying for a Position – from the Governor’s website:

“In our ongoing effort to make government more efficient, streamline procedures, and save taxpayer money on printing, paper and postage, an automated application process for Boards and Commissions.

Boards that serve at the pleasure of the Governor

This application system will allow you to submit your application for boards and commissions online. We would like for all Kansans to consider serving to fill these positions.

Click here to begin the online application process

Note: Many boards and commissions have certain qualifications of appointment that must be met as set forth in Kansas Statutes.

For further information, contact:

Kim Borchers, Director of Appointmentsgov.appointments@ks.gov(785)368-7382”

Service to Government

Click here to listen to Lynn Jenkins and Gary Allerheiligen talk about how this Townhall meeting was valuable to Congress and the KSCPA Leadership

32 November 2011

You are invited to serve on an Audit Review Team!United Way of Greater Topeka is looking for a team of volunteers comprised of accounting and financial experts to review audits and financial statements to help with the funding process for our focus areas in Education, Income, Health and Basic Needs.

By joining our Audit Review Team you will help community volunteers understand the findings in the audits and enable them to make sound and thorough funding decisions about programs that will improve lives in Shawnee County and Jefferson County.

We anticipate an immediate need for 4 reviewers on November 9-18. We anticipate that each team member will review up to 10 audits, requiring about 4 hours. We provide a short review sheet with 10 questions that you will complete as part of your review. We will deliver the audits to you, and then you may email the completed review sheets to us.

In 2012, we will provide new funding opportunities to commu-nity organizations, which will require audit reviews through-out the year. We invite you to join us for our November audit reviews and/or join us to review audits in 2012.

If you are interested in joining our Audit Review Team please click here to fill out a form on our website or email tom.baumgartner@unitedwaytopeka.org or call him at 785.228.5113.

United Way is grateful for your expertise and willingness to join our Audit Review Team!

COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

Th ursday | FridayDecember 15 and December 16, 2011

Ritz Charles, 9000 W 137th Street

Overland Park, KS

THURSDAY | DECEMBER 15 | 20117:30 a.m. On Site Registration

8 a.m. GENERAL SESSION | TECH UPDATE

9:55 a.m. MORNING BREAKOUT SESSIONS

2. EXCEL MACROS | Easier Than You Think

3. WINDOWS 7 TIPS AND TRICKS

4. ACCOUNTING CHOICES

11:30 a.m. Lunch

12:30 p.m. AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS

5. EXCEL REPORTING | Tools, Techniques and Best Practices

6. SECURITY UPDATE FOR ACCOUNTANTS

7. PAPERLESS OFFICE 2.0

2:15 p.m. GENERAL SESSION | CLOUD COMPUTING

4 p.m. End of Sessions for Thursday, November 3

FRIDAY | DECEMBER 16 | 20117:30 a.m. On Site Registration

8 a.m. GENERAL SESSION | CONSUMING CONTENT | on Tablets, Smartphones, and Netbooks

9:55 a.m. MORNING BREAKOUT SESSIONS

9. EXCEL’S THREE TABLES

10. CREATING AND MANAGING FORMS WITH ADOBE

11. ONENOTE

11:30 a.m. Lunch

12:30 p.m. AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS

12. OFFICE 365

13. ORGANIZING YOUR LIFE | Tools and Techniques to Save You Time

14. QUICKBOOKS REPORTING WITH EXCEL

2:15 p.m. GENERAL SESSION | OUTLOOK | The Killer App in Offi ce 2010

4 p.m. End of Conference

For almost 27 years, these nationally known speakers have teamed together to deliver 10,000+ technology courses and conferences through the AICPA and State CPA Societies. These instructors have consistently rated an average 4.5 to 5.0 (on a 5.0 scale) for instructor knowledge and presentation skills. Presentations are fast-paced to maximize time and enhance learning. Courses feature high quality, full-color computer projection systems for clear viewing.

For complete instructor biographies, visit:www.k2e.com/team

D I S C U S S I O N L E A D E R S

• William C. Fleenor, CPA.CITP, Ph.D.• Randolph P. Johnston, MCS• Val D. Steed, CPA.CITP, MA• Thomas G. Stephens Jr., CPA.CITP • Ilene Eisen, CPA.CITP, MBA• Lawrence A. McClelland, MBA, JD• Robert H. Spencer, Ph.D.• John K. Keegan, CPA.CITP• Brian F. Tankersley, CPA.CITP• Karl Egnatoff, CPA.CITP

KSCPA Heartland Technology Conference for Accountants in Business & Industry and Public Practice

E X P A N D KnowledgeINTEGRATE TechnologyD E L I V E R Results!

About this Conference:CPE credit ................................ 16 hours

Course developer ................. K2 Enterprises

Prerequisites ........................... None

Conference Level ................. All

Advance preparation ......... None

Instructional Method:Group-live demo using color projection – not hands on

Designed for:Accountants who want to learn how to use technology more effi ciently and effectively

KSCPA Heartland Technology Conference for Accountants in Business & Industry and Public Practice

Yesterday’s practices are no longer adequate for success in today’s rapidly evolving technology and business landscapes.

• Do you have the knowledge you need to move forward in this dynamic environment?

• Are you as effective as you can be in your organization or for your clients?

• Can you remain competitive where you are today?

This conference gives you the opportunity to participate in a series of sessions providing the knowledge and solutions that will enable you to:

• Streamline Operations

• Reduce IT costs

• Improve responsiveness

• Minimize risk

• Make better decisions

• Enforce governance

• Increase visibility

Increase your eff ectiveness today –Prepare for tomorrow

“Excellent summary of technology issues

that apply to CPAs in

public practice, industry and

government.” – A.H.

16 CPE Credits

100

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R E G I S T R AT I O N F O R M

CONFERENCE LOCATION | TIMES | FEES

Ritz Charles9000 W 137th Street Overland Park, KS 66221 • Phone: (913) 685-2600On site check-in begins at 7:30 a.m., Conference starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m.

Member Fee $380 after 12/1/11 $410 | Non-member Fee $430 after 12/1/11 $460

BREAKOUT SESSIONS(Select one from each time period)

Th ursday, December 15Morning 9:55–11:30 a.m.

2 3 4

Afternoon 12:30–2:05 p.m.

5 6 7

Friday, December 16Morning 9:55–11:30 a.m.

