Back to school, back to work.

• Author: Hollein, Marie N.
• Position: FROM THE PRESIDENT - Services of Financial Executives International

The summer is over and many of us may be rebounding from well-deserved vacations and all-important time with family and friends. September brings a return to school for students and a renewed focus for many financial executives on important tasks before the close of the calendar year.

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Rest assured staff of Financial Executives International has used the summer months to continue our mission of networking, research and advocacy. We are dedicated at FEI to providing the tools and the resources needed by industry executives to meet strategic goals and get the information needed to gain an everyday edge.

For example, in July we issued the annual FEI Audit Fee Survey, which is conducted by Financial Executives Research Foundation (FERF), the research affiliate of FEI. The survey gives detailed information on how financial executives are engaging external auditors and how to best manage the auditing and reporting process.

Survey results (Including data snowing a 4 percent increase in audit fees, as well as increased audit hours) coupled with more in-depth responses show the real efficiencies of centralized financial operations. They also reveal the burden that some regulatory requirements continue to place on financial operations and our members.

FEI's Government Affairs staff in Washington D.C., continued their efforts, maintaining our presence on the Hill. Several chief financial officers representing the Private Companies for Tax Fairness Coalition (PCTF) converged in Washington D.C., to meet with congressional leadership to continue the dialogue regarding the need for comprehensive tax reform for middle-market and large privately held and...