KOS is Hiring Staff Accountants!

TO APPLY: Email resumes to hrdirector@koscpa.com

Our firm is currently seeking talented, entrepreneurial-minded, advancement-oriented individuals for the following opening in our Accounting Department.

WHO WE ARE – Kessler Orlean Silver & Co (KOS) is a 50+ person full service CPA firm located in Deerfield IL. We provide clients of all sizes in many industries primarily throughout the Chicagoland area with a wide variety of assurance, accounting, tax and consulting services. We are a family-friendly environment with an emphasis on career development and advancement.

SOME THINGS YOU CAN EXPECT AT KOS – Challenging work assignments and promotions based on skill; leadership development and soft skills training programs; mentoring; semi-annual performance appraisals; business casual attire year-round; flexible hours schedule; lunch and learn meetings; book discussion groups; and a thorough orientation process.

SOMETHING NOT TO EXPECT AT KOS – Crazy, ridiculous hours, all-nighters, sleeping accommodations, and sweat-shop conditions. Yes, we work hard, but there is life outside the office and we respect that.

POSITION:

ACCOUNTING SENIOR/SUPERVISOR 

3-7 Years Public Accounting Experience 

Responsibilities will include, among others:

• Preparing and reviewing workpapers for a variety of financial engagements;
• Preparing all necessary financial statements and related disclosures;
• Consulting with clients and various internal accounting related transactions;
• Providing strategic and tactical advice;
• Keeping abreast of latest technical developments;
• Coaching and mentoring junior level staff; and
• Helping manage and sustain client relationships.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

• Previous public accounting experience (other than entry level) and any experience with CCH ProSystem fx  programs and QuickBooks is a huge plus
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills;
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills with emphasis on the ability to articulate complex accounting, tax and financial information to clients;
• Proficiency in use of computers and computer accounting / tax software programs;
• CPA
• Comfortable working in a team environment with changing priorities and deadlines; and
• Self-motivated and detail oriented.

BENEFITS WE OFFER: Competitive salary; generous PTO policy; employee bonus program; partially paid maternity/paternity policy; 401k and cafeteria plan; health, life, dental, and disability insurance; bereavement; firm-paid CPE, membership dues and licenses.

The Carrots & Eggs of Leadership

Guest Blogger Cathy Carroll who is one of the speakers at our breakfast workshop, "Soft Skill Development for the Woman Business Leader" on August 27th.


What would you do in these two situations?  
 


A)  Jennifer is not living up to expectations on this project.  After a second try at delivering the results, she is late and the product is not useful.  Would you:
 

1. Empathize with her situation and show her how to do the work?
2. Emphasize how important this work is and set specific, measurable expectations for success the next time?
3. Get someone else to do the work, and move her to a different role or terminate her employment?
4. Get someone else to show her how to complete the task?
5. It depends.

B)  You are the guide of a group of hikers and as you crest the first hill, a hiker halfway back suddenly yelps in pain.  He has stepped into a hole and felt a quick sharp pain in his ankle, convinced that a snake bit him.  Would you:

1. Collaborate:  Gather the rest of the hikers, brainstorm options to pursue, then vote on each option?
2. Encourage:  Tell the hiker he’ll be OK, and then encourage the other hikers to help the victim as best they can?
3. Inspire:  Give a motivating speech to inspire the hikers to help?
4. Command:  Instruct one hiker to call 911 on his cell phone, instruct another hiker (who happens to be an EMT) to administer medical action, instruct a third and fourth hiker to return to the camp to coordinate help?
5. It depends.

These two scenarios are different, yet both demonstrate the value of having a broad set of leadership skills to achieve results.
 
In question A, if you ascribe to Ken Blanchard’s Situational Leadership model, the right answer is 5.  It depends.    He recommends that you assess the employee on two spectra:  Skill and Will.  If she lacks the skill, then drowning her in empathy isn’t going to get the job done.  Conversely, if she lacks the will, then just showing her how to do the work probably won’t help.  Instead, he recommends using the following model:

