Fresh out of college with an accounting degree, armed with an internship and having landed an entry-level job just months ago (both with Weinstein Spira), I am hitting the ground running as a tax accountant—in large part due to my participation in a rotation program....
The Balancing Act
Weinstein Spira Blog
Weinstein Spira’s blog, The Balancing Act, provides helpful information on technical accounting and CPA firm culture.
Top Categories: Culture Tax Audit Our Team Employee Benefit Plan Audits
Best Practices on Managing Remote Employees
There are various forms of working remotely, a popular work style that is catching on more and more as companies try to help employees achieve work-life balance. For example, at Weinstein Spira one of the perks is to be able to work from home one day a week after one...
Weinstein Spira Announces Multiple Promotions
Weinstein Spira, the mid-market public accounting firm for Houston’s top high net worth individuals and privately held businesses, is proud to announce the promotion of four leaders within the firm. Tobias McFaul promoted to Senior Tax Manager. McFaul joined Weinstein...
Why a Quality Audit Matters
These days, financial statements are under more scrutiny and subject to stricter regulations to meet high quality standards in the U.S. and around the world. Whether you are a private company needing to comply with your bank’s credit agreement, or a publicly held...
What Does Workplace Culture Mean to You?
A Home Away from Home Accountants are notorious for spending long hours at work, so much so that it can become like a home away from home, where certain creature comforts are sought. A paradigm shift from previous generations, the concept of workplace culture is now...
Revenue Recognition: The Mini-Series, Episode 3
Introduction Hello, again, my fellow knowledge-hungry, number-crunchers! Welcome to Episode 3 of the three-part mini-series on Revenue Recognition (a.k.a. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Rev Rec). Like the late, great Stephen Hawking did with the universe,...
Mobile Workforce: Considerations When Choosing a Video Conferencing System
Following the Mobile Trend Today’s workforce is conducting business on the go more than ever before, thanks to mobile devices and growing emphasis on work/life balance. Collaboration from anywhere at any time is also key to building relationships with colleagues and...
Revenue Recognition: The Mini-Series, Episode 2
Welcome back, all you eager readers! I know you’ve been awaiting this like the world awaited the final season of Game of Thrones. So here it is, Episode 2 of the three-part mini-series on Revenue Recognition (a.k.a. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Rev...
Day in the Life of a Tax Accountant
Working at Weinstein Spira as a tax accountant since September 2018, I can honestly say there’s always a lot happening on any given day, whether it’s the busy season or not. Driving to Work My day begins with driving 30 miles into Houston from Brookshire (west of...
Revenue Recognition: The Mini-Series, Episode 1
Introduction to Revenue Recognition The accounting community has been all abuzz in 2018-2019, as the new Revenue Recognition standards (officially titled, Revenue from Contracts and Customers) must finally be applied to everyone’s financial statements. Briefly...
Video: Executor Responsibilities
Being an executor of an estate is an honor but also a big responsibility. Are you up to it? Amy is letting you know your responsibilities as a loved one’s estate executor. Contact her here if you have any questions about being an executor of an estate. Executor...
Day in the Life of an Audit Senior
There is really no “typical” day to speak of in my experience as an audit senior. I find that every day is different based on the season. My busy season spans from January to the end of May for corporate clients, during which I am hyper-focused. Then, I have a bit of...
Inventory Management Best Practices for Restauranteurs
As many of my audit and consulting clients are in the restaurant and hospitality industry, I am familiar with the various challenges they face to effectively manage inventory. Like most other industries, the goal is to have minimal capital tied up in inventory, while...
Business Books for Your Summer Reading List
With the lengthening of daylight hours, school being out and the hubbub of tax and year-end filing deadlines finally past, it’s the ideal time to plan your summer reading list. Perhaps you can even read alongside your school-aged children! Reading books about business...
Maximizing Your Retirement Dollars
You may be mid-career and saving for retirement or getting ready to jump into a retired lifestyle. Whatever stage you’re in, any tax consultant or financial advisor will tell you, “the best time to plan for that eventuality is now.” This is especially important in the...
Video: What To Include In Your Estate Love Letter
Have you heard of a letter of instruction or ‘love letter’ that accompanies someone’s will? Amy is showing you what types of items you can include. Contact her here if you have any questions about your letter of instruction.
The Power of Office Artwork
Art Matters It’s no secret that art inspires, relaxes, motivates and even increases the productivity of employees, which is why so many companies line their hallways with framed pieces of art, typically of the generic, corporate artwork variety. While some are higher...
What Will Your Legacy Be? Transferring Wealth to the Next Generation
“All good men and women must take responsibility to create legacies that will take the next generation to a level we could only imagine.” ~ Jim Rohn, Entrepreneur and Business Philosopher As life unfolds and businesses evolve, the accumulation of assets grow, from...
Video: Reasons to Update Your Will
When was the last time you reviewed your will? Amy is sharing a few reasons why you should consider updating your will. Contact her here if you have any questions about your estate planning updates.
What is in My Audit Bag?
After six years of working as an auditor, surviving just as many busy auditing seasons, I have learned how to work in a whole different world that keeps me continually on the go! This experience has led to fine-tuning the contents of my audit bag, so that it holds all...
Transitioning After an Acquisition
Prior to acquiring a new company, the focus is on due diligence pertaining to technical and financial issues, such as taxes (discussed in my previous blog post, Essential Tax Considerations Before Acquiring a Target Company). At that stage, there is no time to dive...
Video: 2019 Estate Tax Updates
Estate planning in 2019 is changing with the tax bill! In the video below, Amy is sharing the new tax updates that may affect you
Murray Elected Managing Shareholder at Weinstein Spira
Weinstein Spira, the mid-market public accounting firm for Houston’s top privately held businesses and high net worth individuals, is proud to announce that Kristin Murray has been elected the firm’s Managing Shareholder. Murray succeeds Dianne Peckham, the firm’s...
Home Sweet Desk: Workstation Essentials for Tax Accountants
As a tax accountant, I virtually “live” in my office. It’s like a home away from home! Unlike field auditors, who sometimes work onsite at client locations, tax accountants can be found sitting in their own office working on client tax returns in a comfortable,...