The $25 Accounting Gift Box: A Bundle of Joy
Imagine the delight on your favorite accountant's face when they receive a beautifully packaged gift box filled with treasures tailored to their profession. For just $25, RuBook Creative offers a unique gift box that includes a copy of an engaging accounting children's book, perfect for sparking joy and laughter. But that's not all! The box also contains one of our regular-sized greeting cards, complete with a handwritten note to add a personal touch to your thoughtful gesture. This special touch ensures that your gift carries a heartfelt message, making it all the more memorable.
More Than Just a Gift Box: A Range of Options
While the $25 Accounting Gift Box is a fantastic choice, RuBook Creative understands that everyone's tastes and needs are different. That's why we offer a variety of gift box options, each thoughtfully curated to cater to different preferences and budgets. Whether you're looking for something more elaborate or a simple token of appreciation, our selection of gift boxes has something for everyone. We encourage you to explore our website to discover the perfect gift box that aligns with your desired message and budget.
Why Choose an Accounting Gift Box?
Choosing an accounting-themed gift box from RuBook Creative is more than just a purchase; it's an expression of thoughtfulness and understanding. These gift boxes are not only relevant to the recipient's profession but also offer a delightful surprise that breaks the monotony of typical office gifts. The inclusion of a children's book adds a playful element, while the personalized holiday card conveys your warm wishes in a way that resonates with the recipient's professional identity. Plus, the convenience of having a pre-packaged gift ready to be shipped directly to your lucky friend or colleague makes the entire process hassle-free.
Conclusion: A Gift That Counts
In the world of accounting, where precision and attention to detail are paramount, the Accounting Gift Box from RuBook Creative stands out as a thoughtful and considerate gift choice. For just $25, including shipping, you can send a bundle of joy that's sure to bring a smile to your favorite accountant's face. Whether it's for a birthday, holiday, or just to show appreciation, this gift box is a delightful way to celebrate the accountant in your life. So why wait? Head over to RuBook Creative and choose the perfect Accounting Gift Box to make someone's day a little brighter and a lot more fun!
Buy yours today here: https://rubookcreative.com/collections/accounting-gift-boxes
]]>Why Choose Accounting-Themed Cards?
Accounting-themed cards are a novel way to celebrate the accountants in your life. Unlike generic cards, these are designed with the profession in mind, featuring elements and humor that only accountants can truly appreciate. Such personalized touches make the recipient feel valued and understood, reinforcing the bond you share.
Versatility for Every Occasion:
Whether it's a birthday, a promotion, a graduation, or even retirement, RuBook Creative has got you covered. The range of accounting-themed cards available caters to every milestone in an accountant's career. Imagine the delight on your colleague's face when they receive a card that humorously highlights the joys and challenges of tax season on their birthday, or a congratulatory note adorned with financial puns to celebrate their promotion. These cards are not just greetings; they're a celebration of the recipient's professional journey.
Convenience and Personalization:
RuBook Creative understands the value of personal touches. That's why they offer the option to ship the card directly to the recipient with a handwritten message from you. This service adds a layer of convenience and personalization, making your gesture even more special. If you prefer a more personal delivery or want to pair the card with another gift, you can choose to have it shipped to you instead. Either way, the focus is on ensuring that your message is delivered in the most meaningful way possible.
Conclusion:
In a world filled with fleeting digital messages, a thoughtful, accounting-themed card from RuBook Creative can leave a lasting impression on the accountants in your life. These cards are not just a way to convey your wishes; they're a reflection of the recipient's professional identity and your personal attention to detail. So, next time you're looking to celebrate an occasion for an accountant, go beyond the ordinary and choose a greeting that truly resonates with their passion for numbers.
]]>The Power of a Thoughtful Gesture
It's often the small acts of kindness that have the most profound impact. A card that recognizes the efforts and dedication of your coworkers or friends during the busy season can be a beacon of light in a sea of spreadsheets and financial statements. Imagine the smile on a colleague's face when they find a note of appreciation on their desk amidst a pile of work. These moments of recognition not only boost morale but also foster a positive work environment where everyone feels valued and supported.
Introducing the 'Busy Season Encouragement' Card
RuBook Creative has designed a special card for such occasions. The "Sadder-day" card is a thoughtful and humorous way to cheer up your accounting team during the busy season. Its design and message are tailored specifically for those who are working tirelessly to meet deadlines, offering a moment of levity and acknowledgment of their hard work. This card is a perfect way to show your appreciation and remind your colleagues that their efforts do not go unnoticed.
Creative Ways to Present the Card
To make the gesture even more special, consider pairing the card with a small gift. A coffee gift card, for example, can provide a much-needed caffeine boost during long work hours. Alternatively, a stress-relief item like a stress ball or a scented candle can offer a bit of relaxation amidst the chaos. Personalizing the message inside the card adds an extra touch of thoughtfulness, making it clear that you've taken the time to recognize the individual's contribution to the team's success.
Conclusion
As the busy season unfolds, it's important to remember that a little encouragement can go a long way. The "Busy Season Encouragement" card from RuBook Creative is more than just a piece of paper; it's a symbol of solidarity and appreciation. By giving this card to your colleagues, you're not only boosting their morale but also strengthening the bonds within your team. So, take a moment to spread some positivity and visit RuBook Creative to get your hands on this perfect encouragement gift for your accounting team. Together, you can turn those "Sadder-days" into better days. Buy yours today: https://rubookcreative.com/collections/busy-season-encouragement
]]>The Power of Encouragement
The period leading up to a CPA exam section can be fraught with anxiety and stress. A well-chosen greeting card can serve as a beacon of encouragement, reminding the recipient that they are not alone in their endeavor. The right words can inspire confidence and provide the emotional boost needed to tackle the challenges ahead. Whether it's a card filled with motivational quotes, humorous anecdotes, or heartfelt messages, the act of sending a card demonstrates thoughtfulness and belief in the recipient's abilities.
Choosing the Right Card
Selecting the perfect card involves considering the recipient's personality and the specific exam section they are facing. For someone who appreciates humor, a light-hearted card with a funny message can provide much-needed comic relief. For others, a card with an inspirational quote or a personal message of encouragement may resonate more deeply. The key is to tailor the message to the individual, making it clear that the card is chosen with care and consideration.
