Blog

Dinner Meeting & Networking Happy Hour

Please help us expand our reach and hopefully increase our attendance at our April 16th Dinner Meeting and April 25th Networking Happy Hour, as well as the IMA Texas Annual Conference (April 25 and 26).  Dennis Whitney, IMA VP who oversees the CMA program, will be joining us for the Happy Hour.

You should have received our notice for the April 16th dinner meeting.  The first notice for the Networking Happy Hour will go out later this week.  Please share them with your contacts and groups that may be interested in attending.

Read More

The United States recovery is well underway and economic growth in the Dallas Metropolitan area has been picking up. As economic growth continues, hiring managers will find themselves under increasing pressure to both find top-notch candidates and to retain their own staff.

Texas’s Economy is Strengthening
The Dallas metropolitan economy has reported moderate growth in the previous 6 weeks, while nationally hiring has picked up. This could lead to increasingly tight labor markets as the national economy continues to recover and more applicants are absorbed amid increased corporate hiring. Given that Dallas’s unemployment rate is currently at only 6.4 percent, local hiring managers should plan carefully for an increasingly tight labor pool.
Read More

While the national unemployment rate remains high at 7.7 percent, the unemployment rate among accountants is only 4.2%. With such a tight labor market many human resource managers are finding it difficult to fill accounting and finance vacancies.

Competing for local college graduates with accounting degrees can be tough, especially if you are not one of the Big 4 accounting firms. It can be done, however, with some clever planning and effort. Having clever recruiting and staffing practices is essential for small companies who cannot engage in national searches and cannot afford to pay top dollar for recruits.
Read More

Starting with the March 21st meeting, the Dallas Fort Worth Area Chapter is pleased to offer live simulcasts of our meetings, subject to speaker approval. When members cannot attend the physical meeting, they will have the opportunity to watch the presentation in streaming video and earn CPE. Initially, during the startup phase, there will be no charge for members who participate; however, longer term there will be a charge (amount is yet to be determined). The presentations will not be recorded; consequently, they will only be available during the live simulcast.

Participants will be required to register in advance (by March 15th for this month’s meeting). Those who do will receive the link and instructions for joining the meeting. CPE will be available for those who participate for
the required amount of time and confirm their participation at various points in the presentation. More details will be available on the website and in the meeting notices.

Please be aware that bandwidth and security limitations of your internet connection may prevent you from participating and earning CPE. Please let us know if and when that happens.
Read More

People are effected by their physical surroundings. That is why many cutting edge companies like Google and Apple maintain expansive campuses with facilities that rival the best private clubs and gyms. Maintaining a comfortable and inviting work space is now essential for increasing productivity and retaining talent. While upgrading offices will require a financial investment the bottom line could improve and you will be more likely to retain your best employees.

Not every company is in the position to build an elaborate campus but that doesn’t mean that a manager can’t improve the office space through less expensive and extensive means. For example, studies have suggested that employees work better in natural light than under artificial light. Selecting an office with a lot of windows and natural lighting can also increase productivity and create a more welcoming work environment. Switching your light bulbs to softer bulbs can also increase productivity and make employees happier. Read More

Retaining your employees is essential for ensuring stability and protecting the bottom line. For one, every time an employee leaves you lose valuable skills. Further, training new employees takes time and can cause disruptions in work flows. As such, it is essential to keep your staff happy and committed to your company.

Despite what you might think money is not the only factor for keeping employees committed to your company. Yes, financial considerations will always be important for your employees and no amount of non-monetary rewards will keep employees committed if they are unable to enjoy financial security. Still, once employees are financially secure non-monetary benefits can be very effective in increasing employee retention.

Read More