Accounting Today

Accounting Today is a trade publication focused on the accounting profession, offering news, analysis, and rankings for practitioners, firms, and advisors. Founded in the late 20th century, it covers tax, audit, regulatory developments, firm management, and technology affecting certified public accountants and accounting firms. The publication is noted for its lists, including the annual Top 100 Firms and regional rankings, and for convening conferences and awards that engage professionals, firms, and vendors.

History

Accounting Today was launched during a period of consolidation and innovation in financial services when firms such as Arthur Andersen, Price Waterhouse, Deloitte, KPMG, and Ernst & Young dominated headlines. Its development paralleled major regulatory and legal events including the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the Sarbanes–Oxley Act, and the accounting responses to corporate failures like Enron and WorldCom. The publication tracked the emergence of boutique practices, the growth of firms such as BDO International and Grant Thornton, and globalization trends tied to organizations like the International Federation of Accountants and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. During the 1990s and 2000s it expanded coverage to include technology vendors such as Intuit, Sage Group, and Microsoft, and followed standards-setting changes from bodies like the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the International Accounting Standards Board. In the 2010s and 2020s it adapted to digital journalism trends alongside peers like The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and Bloomberg News, while responding to pandemic-era shifts affecting firms such as PwC and RSM US LLP.

Content and Coverage

The publication provides reporting on taxation, auditing, practice management, and professional ethics, addressing rule-making by regulators such as the Internal Revenue Service, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Coverage spans developments in financial reporting influenced by entities like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, and technical guidance from professional associations including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, and the Institute of Management Accountants. It reviews software and cloud services from vendors including QuickBooks, Xero, Oracle Corporation, and SAP SE, and analyzes firm strategy tied to consulting arms of firms such as Accenture and McKinsey & Company. Editorial content includes investigative pieces on enforcement actions involving firms and individuals associated with cases brought by the Department of Justice or adjudicated in courts such as the United States Court of Appeals. It also reports on academic research from institutions like Harvard Business School, Stanford University, and University of Chicago Booth School of Business when findings affect practice. Regular features include rankings of firms like CliftonLarsonAllen, thought leadership from practitioners connected to organizations such as CIMA, and profiles of leaders who have held roles at entities like Tax Policy Center or served in administrations such as the Treasury of the United States.

Audience and Impact

The core readership comprises certified public accountants, partners and managers at firms including regional groups like CBIZ and national firms such as Moss Adams, as well as in-house finance executives at corporations like General Electric and ExxonMobil. Other audiences include technology vendors, consultants, academics affiliated with universities such as Columbia University and New York University, and policymakers in bodies like the Congress of the United States and state boards of accountancy. Its rankings and analysis influence recruiting, merger activity involving firms like Baker Tilly and Marcum LLP, and vendor purchasing decisions involving providers such as NetSuite and Bill.com. The publication’s reporting has been cited in discussions at conferences hosted by organizations like AICPA ENGAGE and in commentary by commentators from outlets such as Forbes, The New York Times, and CNBC.

Ownership and Management

Accounting Today is published by Arizent, a business information company whose portfolio includes brands with audiences in finance, insurance, and banking such as Banking Dive-style coverage and niche publications formerly part of Miller Publishing Company acquisitions. Management has included editors and executives with backgrounds at media organizations like Adweek and Crain Communications. Editorial leadership interacts with advisory boards composed of partners from firms such as Crowe LLP, Eide Bailly, and representatives from professional bodies including the AICPA and state CPA societies. Ownership changes in the media sector that affected the title occurred alongside transactions involving private equity firms and corporate groups similar to Thomson Reuters and Gannett in the broader industry.

Awards and Events

The publication organizes and sponsors events and awards recognizing excellence in accounting practice, firm leadership, and innovation, similar in scope to ceremonies hosted by AccountingWEB and conferences like Accountex. Signature programs include rankings such as the Top 100 Firms and segment-specific lists comparable to honors by Fortune and thematic events resembling summits held by SIIA or TechCrunch for technology. Panels and seminars have featured speakers from academic institutions such as Yale University and regulatory experts from the GAO and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. It partners with continuing professional education providers and venues in cities including New York City, Chicago, and San Francisco to deliver courses that satisfy state boards and professional organizations like the NASBA.

Category:Business magazines