9 10 11

Afternoon 12:30–2:05 p.m.

12 13 14

Credit card registrations will be accepted online, by mail, phone or fax. All other registrations must be mailed with payment.

• Online www.kscpa.org

• Fax to (785) 272-4468

• Mail a check payable to Kansas Society of CPAs

100 SE 9th Street, Ste 502 Topeka, KS 66612

• Call (785) 272-4366

Specifi c Needs:

Check here if you require special services. Attach a written description of your needs.

Please complete the following:

Full Name

Company Name

Address (□Home or □Work)

City/State/Zip

E-mail:

Daytime Phone

KSCPA ID

Method of Payment:

Total Remittance $__________

Check enclosed

Charge to: Visa MasterCard American Express Discover

Card #: Exp. Date

Signature

Th ursday | FridayDecember 15 and December 16, 2011

Ritz Charles, 9000 W 137th Street

Overland Park, KS

THURSDAY | DECEMBER 15 | 20117:30 a.m. On Site Registration

8 a.m. GENERAL SESSION | TECH UPDATE

9:55 a.m. MORNING BREAKOUT SESSIONS

2. EXCEL MACROS | Easier Than You Think

3. WINDOWS 7 TIPS AND TRICKS

4. ACCOUNTING CHOICES

11:30 a.m. Lunch

12:30 p.m. AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS

5. EXCEL REPORTING | Tools, Techniques and Best Practices

6. SECURITY UPDATE FOR ACCOUNTANTS

7. PAPERLESS OFFICE 2.0

2:15 p.m. GENERAL SESSION | CLOUD COMPUTING

4 p.m. End of Sessions for Thursday, November 3

FRIDAY | DECEMBER 16 | 20117:30 a.m. On Site Registration

8 a.m. GENERAL SESSION | CONSUMING CONTENT | on Tablets, Smartphones, and Netbooks

9:55 a.m. MORNING BREAKOUT SESSIONS

9. EXCEL’S THREE TABLES

10. CREATING AND MANAGING FORMS WITH ADOBE

11. ONENOTE

11:30 a.m. Lunch

12:30 p.m. AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS

12. OFFICE 365

13. ORGANIZING YOUR LIFE | Tools and Techniques to Save You Time

14. QUICKBOOKS REPORTING WITH EXCEL

2:15 p.m. GENERAL SESSION | OUTLOOK | The Killer App in Offi ce 2010

4 p.m. End of Conference

For almost 27 years, these nationally known speakers have teamed together to deliver 10,000+ technology courses and conferences through the AICPA and State CPA Societies. These instructors have consistently rated an average 4.5 to 5.0 (on a 5.0 scale) for instructor knowledge and presentation skills. Presentations are fast-paced to maximize time and enhance learning. Courses feature high quality, full-color computer projection systems for clear viewing.

For complete instructor biographies, visit:www.k2e.com/team

D I S C U S S I O N L E A D E R S

• William C. Fleenor, CPA.CITP, Ph.D.• Randolph P. Johnston, MCS• Val D. Steed, CPA.CITP, MA• Thomas G. Stephens Jr., CPA.CITP • Ilene Eisen, CPA.CITP, MBA• Lawrence A. McClelland, MBA, JD• Robert H. Spencer, Ph.D.• John K. Keegan, CPA.CITP• Brian F. Tankersley, CPA.CITP• Karl Egnatoff, CPA.CITP

KSCPA Heartland Technology Conference for Accountants in Business & Industry and Public Practice

E X P A N D KnowledgeINTEGRATE TechnologyD E L I V E R Results!

About this Conference:CPE credit ................................ 16 hours

Course developer ................. K2 Enterprises

Prerequisites ........................... None

Conference Level ................. All

Advance preparation ......... None

Instructional Method:Group-live demo using color projection – not hands on

Designed for:Accountants who want to learn how to use technology more effi ciently and effectively

KSCPA Heartland Technology Conference for Accountants in Business & Industry and Public Practice

Yesterday’s practices are no longer adequate for success in today’s rapidly evolving technology and business landscapes.

• Do you have the knowledge you need to move forward in this dynamic environment?

• Are you as effective as you can be in your organization or for your clients?

• Can you remain competitive where you are today?

This conference gives you the opportunity to participate in a series of sessions providing the knowledge and solutions that will enable you to:

• Streamline Operations

• Reduce IT costs

• Improve responsiveness

• Minimize risk

• Make better decisions

• Enforce governance

• Increase visibility

Increase your eff ectiveness today –Prepare for tomorrow

“Excellent summary of technology issues

that apply to CPAs in

public practice, industry and

government.” – A.H.

16 CPE Credits

100

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, Sui

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, KS

666

12-1

213

Non

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A I D

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241

R E G I S T R AT I O N F O R M

CONFERENCE LOCATION | TIMES | FEES

Ritz Charles9000 W 137th Street Overland Park, KS 66221 • Phone: (913) 685-2600On site check-in begins at 7:30 a.m., Conference starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m.

Member Fee $380 after 12/1/11 $410 | Non-member Fee $430 after 12/1/11 $460

BREAKOUT SESSIONS(Select one from each time period)

Th ursday, December 15Morning 9:55–11:30 a.m.

2 3 4

Afternoon 12:30–2:05 p.m.

5 6 7

Friday, December 16Morning 9:55–11:30 a.m.

9 10 11

Afternoon 12:30–2:05 p.m.

12 13 14

Credit card registrations will be accepted online, by mail, phone or fax. All other registrations must be mailed with payment.

• Online www.kscpa.org

• Fax to (785) 272-4468

• Mail a check payable to Kansas Society of CPAs

100 SE 9th Street, Ste 502 Topeka, KS 66612

• Call (785) 272-4366

Specifi c Needs:

Check here if you require special services. Attach a written description of your needs.

Please complete the following:

Full Name

Company Name

Address (□Home or □Work)

City/State/Zip

E-mail:

Daytime Phone

KSCPA ID

Method of Payment:

Total Remittance $__________

Check enclosed

Charge to: Visa MasterCard American Express Discover

Card #: Exp. Date

Signature

Skyscapes - Newsletter of the Kansas Society of CPAs

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Skyscapes - Newsletter of the Kansas Society of CPAs

New KSCPA Life Members

Congratulations!

