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The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, introduced in March 2020, aims to help people facing financial losses from the COVID-19 pandemic. ­­In December 2020, the CARES act was expanded to include the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), an initiative that offers loans to businesses struggling during COVID-19. On February 16, 2021, the Associated...

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the switch to largely remote workplaces has been dubbed “The Great Work-from-Home Experiment.” The transition to virtual work has introduced a number of challenges in terms of organization and workflow, but one of the less obvious problem areas is employee morale.

Morale is critical for productivity, retention, and communications. Without the...

The dramatic increase in unemployment identity theft fraud during 2020 serves as a wake-up call for the potential for fraud in the 2021 tax season. With the frequency of data breaches and common use of Social Security Numbers for identification, experts at the Identity Theft Resource Center believe thieves already have the information they need...

Senior citizens have long been targeted by scammers who may take advantage of their trust, needs, and limited technological proficiency. According to Medical Alert Advice, an organization dedicated to seniors’ well-being, “20% of Americans who are over 65 have been financially taken advantage of and over 80% of telemarketing scams prey on victims over the...

During the COVID-19 pandemic, shelter-in-place orders and business’ reduced operating capacities have forced many individuals to rethink their routines. As people try to reduce in-person contact, the already increasing segment of customers using digital bank apps has surged. Currently, approximately 60% of customers use digital banking apps rather than visiting a bank’s physical location, according...

As diversity remains a hot-button issue in the field of accounting and beyond, one often overlooked aspect is the hiring and inclusion of individuals with disabilities. Extending diverse hiring practices to individuals with disabilities and individuals on the autism spectrum, a practice known as neurodiverse hiring, can yield fantastic results for accounting firms.

Reaching New...

There is perhaps no better time for retailers to evaluate their return policies than the lull following the holiday season sales surge. In particular, retailers should assess their vulnerability to return fraud. According to the National Retail Federation, retailers lose $18.4 billion annually to fraudulent returns.

This significant amount points to a serious problem; retailers...

In the Association of International Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) “2019 Accounting Graduates Supply and Demand Report,” a key statistic sparked a change. The report’s breakdown of accounting graduates by race and ethnicity indicated a serious problem: Native Americans only represented .03% of professionals with both a BA and MA in accounting. Individuals holding both degrees...

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe financial strain as millions continue to face layoffs, furloughs, and reduced hours. This spike in joblessness and hardship led to a record-setting 57 million people filing for unemployment benefits between March and September of 2020. This influx of unemployment filings has also brought on a surge in cases of unemployment...

In 2019 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported approximately $2 billion in losses due to scams targeting private individuals, with estimates for 2020 appearing significantly higher. While loss due to scams is widespread and harmful, scams can be especially devastating to the most vulnerable members of society. Scams that specifically target vulnerable populations often go...