Robert Carmines says it’s a wonder he’s not electrocuted when he tries to sort out the wires under his desk. Or sometimes when he’s trying to sort out the problems with monitors, it’s like trying to find the burned out bulb in a string of Christmas lights. Welcome to the world of multiple monitors.

Payroll preparation is one of those subjects that can produce a wide range of opinions among accounting professionals. Postulate that the service can be a good way for accountants to make money or it's not a business they should be in and you can probably get a significant number of practitioners lined up behind either position. Is the main element needed for success the right staff, software or the number of clients?

Although nearly every accountant I've ever met refers to themselves as a trusted business advisor, upon closer inspection, they better fit the description of trusted accounting technician; acting more like a scorekeeper than coach. The path from trusted accounting technician to trusted business advisor is a value-adding journey.

The Alliantgroup - which helps clients take advantage of federal and state tax credits, incentives, and deductions - has hired Jim Mirabile as national director. Mirabile joins the Houston, Texas-based firm as national director and will continue serving the CPA profession after working at CCH since 1989.