By: Chris Gaetano Published Date: Jul 9, 2020 Robert Fligel, a consultant specializing in CPA firms who spoke at a recent NYSSCPA CPE event, said that while the global pandemic has slowed merger-and-acquisition activity among CPA firms, it has by no means stopped, and there remain many opportunities for owners looking to sell or merge their practices. Speaking on July 8 before members of the Society’s Small Firms Practice Committee, Fligel said that since the middle of March, he has had “a lot of meetings with buyers and sellers.” While the process is slower, as “the in-person meetings haven’t happened yet and timetables may be stretched out a little bit,”…

The National Conference of CPA Practitioners announced that Karen Giunta and Sanford (Sandy) Zinman are the recipients of its 2019 Gold Awards. The lifetime achievement award recognizes CPAs with successful careers who are also “contributors, advocates, and selfless volunteers” to NCCPAP. Giunta has previously served as membership chair, treasurer, and president of the NCCPAP at the national level, as well as serving as a vice president and president at the chapter level. She has also served on the Long Island Tax Professionals Symposium Committee for over 17 years since its inception. She is a self-employed sole practitioner who was introduced to both accounting and the NCCPAP through her late husband….

Stuart Kessler, CPA, PFS, a former president of the New York State Society of CPAs and the Accountants Club of America, chairman of the American Institute of CPAs, founding partner of Goldstein Golub Kessler and senior tax director at CohnReznick, has died. Stuart Kessler Kessler was frequently named among Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People in the profession. He was known as one of the top personal financial planning professionals in the U.S. and was the first living member of the New York State Society of CPAs’ Hall of Fame. In addition to being a past NYSSCPA president, he also presided over the NYSSCPA’s Foundation for Accounting Education Committee, and…

LAS VEGAS, Nevada, June 11 — The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued the following news release: Stuart Kessler, CPA/PFS, has received the American Institute of CPA’s(AICPA) Stanley H. Breitbard Lifetime Achievement in Personal Financial Planning Award. This is only the third lifetime achievement award in personal financial planning ever given by the AICPA. The presentation took place at the AICPA’s Advanced Personal Financial Planning (PFP) Conference in Las Vegas. Kessler, a Senior Tax Director specializing in estate and financial planning at CohnReznick in New York, NY is being honored for the key role he played in launching the AICPA’s Personal Financial Planning Division over 30 years ago as well as his continued contributions advancing the profession today. He led the…

A Short Conversation with J. Michael Kirkland, CPA, CGMA, Accountants Club of America President for 2018 – 2019 What is your vision for ACA in the coming year? I hope to grow this organization.  As someone in the press said a few years ago, ACA is one of New York’s best kept secrets.  I want to keep the “best” part and eliminate the “secret.” How is ACA different from other professional organizations? We are certainly not trying to emulate NYSSCPA or AICPA.   Our role is different.  We are here to create personal contact, which breeds mutual and trust among individuals who can then be resources to each other. ACA provides…

Joanne Barry Executive director and CEO, NYSSCPA As head of one of the largest and most influential state societies, Barry is a major voice for strong professional education, vigilance in maintaining accounting’s integrity in its public service role, and more inclusion for women and minorities. Career Highlights: Executive director and CEO, New York State Society of CPAs, 2010-present; executive director, Foundation for Accounting Education, 2010-present; executive director, Moynihan Scholarship Fund, 2017; publisher, “The CPA Journal;” deputy executive director, 2008-2009; managing director of communications, 2006-2008; director, Communications Division, 1986-1989; assistant director of PR, 1981-1986. … Assistant director of public information and publications editor, Hackensack Medical Center, 1980-1981 … PR, New York…