Celebrating Success
Passing a CPA exam section is a significant achievement that deserves recognition. A congratulatory card not only acknowledges the hard work and dedication required to reach this milestone but also serves as a tangible reminder of the accomplishment. It's a way to celebrate the success and encourage the recipient to keep pushing forward on their journey to becoming a CPA.
RuBook Creative's CPA Exam Greeting Cards
RuBook Creative offers a unique collection of CPA exam greeting cards designed specifically for accounting professionals. These cards are crafted with the CPA journey in mind, featuring messages that resonate with the challenges and triumphs of the exam process. Whether it's a card to send encouragement before an exam section or to congratulate someone on passing, RuBook Creative has thoughtfully designed options to suit every occasion.
Supporting someone on their journey to becoming a CPA is a meaningful gesture that can make a real difference. A greeting card, though small, can carry a powerful message of encouragement and celebration. RuBook Creative's CPA exam greeting cards are a perfect way to show your support for friends, family, and coworkers as they navigate the demanding path of the CPA exam. By choosing a card that speaks to their experience, you can help make every step of their journey memorable and celebrated. Shop here: https://rubookcreative.com/collections/cpa-exam-encouragement
]]>Let's face it; accounting can be a tough nut to crack. But what if we told you that humor is the ultimate nutcracker? RuBook Creative is on a mission to infuse joy into the world of numbers, proving that accounting and laughter go hand in hand. Our curated collection of hilarious accounting humor is designed to transform the mundane into the extraordinary, one witty quip at a time.
The quest for the perfect gift for CPAs ends at RuBook Creative. We understand that CPAs deserve more than just a standard pen or a generic coffee mug. That's why we've curated a selection of gift ideas that spark joy, bring smiles, and add a dash of whimsy to the daily grind.
Enter the star of the show – our Novelty Accounting Cards. These cards are not your average run-of-the-mill greetings; they are a celebration of puns, wit, and the unique language of accountants. Whether you're sending birthday wishes or expressing appreciation during tax season, our novelty cards add a playful twist to the world of debits and credits. Because who said accounting couldn't be downright pun-derful.
At RuBook Creative, we're here to prove that accounting can indeed be a laugh-out-loud affair. Our playful twist on accounting humor and fun gift ideas for CPAs aims to bring joy, appreciation, and a touch of whimsy to the accounting world. Whether you're shopping for a colleague, a friend, or yourself, head over to our website and discover the delightful fusion of laughter and ledger. At RuBook Creative, we believe that accounting brilliance should be celebrated with a hearty laugh and a wink!
]]>Breaking the stereotype that rigid rules and calculators bind accountants, RuBook Creative celebrates the mythical creature known as the "creative accountant." No, we're not talking about anything fraudulent; we're talking about the innovative minds that find joy in merging the worlds of precision and imagination. It's time to unleash your inner creative accountant!
Who said numbers can't be entertaining? At RuBook Creative, we believe in turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. Our products take the essential elements of accounting and inject a healthy dose of humor, wit, and creativity. Whether it's celebrating a successful audit or sending good vibes during tax season, these cards add a playful twist to the numbers game.
Let's be clear – creativity at RuBook Creative is strictly non-fraudulent. Our goal is to bring joy and laughter without compromising the integrity of the accounting profession. Our products blend clever accounting references with a touch of humor, making them the perfect gift for accountants who appreciate a good laugh without crossing any ethical boundaries.
Spice up your financial statements with a touch of RuBook Creative's magic. Our novelty cards are designed to add a splash of fun to an otherwise serious document. Whether it's a note of encouragement or a playful nod to the challenges of balancing the books, these cards transform the routine into a delightful experience.
If you're ready to embrace the creative accountant within you or surprise your favorite number wizard with a unique gift, head over to our website and explore the world where numbers meet novelty. Because at RuBook Creative, we're rewriting the rules of accounting, one playful card at a time!
]]>Unleashing Humor in the Numbers Game
Imagine this: Rubik Yeriazarian, the daytime numbers maestro fighting financial crime, and by night, concocting ways to prove that accountants can be creative without attracting unwanted attention. It's like being a superhero, but instead of a cape, he wields a calculator and a keen sense of humor.
Who says creativity in accounting is synonymous with fraud? Taking inspiration from a former executive who creatively cooked the books (and is now serving time), RuBook Creative boldly asserts that accountants can explore their creative side without raising red flags.
RuBook Creative's Mission: Adding Levity to the Ledger
RuBook Creative aims to showcase that being a "creative accountant" doesn't necessitate flirting with ethical boundaries. Numbers can be entertaining without compromising integrity.
Bid farewell to the dull accountant stereotype. RuBook Creative's products aim to debunk that notion. From cards proclaiming, "I didn't choose the accounting life; the accounting life chose me," to gifts asserting, "Accountants have a sense of humor, too!"
Because, let's be honest – Mondays, CPA exams, and endless spreadsheets could use a sprinkle of humor. RuBook Creative injects positivity and motivation into the routine with products proclaiming, "You survived Monday – treat yourself to a calculator-shaped cookie!"
Toss aside the conventional textbooks, RuBook Creative is determined to teach future accounting wizards through subliminal messages and a touch of humor. Imagine this: "Why did the accountant bring a ladder to work? To reach the high numbers!"
RuBook Creative demonstrates that accounting need not be a somber affair. It can be a comedy club, where creativity and laughter are accepted and celebrated. Let's redefine "creative accounting" together – where the only crime is a poorly received accounting joke!
]]>Picture this: Rubik, the caped crusader of spreadsheets by day, moonlights as a comedy connoisseur by night. Why? Why should creativity be confined to the realms of art when it can infiltrate the finance department?
Inspired by an executive who creatively redefined 'creative accounting' (and is now serving time – karma, right?), RuBook Creative proudly shouts, "We're not afraid to be creative – and we don't need a lawyer on speed dial!"
RuBook Creative is on a quest to show the world that creative accounting doesn't mean turning financial statements into a comedy sketch. It's all about being GAAP-compliant while adding a sprinkle of humor – the numbers deserve a good laugh, too!
Forget boring business cards and monotone calculators. RuBook Creative offers various products designed for accountants to send to clients, friends, and referral sources. Because who said accountants can't be the life of the (tax) party?
