New January 31, 2015 IDOL Reporting Deadline for Contractors

January  30, 2015 — Contractors who had construction services performed in the prior year by an individual, sole proprietor, or partnership (doesn’t include LLCs) that is not an employee of the contractor must now file annually a report by January 31 with the Illinois Department of Labor. Services performed by a Corporation or LLC can be excluded from the report if they meet the test of a bona fide corporation or LLC as defined in Administrative Rule 240.110.  Read More »

 

Porte Brown Names Kelly Switt as New Partner

January  27, 2015 — Porte Brown LLC announces that Kelly Switt, CPA has been admitted as Partner. Kelly brings more than thirteen years experience to her new role and provides tax consulting and accounting services for closely held businesses and individuals. She works closely with the Internal Revenue Service, the Illinois Department of Revenue and the other various agencies in situations where a client is under audit. Kelly is a member of Porte Brown’s State & Local Tax (SALT) Practice Group, acts as the Accounting Internship Scholarship Program Coordinator (AISP) and is involved in the training of new staff as well.    Read More »

 

Porte Brown Participates in Multi-Firm Accounting Internship Program

January  15, 2015 — Porte Brown LLC is pleased to announce it will once again participate in the Accounting Internship Scholarship Program (AISP). The The AISP is a ‘hands-on’ working accounting internship program designed to introduce students to the cultures and people of multiple CPA firms and expose them to what they do on a daily basis. It is a paid summer internship program with a stipend of $2,500 paid directly to the school to be applied towards the next semester tuition costs.    Read More »

 

Senate Approves Tax Extenders Bill & Help for the Disabled

December  18, 2014 — Just before adjourning for the year, the Senate passed the Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014, which revives more than 50 expired tax breaks. President Obama is expected to sign the bill. Included is a new type of savings program designed to help disabled individuals.  Read More »

 

 

 

Crain's Chicago Business Features Porte Brown:
Accounting Firms Solve Succession Planning with a Sale

December 15, 2014 — The two equity partners at Evanston accounting firm Brown Kaplan & Liss had a problem: They both were at or near retirement age, and no one at the firm was ready to take over. It's a common problem at small accounting shops. Any incoming equity partner would face a one-two punch: a cash flow drain stemming from older partners' buyouts coupled with scant resources for developing business compared with larger firms, which can employ marketers and accounting specialists to attract new clients. Read More »

 

Illinois Sales Tax Rate Changing in January 2015

December 11, 2014 — Effective January 1, 2015, certain municipalities have changed their sales tax rates. Please update your cash registers and computer systems to account for the change. Make sure your sales staff knows to adjust their quotes for the change in rates if materials are going to be purchased or delivered after January 1, 2015.  Read More »

 

 

 

Porte Brown Merges with Brown Kaplan + Liss LLP

December 1, 2014 — Porte Brown LLC is pleased to announce its merger with Brown, Kaplan + Liss (BKL). The Evanston-based public accounting firm is notably one of the largest such firms along the north suburban Lake Michigan shoreline. The professionals from BKL, now operating under the Porte Brown name, will continue to service clients in their downtown Evanston location at 500 Davis Street.  Read More »

 

 

Porte Brown to Host NFP Webinar: The Super Circular & Recent A-133 Changes on December 9th

November  12, 2014 — Porte Brown will be hosting a webinar on December 9th. With the significant changes to administrative and internal control requirements and new guidance on cost principles, the super-circular can be daunting. Attend this webinar to get the details on the key changes that will be affecting your grants. Walk away with practical ideas for implementation across your organization.  Read More »

 

Louis Stratton Explains the Importance of the Cloud

November  10, 2014 — Porte Brown's Louis Stratton, CPA, CITP, CGMA, MBA, authored a recent article in the Daily Herald Business Ledger. In the article, "To Be, or Not to Be, in the Cloud," Stratton explains the importance of selecting the right ERP system to solve a company's organizational problems.

Read More »

 

 

Porte Brown Merges with Katzenbach & Associates, Ltd.

November  5, 2014 — Porte Brown is pleased to announce its recent merger with Katzenbach & Associates, Ltd., a Bloomingdale-based public accounting firm. Bruce Jones, Managing Partner of Porte Brown, said, "Our mutual core values, expertise, and guiding philosophies will make this an easy transition for our combined set of clients... Under the Porte Brown umbrella, Katzenbach & Associates' clients will have access to a greater pool of resources and a larger team of professionals. Read More »

 

Porte Brown Featured: Daily Herald's Cook of the Week Challenge

October 31, 2014 — Balancing Work and Health -  "As the Porte Brown certified public accounting firm sponsors the Daily Herald’s Cook of the Week Challenge for the third year, one might wonder what accounting and food have in common."