36

December 2011

A new designation will soon be available to CPAs. The Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) de-veloped through a joint venture between the AICPA and

the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) – two of the most respected accounting bodies in the world – will offer CPAs the opportunity to be further recognized for the critical role they play in companies of all sizes. Launching at the end of January 2012, the designation will demonstrate to employers how CGMAs add value by supporting and driving the right decisions in all areas of the organization to achieve sus-tainable success.

A New Era and Role for Management Accountants In the past, management accounting was often focused on cost reductions and improving efficiencies. Today’s manage-ment accountants meet organizational needs by maintaining competencies and experience that goes well beyond financial accounting. The CGMA will indicate that designation holders are strategic business partners and emphasize that their under-standing of the numbers – and their implications – has tremen-dous impact on the future of the organization. “Management accounting is broad, encompasses many disciplines and areas of expertise and builds on the CPA’s technical skills,” says Mary MacBain, President/CEO of the Kansas Society of CPAs. “The CGMA acknowledges this broad skillset and elevates the stra-tegic role management accountants play within their organiza-tions.” In addition to management accountants, the CGMA may appeal to CPAs working in other environments. For ex-ample, members in public accounting whose primary respon-sibilities are focused on the management and operations of a firm may consider pursuing this designation to highlight their unique qualifications to their clients and within their markets.

Understanding the New Chartered Global Management Accountant Designationwww.CGMA.org

Strong AICPA-CIMA Alliance In the U.S., the CGMA is available to AICPA mem-bers and provides significant benefits to joint AICPA state so-ciety members. CIMA, the AICPA’s partner in establishing the CGMA, is a London-based accounting organization, known around the world for supporting management accounting as an esteemed profession. CIMA’s thought leadership efforts in the area of management accounting include improved deci-sion making, risk mitigation, talent and building world-class organizations. Representing more than 183,000 members and students in 168 countries, CIMA has a long history of develop-ing a broad range of resources to help individuals pursue excep-tional careers and distinguish themselves in the job market. The AICPA-CIMA joint venture will leverage the collective power of more than 550,000 members and students to further advance, promote and support management accounting as well as pro-mote CGMA and the U.S. CPA. Together, the two organiza-tions are creating a highly influencial alliance that will increase advocacy on behalf of the management accounting profession and in the public interest, and ensure a more powerful voice around the globe.

CGMA Presents Resources and Opportunity CGMAs worldwide will have access to the CGMA.org website, which will house a robust set of resources, including thought leadership publications, a career guidance tool and a new online magazine that will help them continue to support the CGMAs’ passion to continuously sharpen their business competencies. Leveraging the collective knowledge of desig-nation holders, and providing them a networking forum, the website will also be home to an exclusive global online com-munity where CGMAs can network, share ideas, ask questions, comment on and share resources, and seek career and technical guidance.

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“We recognize that many of our members are interested in the global prospects the CGMA has to offer and are excited to be a partner in introducing the CGMA designation to the mar-ketplace,” said Mary MacBain. “To support our CGMAs, help them broaden their skillset and build their professional network, the KSCPA will explore opportunities for shared CPE, local CGMA networking events and other possibilities.”

Designation to Launch January 2012 From January 31 through July 31, 2012, a CPA will be eligible to participate in a free introductory period for the CGMA designation by verifying the three-year requirement for qualifying experience and the requirement for being an AICPA voting member. To renew the CGMA beyond the introductory period, members will pay the annual fee of $150. CPAs who are members of both the AICPA and their state CPA society will receive a special $50 discount off the annual fee. It is anticipated that after January 1, 2015, there will be additional eligibility cri-teria for entry into the CGMA, similar to what has occurred with other designations and credentials offered by the AICPA.

To Learn More For more information about the CGMA and what it means for the profession, we invite you to visit www.CGMA.org or contact Mary MacBain at Mary@kscpa.org.

Interested in a specialty credential from the AICPA?

The CGMA will add a 5th credential available to members of the AICPA. The current credentials are:

Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP)Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF)Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV)Personal Financial Specialist (PFS)

For more information on the credentials, or to find a local CPA with the credential, go to www.aicpa.org.

I’ve had great fun using my professional

skills while serv-ing as a volun-teer for various non-profit or-ganizations. In addition to my accounting expe-rience, I’ve spent much time do-ing database pro-gramming. It has been very enjoyable to combine both skills to help meet some of the needs of non-profits. There’s the BBQ Contestant Entry database I built years ago and maintain for the American Royal As-sociation. That leads on occasion to some good ribs and the chance to see some friendly faces from past events. I maintain the membership database for the Kansas City Ski Club which leads to appreciative thanks from Alice, and that’s enough. The Bloch Cancer Foundation needed a database to track calls to their hotline. Rosanne knew what she wanted and I was glad to figure out how to get it done. At first I did not know exactly how to get some tricky report-ing worked out but then there was no hard deadline and no irritating timesheet; what fun to have that kind of freedom. I encourage you to get out there and have your own fun. Contact the organization of your choice, ask for the volunteer coordinator, and see what’s available. You will also want to get a feel for the strengths of the volunteer program. They should know their goals, their volunteer needs, and be clear about what tasks they need done. Well done to each of you who already volunteer. For those who might be interested, get out there and be one of those spe-cial people, a volunteer. The fun will follow.

You Always Get More Than You GiveARTICLE BY MIKE URBOM, CPA.CITP

Service to the Community

38

December 2011

The Kansas Society of CPAs was one of 10 CPA state soci-eties to accept an invitation from Terri Polley, President/CEO of the Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF). The

purpose of the roundtables was to learn more about the process undertaken which led to recommendations to improve private company financial reporting. The roundtables were held to help members and other leaders understand the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Panel (FAF, AICPA, and NASBA) and the subsequent FAF proposal to improve financial reporting for private companies. Further, the roundtables provided members and other leaders the opportunity to provide input to the Financial Accounting Foundation on their proposal. Terri provided an introduction and overview of FAF’s proposal to establish a Private Company Standards Improve-ment Council (PCSIC) to study and make recommendations for modifications to GAAP for private companies. FAF’s propos-al differs from the Blue Ribbon Panel (which recommended a separate board under FAF to establish the modifications) in that FAF wants FASB to continue to be the ultimate standard setter. The FAF trustees believe that there should be only one ultimate standard setter (and FAF would ratify the recommendations of the PCSIC). FAF trustees propose that a FASB member be the chair of the PCSIC. The participants at the roundtables expressed their views and asked several questions of Terri. Those who spoke ad-dressed their support of separate standards and the Blue Ribbon Panel’s recommendation, and were open to listening to the FAF’s proposal and to offer suggestions where this proposal might be