Have you ever heard an accountant say, "I love Mondays"? Neither have we. RuBook Creative jumps in with products that say, "You survived Monday – treat yourself to a spreadsheet-shaped cookie!" Who knew accounting humor could be so sweet?
RuBook Creative isn't just about the present; it's about shaping a future where kids don't see accounting as a snooze-fest. Educational materials filled with subliminal jokes ensure the next generation thinks of accounting as the cool kid at the career fair.
RuBook Creative isn't just a brand; it's a movement – a laugh-inducing, stereotype-shattering revolution in the accounting world. So, if you thought accounting was all about debits and credits, think again. With RuBook Creative, it's all about comedy, creativity, and counting the laughs along the way!
]]>Forget the club scene; you're more likely to be found at home, armed with a calculator, balancing your checkbook like it's the hottest ticket in town. Who needs nightlife when you've got numbers to reconcile?
While others dread the looming tax season, you secretly revel in the excitement. It's your time to shine, showcasing your spreadsheet prowess and decoding tax laws like a superhero in a suit and tie.
Romantic gestures come in many forms, but for you, nothing says love like a well-organized spreadsheet. Rows and columns neatly aligned – now that's the kind of love note you can genuinely appreciate.
While some dream of sandy beaches and exotic locales, you fantasize about attending accounting conferences in bustling cities. Because what's more exhilarating than bonding over tax code changes with fellow number enthusiasts?
Do you need to explain your weekend plans? Create a pie chart. Want to break down your lunch expenses? Pie chart. For you, life is one big data visualization waiting to happen.
Your humor might be slightly "depreciated," but that doesn't stop you from unleashing accounting-themed dad jokes at every opportunity. Because who can resist a good pun about balance sheets?
Fashion meets function in your world, and your tie collection is a testament to your devotion to accounting software aesthetics—bonus points if your tie coordinates with the quarterly report.
While others might dream of celebrities or historical figures, your ideal dinner party includes representatives from the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) because nothing says "good conversation" like accounting standards and tax regulations.
Life is an accrual world, and you're not afraid to drop this accounting pun in casual conversations. After all, who wouldn't want to appreciate the nuances of accrual accounting in everyday life?
Small talk takes a turn for the exciting when you delve into discussions about your favorite accounting software features. Forget the weather – let's talk about the latest updates in financial software!
Embrace your inner accountant and share your hilarious anecdotes. After all, in the world of number crunching, laughter is the best ledger balancer!
]]>The Power of Early Exposure: Planting Seeds of Curiosity
As parents, educators, and mentors, we understand that curiosity is the fuel that drives learning. By introducing children to the world of accounting through engaging materials, we plant the seeds of curiosity. Imagine a child's delight as they unravel the mysteries of numbers, budgets, and financial literacy in a way that feels like a thrilling adventure rather than a daunting task.
Subliminal Messaging: The Unseen Guide to Learning
Educational materials, subtly infused with accounting concepts, act as an unseen guide, gently nudging young minds toward an awareness of the financial world. Through captivating stories, vibrant illustrations, and interactive exercises, children absorb fundamental principles of budgeting, saving, and responsible financial decision-making without realizing they're learning.
From Piggy Banks to Balance Sheets: Making Learning Tangible
For the youngest learners, the journey begins with relatable concepts. Educational materials creatively bridge the gap between the familiar (like piggy banks) and the essential (like balance sheets). Through age-appropriate activities, children not only learn the value of money but also gain an early understanding of how financial decisions impact their piggy bank and, eventually, the wider world.
Embracing Diversity in Financial Narratives
In the world of educational materials, diversity matters. By featuring characters from various backgrounds and cultures, we ensure that every child can see themselves in the financial narrative. This inclusivity fosters a sense of belonging and encourages a diverse pool of future accountants to emerge.
A Joyful Approach to Learning: Lessons Wrapped in Laughter
Learning about accounting doesn't have to be a serious affair. Educational materials inject doses of humor, turning lessons into laughter-filled moments. A well-timed accounting joke or a whimsical illustration can transform the learning experience, making it educational and enjoyable.
Empowering the Future Stewards of Finance
Ultimately, the goal is to empower the next generation to become responsible stewards of finance. As they grow, these young minds will be naturally aware of accounting principles, paving the way for a future where financial literacy is not just a skill but a cultural norm.
Join the Movement: Advocating for Financial Literacy Education
Advocacy for financial literacy education is a collective effort. Parents, educators, and communities play pivotal roles in championing the cause. By supporting and advocating for the integration of subliminal messaging in educational materials, we contribute to shaping a generation that views accounting not as a mere subject but as a valuable life skill.
In conclusion, let us embrace the responsibility of grooming the next generation of accountants with enthusiasm and dedication. Through carefully crafted educational materials, we have the power to instill not just knowledge but a genuine love and awareness of accounting in the hearts of our children. Together, let's empower the future financial leaders of our world!
]]>If you're looking to buy a gift for your accounting colleagues or friends, consider any of the following.
What do you buy a tax accountant who has everything? How about a book of amusing tax quotes that's sure to be a hit at the next firm happy hour. Here's a description from the author, tax attorney Mike Kowis:
The Little Black Book of Tax Wisdom is the complete handbook of tax wisdom, past and present. This leisurely read contains a huge collection of amusing tax quotes from Mark Twain, Chris Rock, George Washington, Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, Judge Learned Hand, David Letterman, and many more.
The Little Black Book of Tax Wisdom goes on sale soon. Click here to check out this and other books sold by Mike Kowis.
Dress in style on your next casual Friday with accounting-themed duds from Accounting Couture. You can purchase shirts, hoodies, mugs, or other clothes and accessories with accounting puns on them from Accounting Couture's Etsy page.
Still not sure what gift to buy for your accounting friends? RuBook Creative now offers Gift Cards. A $15 gift card from RuBook Creative is the perfect gift for your office white elephant party - the recipient can use it to buy a combination of cards, stickers, or our accounting-themed children's book.
Click here to purchase an accounting gift card today!
There's still time to buy holiday cards for your accounting friends, coworkers, clients, or prospects. Check out our assortment of accounting-themed Christmas and holiday greeting cards here. If you don't have time to send the cards out yourself, you can include a gift message and the recipient's address at checkout, and we'll handwrite the cards and mail them out for you!