 Read More »

 

 

 

Porte Brown Receives Highest Rating in Peer Review

October 30, 2014 — Porte Brown was recognized by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) for quality of Financial Statement Audit and Review services earning an Unmodified Report in a recent peer review. "Quality control is at the core of the Peer Review process," said Russell Wilson, Porte Brown Auditing Partner. "It's an acknowledgement of the people who make up this organization and an endorsement of their professionalism. It confirms they understand both the practices for delivering quality services and the methods to apply them rigorously." Read More »

 

Porte Brown Wins Big at the 2014 Toast of Schaumburg

October 27, 2014 — Porte Brown won the Brian H. Burke Business of the Year award at the Schaumburg Business Association's annual Gala. Over 300 businesses attended the event, which honors local firms for their efforts in networking and community involvement in the Schaumburg area. The managing partner of Porte Brown, Bruce Jones, said upon accepting the award, "I'm honored. Every member of our firm values our relationship with the Schaumburg Business Association."  Read More »

 

Ed Hrunek Provides His Expertise in AccountingWEB Interview

October 7, 2014 — Porte Brown’s Ed Hrunek, CPA, EA, CDFA, was recently interviewed in an article by AccountingWEB. The article discusses the complex financial nature of a divorce and the need for Certified Divorce Financial Analysts (CDFAs) to help provide clarity during the stressful time. "As painful as divorce is, clients need trusted financial experts to assist them, and their attorneys, with the financial implications and income tax ramifications of their divorce settlement," said Edward Hrunek.  Read More »

 

Porte Brown's Mike Massaro Paneled the Business Ledger Newsmakers' Forum

October 2, 2014 — Porte Brown’s Mike Massaro, Partner and CPA, was a panelist at the Business Ledger Newsmakers’ Forum. The focus was on Smart Policies for Manufacturing, Innovation and International Business. Mike joined two other business leaders to panel the event and provide their knowledge and expertise pertaining to the manufacturing sector’s economic revival, the catalyst for the surge in manufacturing, global business concerns, and the benefits and drawbacks of expanding overseas. Porte Brown was presenting sponsor the event. Read More »

 

Porte Brown Awarded Top 3 Open Systems Partner

August 12, 2014 — Porte Brown was honored as a Top 3 Open Systems Partner at the 2014 Partners in Profit Awards Banquet – Minneapolis, MN. Open Systems TRAVERSE accounting ERP software provides organizations with the real-time tools needed to quickly react to changing business conditions. Pictured from left to right: Paul Lundquist, Lillian Aaron, Andrea White, Louis Stratton, Michael Bertini. Congratulations team on a job well done!   
Learn more... Open Systems TRAVERSE Solution »

 

Porte Brown's Bruce Jones Featured in the Daily Herald Business:
Accountant Loves Rush!

July 26, 2014 — Drag racing, says Bruce Jones, is like being shot out of a cannon.

Jones, a CPA whose day job is a managing partner at Porte Brown in Elk Grove Village, says it’s all about the adrenaline. “I love drag racing because of the rush that you get,” he says, “an

instant rush that’s over in under nine seconds.”    Read more »   Watch video »

 

Porte Brown Highlighted in the Daily Herald Business Ledger:
Awards Honor CFOs' Evolving Role in Business

July 23, 2014 — Last night Porte Brown's Bruce Jones gave the keynote speech for the Daily Herald's CFO of the Year Awards. The event honored local area CFOs in a wide variety of industries. The honorees were nominated by their peers for their hard work and contribution to the success of their organizations and the overall success and growth of the region.

Read more »

 

Porte Brown Featured in Daily Herald Business Ledger:
Appreciation Goes a Long Way!

June 23, 2014 — Porte Brown's Bruce Jones answers questions about staff communication programs. Q. How do you reward employees? A. We like to show appreciation for our employees by treating them to fun events and perks throughout the year. I wouldn’t say it’s a reward, but more like a show of gratitude for all of their hard work throughout the year. During tax season we cater in food for everyone working late, and we also invite a masseuse in to the office to provide a small break to the daily grind.  Read more »

 

Porte Brown Named as One of the 2014 Best Places To Work in Illinois

April 22, 2014 — Porte Brown LLC is pleased to announce that the firm was recently named as one of the 2014 Best Places To Work in Illinois. The awards program began in 2006 and is promoted by The Daily Herald Business Ledger in partnership with the Human Resources Management Association of Chicago (HRMAC), the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, and the Workforce Boards of Metropolitan Chicago and managed by Best Companies Group.
Read more »

 

Porte Brown's Dan Karnatz Earns Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) Designation

February 26, 2014 — Porte Brown LLC is pleased to announce that Dan Karnatz has earned the designation of Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA). Dan successfully completed the certification process with the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts to earn his CVA designation. Read more »

 

Porte Brown Expands in the Northwest Suburbs

January 30, 2014 — Porte Brown LLC is pleased to announce the acquisition of LHW & Associates  based in Crystal Lake, Illinois. LHW offers specialized services for clients in industries such as mortgage banking, construction, manufacturing, real estate, medical, professional services and various consumer markets. In addition to traditional accounting services, LHW & Associates has an established "Virtual  CFO" practice in which the firm offers the full services of a Chief Financial Officer on an as-needed basis giving companies all the benefits of a traditional in-house, full-time CFO in a more cost and time-efficient manner. Read more »

 

Porte Brown Named as One of the 2013 Best Accounting Firms
To Work For

September 18, 2013—Porte Brown LLC is pleased to announce that the firm was once again named as one of the 2013 Best Accounting Firms to Work for. This annual list was created by Accounting Today and Best Companies Group to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in the accounting industry. Read more »