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Newslink -
December 2008 |
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Message from the Chair: Season's Greetings to the JHI family
The holiday season is in full swing for all us, so I would like to start with a special wish that this holiday season brings joy and happiness to everyone in the JHI family. I use the word "family" because I strongly believe that is what JHI is all about. I think we are all blessed to be in such a great organization of people who truly care for one another. |
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Hemming Morse follows the money in California murder, embezzlement trial Forensic accounting by Hemming Morse, Inc. in San Francisco played an important role in the conviction of former church pastor Howard Doug Porter for embezzlement, elder abuse, first-degree murder and attempted murder in high-profile case in California. |
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In
Profile
Sol, Elías y Asociados was established as an independent accounting firm in El Salvador in 1988. Currently the firm is made up of two partners and 15 professionals and technical workers. The firm joined JHI in 1999.
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Here is a sample of news from Region of the Americas firms. Send news about your firm to Editor Becky Dowd, |
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Moving
to full Forum of Firms membership Roberto Resa serves on IFAC Board As JHI moves from provisional to full membership in the Forum of Firms (Forum) effective January 1, 2009, you will be interested to know that a partner from a Region of the Americas firm in Mexico is closely involved in the affiliated International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). |
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Rankings: Accolades for KAF, Martinelli and RBZ Martinelli: Two-time success story in Brazil Martinelli Law Firm’s success is reflected in two recent honours. The firm is ranked as the seventh most admired office in Brazil and most admired office outside the Rio-São Paulo axis in the Most Admired 2008 Yearbook (third edition). Dr. Juliana Martinelli, a firm partner, is listed as “the most admired in Corporate Law” in the yearbook. Read more. |
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Wanted: Your changes for 2009 "Blue Book" Directory in January The wheels are in motion to
update the Blue Book Directory for 2009.
Watch
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Membership Survey and Additional Dues due January 31 When you're back in the office after the holidays, please make returning your completed Additional Dues Form for July 1 - December 31, 2008, with any related dues, and the 2008 Membership Survey a priority. The forms have been emailed and sent by surface mail in the 2009 Membership Renewal package to JHI Contact Partners. They have also been emailed to other firm members who completed them in the past. The office salutes Jacob León at Mir·Fox & Rodriguez, P.C. for being the first JHI firm in the region and around the world to return the survey – within hours of the email!
You can also download these forms from
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New Member Benefit: en-cryption™ Secure Email from en-terpret.co
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Your case studies needed for website
Case studies, demonstrating how JHI firms work with JHI their counterparts in other parts of the world to serve clients, are needed for the website. If you have a prepared case study that is ready for posting or can provided information that can be developed into a written report, contact RoseMary MacVicar-Elliott, communications@jhi.com, (416) 494-1440, ext. 224. |
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Conference Corner 2008
May 21 - 23 |
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Message from the Chair:
Season's
Greetings to the JHI family I have great comfort and peace of mind just knowing that my firm is part of an organization where the members truly care for one another and do anything they can to see each other be successful.
Bright future I know we all face many challenges in 2009 as we move our firms forward during these uncertain economic times. I know the challenges we face will force us to make cuts and decrease expenses. How we accomplish this will be each individual firm's own challenge. As Chair of this region, I guess I selfishly hope we can keep the momentum and enthusiasm we have created with our young professionals moving in the same direction in 2009. The JHI family needs this continued participation and organic growth to make sure the organization we have today will be there tomorrow. To everyone in the JHI family, Happy Holidays and a safe and prosperous New Year. |
