The Exuberant Accountant - Scott Heintzelman

Our firm will be hosting a Security and Fraud Prevention Seminar on Friday, September 24, 2010. We are very fortunate to have as our keynote speaker, Scott Sutherland, Special Agent of the FBI. He is a dynamic speaker and will share some of the frightening current trends in cyber crime, but he will also give you practical steps to protect your business.

I will be emceeing the event and hopefully attendees will learn more about….

· Current trends in cyber crime and identity theft, along with a discussion of the methods you can use to protect yourself from being a victim.

· Resources available to prevent attacks on critical infrastructure and how to report suspicious activity.

· The components of fraud, identification of red flags, and other fraud prevention tips related to financial institutions.

· Electronic tools that banks offer in order to provide protection against attacks on customer accounts (including such things as ACH Fraud Review, Positive Pay, Check Block, etc.).

· Practical security and the 10 Tips for Success.

· Mortgage fraud.

Our speakers include:

Scott Sutherland, Special Agent of the FBI

David Clark, FBI - Harrisburg

Julie Krause, Regional Manager - Treasury Management at M&T Bank

Tom Strause, Partner with Financial Outsourcing Solutions

David Hammarberg, IT Director with McKonly & Asbury

If you would like more details, please contact me.

The McKonomics Blog just posted a great article about positioning your business for sale.  I think this is valuable information and wanted to share here.

As the economy rebounds, the Merger & Acquisition markets will continue to heat up. Although some buyers remain cautious, others are scooping up businesses -- in some cases, at a premium. If the thought of selling your company has crossed your mind, now is the time to begin positioning your business for a future sale.

In a best-case scenario, preparations should begin months, even years, in advance. Even if you must sell quickly, it's important to avoid the appearance of a distress sale. You should begin as soon as possible to get your business in shape so you can maximize the price.

Here are a dozen questions to consider:

Here is a great checklist from our friends at the RMC (Risk Management Control) Advisors Blog.  I am reposting the entire article, but you can click this link to read on their website.

If your answer is “I am not sure” or “No”, read on to learn some small steps you can take to increase the likelihood that your business would reopen. According to the American Red Cross, as many as 40 percent of small businesses do not reopen after a disaster!

Within the last month, two friends have told me about two separate disasters caused by malfunctioning air conditioning systems. In both cases, there was extensive water damage on multiple floors destroying papers and electronic equipment. In one case, over 100 people were displaced and in the other, about 20 were displaced. Fortunately, due to having business continuity plans in place, they were able to react in a quick and efficient manner.

Take Inventory