Knowledge and Insights: Newsletters

Whether between partners in life or partners in business, disagreements are inevitable.  As with those in life, some business relationships become irreparable, ultimately leading to a business divorce.  This is a term used to describe a situation where partners split for one reason or another, often resulting in lengthy and expensive litigation.  Many who have…

Traditional roles of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) in the public sector, whether at the federal, state or local level, revolve around the areas of auditing, financial reporting and management accounting. These roles, however, have undoubtedly expanded to include both detective and reactive forensic accounting services. Mercadien’s Forensic Accounting and Government Services practices work together, occasionally…

Happy New Year!  Saying this might make you think of Christmas in July but at Mercadien, July 1st starts our new fiscal year.  Our tradition in the Nonprofit and Human Services Group is to attend the AICPA (American Institute of CPAs) Not-for-Profit (NFP) conference and gather all the information we can to update our staff…

Most not-for-profit organizations are required to file Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax. Form 990 is the IRS’ primary tool for gathering information about tax exempt organizations, educating organizations about tax law requirements and promoting compliance. Organizations use Form 990 to share information with the public about their programs while states rely…

Succession planning is a process that every business owner thinks about, however, identifying and developing new leaders is easier said than done. According to Business Enterprise Institute’s 2016 Business Owner Survey Report: 79% of business owners plan to exit their business in the next ten years, 38% have not taken any steps toward their exits,…

With the passage of the new tax law on December 22, 2017, there may be some unintended consequences of which everyone should be aware.  One change directly affected the federal income tax withholding rate at which taxes are withheld from paychecks.  Employers are required to use these new rates and ultimately reduce employees’ federal withholding…

It might not be surprising, but the United States isn’t close to the top when it comes to basic financial literacy skills among teenage students. Which country is? China. The 2018 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey found the U.S. 7th out of 15 countries surveyed on understanding essential financial concepts and risks. China,…

Traditionally, social media was known as a web-based platform that allowed users to create, share or exchange information through virtual communities and networks. Today, the number and types of social media, and the people using them, continue to rise. It has been found, however, that employees often present a very different persona on social media…

Overview of Internal Controls and Their Importance We live in a fast-paced and rapidly-changing business environment focused on innovation and efficiency.  With new systems, means of access, and growth, it is critical that your organization consistently reviews and updates its internal controls, policies and procedures. This needs to be done to stay ahead of the…

Is your organization required to comply with certain state, federal or industry regulatory guidelines? Are you ready for your next compliance audit? Navigating the sea of regulations that exist today can be cumbersome and costly for businesses, which often do not devote sufficient resources towards compliance audit readiness. Noncompliance, however, can cost more time and…