]]>Goodbye, quiet home office. Hello, chaos.
With Father’s Day looming around the corner, it made me reflect on one of my finer parenting strategies that I wanted to share with my fellow accountants – particularly you accounting moms and dads out there.
What movie are your kids watching on repeat this summer? For my kids, so far it has been “Sing” and “Sing 2”. I consider myself lucky since I haven’t gotten tired of these movies yet and I think they’re pretty entertaining. However, the downside is that my kids have been extremely demanding during car rides and have been wanting to listen to particular songs from both movies.
It could be worse! They haven’t been wanting to watch Super Mario Brothers over and over again. I think I’m over “Peaches” song, so fortunately that was a one-and-done request right after they watched the movie.
I have a rule in my car that if my kids are misbehaving or don’t get ready as quickly as I’d like them to, then we don’t listen to songs in the car. That means I get to listen to what I want to listen to, like sports radio or a book on Audible, which the kids HATE. So the kids are very motivated to be “good listeners” in the morning so they don’t have to listen to dad’s ole boring stuff.
Recently, I’ve taken it up a notch…thanks to Earmark CPE:
My favorite podcast is Oh My Fraud, which gets me the fraud-based CPE I need for my CFE license as well. This is a little risky since this podcast includes copious amounts of vulgar language, but it’s still safer to listen to than any of my nostalgic old school hip hop playlists.
Father’s Day is on June 18, so now is the perfect time to purchase an accounting-themed Father’s Day card for the accounting dad in your life (Card Option 1, Card Option 2)!
Know a new accounting dad? Honor them with our accounting-themed children’s book or LIFO FIFO baby onesie to make them smile every time they look at their little bundle of tax deductions.
]]>I come across students and experienced accountants all the time that “oooo” and “ahhh” when they hear about forensic accounting (as they should, because it’s awesome…and it’s not tax). Over the years I’ve provided mentorship to lots of folks who want to learn more about how to get into forensic accounting, which made me reflect on my own journey in becoming a forensic accountant.
I knew since my sophomore year in college that I wanted to be a forensic accountant when I first heard the guest speakers in my Accounting Information Systems class, two forensic accountants from KPMG, talking about their job. After hearing countless other presentations from various accounting professionals in other accounting fields, it reaffirmed my disdain for tax and fueled my motivation to become a forensic accountant.
The hard part was that no one was really looking to hire forensic accountants straight out of college in the early 2000’s, but I knew that KPMG had a forensic department, so I began my mission to schmooze (err, network) with everyone I could at KPMG (campus recruiters, plus any professionals who would come to campus for events) to let them know about my interest in forensic and eventually try to parlay that into a forensic job.
Then, the universe conspired to help me achieve my mission by coincidentally pairing me up with a forensic accounting mentor through my local CPA Society who also happened to work at KPMG in their forensic group. (PRO TIP: Network with CPAs from your local CPA Society – they want to help you!!)
I spoke with KPMG’s on campus recruiters and finally broke them down, but they couldn’t give me a forensic opportunity right away. They said that if I got an audit internship, then they would try to get me a rotation with the forensic group. I got an audit internship, hated the 5 weeks of auditing I did, loved the 2 weeks of forensic work, and ultimately got an offer letter. The funny thing was that my offer letter at the end of the internship was for a full-time audit position, so I had to go back to the recruiters and ask if they could give me a forensic offer. Well, it worked! And the rest is history…
It’s hard to get a start in forensic accounting. There were numerous times during my journey where I could have just said “this is too hard, I’m going to just get an audit job and figure it out later”. But after five weeks of audit, I knew that wasn’t a desirable career path for me, and I’m glad I went all-in on forensic.
Will this approach work for everyone? Probably not, and the main reason is supply and demand:
Everyone wants to be a forensic accountant…or at least says they do, until they start doing it and either realize that 1) it’s hard, 2) it’s not always fraud-related, and 3) Ben Affleck oversold it just a little bit in The Accountant. So there is a huge supply of accountants who want to do forensic work, including people coming straight out of college, as well as experienced accountants and CPAs who want to transition from their existing roles into forensic accounting.
Unlike audit and tax work, there is no steady, consistent, or known supply of forensic work year over year, so the demand for constantly hiring forensic accountants isn’t there. Firms can hire new auditors and tax professionals annually because they can project how much work they’ll have and how much staff they’ll need to complete that work. In forensic accounting, you have to get new clients every year. And if you have clients who are repeatedly defrauded, well they’re probably not going to be in business very long…
Do your homework. Don’t just say that fraud sounds interesting because guess what – not all forensic accounting jobs even deal with fraud! Here are some general buckets of forensic accounting as I like to describe them:
Proactive – preventing fraud from happening.
This can be like internal audit with a focus on fraud. Some firms call it “Fraud Risk Management” – you’re wanting to prevent fraud from happening in a situation where the possibility of fraud is likely or possible. A good example is situations when cities or states are affected by a natural disaster, or a pandemic like COVID-19, and receive a boatload of federal funds to help with the rebuilding or remediation process. Forensic accountants can help put in systems and processes to mitigate the risk of money going to unethical fraudsters.
Another example of proactive work done by forensic accountants relate to compliance issues. Early in my career, I did FCPA work (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act). In a nutshell, US companies operating overseas aren’t allowed to bribe foreign government officials, so forensic accountants can help set up processes or perform procedures to mitigate the risk of non-compliance with FCPA rules and regulations.
Reactive – an event has already occurred, and you need to respond to it.
The most popular scenario is some kind of massive fraud or embezzlement where an employee is stealing from a company. However, in my experience, this has been the kind of job that I work on the least.
The more common situation is “litigation support” or “dispute advisory”, where a fraud isn’t necessarily involved. It could just be that Company A is suing Company B because Company B didn’t hold up their end of their contract with Company A, causing harm to Company A. A forensic accountant would then determine the amount of economic damages incurred by Company A because of Company B’s actions. You would need to analyze the data, write a report, and eventually testify in court about your findings as an expert witness unless the parties come to a settlement beforehand. Companies suing each other is much more common than 1) a company identifying a fraud large enough to investigate and 2) the company choosing to investigate that fraud.