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Hemming Morse follows the money in California murder, embezzlement trial Hemming Morse, Inc. in San Francisco played an important role in the conviction of former church pastor Howard Doug Porter for embezzlement, elder abuse, first-degree murder and attempted murder in high-profile case in California.The firm, led by Director Dan Ray (pictured at left), analyzed 15 bank accounts and five years of financial transactions after being engaged by the Modesto District Attorney’s Office. “We had to look at what happened to the money because that was going to be the motive for the crime.” Mr. Porter befriended Frank Craig, an elderly millionaire, and promised to help him realized his dream of building an agricultural museum. Mr. Craig gave Mr. Porter full power of attorney. “That’s where the trouble started,” says Dan. “The pastor abused that power.” During the trial, prosecutors said Mr. Porter staged two car wrecks – one in 2002 that left Mr. Craig unable to walk and the other in 2004 that killed him – to cover up that he was stealing money from Mr. Craig. Dan testified that Mr. Porter diverted $820,000 for the benefit of himself and his family. In addition, “we identified 10 specific examples that were just outrageous,” says Dan. This included Mr. Porter negotiating a limited insurance settlement after the first car accident, to minimize questions about the circumstances, and giving Mr. Craig only half the settlement. Dan was on the witness stand for about 12 hours, testifying as an expert witness for the prosecution and as a rebuttal witness to the defense “expert” witness. He countered the defense expert who testified about the “magic of accounting” and other unsubstantiated claims. The trial took six weeks and the jury returned with the verdict in six hours. “This trial shows how wide and varied the accountant’s role can be,” says Dan. “It reaches anywhere from tax returns and audits to murder trials.” Mr. Porter was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole on Dec. 12. Dan expects “NBC Dateline” to feature the trial in an upcoming show. Dan may be interviewed by NBC Dateline. In addition to Dan, Manager Fausta Shuler, Senior Marlene Smith, Staff Lenore Ralston and Intern David Ray worked on the case. |
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Sol, Elías y Asociados: JHI member firm in El Salvador By Anibal Elías, Partner In Charge
The Partners
Services Qualifications
Expertise · microfinances, retailing, government and importing; · review of loan processes, governmental expenditures and audit reports under requirements of the IDB and EC; · operational and management audit services, applying International Auditing Standards (IAS) to our auditing services.
Contact Information
Note: A longer version of
this article is available on
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Here is a sample of news from Region of the Americas firms. Send news about your firm to Editor Becky Dowd, bdowd@kafgroup.com. Canoeing put Stephen Altbaum of Lipton, Wiseman, Altbaum & Partners LLP in Toronto in the headlines of The Canadian Jewish News. Stephen has been taking a canoeing excusion of "faith, friendship and food" for 28 years. Read the full story.
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Moving to full Forum of Firms membership
Roberto Resa (left), a Managing Partner with Resa y Asociados, is a member of the IFAC Board. The Forum is an association of international networks of accounting firms that perform financial statement audits that are or may be used across national borders. It conducts its business primarily through the IFAC Transnational Auditors Committee. “As the global organization for the accountancy profession, IFAC is committed to protecting the public interest, developing high quality international standards, promoting strong ethical values, encouraging quality practice and supporting the development of all sectors of the profession around the world,” says Roberto. “Being part of it is more than an opportunity, it is a honour.” Roberto has been an IFAC Board member since November 2006. In November 2008, he started a three-year term as Chair for the Audit Committee. He also served as Technical Advisor to members of the IFAC Board from 2002 to 2006. With more than 25 years of experience as a public accountant, Roberto’s accomplishments include being named First Certified Public Accountant by the Instituto Mexicano de Contadores Públicos in September 1998. The Forum promotes consistent, high quality standards of financial reporting and auditing practices worldwide. JHI’s membership enhances our association’s position in the accounting and auditing world. JHI firms benefit because the Forum membership helps attract international clients and new quality members. JHI is one of only 22 organizations (including the “Big Four”) that make up the Forum. In order to be involved in this initiative, JHI firms must perform transnational audits; relevant firms will form a sub-group for this purpose. For more information about JHI’s Forum membership, contact Mark Tenzer, International Executive Committee Chairman, mtenzer@jeffreyshenry.com, phone 44 020 7309 2222. |
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Rankings: Accolades for KAF, Martinelli and RBZ Martinelli: Two-time success story in Brazil  Martinelli
Law Firm’s success is reflected in two recent honours. The firm is ranked as
the seventh most admired office in Brazil and most
admired office outside
the Rio-São Paulo axis in the Most Admired 2008 Yearbook (third
edition). Dr. Juliana Martinelli, a firm partner (pictured at left), is
listed as “the most admired in Corporate Law” in the yearbook.
Read more.
In
addition, as the JHI member firm in Brazil, Martinelli put JHI in second
spot out of 13 associations of independent firms in the recent
International Accounting Bulletin ranking for the country. The article,
published November 3, is posted on
One of 100 most influential
at Boston
area firm |
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Conferences: Coming up in 2009
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Newslink Published by JHI Region of
the Americas. NOTE: Do not forward outside JHI.
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