Auburn-Opelika (334) 887-7022 | Montgomery (334) 244-8900

Returning Value Blog

Melissa Motley, CPA

Melissa Motley has worked in the field of accounting for more than 25 years. She specializes in audit and accounting work with an emphasis in governmental audit.

Recent Posts

Why It's Important to Get Your Company's Financials Done on Time

Posted by Melissa Motley, CPA on Mar 06, 2024

Have you completed your company’s year-end financial statements yet? Most calendar-year entities issue their year-end financials by March of the following year. Lenders and investors may think the worst if a company’s financial reports aren’t submitted in a timely manner. Here are three assumptions your stakeholders could make when your financial statements are late.

Full Story

Posted in Accounting & Outsourcing

Solid Financial Reporting Can Help Attract Debt and Equity Financing

Posted by Melissa Motley, CPA on Feb 08, 2024

Financial reporting plays a key role when a business needs funds for continued operations and strategic investment opportunities. Lenders and investors will generally want to review your company’s financial statements before they give it money. Timely, reliable reports can increase the odds that a bank will approve your company’s loan application and equity investors will provide capital.

Full Story

Posted in Accounting & Outsourcing

The Future of Accounting: How to Embrace Cutting-Edge Technology

Posted by Melissa Motley, CPA on Jan 03, 2024

Technology is transforming the accounting profession. When businesses moved from paper ledgers to spreadsheets, it improved the timeliness, accuracy, and integrity of accounting-related data. Likewise, cloud computing and the ability to remotely access real-time data have allowed accounting departments to be far more responsive to an increasingly distributed workforce.

Full Story

Posted in Business Advisory

It's Important to Track Tools and Small Equipment

Posted by Melissa Motley, CPA on Dec 07, 2023

Is your business constantly replacing its tools and small equipment? Certain items that can fit in a backpack, pocket, or even the armrest of a vehicle — such as power tools, hard hats, iPads, and RFID readers — have a tendency to “walk away” from job sites, warehouses, and offices. However, the cost of lost, damaged, and stolen items can quickly erode profits and cash flow. An effective tracking system can help remedy this problem by making workers more accountable.

Full Story

Posted in Audit & Assurance

Data Governance: Working Toward Mission Accomplished

Posted by Melissa Motley, CPA on Nov 07, 2023

Data is the lifeblood of any modern organization — a critical asset that is not only used to operate the business but can also fuel innovation, reduce costs, and increase revenue. But managing data assets effectively comes with a set of challenges that can be difficult for organizations to navigate. Creating an effective data governance policy can help organizations mitigate risk and capitalize on opportunities.

Full Story

Posted in Business Advisory

FASB Approves Updated Rules for Disclosing Income Taxes

Posted by Melissa Motley, CPA on Oct 05, 2023

On August 30, 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) unanimously voted to finalize its proposed improvements to the disclosure rules for income taxes. Here’s what’s changing and when those changes are effective.

Full Story

Posted in Audit & Assurance

Optimizing the Internal Audit Process for Greater Efficiency

Posted by Melissa Motley, CPA on May 11, 2023

In the current economic environment, companies are looking for ways to gain efficiencies within their Internal Audit processes and procedures. The use of Technology and Data Analytics have transformed the Internal Audit function by enabling:

Full Story

Posted in Audit & Assurance

Changes in Sec. 174 Makes It a Good Time to Review the R&E Strategy of Your Business

Posted by Melissa Motley, CPA on Mar 22, 2023

It’s been years since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 was signed into law, but it’s still having an impact. Several provisions in the law have expired or will expire in the next few years. One provision that took effect last year was the end of current deductibility for research and experimental (R&E) expenses.

Full Story

Posted in Tax Planning

What to Do if Your CFO or Controller Leaves

Posted by Melissa Motley, CPA on Dec 07, 2022

A leadership departure in your accounting department can create turmoil, at least temporarily. However, it also provides an opportunity to assess the department’s performance and create a vision for its future performance. Here are four questions to address if your CFO or controller leaves.

Full Story

Posted in Accounting & Outsourcing

Are Your Risk-Management Practices Keeping Up With the Times

Posted by Melissa Motley, CPA on Sep 15, 2022

Risks abound in today’s uncertain marketplace. Nearly two-thirds of senior finance leaders said that the volume and complexity of corporate risks have changed “mostly” or “extensively” in the past five years, according to a new report published by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and North Carolina State University.

Full Story

Posted in Business Advisory

Recent Posts

Returning_Value