Ethics course debuts, Ohio Accounting Show a success.

Over 500 members took advantage of the spring Ohio Accounting Show in Dayton. Most noteworthy of all was the premier of the "Ethics and Professional Standards for CPAs," a new session designed to meet the new ABO requirement for three hours of continuing ethics education for those reporting in 2004.

Packed with exhibits and a wide variety of sessions, Accounting Show attendees could customize their experience to their specific needs. The Show also provided the perfect venue for members to network with their peers and take advantage of quality continuing professional education.

The Accounting Show is held annually during the spring in Dayton and the fall in Cleveland. The Cleveland show, held at the I-X Center, will be on Sept. 17-18, 2003.

The next page has a glimpse of just some of the sessions available at this year's show. For more information about The Ohio Accounting Show, visit the Society's Web site at www.ohioscpa.com or contact CPAnswers, the member service center, at CPAnswers@ohio-cpa.com or 888.959.1212.

Sarbanes-Oxley Update

The initial reaction from many CPAs was that Sarbanes-Oxley does not affect them. However the cascade effect is happening across the country, across all types of companies and impacting all CPAs. Sandra K. Pierce, CPA, CFP, vice president, wealth management of Parker, Carlson & Johnson and past chair of The Ohio Society's Executive Board, shared how all CPAs are affected and how the impact has gone beyond scope of service and new rules for public companies. She discussed how the profession is governing itself, standard setting, audit standard setting and what's happening in Ohio.

"There are more questions than answers at this time," Pierce said. "What we'd like to do today is bring all of these issues to your attention."

In discussing the cascade effect, Pierce highlighted the amount of reform that is happening at the state level.

* Six states proposing scope of services restrictions.

* Six states addressing workpaper retention.

* Three states adjusting state board composition.

* Eight states reforming corporate governance.

* Nine states increasing penalties for accounting and corporate fraud.

Professional Ethics I, II, III

Introduced to the 2003 Ohio Accounting Show was the Ethics and Professional Standards for CPAs. This new session is one of the first to meet the new Accountancy Board of Ohio requirement for three hours of continuing ethics education and three of the most attended sessions at this year's...