Forensic accountants can help with insurance claims, often referred to as “Business Interruption”. For instance, if a business was unable to operate because of some kind of event (i.e. a natural disaster, explosion at their facility, or cyber attack), a forensic accountant can help compute the amount a business was interrupted (hence “business interruption”), and claim that amount from their insurance company. A company can typically claim an amount to make them whole – if it weren’t for the event, how much more money would they have made during a specific time period?
Forensic accountants can help with family law matters, such as divorces. There may be concerns that a spouse is concealing funds, or diverting funds to other accounts. This comes up most often when at least one of the spouses has a business that they operate, and so a forensic accountant isn’t only sifting through personal expenditures, but also through business financials.
Some forensic accountants also obtain expertise in business valuation. Disputes can arise through M&A activity when a company is bought or sold. A forensic accountant could detect fraudulent activity occurring within a business that, for instance, could have inflated its valuation when the business was sold from Party A to Party B.
Do Your Homework!
So if you’re interested in forensic accounting, take some time to research various types of forensic work, as well as the firms who do that type of work. Think from a prospective employer’s perspective, and ask yourself which of these two candidates sounds more impressive:
Applicant 1: “OMG does your firm have forensic accounting? Cause I heard about it and fraud and stuff sounds cool.”
Applicant 2: “I’m interested in forensic accounting, and particularly interested in [pick one: litigation support, family law, business interruption…]. I saw on your website that you do that type of forensic work. Can you tell me about some of the recent projects in that area of forensic accounting that you’ve worked on?”
Don’t be Applicant 1. It’s an automatic turn-off.
If you go the “Proactive” route, you can either stay in public accounting, or eventually go in-house at a corporation in an internal audit role or some kind of risk and compliance role.
If you go the “Reactive” route, you typically have to stay in public accounting or consulting. Companies (hopefully) don’t deal with fraud or forensic matters often enough to need full-time “Reactive” forensic accountants. If a “Reactive” situation comes up within a company, they’ll either have their internal audit / Risk & Compliance team handle it, or they’ll outsource the work to an outside forensic accounting firm.
If these forensic accounting career progressions concern you, it can never hurt to start your career with 2 years of audit experience. It really gives you a lot of flexibility:
People always ask me this question, and in my opinion there are two primary traits that I looked for in hiring forensic accountants:
When I first started getting designated as an expert witness on forensic accounting matters, I was usually much younger than the opposing expert and even the attorneys. And no matter how knowledgeable I was on that case, and how bulletproof my damage calculations were, I always got questioned for my age and experience. However, one thing I could always point to were my professional licenses – I’m a CPA, a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF). These were the same licenses that much older and more experienced counterparts had, so we were at least equal in that regard.
In my opinion, getting your CPA license is extremely valuable in a field like forensic accounting, especially if you’re wanting to work as an expert witness in litigation support matters. In this type of work, you’re pitted up against another forensic accountant, and if you’re outgunned on certifications, the court may be swayed to view your opponents opinions more highly because of their CPA status.
In addition to the CPA license, you can obtain a CFE license through the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, and a CFF certification through the AICPA. If you work on business valuations matters, then the AICPA also offers an Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) credential, or you can look at the various valuation credentials offered by the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA).
For some folks, getting a CPA license isn’t a realistic goal because they have a non-accounting background and would need to take years of accounting coursework to become CPA eligible. In those situations, I have seen professionals pair certifications like the CFE and CVA with other certifications like the Master Analyst in Financial Forensics (MAFF), which is also offered by NACVA.
You don’t have to be a lawyer! Lawyers hire you to handle the accounting aspect of lawsuits. If you’re a lawyer, you can’t try the case and be the damages expert Sure, it can be helpful if you understand the legal process and legal aspects of the case, but you’ll learn enough of that while working on forensic accounting matters for a couple of years rather than having to go to and pay for a couple years of law school.
Forensic accounting has been a very rewarding career for me. If you’re interested in forensic accounting, network with other forensic accountants, find firms that offer forensic accounting, learn about the different types of forensic accounting, and hone your data/Excel skills. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn and message me with any questions about forensic accounting career opportunities!
]]>When I decided to go my own way, I knew I wanted to ditch time entry and leave the billable hour behind. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve made, and I can’t imagine going back.
At a high level, I’ve saved myself about 65 hours over the past year (52 weeks x 5 weekdays x 15 minutes per day = 65 hours). It may only be 15 minutes per day, but 65 hours is 65 hours.
The bigger impact on ditching time entry though is that my billing isn’t dependent on my billable hours. I charge clients a Flat Fee, and typically charge half up front and half at the completion of the job. From a cash flow perspective, it’s a huge benefit:
So from a cash flow perspective, I get paid in part up front. And from an administrative perspective, I don’t have to track my time, my billing process is simplified, and my collections process is a lot easier. In addition to the 65 hours per year I save on time entry, I’m saving multiple hours per month on billing and administrative processes.
That’s a lot of time saved as a result of not tracking time. Ironic isn’t it?
Work from home made it a lot easier to do a load of laundry during the middle of a weekday, which left for more free time on the weekends. However, those working from home while working for other firms are still keeping an eye on their Teams status and jiggling their mouse to continue to appear busy.
While being independent, I’ve had many days where I’ve finished all my crucial tasks for the day before lunch, or taken a guilt-free hour-long break during the middle of the day to go on a walk or read a book. Also, I don’t have to get to my desk by 8am, and as a result I don’t have to cram my gym-time in at 5am.
When I was working for a firm, I used to wake up a 5am just to have 1-2 hours to work on some new card designs before starting my “normal work day”. Now I have a weekly block of time I dedicate to new product development within my “normal working hours”. People think when you’re an entrepreneur that you must always be busy while working all hours of the day. However, I’ve come to realize that I’ve been able to make much more efficient use of my “9 to 5” time.
Entrepreneurship is STRESSFUL…until you realize that the checks will still come in. Sure, it’s nice knowing that a deposit will always be hitting your account on the 1st and the 15th, but it’s even nicer knowing that as an entrepreneur your deposits are limitless.
The larger the firm, the harder it is to be compensated properly for your efforts. You could be the hardest worker and best employee in the world, but if that message doesn’t move up the chain to the right people, then you may be stuck with the same raise and bonus as some of your more underperforming peers.