Terri Polley, President/CEO of FAF Holds Roundtables in KansasCBIZ in Leawood and Koch Industries in Wichita Host Roundtables

modified. Terri was receptive to the comments and outlined some highlights of comments that will help FAF trustees revise the pro-posal. The transition to private company standards may take as long as three years to complete. Terri expressed the importance of our members and other leaders to provide comments on the FAF proposal prior to the end of the comment period (January 14, 2012). There have been numerous identical letters in support of the Blue Rib-bon Panel’s recommenda-tion. Terri suggested that the letters that can really make a difference to the trustees are those which are thoughtful and provide constructive comments on how the proposal might be changed to better address the issue of private com-pany financial reporting standards. The KSCPA encourages members and firms to review the issue and provide comments individually and from their firms. The KSCPA assurance & accounting task force will also review the issue and prepare a comment letter on behalf of the Kansas Society of CPAs. If you have any comments that you would like the task force to address, please forward them to mary@kscpa.org.

BELOW Hal Hunt of CBIZ hosts the Leawood Roundtable

ABOVE Kansas City Chiefs CFO Dan Crumb meets with Terri Polley of FAF

Click here to learn more about FAF’s Plan and related topics on the KSCPA website.

“...roundtables helped my understanding of the FAF’s perspective by having the explanations face-to-face, which has an impact that simply can’t be duplicated

in a webinar.”

- Chad Allen, CPA

Skyscapes - Newsletter of the Kansas Society of CPAs

39

• Corporate Ethics – 10 years post Sarbanes-Oxley • The Building Blocks of Effective Corporate Governance (Part 1) • Stabilizing the Building Blocks of Effective Corporate Governance (Part 2) • The Corporate Director’s Fiduciary Role and Management’s Relationship• Dissecting Stated Corporate Values • Instilling the Proper Control Environments within Business • The Corporate Manager’s Responsibility for Internal Control • When the Whistle Blows at your Company • Developing Practical Corporate Compliance Programs (Part 1) • Monitoring and Managing Effective Corporate Compliance Programs (Part 2) • The Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) Movement (Part 1) • The Role of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) as a Component of your GRC Program (Part 2) • Fraud Awareness Programs (Part 1) • Techniques for Fraud Monitoring and Detection (Part 2)

Fountain’s Governance ExpressNew videocast series coming soon...

TOPICS INCLUDE:

TOTAL CPE 28 HOURS

Contact Danielle@kscpa.org for further information.

40

December 2011

2012 Professional Development and EventsLEARN MORE...To view complete course details, please visit the Professional Development area at www.kscpa.org.

Professional Development

Date Range Description CPE Hours Speaker Field of Study Location

1/19/12 "20 up to 40" Leadership Session - 1 (Day 1) Day at Statehouse & Leadership CPE 4 Marlee Carpenter et al. Leadership Topeka

1/19/12 AICPA's Annual Federal Tax Update 8 Gary Allerheiligen Update Overland Park

1/19/12 4th Annual KSCPA Legislative Reception - FREE N/A N/A N/A Topeka

1/20/12 "20 up to 40" Leadership Session - 1 (Day 2) Visit KBOA N/A Marlee Carpenter et al. Leadership Topeka

5/7/12 Wealth Management Conference 8 Panel Consulting OP

5/7/12 Risk Management Conference 8 Panel Consulting OP

5/8/12 Oil & Gas Taxation Workshop - Fundamentals - NEW 8 John Tripp Taxation Manhattan

5/9/12 Oil & Gas Taxation Workshop - Advanced - NEW 8 John Tripp Taxation Manhattan

5/10/12 Agriculture Taxation Workshop - NEW 8 Roger McEowen Taxation Manhattan

5/22/12 "20 up to 40" Leadership Session - 2 (Day 1) Project & Young Professionals Conference 6 Ernie Almonte Leadership Lawrence

5/22-23/12 Young Professionals Conference 4 Ernie Almonte PD Lawrence

5/23/12 "20 up to 40" Leadership Session - 2 (Day 2) Prof Issues Update / Leadership Meetings 2 Ernie Almonte Leadership Lawrence

5/23/12 Leadership Summit - Executive Committee Meeting N/A Bob Schuster N/A Lawrence

5/23/12 Professional Issues Update with Ernie Almonte, Past AICPA Chair - FREE 2 Ernie Almonte Update Lawrence

5/23/12 Leadership Summit (includes lunch) - Task Force Meetings N/A N/A N/A Lawrence

5/23/12 Leadership Summit - Board of Director's Meeting N/A Bob Schuster N/A Lawrence

6/4/12 Cloud Security and Compliance 4 K2 Enterprises Technology OP

6/4/12 Outlook Essentials 4 K2 Enterprises Technology OP

6/5/12 Excel Tips, Tricks and Techniques for Accountants 8 K2 Enterprises Technology OP

6/5-6/12 Governmental & Non-Profit Accounting & Auditing Conference 16 Panel Govt/NPO/AA Wichita

6/7/12 Nonprofit Accounting and Auditing Update 8 Alan Anderson A&A Wichita

6/8/12 Audit Sampling: Applying the New Audit Sampling Guidelines 8 Alan Anderson A&A Wichita

6/11/12 Creative Tax Strategies for Individuals- Hurdles & Benefits 4 Dennis Gerschick Taxation OP

6/11/12 Negotiating & Structuring Business Deals 4 Dennis Gerschick Taxation OP

6/12/12 Creative Tax Strategies for Individuals- Hurdles & Benefits 4 Dennis Gerschick Taxation Wichita

6/12/12 Negotiating & Structuring Business Deals 4 Dennis Gerschick Taxation Wichita

6/18/12 Governmental Accounting and Auditing Update 8 Mark Dick A&A Wichita

6/18/12 Closely Held Business Taxation: Smart Strategies to Slash Taxes 8 Gary Allerheiligen Taxation OP

6/19/12 Closely Held Business Taxation: Smart Strategies to Slash Taxes 8 Gary Allerheiligen Taxation Wichita

