There’s encouraging news for firms interested in pursuing strategies to retain and promote women: You don’t have to re-invent the wheel.In fact, the timing couldn’t be better, as dozens of top programs are under way at firms across the country. We talked with leaders at three of those firms who were eager to share what they’ve learned.

A team of accounting students from Brigham Young University has captured first place honors as winners of the Deloitte National Student Case Study Competition.

The U.S. added 8,000 jobs in the private sector in March, according to a report by payroll giant ADP.

National University is launching its first-ever masters of accounting program both online and on campus.

The Treasury Department has been pilot testing a free interface between its Electronic Federal Tax Payment System and Intuit's QuickBooks software and plans to expand the interface to other software.

DiCicco, Gulman & Co. Gets World Series Trophy Visit

Baruch College's Zicklin School of Business plans to introduce an executive master's degree program with a specialization in financial statement analysis and securities assessment, aimed at working professionals.

African-Americans comprise just 3 percent of CPAs nationwide — but Dr. Frank K. Ross is working to help change that.After a 38-year career with KPMG, where he held such posts as mid-Atlantic area managing partner for audit and risk advisory services and managing partner of the Washington, D.C., office, Ross retired and now serves as director of the Howard University School of Business’ Center for Accounting Education, an entity that is focused on boosting the number of minorities in the accounting profession.

As CPA firms grapple with ongoing staffing challenges and the norm of a “traditional” workplace begins to erode, management must be more flexible and innovative than ever.

Helped by gains of 8 percent and 18 percent in its core payroll and human resources services units, respectively, payroll and benefits outsourcing concern Paychex Inc. posted a 13 percent rise in third-quarter profits, to $142.5 million for the period ended February 29.

Accounting firms and jurors have something in common. Judges are now instructing jurors not to go on the Internet to research any aspect of the case. This direction is made necessary because many deliberating jurors, when they go home at night, are improperly looking up on the Internet definitions of legal terms, reading the text of the applicable law, researching cases, and searching for information about parties to the case. This urge to go on the Internet is quite natural and expected, but can result in a mistrial. With so much information easily accessible, it is an almost automatic reaction to go to the Internet when a question pops up in one’s head.

The American Payroll Association has launched a new association for accounts payable professionals.

Spotting an attractive young female at an accounting software conference is like finding a "needle in a haystack."

Accounting firm Berkowitz Dick Pollack & Brant said its $50,000 contribution would help provide four-year college scholarships for 30 low-income at-risk children in Florida.

It is the first publication on managing an accounting practice that I read that isn’t written like an explanation of the Internal Revenue Code and, more importantly, it is the very best that I have read on the subject.

There are a lot of very good research tools on the market. But what's available for the small practitioner who needs less than high-powered products?

The California Society of CPAs said it would begin an educational initiative to help its 31,000 members cope with International Financial Reporting Standards.

To help mentor African-American accountants in their careers and to prepare them for the CPA Exam, Howard University School of Business's Center for Accounting Education will hold its fourth annual "We're About Success!" conference June 22-27 in Chantilly, Va.

PAI Group has promoted Robert Digby to CEO of the payroll company.

Don't burn bridges. Don't take any nonsense. Those were some of the curt, but significant nuggets of advice from a keynote by Nichola Holt, a partner within Global Employer Services at Deloitte Tax LLP, during the Association for Accounting Marketing New York Metropolitan Chapter's March meeting. At the session, titled, "Women's Initiatives: The Revolution to Bridge the Gender Divide," Holt shared her experiences of coming to New York City from London and her road to making partner -- first at Arthur Andersen in 1999 and then later at Deloitte --and how she lassoed opportunities, opening up doors for others in the process. "You've got to really ask and articulate the value when the opportunity comes up," she said, "Sometimes you have to focus on what's important rather than what's urgent on your desk." Holt, who has been part of her firms' committees choosing candidates for partnership, said she admitted to being a little embarrassed at times by what some of the women offered up as client presentations. She said men were more prepared than their female counterparts, who lacked punch and enthusiasm. "Their personality wasn't coming out," she recalled, adding that women need to know and then articulate to their firms how to win business and then present themselves in a polished and succinct manner. For personal and professional development, Holt suggested "paying it forward," finding role models, understanding how gender differences impact success, articulating your value, enhancing your personal brand and maintaining self-clarity. She said career planning should be focused and include asking for help, as well as seeking feedback. When considering someone for partner, Holt said that she wants to know how the person will build the business, how they will bring value to their business and how much revenue they are currently managing. While Deloitte has formal programs to enhance women's leadership, work/life balance and diversity issues, she said the firm also encourages informal interactions to keep people connected and inspired. "Dr Pepper breaks" or brief 15-minute meetings in places such as the break room or by the water cooler with mentors or others in the firm can keep people engaged without the commitment of a lunch or dinner meeting to catch up. During tax season, Holt said she offers food-centric breaks such as ice cream in the afternoon or pizza at dinnertime if people are still in the office. She said Deloitte would be relaunching their mentoring program once tax season is over. Holt added that younger women in the firm are asking for male mentors, especially if it's a senior member of the firm to find out their career experiences. Deloitte also introduced a "Junior Win" program with a specific focus on those at the manager level or lower. She said younger staff members are often interested in work life balance and "green" environmental issues, as well as, community-oriented volunteerism. "It's a journey and you have to focus or you won't get there," she said.