We’ve all heard of consumerism. But how is it changing the delivery of health care, and what about the many CPAs who work extensively in this industry? Marc Scher, CPA, partner in charge of KPMG LLP’s global and U.S. health care audit practice in southern California, clarifies this concept in a preview of his upcoming presentation at PICPA’s Health Care Conference, June 5-6, at the Hershey Lodge.

Pennsylvania’s 2017 tax amnesty program is here, but only for a limited time. John Kaschak, CPA, deputy secretary for taxation at the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, stops by to explain the program’s timeframe and eligibility, as well as what it means for CPAs and their clients.

In a discussion related to their Education column for the digital-only bonus edition of the Pennsylvania CPA Journal, Duquesne University assistant professors Robert J. Kollar, CPA, and Valerie Trott Williams, CPA, CFE, CFF, sat with CPA Conversations to explore the pilot program they established in conjunction with Surgent CPA Review to integrate CPA Exam material into the college classroom.

Both the CEO and CFO of the Wounded Warrior Project were abruptly fired in 2016 after news reports surfaced alleging the charity had misused funds. Doug White, former director of the master’s program in nonprofit management at Columbia University, shares some of what he discovered after investigating these allegations and the fallout, and discusses what it all means for CPAs working in the nonprofit sector.

With so much competition in the accounting field, the need to open new revenue streams is paramount. One area that is emerging as a possibility for exploration is supplying business advisory services. On this episode of CPA Conversations, we talk to Richard Stanger, chief executive officer of StangerCarlson in New York City, about this growing area of opportunity in the accounting world.

While data analytics techniques could benefit all accounting practitioners, many of these businesses can be either intimidated by the prospects of a new way of doing things or limited by their resources. In his return to CPA Conversations, Tommy Stephens, a shareholder with K2 Enterprises, tells us how many of the benefits of data analytics can be harnessed through mastery of Microsoft Excel.

We all know that “fake news” has become a buzzword in the global and national political landscapes, but is it possible that the concept could affect financial information as well as people’s understanding of basic economic principles? To answer this question, CPA Conversations spoke with Dr. Sean Stein Smith, CPA, CMA, CGMA, an assistant professor of professional practice at Rutgers University in Camden, N.J.

Recent legislation has eliminated, or greatly curtailed, who can use the file-and-suspend Social Security benefit claiming strategy, and who can file a restricted application for spousal benefits. In this episode of CPA Conversations, Laurie Siebert, CPA, explains what members should know about these changes to claiming Social Security benefits and how they can better advise clients in retirement planning.

Many college seniors have accepted their first accounting job with a firm, but they won’t begin working full-time until summer or fall of 2017. So what should they do now to prepare for the first step of their accounting career journey? Lisa Bilich, CPA, a tax senior with E&Y in Pittsburgh, provides her wisdom for rookie accountants looking to start on the right foot.

Civil tax failures that elevate to criminal tax exposure is a scary thought for CPA practitioners. Patrick J. McCormick, of Kulzer & DiPadova, a law firm in Haddonfield, N.J., discusses the ways this can happen, common threads of tax crimes, and tips for CPAs to protect their clients from running afoul of tax laws.