6/19/12 Auditing Real-World Frauds: A Practical Case Application Approach 8 Lynn Fountain A&A Fraud Wichita

6/20/12 Business and Industry Expo 8 Panel B & I Wichita

6/20/12 Governmental Accounting and Auditing Update 8 Mark Dick A&A OP

6/21/12 The Top Ten Fraud Schemes: How to Detect and Prevent Them 8 Lynn Fountain A&A Fraud OP

6/21/12Estate Planning Strategies: Minimizing Taxes and Maximizing Wealth (Includes Serving as a Trustee)

4 Eric Larson Taxation OP

6/21/12 The Law of Tax Exempt Organizations 4 Bruce Hopkins Taxation OP

6/22/12 Accounting Services, Compilations and Reviews: Effective Risk Management 8 Lynn Fountain A&A Fraud OP

6/22/12Estate Planning Strategies: Minimizing Taxes and Maximizing Wealth (Includes Serving as a Trustee)

4 Eric Larson Taxation Wichita

6/22/12 The Law of Tax Exempt Organizations 4 Bruce Hopkins Taxation Wichita

6/25/12 Conference on Kansas Taxes 8 Panel Taxation Mayetta

6/26/12 AICPA's Hottest Tax Topics for 2012 8 TBD Taxation OP

6/26/12 Nonprofit Accounting and Auditing Update 8 Alan Anderson A&A OP

6/27/12 Audit Sampling: Applying the New Audit Sampling Guidelines 8 Alan Anderson A&A OP

6/27/12 Excel PivotTables for Accountants- Part I 4 K2 Enterprises Technology Wichita

6/27/12 Outlook Essentials 4 K2 Enterprises Technology Wichita

6/28/12 Excel Tips, Tricks and Techniques for Accountants 8 K2 Enterprises Technology Wichita

6/28/12 Mergers, Acquisitions, and Sales of Closely Held Businesses: Advanced Case Analysis 8 Gary Allerheiligen Taxation OP

6/28/12 Audit Excellence 8 Alan Anderson A&A OP

6/29/12 Mergers, Acquisitions, and Sales of Closely Held Businesses: Advanced Case Analysis 8 Gary Allerheiligen Taxation Wichita

6/29/12 Audit Excellence 8 Alan Anderson A&A Wichita

7/26/12 "20 up to 40" Leadership Session - 3 (Day 1) Project / Dr. Gerald Graham / Dinner 4 Dr. G. Graham Leadership Salina

7/27/12 "20 up to 40" Leadership Session - 3 (Day 2) Dr. Gerald Graham 8 Dr. G. Graham Leadership Salina

9/21/12 Women's Leadership Conference 4 Jennifer Wilson Leadership OP

9/21/12 Women to Watch Awards Luncheon - FREE N/A Tommye Barie Leadership OP

9/27/12 "20 up to 40" Leadership Session - 4 Project / Jeff Lanza Fraud Event / Dinner with Board 4 Jeff Lanza Leadership/ Ethics KCK

9/27/12 KSCPA Board Team Building & Dinner with "20 up to 40" N/A Bob Schuster N/A KCK

9/28/12 "20 up to 40" Leadership Session - 4 TimberRidge Team Building 8 Panel Leadership Olathe

9/28/12 KSCPA Strategic Planning N/A Tom Hood N/A OP

Skyscapes - Newsletter of the Kansas Society of CPAs

41

2012 Professional Development and Events CONFERENCES

LEADERSHIP EVENTS

To register for courses or conferences, visit our website at www.kscpa.org or call 785.272.4366.

NEED HELP finding a course or conference? Call the KSCPA at 785.272.4366.

COURSES

Date Range Description CPE Hours Speaker Field of Study Location

10/19/12 Business Valuation Conference 8 Panel BV & Consult. OP

11/1/12 Excel Based Dashboards 8 K2 Enterprises Technology OP

11/2/12 Technology for CPAs- Don't Get Left Behind 8 K2 Enterprises Technology OP

/13/2012-11/14/20"20 up to 40" Graduation Session - 5 Project / Tour / Dinner / Prof Issues Update / Leadership Meetings/ Graduation

4 Rich Caturano Leadership Wichita

11/14/12 Annual Meeting - Executive Committee Meeting N/A Bob Schuster N/A Wichita

11/14/12 Professional Issues Update with Rich Caturano, AICPA Chair - FREE 2 Rich Caturano Update Wichita

11/14/12 Annual Meeting of KSCPA and Educational Foundation N/A Bob Schuster N/A Wichita

11/14/12 Leadership Summit (includes lunch) - Task Force Meetings N/A N/A N/A Wichita

11/14/12 Leadership Summit - Board of Director's Meeting N/A M. Aron Dunn N/A Wichita

11/14/12 80th Anniversary Gala Dinner & Dance N/A Lonnie McFadden Band N/A Wichita

11/15-16/12 62nd Annual Kansas Tax Conference 16 Panel Taxation Wichita

11/26/12 International versus U.S. Accounting: What in the World is the Difference? 8 Alan Anderson A&A OP

11/27/12 Not-for-Profit Accounting & Reporting: From Start to Finish 8 Alan Anderson A&A OP

11/28/12The 2011 Revised Yellow Book: Government Auditing Standards (with GAO Exposure Draft Info)

8 Alan Anderson A&A OP

11/29/12 Not-for-Profit Accounting & Reporting: From Start to Finish 8 Alan Anderson A&A Wichita

11/30/12The 2011 Revised Yellow Book: Government Auditing Standards (with GAO Exposure Draft Info)

8 Alan Anderson A&A Wichita

12/6/12 2012 Tax Advisor's Update (Biebl & Ranweiller) 8 Tim O'Shaughnessy Taxation Wichita

12/6-7/12 Heartland Technology Conference 16 K2 Enterprises Technology OP

12/7/12 2012 Tax Advisor's Update (Biebl & Ranweiller) 8 Tim O'Shaughnessy Taxation OP

12/10/12 Common Frauds and Internal Controls for Revenue, Purchasing and Cash Receipts 8 Lynn Fountain A&A OP

12/10/12 AICPA's Annual Federal Tax Update 8 TBD Taxation OP

12/13/12 Family Wealth Management 8 Dennis Gerschick Taxation OP

12/17/12 Identifying Fraudulent Financial Transactions 8 Lynn Fountain A&A Wichita