As a solo practitioner, I have one primary KPI – deposits. And who gets the sole benefit of those deposits? Me. I’m not counting my hours, but if I have a month full of 80 hours work weeks, I’m not worried that my efforts aren’t going to be recognized. In fact, I’m ecstatic at being that busy, because that means I may be covering 6 months of pay for one month of effort. And I can sleep comfortably every night knowing I’m in full control of my financial destiny.
Interested in starting your own professional venture? It’s easy for me now to say “JUST DO IT!”, but there was a lot of planning and preparation that allowed me to take the leap of faith more easily.
First off, just like a good accountant should, I had a clear understanding of our financial needs and communicated with my wife regularly about our finances. Two big financial decisions my wife and I had made a couple years in advance:
Talk to your spouse, be open and honest about your financials, and it’ll make things much easier. If you just say “I want to quit”, that’s terrifying! But if you can say the following it’s much easier:
“We need to make $A thousand per month after tax in order to maintain our status quo, and you make $B thousand per month, then I just need to make $C thousand per month for us to keep living our current lifestyle. I think I’m going to make much more than that, but in the meantime we have $D thousand in savings, which will cover my portion of the finances for E months.”
It’s all just simple accounting. And if you’re an accountant, your years of accounting has prepared you for this situation. So get your spreadsheet ready, and talk to your spouse!
So if you find yourself in this situation, you’re not alone! Since I went off on my own, I’ve talked to numerous individuals who have also expressed interest in leaving their current jobs to start their own practices. If you’re interested in chatting more about making the leap, feel free to contact me on LinkedIn or email me at rubik@flatfeeconsulting.com. Until then, every time you post your time entry, just remember there is an alternative! (and I don’t mean leaving for an industry job!)
]]>Come to find out, it was purchased from Accounting Couture, which is owned by Lukas Sundahl. I quickly found out that Lukas was a fellow dad-joke enthusiast, as it was prominently displayed on his LinkedIn profile:
In the words of Brennan Huff and and Dale Doback from Stepbrothers...did we just become best friends?? YUP!
Lukas has been selling accounting-themed shirts and accessories since the fall of 2021. He was inspired by various social channels and wanted a fun creative outlet for accounting.
Lukas was originally an art major in college. He became a personal trainer after college, then went back to school to study accounting/finance. He has been in the accounting field for 12 years now, and in addition to running Accounting Couture works as a Controller and is also co-owner of a bookkeeping business.
You can follow Lukas on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, or visit his website to see the various awesome accounting-themed shirts and accessories available at Accounting Couture.
You can check out Other Creative Accountants that we previously highlighted on our website here. If you know another Creative Accountant (in a non-fraudulent way), have them fill out this short survey and we'll feature them next!
]]>But did you know about December 15th? If you didn’t, don’t worry, you won’t be sued for accounting malpractice because of it. Your only punishment will be a large amount of stress over the next week and a half. Look on the bright side, it’s just practice for busy season!
December 15th is when you should probably be done with all your holiday shopping and Christmas cards. No, it’s not an official deadline, but after December 15th things start getting crazy. Parking lots are jam-packed, store shelves are scant, and that one gift your kid wants is nowhere to be found and Amazon Prime can’t even save you this time.
If you’re sending out holiday cards, they should be in the mail by 12/15 if you want your recipients to receive them before Christmas. However, if you’re late sending out your Christmas cards, don’t worry. There’s a lot of value to being the last card someone receives – just when someone thinks they’ve received all the holiday cards they’re getting this year…
Your card may have been the last one in the race, but it’s also the last one in the garbage can (or recycle bin!).
The 12/15 deadline isn’t completely made up. USPS posted their recommended send-by dates so packages can be delivered before Christmas. You can send packages via regular first-class mail by December 17 or Priority Mail by December 19. If you can afford to pay the “late tax” of Priority Mail Express, you can ship by December 23. Just be prepared to pay more for shipping that you did for your gift.
So if you need to ship by 12/17, you should buy your gifts by 12/15 so you have some time to package them and get them to the post office. Here’s the full schedule of shipping dates from USPS.
It wouldn’t be a RuBook Creative blog post without a shameless plug for gifts and cards for accountants!
Whether you're looking to buy a gift this holiday season for an accounting loved one, coworker, or client/prospect, here are some "Do's and Don'ts" to consider.
Think back to the last annoying conversation you had with a non-accountant around Christmas time. It may have gone something like this:
Non-Accountant: "Did you get a new calculator for Christmas? Ah ha ha, ah ha ha, ah hah..."
You: "I don't use a calculator, I do everything in Excel"
Non-Accountant: "Whoa no calculator? Still using the ole Abacus? Ah ha ha, ah ha ha, ah hah..."
Accountants don't want a new calculator. If an accountant uses a calculator, it's a trusted old 10-key from years ago, and there's no real reason to upgrade to an 11-key, unless you're a member of Spinal Tap
Here's a list of things not to get an accountant for Christmas:
Whether you're shopping for an office White Elephant party or Holiday Gift exchange, a business contact, or for a friend or loved one, here are some gift options that any accountant would love this holiday season:
Accountants greatly value cash or gift cards. In fact, they're at the top of their Chart of Accounts...err I mean Christmas List. Top notch gift cards that you can never go wrong with include:
But don't just hand someone a gift card or a crisp bill, dress it up with an accounting-themed Christmas card or holiday card from RuBook Creative! Each card comes with a ledger-paper lined envelope and a message that is sure to make any accountant smile. Check out the collection here.
If your gift to someone ends up in a closet for 2 years then finally makes its way to Goodwill (not in an accounting-sense, get your mind out of the ledger), then it's not a good gift.
That's why I like to gift consumable items. Whether it's food or paper goods, consumables have a shelf-life and are eventually going to get used up. Here are some options:
Got a $25 limit for an office gift exchange? Impress your accounting friends and coworkers with the gifts above or any of the following gifts that are sure to be the talk of any holiday party:
Here are five books by accountants, for accountants, that are certain to make any gift recipient say "OMG WHERE DID YOU FIND THIS??":
Alcohol is probably to most frequently purchased item for office gift exchanges. I remember during the height of the Fireball craze, multiple people brought a "Bucket of Fireball", which contained 20 mini-bottles of the cinnamon whiskey that still makes me cringe.
