A Cranston, R.I.-based tax preparer has pleaded guilty to using stolen identifies to receive more than 100 government checks in the amount of $800,700 and deposit them into her personal bank account. The preparer, Belkis M. Guzman, 48, pleaded to aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, wire fraud, theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft.

Xero will roll out a new global Partner Program in November along with Xero HQ, which the web-based software company calls an open practice platform. The changes accompany the new Xero certification process and the ability to earn points by adding clients, which will give them the opportunity to grow more quickly.

A program from H&R Block designed to provide buy accounting firms or enable them to become franchise operations has ended. And last month, Jennifer Katrulya, whose organization was an important part of the program, left Block.