12/18/12 Applying the Risk Assessment Standards Using a Case Study Approach 8 Lynn Fountain A&A Wichita

12/19/12 Delving into the Top Twelve Issues for Partnerships, LLCs and S Corps 8 Gary Allerheiligen Taxation Wichita

12/20/12 Delving into the Top Twelve Issues for Partnerships, LLCs and S Corps 8 Gary Allerheiligen Taxation OP

12/27/12 Annual Update for Accountants and Auditors 8 TBD A&A Wichita

12/27/12 S Corporation Key Issues, Compliance and Strategies: An IRS Target Area 8 Gary Allerheiligen Taxation OP

12/28/12 Annual Update for Accountants and Auditors 8 TBD A&A OP

12/28/12 S Corporation Key Issues, Compliance and Strategies: An IRS Target Area 8 Gary Allerheiligen Taxation Wichita

Date Range Description CPE Hours Speaker Field of Study Location

1/19/12 "20 up to 40" Leadership Session - 1 (Day 1) Day at Statehouse & Leadership CPE 4 Marlee Carpenter et al. Leadership Topeka

1/19/12 AICPA's Annual Federal Tax Update 8 Gary Allerheiligen Update Overland Park

1/19/12 4th Annual KSCPA Legislative Reception - FREE N/A N/A N/A Topeka

1/20/12 "20 up to 40" Leadership Session - 1 (Day 2) Visit KBOA N/A Marlee Carpenter et al. Leadership Topeka

5/7/12 Wealth Management Conference 8 Panel Consulting OP

5/7/12 Risk Management Conference 8 Panel Consulting OP

5/8/12 Oil & Gas Taxation Workshop - Fundamentals - NEW 8 John Tripp Taxation Manhattan

5/9/12 Oil & Gas Taxation Workshop - Advanced - NEW 8 John Tripp Taxation Manhattan

5/10/12 Agriculture Taxation Workshop - NEW 8 Roger McEowen Taxation Manhattan

5/22/12 "20 up to 40" Leadership Session - 2 (Day 1) Project & Young Professionals Conference 6 Ernie Almonte Leadership Lawrence

5/22-23/12 Young Professionals Conference 4 Ernie Almonte PD Lawrence

5/23/12 "20 up to 40" Leadership Session - 2 (Day 2) Prof Issues Update / Leadership Meetings 2 Ernie Almonte Leadership Lawrence

5/23/12 Leadership Summit - Executive Committee Meeting N/A Bob Schuster N/A Lawrence

5/23/12 Professional Issues Update with Ernie Almonte, Past AICPA Chair - FREE 2 Ernie Almonte Update Lawrence

5/23/12 Leadership Summit (includes lunch) - Task Force Meetings N/A N/A N/A Lawrence

5/23/12 Leadership Summit - Board of Director's Meeting N/A Bob Schuster N/A Lawrence

6/4/12 Cloud Security and Compliance 4 K2 Enterprises Technology OP

6/4/12 Outlook Essentials 4 K2 Enterprises Technology OP

6/5/12 Excel Tips, Tricks and Techniques for Accountants 8 K2 Enterprises Technology OP

6/5-6/12 Governmental & Non-Profit Accounting & Auditing Conference 16 Panel Govt/NPO/AA Wichita

6/7/12 Nonprofit Accounting and Auditing Update 8 Alan Anderson A&A Wichita

6/8/12 Audit Sampling: Applying the New Audit Sampling Guidelines 8 Alan Anderson A&A Wichita

6/11/12 Creative Tax Strategies for Individuals- Hurdles & Benefits 4 Dennis Gerschick Taxation OP

6/11/12 Negotiating & Structuring Business Deals 4 Dennis Gerschick Taxation OP

6/12/12 Creative Tax Strategies for Individuals- Hurdles & Benefits 4 Dennis Gerschick Taxation Wichita

6/12/12 Negotiating & Structuring Business Deals 4 Dennis Gerschick Taxation Wichita

6/18/12 Governmental Accounting and Auditing Update 8 Mark Dick A&A Wichita

6/18/12 Closely Held Business Taxation: Smart Strategies to Slash Taxes 8 Gary Allerheiligen Taxation OP

6/19/12 Closely Held Business Taxation: Smart Strategies to Slash Taxes 8 Gary Allerheiligen Taxation Wichita

6/19/12 Auditing Real-World Frauds: A Practical Case Application Approach 8 Lynn Fountain A&A Fraud Wichita

6/20/12 Business and Industry Expo 8 Panel B & I Wichita

6/20/12 Governmental Accounting and Auditing Update 8 Mark Dick A&A OP

6/21/12 The Top Ten Fraud Schemes: How to Detect and Prevent Them 8 Lynn Fountain A&A Fraud OP

6/21/12Estate Planning Strategies: Minimizing Taxes and Maximizing Wealth (Includes Serving as a Trustee)

4 Eric Larson Taxation OP

6/21/12 The Law of Tax Exempt Organizations 4 Bruce Hopkins Taxation OP

6/22/12 Accounting Services, Compilations and Reviews: Effective Risk Management 8 Lynn Fountain A&A Fraud OP

6/22/12Estate Planning Strategies: Minimizing Taxes and Maximizing Wealth (Includes Serving as a Trustee)

4 Eric Larson Taxation Wichita

6/22/12 The Law of Tax Exempt Organizations 4 Bruce Hopkins Taxation Wichita

6/25/12 Conference on Kansas Taxes 8 Panel Taxation Mayetta

6/26/12 AICPA's Hottest Tax Topics for 2012 8 TBD Taxation OP

6/26/12 Nonprofit Accounting and Auditing Update 8 Alan Anderson A&A OP

6/27/12 Audit Sampling: Applying the New Audit Sampling Guidelines 8 Alan Anderson A&A OP

6/27/12 Excel PivotTables for Accountants- Part I 4 K2 Enterprises Technology Wichita

6/27/12 Outlook Essentials 4 K2 Enterprises Technology Wichita

6/28/12 Excel Tips, Tricks and Techniques for Accountants 8 K2 Enterprises Technology Wichita

6/28/12 Mergers, Acquisitions, and Sales of Closely Held Businesses: Advanced Case Analysis 8 Gary Allerheiligen Taxation OP