If you're going to buy booze for your office White Elephant party, class it up by upgrading a mini-bottle of Maker's Mark with our MACRS Mark Accounting Stickers:
I hope these gift ideas are helpful for you this holiday season when you're shopping for gifts for the accountant in your life!
]]>And with the holidays so close, it’s the perfect week to buy Christmas cards for all your friends, coworkers, clients and prospects!
Let’s break down the next few weeks:
Week of 11/7 – Baseball is over, the Halloween sugar rush is wearing off, it’s the perfect week to order holiday cards and start working on that mailing list.
Week of 11/14 – You’ll be busy with real work since you’re planning to take off the following week for Thanksgiving and are having to front-load two weeks of work into one.
Week of 11/21 – You will be preoccupied with finding answers to all these questions this week: Is there really a turkey shortage? Do you have gluten-free/vegan/keto sides for your guests with food allergies or preferences? Do you even want to spend time with your combative family members after the mid-term elections?
Week of 11/28 – You’ve gained 5 pounds from Thanksgiving. Lose the weight by walking to the post office to drop off those holiday cards you’ve been filling out this week!
Well the obvious reason is that if you procrastinate until December you just won’t do it. By December, you’ll already start receiving holiday cards from other folks, which makes you think “oh, I’m too late, I guess I’ll just do it next year”.
Logistically, it's best to order them now so you can mail them out right after Thanksgiving. Most holiday cards are received the week or two after Thanksgiving, and those are the last two weeks that most people will be in their offices to close out the year before taking PTO (or at least working remotely) for the rest of the year.
For you remote workers, December might be the one time that you’re back in the office for a day or two with office holiday parties or gift exchanges like Secret Santa or White Elephant. So order your cards in advance so you can pass them out when you see people.
It’s okay if you don’t know the address for everyone you want to mail a card to. Here’s an easy work around:
Friends – Hand your card to a friend at a happy hour, lunch, or other December social gathering.
Co-workers – Just mail the cards to the office, or if you’re in the office, just drop them in people’s office mailboxes. Otherwise, have your cards in-hand to pass out in-person on the day of office holiday parties or gatherings.
Clients or Prospects – Your firm or company has their address for invoices, and I’m sure they’d love to receive a holiday card from you instead of another invoice at the end of the year (there will be plenty of time for those during the upcoming busy season!).
Order accounting-themed holiday cards, stickers and gifts, or any other item from RuBook Creative from now through November 20 and receive 20% off your entire order with code 1120 (shout out to all the corporate tax accountants out there).
Check out our full collection to make the most of this discount by stocking up with cards for busy season, colleagues taking the CPA exam, or other office celebrations like birthdays, baby showers, or retirement parties.
]]>Subscription Plan
We’re offering a new subscription plan! Purchase an annual subscription plan for $25 and you’ll receive 1) a coupon code for $30 off your next order of $30 or more, and 2) a coupon code for 10% off other subsequent purchases throughout your subscription period.
This offer is just in time to stock up for:
So click here to purchase a subscription plan and with your free $30 offer you can get 6 of our standard-sized cards, 3 cards and a copy of our accounting children’s book, 10 of our new stickers (see below!), or whatever other combination accounting gifts you'd like!
New Stickers
We’ve got 6 new stickers! These stickers are made of a higher-quality matte vinyl and range from 3” x 1.25” to 3” x 2.5”.
Click here to check out the following sticker 6-pack:
These stickers are great gifts for accountants during busy season, for accountants who are taking the CPA exam, and to celebrate accounting birthdays. If you’d like to purchase individual stickers, you can do that here.
One of my favorite accounting jokes that I’ve made to date is “MACRS Mark”. I’m sure a lot of tax accountants could use a MACRS Mark this time of year, so subscribe now and order a discounted round of stickers for your tax friends!
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So who has it worse? Auditors or tax professionals? Let’s do a quick comparison:
Is there a clear-cut winner? Probably not, but at least we can all agree that auditors win this weekend.
If you know a tax accountant, check in on them these next few weeks. Send them one of our tax-themed greeting cards (below) letting them know you’re thinking about them this busy season and that you’ll be ready to socialize with them on their floating holiday.
Don't be Alarmed, It's Tax Time
These Past Few Weeks Have Been Taxing
Want to send a note of encouragement to your tax team during busy season? You can check out our full selection of Busy Season Encouragement cards and you can even delay shipment to a future date (like right around 9/15!).
Need a large order for the whole team? Contact us at info@rubookcreative.com for discounted pricing on orders of at least 25 cards.
]]>AND I’m happy to announce that I’ve finally done it. After a few years of brainstorming and designing cards, I’ve come up with the perfect birthday card for accountants:
It’s got it all:
So tee one up for your next accounting birthday celebration by ordering here. If this card doesn’t make your accounting friends smile, then are you even sure they’re actually an accountant?
]]>Restatement is a story about the audit team at “The Accounting Firm” getting their vacation cut short because – you guessed it – their client Widget Maker is facing a massive Restatement over material amounts of inventory that were left off the books.
And get this – there’s FRAUD! So much more exciting than the mundane audits you worked on earlier this year, right?
Wouldn't it be hilarious if your own audit partner calls you about a restatement while you’re reading this book? Look on the bright side, this book will guide you on how to finesse the partner and the client to lead to a quick and painless restatement!
Restatement is the second installment of C.P. Aiden's "Office Comedy Novel" about the audit team at The Accounting Firm and their large but terrible client Widget Maker (buy it here). You can check out his first novel - The Good Audit - using this link. You can also follow C.P. Aiden on Twitter and let him know what you think about the book.
We first featured C.P. Aiden on our "Other Creative Accountants" page, where you can learn about creative side hustles from other accountants.
Are you a Creative Accountant or do you know someone who is? Fill out this quick form and we'll feature you on our website as well!
]]>
If you check out the Father's Day section of the greeting card aisle, you're sure to find cards containing beer, grilling, or my all-time favorite theme as a child - flatulence:
(you can check this card out here)
As someone who defaulted to fart cards as a child, I never thought I'd say this, but fart jokes can only go so far. My kids are 3 and 5, so I'm entering prime fart-joke territory. I fully expect to get "Farter's Day" cards for the next decade from my kids, but once they're in high school I expect a little more thought from their greeting cards.
