Two veteran Intuit executives, Kiran Patel, the EVP who led the company's small business group, and Alex Lintner, the SVP who headed its global business division, are leaving the company. Their positions are being absorbed into the structure that includes three new divisions. Among the remaining executives, Jill Ward, the SVP who has led Accounting Professionals Division, picks up added global responsibilities. In fact, the announcement showed a strong focus on global business.

Managing and retaining data emerged as the No. 1 issue in the Top Technology Initiatives of the American Institute of CPAs. It was only the second time in the last 10 years that information security was not the top issue. And the reason, according to Donny Shimamoto, chair of the AICPA's Information Management Technology Assurance Committee, is big data. The other big change was that overall survey participants are less confident in achieving goals for the Top 10 issues. Read more...

Jim Metzler will retire from his position as VP of small firm interests for the American Institute of CPAs in January after 10 years in the job. Metzler's intention were announced internally in January. A partner with the former Gaines Metzler Kriner, the Buffalo, N.Y.-based CPA came on board in a period he said that "members weren't crazy about the institute."