6/28/12 Audit Excellence 8 Alan Anderson A&A OP

6/29/12 Mergers, Acquisitions, and Sales of Closely Held Businesses: Advanced Case Analysis 8 Gary Allerheiligen Taxation Wichita

6/29/12 Audit Excellence 8 Alan Anderson A&A Wichita

7/26/12 "20 up to 40" Leadership Session - 3 (Day 1) Project / Dr. Gerald Graham / Dinner 4 Dr. G. Graham Leadership Salina

7/27/12 "20 up to 40" Leadership Session - 3 (Day 2) Dr. Gerald Graham 8 Dr. G. Graham Leadership Salina

9/21/12 Women's Leadership Conference 4 Jennifer Wilson Leadership OP

9/21/12 Women to Watch Awards Luncheon - FREE N/A Tommye Barie Leadership OP

9/27/12 "20 up to 40" Leadership Session - 4 Project / Jeff Lanza Fraud Event / Dinner with Board 4 Jeff Lanza Leadership/ Ethics KCK

9/27/12 KSCPA Board Team Building & Dinner with "20 up to 40" N/A Bob Schuster N/A KCK

9/28/12 "20 up to 40" Leadership Session - 4 TimberRidge Team Building 8 Panel Leadership Olathe

9/28/12 KSCPA Strategic Planning N/A Tom Hood N/A OP

42

December 2011

Offer S Corporation and Officer-Only Clientsa Smart Payroll and Retirement Solution

The complexity of S corporation tax accounting demands special consideration and care in payroll planning and payroll tax preparation. With year-end just around the corner, take advantage of a cost-effective, convenient service from Paychex to put your S corporation clients on a tax budget and avoid unnecessary – and potentially costly – hassles.

Officer-Only Payroll Solution – Just $45 Per Month!

• Valid for entities with either 1 or 2 paid officer employees, when referred by their accountant.

• At this special rate, the client must process payroll monthly; however, additional frequencies and pricing are available.

• Includes all automatic payroll tax payments to streamline cash flow as well as quarterly and annual returns. Form W-2 charges may still apply.

• Offers flexible payment options, such as traditional paper checks or direct deposit, and accurate, timely payroll tax recordkeeping, payment, and filing that may help reduce the risks of non-compliance.

Officer-Only Payroll Included with an Integrated 401(k) – Starting at Only $65* Per Month!Paychex also offers an affordable 401(k) recordkeeping option for your S corporation clients who:

• Have no employees (certain immediate family members, if employed by the business, are considered owners), and

• Want the ability to maximize salary deferral contributions without the requirement to satisfy certain compliance testing.

At this special rate, no officer-only entity should be “guesstimating” wages or coming to you for year-end payroll help.

Which clients need to report 2011 wages for a W-2? Act now!

Help your S corporation clients by year-end.Offer them a Paychex payroll and retirement administration solution!

For more information, please contact:● 913) 814-7776 ext 40612 ●

* The $20 monthly 401(k) portion is billed annually at $240 ($20 x 12). Additional fees may apply. Set-up fees apply.

Publication date: September 2011. The material contained above is current only as of the date of publication. These materials are for informational purposes only. They are not legal advice and should not be relied on as such. You should contact your attorney to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem.

Skyscapes - Newsletter of the Kansas Society of CPAs

43

THE KSCPA IS CONNECTED!

Follow the Kansas Society on Twitter! Find out information on upcoming events, who’s been visiting the KSCPA Office, and what our team is doing to help you. If you don’t have a Twitter account, then set one up today! It’s FREE!

Follow @KSCPANews

Add the Kansas Society to Facebook! View photos of recent events, and stay informed about upcoming conferences and courses. Facebook accounts are also free, so join today and get connected!

www.facebook.com/KansasCPAs

The Kansas Society is also on Linkedin! Follow the KSCPA for great networking oppor-tunities with other accounting professionals. Use Linkedin to build up your own per-sonal profile, join networking groups, and even search for job openings in accounting.

Search: Kansas Society of CPAs

Have you activated your FIND-A-CPA benefit?

Simply go to “Member Home” and activate your account under “CPA Profile.” Preferred Accounts are also available for a $50 annual fee. Preferred Accounts include your a link to your website, organizational or profes-sional photo, hyperlinks to your e-mail, and preferred listing in search engines.

Click here to enroll

44

December 2011

Adams, Brown, Beran and Ball, CharteredChief Information Officer

Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, Chtd, a regional CPA firm, is seeking an individual for the position of Chief Information Officer. This position is responsible for:• Directing the design,

development and maintenance of systems, programs, and systems hardware to meet the needs of a public accounting firm

• Participating in strategic and operational governance processes of the business organization.

• Identifying and overseeing implementation of Information Technology applications to support the firms’ processes and operations.

• Leading, planning, and directing staffing, to include the development of staff for the efficient and effective operation of the IT Department

• Developing, tracking, and controlling the information technology annual operating and capital budgets

Required Education and Experience:• Four year degree in Information Technology, Accounting, or

related area• Demonstrated experience in leading and managing IT

processes, staffing, and budget at an upper management level• Demonstrated knowledge/background in accounting

practices and processes• 3 years’ experience in implementing, operating, and

maintaining IT systems in a public accounting firm preferred• Will consider candidate with solid, demonstrated leadership

and management skills, IT background, and willingness to learn and develop accounting processes/practices to a knowledgeable working level

To apply: send cover letter and resume to: Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, Human Resources Director, P. O. Drawer J, Great Bend, KS 67530; or online at www.abbb.com EOE

BMS GroupCFO

The BMS Group of companies, located in Elwood, KS is seeking an experienced chief financial officer to join their growing group of companies. This person is responsible for the supervision of all financial activities and processes including accounting practices and procedures, financial reporting, and cash flow management. A successful candidate should have a Bachelor’s Degree in accounting or finance with over five years related experience. The candidate should also possess strong financial analysis skills, concise written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to proactively solve business issues and challenges. The candidate must also be proficient with Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel. Also, knowledge of Great Plains Accounting software is preferred. A CPA certificate is preferred, but not required. BMS offers a competitive salary and benefit package based upon the candidate’s credentials. EOE

ExecuPros, Inc.CPA- Business Development

Looking for a CPA with strong Communication Skills - Kansas City, MO

Kansas City based company located on the Country Club Plaza seeks CPA professional. Individual must be a proven communicator and have a track record of developing and servicing client relationships. This is an established company that is growing rapidly in a market segment that places them as the industry leader. A professional company made up of highly educated and motivated personnel.

