INCPAS 2009 Small Firm: Big Business Nov. 19

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana CPA Society's 2009 Small Firm: Big Business, sponsored by Intelligent Office, will be held Nov. 19 at the Horizon Convention Center in Muncie.

This conference will address the trends affecting the day-to-day operations of a small firm, how to protect against fraud and how to form relationships with other firms. In addition, conference attendees will have the opportunity to participate in interactive discussion groups to talk about important issues small firms face. Topics include social media, HR issues and information security.

Mark Koziel, CPA, with the AICPA will discuss the top practice management issues, and Michael J. Hicks, Ph.D. with the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University will give attendees a better understanding of the current state of the U.S. economy.

The Program

• MAP Top Issues
• Taking Control of Your Practice
• The Power of Documentation
• Interactive Discussion Group: Social Networking – What It Is and Why You Should Care
• Economic Update for Small Business
• Forming Working Relationships with Other Firms
• Transforming the Accounting Services Client Practice Area
• Interactive Discussion Group: Tackling HR Issues
• Fraud and Embezzlement: Risk Management Strategies
• Technology Update

Story Ideas
All topics covered have an impact on small business, financial institutions and other users of CPA services. With so many topics to choose from, a number of different story ideas or angles are possible. Some suggestions include the following:

• As local small CPA firm practitioners and their clients wait for the economy to turn around, what resources can they use to keep up with the ever-changing environment?
• Since CPAs work with sensitive personal information daily, what controls are in place to protect this information and what are they required to do in the event of a security breach?
• Small businesses often rely on their CPA when it comes time to work with a bank. How do CPAs choose the right bank for their clients and form a solid banking relationship?

Media Information
Members of the media are encouraged to attend individual sessions or the entire conference. Most speakers will be available for interviews immediately following their presentation. If you are interested in attending, contact Jenifer Groth at (317) 726-5010 or jgroth@incpas.org in advance.

CPA Ambassadors
CPAs are a great resource for the media. The CPA Ambassador Program pairs CPAs with media outlets. To speak with a CPA in your area, contact Jenifer Groth at (317) 726-5010 or jgroth@incpas.org.