Isaac M. O'Bannon

Two prominent accounting firms on New York's Long Island will join together beginning June 2, 2014. Combined, the two have more than fifty years of experience and the newly formed firm of CondeBoyce, LLP will unite the small business startup expertise of Mario Conde, CPA, formerly partner in the accounting firm of Ambrico Conde CPA, LLC, with Joseph Boyce, CPA, whose consulting practice specialized in outsourced CFO services for hedge funds. CondeBoyce, LLP is slated to become one of the leading full-service accounting firms in the New York metropolitan area. The company offices are located in Jericho, Long Island and New York City.

Increases in the total compensation that financial executives receive, including salaries, incentives and benefits, may foretell a turning point in the country’s economic recovery, according to the results of a new survey by Grant Thornton LLP and the Financial Executives Research Foundation (FERF).

CCH has launched a new online research tool called “Quick Answers.” The system features more than 2,000 answers to questions most often researched in IntelliConnect, CCH's research platform for tax and accounting professionals. In addition, the company is previewing CCH IntelliConnect Direct, a new universal platform research tool that provides clear and intuitive access to a wide variety of federal, state and international tax and accounting questions right when users need them.

Only half of employees believe their workplaces are prepared for a severe emergency, according to the third annual workplace safety survey by Staples, Inc.. Nearly two-thirds of those polled said recent natural disasters have not led to their employers reassessing company safety plans. The survey, in honor of National Safety Month, also reveals that in the past six months nearly half of businesses have closed due to severe weather, costing the economy nearly $50 billion in lost productivity.

The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that the initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits increased by 8,000 last week compared to the previous week. However, the "4-week moving average" saw a decrease of 2,250, bringing that measure to the lowest level it has been since June 2, 2007.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has not made enough progress in reducing improper payments of Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC), according to a new report by the Treasury Department agency that oversees the nation's tax collectors.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have issued final guidance specifying that a wide range of benefits and services provided by Indian tribal governments qualify for the general welfare exclusion from income. These include programs for housing, education, cultural and religious purposes, and the elderly and disabled, among others.

Members of the TRG include financial statement preparers, auditors and users representing a wide spectrum of industries, geographical locations and public and private companies and organizations.

Based on data from 4,138 organizations that raised more than $13 billion in the prior 12 months, The Blackbaud Index reported that overall charitable giving grew 1.3 percent for the three months ending April 2014, as compared to the same period in 2013.

American men, particularly those aged 51 or older and with an income over $75,000, are more confident about retirement according to a recent survey conducted by financial services group OneAmerica. Contributing to their confidence is a realistic knowledge of how much retirement income they will need.

Tallie, which makes online expense management systems, has released what it says is the first complete cloud-based expense management solution, providing the quickest path from receipt to balance sheet. Tallie was honored this week with a Tax and Accounting Innovation Award.

The Board of Trustees of the Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF) today announced the appointment of two new members to the Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Council (GASAC).