Experience: 5 years minimum in client development. Education: CPA. MBA is a plus.

The company sells complex compliance products to banks and retailers who issue gift cards. The company seeks a professional who can communicate company products to the legal and compliance departments of prospect companies and develop new client relationships. Prepaid or gift card experience is a plus, but primary requirements include excellent communication skills, ability to understand company products and desire to develop new clients. Prospects are generally large and medium size Issuers. Travel expectations will be between 20-30%. Compensation is highly competitive with an excellent benefits plan.

Reply to dkreher@execupros.com, or call David Kreher at 816-994-6002

Kirkpatrick, Sprecker & Company, LLPStaff Accountant

Wichita CPA firm is seeking a staff accountant with one to three years of audit and tax experience working with a CPA firm. The applicant must have good written and verbal communication skills, CPA Certification or eligible to sit for CPA exam and Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or related field. Experience with QuickBooks and Microsoft a plus.

Classified Advertising

Skyscapes - Newsletter of the Kansas Society of CPAs

45

FHLBank TopekaAccounting Policy & Research Specialist

FHLBank Topeka’s products and services help our member banks provide affordable credit and support housing and community development efforts. We are accepting resumes for the position listed below. Position located in Topeka, Kansas.

Accounting Policy & Research SpecialistThis position will assist with the development, implementation and administration of accounting policies and will coordinate the implementation of new accounting and reporting requirements with accounting personnel and functional departments. Assist the CAO and staff with evaluating and researching specific transactions for compliance with authoritative accounting literature. Track new and pending accounting pronouncements and an assessment of their impact on the Bank in compliance with GAAP, SEC and regulatory rules. Coordinate the initial assessment of unique/significant transactions for compliance with the Bank’s accounting policies, GAAP, SEC and regulatory rules.

Qualifications• Bachelor’s degree in accounting and CPA certificate or

advanced degree required.• 5+ years accounting experience preferably within the

financial services industry or public accounting.• Working knowledge of internal controls, SOx requirements

and generally accepted accounting principles and theories.• Ability to research complex accounting, auditing and

internal control literature.• Experience with SEC and other financial reporting for a

financial institution preferred.• Knowledge and proficient use of MS Office products,

including Word, Access and Excel, accounting and other financial software applications.

In addition to a rewarding, team-oriented work environment, FHLBank Topeka offers opportunities for growth and development, an attractive benefit package including health and dental insurance, 401(k), short-term incentive plan and much more. To see a more detailed job summary and apply for this position, go to the Bank website at www.fhlbtopeka.com.

EOE

Kansas EthanolController

Kansas Ethanol, a successful, sound ethanol production plant located near Lyons, KS, is seeking an experienced Controller. This position is responsible for all financial activities and processes including accounting practices/procedures, financial reporting and cash flow projections, forecasts, hire/manage/develop accounting staff, and manages the preparation, review, and approval of the budget process. Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance, 6-10 years related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Candidates must have strong analysis skills, good written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to proactively deal with and solve business issues/challenges. Must also be proficient with Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel. Knowledge of Great Plains Accounting software is preferred. CPA preferred but not required. Competitive salary and benefits package. EOE

Please send resume and salary requirements to:

Rob SouthernKennedy and Coe, LLCrsouther@kcoe.com

Cohlmia MarketingPart-Time Bookkeeper

Small Wichita marketing firm seeks a part-time bookkeeper to manage accounts receivable/accounts payable, manage online timetracker submissions and create monthly invoices for consultation and production-related services. Responsibilities also include processing of sales and tax reports, payroll posting, financial reporting, year-end 1099 preparation and interface with outside CPA. Quickbooks experience required. Microsoft Word and Excel required. CPA certification not required but desirable. Minimum 10 years’ experience required in bookkeeping/accounting positions.

Contact Info:

Carol Skaffcskaff@cohlmiamarketing.com316-262-6066

Marketing Resources for KSCPA Members

Check the “Member Resources” for Marketing Resources.Watch for the new KSCPA Marketing Toolkit - Coming soon!

Mark Your Calendar!

SM

Events Conferences

www.kscpa.org

Conference on Kansas Taxes

June 25 , 2012 - Prairie Band Resort & Conf. Cntr.

Wealth/Risk Management Conferences

May 7, 2012 - Overland Park

Governmental & Non Profit Accounting & Auditing Conference

June 5-6, 2012 - Hyatt Wichita

Young Professionals Conferencewith Ernie Almonte

May 22, 2012 - Lawrence

Business & Industry EXPO

June 20, 2012 - Wichita

Women’s Leadership Conference

September 21 , 2012 - Overland Park

Agricultural Workshopwith Roger McEowen

May 10, 2012 - Manhattan

Business Valuation Conference

October 19 , 2012 - Overland Park

Oil & Gas Workshopwith John Tripp

May 8-9, 2012 - Manhattan

Issues Update & Leadership Summitwith Ernie Almonte

May 23, 2012 - Lawrence

4th Annual Legislative Reception

January 19, 2012 - KSCPA Office

1st 2012 “20 up to 40” Program

January 19-20, 2012 - Topeka

KSCPA Strategic Planning Retreat

September 27-28 , 2012 - Overland Park

3rd 2012 “20 up to 40” Leadership Training

July 26-27 , 2012 - Salina

2nd 2012 “20 up to 40” Program

May 22-23, 2012 - Lawrence

4th 2012 “20 up to 40” Team Building

September 27-28 , 2012 - Kansas City

Issues Update/Annual Meeting/ Leadership Summit

November 14 , 2012 - Hyatt Wichita

New CPA Recognition DinnersJan.10th - Overland Park / Jan. 12th - Topeka

Jan. 24th - Wichita

Women to Watch Awards Luncheon

September 21 , 2012 - Overland Park

K2 Heartland Technology Conference

December 6-7, 2012 - Overland Park

KSCPA 80th Anniversary GalaStarring Lonnie McFadden

November 14 , 2012 - Hyatt Wichita

62nd Annual Kansas Tax Conference

November 15-16, 2012 - Hyatt Wichita

Designed for the profession, by the profession.