Year-End Audit Prep: Reducing Bottlenecks Before the Auditors Arrive
For many government finance teams, year-end audit prep begins long before auditors arrive for fieldwork. The quality of year-end preparation can influence how quickly questions are resolved, how many follow-up requests are needed, and how smoothly the overall process moves. A well-organized audit file does more than support compliance. It helps finance teams
Building Operating Reserves: How Much Is Enough?
Operating reserves play an important role in helping organizations stay financially stable through uncertainty. Whether an organization is responding to delayed funding, unexpected repairs, revenue shortfalls, rising costs, or shifts in service demand, reserves provide flexibility when timing and cash flow do not line up as planned. For many leaders, the
FDIC Digital Signage and Non-Deposit Disclosures: Start the 2027 Countdown
The FDIC has finalized updates to its official digital sign and non-deposit signage requirements, with a compliance date of April 1, 2027. While that date may feel distant, banks know how quickly digital projects can become crowded with vendor timelines, testing issues, approval steps, and competing priorities. The final rule applies to FDIC-insured financial i
Preparing Early for GASB 105: Subsequent Events and Year-End Disclosure Discipline
GASB Statement No. 105, Subsequent Events, is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2026, and all reporting periods thereafter. While that date may feel distant, the practical work of preparing begins much earlier. The standard defines subsequent events as transactions or other events that occur after the date of the financial statements but [&hel
Headlights Newsletter – Q3 2026
The latest issue of Headlights, a publication of the AutoCPA, is now available. Click here to access the newsletter.
Preparing for a More Active M&A Market: What Sellers Should Do Now
After a more uneven transaction cycle, many business owners are beginning to think more seriously about what a future sale could look like. Even when market activity improves, a successful transaction does not start when a buyer appears. It starts well before that, with clean financial information, organized documentation, and a clear understanding of the [&hel
Payment Fraud on Construction Projects: Strengthening Controls Before Money Moves
Construction firms move quickly by nature. Project timelines are tight, subcontractors need to be paid, materials must be secured, and change orders can shift cash needs with little warning. That pace creates opportunity, but it also creates risk. As construction activity continues across infrastructure, power, water, data center, and semiconductor projects, fi
Floorplan Interest and Depreciation: A Year-End Review for Dealership Owners
Year-end planning gives dealership owners an important opportunity to look beyond sales results and focus on two areas that can have a meaningful impact on financial performance: floorplan interest and depreciation. Both can affect cash flow, taxable income, and how leadership evaluates the cost of carrying inventory and investing in the business. This re
Understanding When Tips Are Subject to Sales Tax in Minnesota & South Dakota
Businesses often assume that if a tip isn’t subject to federal income tax withholding rules, it must also be exempt from sales tax. But sales tax is a state question, and states determine for themselves whether a gratuity is taxable. Minnesota and South Dakota provide straightforward but different guidance on when a tip becomes a taxable charge. You’r
Is Your Construction Business Transferable?
For many contractors and developers, the business represents years of hard work, client relationships, community reputation, and calculated risk. Yet a successful business is not always a transferable one. A company may have steady revenue, a strong backlog, and long-standing customer relationships, but still face challenges if ownership or leade