Avoid Penalties Under Unclaimed Property Laws with Best Practices for Compliance
By Janna Goudarzi, CPA | Nonprofit Tax Manager All 50 states have unclaimed property laws (also known as escheat laws) that require organizations to make reasonable efforts to contact those to whom they owe money or property and then remit any unpaid items to the state. These rules generally apply to all entities, including exempt…
The EU’s GDPR is Applicable to US Companies. Is Your Organization in Compliance?
By Darren Hulem | Network Administrator Auditor GDPR, also known as General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679, was a regulation passed by the European Union (EU) in 2016 aimed at data protection and privacy for individuals within the EU. Enforcement, which began on May 25, 2018, has the potential to affect companies outside of the…
Forensic Auditing and Artificial Intelligence Help Detect Fraudulent Activity
By Mac Lillard, CPA, CFE, CITP, CISA, | Manager, Audit and Risk Advisory Services Fraud prevention is one of the most important aspects of an effective organizational risk management strategy. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) 2018 Report to the Nations, there were 2,690 cases of occupational fraud, resulting in $7+ billion…
Best Practices for Nonprofits Implementing ASU 2016-14
By Alison Albrecht, CPA | Nonprofit Audit Supervisor The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-14, Presentation of Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Entities, to enhance the presentation of financial statements and provide more meaningful information to the readers of the financial statements. One of the changes included in the ASU 2016-14…
Internal Audit is a Critical Investment for Nonprofit Organizations
By Mark Tessar, CPA, CIA | Nonprofit Audit Supervisor By their nature, tax-exempt entities are under extraordinary scrutiny. With the IRS, external auditors, donors, watchdogs and stakeholders all analyzing their finances, nonprofit organizations must implement effective internal controls that decrease the likelihood of fraud, accounting mistakes or other inappropriate accounting practices that could impact the…
A Revised Fundraising Strategy Can Help Nonprofits Reduce the Impact of TCJA on Charitable Giving
By Jorge Estrada, CPA | Nonprofit Audit and Tax Senior Manager The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) passed at the end of 2017 made the most far–reaching changes to the tax code since 1986. While many in the nonprofit industry believe the changes in the tax law are creating a more challenging environment for…
Identifying Contributions vs. Exchange Transactions Clarified with ASU 2018-08 (Topic 958)
By Lindsay Dean, CPA | Nonprofit Audit Senior Manager In June 2018, FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2018-08, Not-for-Profit Entities (Topic 958): Clarifying the Scope and Accounting Guidance for Contributions Received and Contributions Made. Nonprofit organizations with fiscal years that begin after December 15, 2018 and make or receive contributions should be prepared to…
Vulnerability Scanning and Penetration Testing Offer Tools for a Strong Security Posture
By Darren Hulem | Network Administrator Auditor In the movies, hackers sit in front of a computer typing a few lines of code and suddenly they have access to all of the victim company’s systems. While cybercrime does not happen like it is portrayed in the movies, it has become a common theme in recent…
A Practical Guide to Consolidation vs. Combination of Financial Statements for Nonprofits
By Carlos Hurtado, CPA | Nonprofit Audit Supervisor In recent years, nonprofit organizations have drastically changed how they structure their relationship with related organizations. The relationship of an organization and its related entities is not only important to their operational, programmatic and financial goals; it may also significantly affect the audit of their financial statements….
Invest Time and Resources to Improve the Month-End Close Process
By Sharon Carbonell, CPA | Manager, Outsourced Accounting and Advisory Services For many who work in the finance department of a nonprofit or for-profit business, the month-end close process is a constant source of strain. Inefficiency and operational ambiguity are sore spots in particular, generally the result of manual data entry, lack of coordination, deficient…