This model can be very useful, but it is important to remember that this model is situation specific, not person specific.  For example, ask yourself which leadership approach you would take if you asked a Navy Seal to complete a military mission?  Next, ask yourself which approach you would take if you asked that same Navy Seal to teach kindergarten. As for Question B above, I recommend answer 4. Command.  This is an emergency situation that requires quick, decisive leadership.  The "Command & Control" leadership style that was prevalent in the 1950s is unfashionable today, especially when used exclusively.  However, it remains an important tool in the leadership toolkit, as do authoritative, collaborative, encouraging, and inspirational styes, in certain situations. The art of leadership is knowing which leadership style to use in which situation.  We all have a default style, but any style of leadership used exclusively, can derail us from getting the results we want.  Watch out for those blind spots and remember this:  the hot water that softens a carrot, will harden an egg. Cathy Carroll is the founder of Legacy Onward, which provides business and executive coaching services for family businesses.  After growing up around her grandfather's business, Cathy enjoyed a 20-year corporate career before leading her father’s manufacturing business.  Following her coaching certification from Georgetown University, Cathy founded Legacy Onward to help family business leaders achieve greater profits through greater performance.  www.legacyonward.com

DE MINIMIS SAFE HARBOR

The Repair Regulations put in effect on January 1, 2014, contain several elections and safe harbors.  This article will focus on the de minimis safe harbor election.

Under the de minimis safe harbor election, an eligible taxpayer may generally deduct amounts paid for tangible personal property, where the per item or the per invoice amount does not exceed $5,000.  An eligible taxpayer is one that has an applicable financial statement, a written capitalization policy as of the first day of the tax year, and expenses amounts on its applicable financial statements consistent with the written policy.  

An applicable financial statement (AFS) is a financial statement provided to the Securities and Exchange Commission, or an audited financial statement used for creditors or other non-tax purposes.  In determining the per invoice or the per item amount with the $5,000 limitation in mind, it is important to note that transaction and other costs included in the same invoice as the item are also included in and allocated to the cost of the item.  

For taxpayers without an AFS, the rules and election still apply, however the dollar threshold is reduced to $500.  

It is important to note any materials and supplies purchased that fit within the de minimis safe harbor parameters are treated as expensed under this election and not under the rules for materials and supplies. The safe harbor must be applied to all amounts paid.  Please visit: http://www.koscpa.com/announcements/the-de-minimis-safe-harbor-election.

The de minimis safe harbor election is an annual, irrevocable election.  It is made by attaching a statement to the taxpayer's timely filed (including extensions) original tax return.  Please contact a KOS advisor today if you would like to discuss how this safe harbor may apply to you or the next steps needed to obtain available tax benefits under the new Regulations.

KOS to Host Breakfast Workshop: Soft Skill Development for the Woman Business Leader

Soft Skill Development for the Woman Business Leader

  

A breakfast workshop for women who understand the

importance of personal attributes on the job

Soft skills are increasingly becoming the hard skills of today's work force. It's just not enough to be highly trained in technical skills, without developing the softer, interpersonal and relationship-building skills that help people to communicate and collaborate effectively. Problem solving, delegating, motivating, and team building are all much easier if you have good soft skills. Knowing how to get along with people, displaying a positive attitude and carrying yourself well are all crucial for success. Soft skills revolve around personal relationships, character, and attitude. By developing these skills, you can increase your work performance, build stronger relationships, and take your career to the next level.

Workshop Details

When: Wednesday, August 27th

8:30am-10:30am

Where: Kessler Orlean Silver

1101 Lake Cook Road, Suite C

Deerfield, IL 60015

Cost: Free

RSVP: Kristin Kentra

847.580.4100

kkentra@koscpa.com

About the Speakers

The Impact of Psychology on Your Business

Paulette Janus, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and founder of Janus Behavioral Health Services with offices in Chicago and Wilmette. Paulette has over 15 years experience providing individual, couples, and family psychotherapy, specializing in children, teens, and families. She is also trained in and provides alternative dispute resolution interventions including family mediation, divorce coaching, and co-parent coaching.

The Carrots & Eggs of Leadership

Cathy Carroll is the founder of Legacy Onward, a leadership coaching firm specializing in family businesses.  Cathy had a 20-year corporate career with Hewitt Associates, Sabre Inc., and United Airlines before leaving to lead a turn-around of her father's manufacturing business. Legacy Onward helps leaders navigate the dynamic challenges of leadership, and Cathy has a knack for helping leaders identify and overcome the obstacles blocking them from the results they want.

Take Charge of Your Email Inbox

Bonnie Shay, Professional Organizer, is the founder of Mariposa Creative Solutions. Bonnie aims to create order out of disorder; she specializes in office organizing (home or professional), residential organizing, and photo organizing (printed and digital). Bonnie is also an expert in the field of email management and has recently published “Take Charge of Your Email Inbox”, a step by step guide of how one can “de-clutter” their inbox and maintain a streamlined inbox going forward.