I'm not at all a fan of the mushy "did you ever know that you're my hero" type of cards (young people who don't get the reference, click here). Do you want to make me cry tears of joy? How about cleaning your room without me asking, picking up your damn Legos off the floor, offering to mow the lawn, or getting a full scholarship to college?
By now you've all thought "oh shit, when is Father's Day??" and have Googled to find out that it is in fact on Sunday, June 19. You've got a week and a half, so take the time to buy a quality Father's Day card that will make your dad laugh. If your dad is an accountant or CPA, check out one of my Accounting Father's Day cards here!
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It's great as a farewell card to send to you coworkers, or as a retirement card for your retiring accounting colleagues who have wrapped up their last busy season. You can purchase a copy of the card here.
I liked this card so much I even decided to test it out myself! I just left my job as a Forensic Partner with Crowe/Briggs & Veselka, and today marks my first official day as owner of Flat Fee Consulting.
At Flat Fee Consulting, I’ll be focusing on two primary areas:
I’ll also be spending more item on developing more accounting gifts and cards for RuBook Creative! So although it’s difficult putting up a permanent “out of office” with my former employers, I’m super excited for my next venture!
My website for Flat Fee Consulting will be forthcoming, but you can email me at rubik@flatfeeconsulting.com if you're interested in learning more about how outsourcing your PBC cleanup will make your firm more profitable, your employees happier, AND your clients happier!
]]>This meme always makes me giggle when I see it. Maybe it’s because it gives me flashbacks to the early years of my own accounting career, when I didn’t really know what I was doing but was fortunately able to figure out how to do stuff in Excel.
Do you know how old I am? When I started my accounting career, we only had SUMIF with one criteria (take a second to think about how awful that is). One day my manager told me that he needed me to solve for something that had multiple criteria, and Googling unearthed a recently released SUMIFS (plural) formula which made me look like a genius.
Although Meme Madness is over, you or someone you know is likely trudging through that final week of Busy Season Madness. Send them a note of encouragement with one of our accounting-themed greeting cards, or schedule a gift or card to be sent to them for the following week after they take some time off (just pick a future delivery date at checkout!).
In other RuBook Creative news, we’ve hit a big milestone. You all have enjoyed “General Ledger and the Kingdom of Balance” so much that I had to reorder another batch of copies, which just arrived!
While these books were still sitting on a ship in the Pacific Ocean waiting their turn to unload, I almost ran out of copies (shout out to the Reddit r/accounting thread for all the orders). Just in time for summer, when all of your pregnant accounting friends are allowed to have their babies (unless they’re working on EBP Audits).
If you haven’t gotten a copy of the book, order yours today! And if you’re looking for a baby shower gift for an accounting friend, check out our Accounting Baby Gift Pack which includes a book, card, and a onesie.]]>If you're like me, your team (the Houston Cougars) are no longer in the NCAA Tournament, but you can still vote your favorite meme into the Accounting March Meme Madness Final Four!
If you're joining us for the first time, we're having a Meme Madness bracket challenge, where we feature various accounting and business related memes from the past year.
Here are the matchups for the Elite 8 round of voting:
1. The Accounting Region
The two seed is up against this year's Cinderella - the 16 seed "key's to success in accounting"
2. The Excel Region
This 1 vs 10 matchup highlights the highs and lows of Excel - when it's working vs. not working
3. The Busy Season Region
We have two Cinderellas this year as the 1 seed is challenged by the 14 seed
4. The Business Region
It's a matchup of #1 vs. #2 as this region's heavyweights face off for a spot in the Final Four
Click here to cast your vote for Round 4! When voting you can also subscribe to our website to get regular updates on the results from each round!
If you enjoy these memes, check out @TheBig4Tweets and @ExcelHumor on Twitter.
If you're still enduring busy season, check out some of our Busy Season Encouragement accounting-themed greeting cards, including some new cards added this month.
]]>And just like that, only 16 Memes remain (including four double-digit seeds).
If you're joining us for the first time, we're having a Meme Madness bracket challenge, where we feature various accounting and business related memes from the past year.
Here are some key takeaways from each region:
1. The Accounting Region
The 16 seed is copy/pasting its way to victory. Can anything stop it??
2. The Excel Region
The top seed in the Excel Region cruised to another big victory and is looking like a lock to advance to the next round
3. The Busy Season Region
Everyone must be really feeling themselves in the #14 seed as they slog through another week of busy season, because it's moving on to the Sweet 16:
4. The Business Region
The #2 seed cruised to a resounding win as voters drifted away to the many exotic locales on their Windows lock screen while trying to get momentary escapes from the realities of life:
Click here to cast your vote for Round 3! When voting you can also subscribe to our website to get regular updates on the results from each round!
If you enjoy these memes, check out @TheBig4Tweets and @ExcelHumor on Twitter.
If you're still enduring busy season, check out some of our Busy Season Encouragement accounting-themed greeting cards, including some new cards added this month.
]]>Round 1 is in the books! There were some thrilling upsets in the first round of action, much like the NCAA Tournament's opening round.
If you're joining us for the first time, we're having a Meme Madness bracket challenge, where we feature various accounting and business related memes from the past year.
Here are some key takeaways from each region:
1. The Accounting Region
The #1 overall seed is knocked out by the #16 seed! I guess this is a pretty big admission that we just copy/paste for 80% of the day...
2. The Excel Region
Several upsets in Round 1 in this Region as the 9, 10, 11, and 12 seeds all advance. Looks like I'm not the only one who uses VLOOKUP after seeing the 11 seed cruise through to Round 2:
3. The Busy Season Region
We have a DOUBLE UPSET as the 11 and 14 seeds both advance, ensuring one of these Memes a spot in the Sweet 16!
4. The Business Region
A sleeper emerges to win the Business Region as the 12 seed cruises to victory as the majority of voters acknowledge that it's hilarious to overbill clients for things we know nothing about:
Click here to cast your vote for Round 2! When voting you can also subscribe to our website to get regular updates on the results from each round!
If you enjoy these memes, check out @TheBig4Tweets and @ExcelHumor on Twitter.
If you're still enduring busy season, check out some of our Busy Season Encouragement accounting-themed greeting cards, including some new cards added just this week.
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