Sale of a Practice, AnswerConnect Available October 21, 2021

This course discusses the main factors that contribute to a successful accounting practice transition, guides potential vendors and purchasers through the process, and prepares participants for the issues they will face during a transition process. Topics addressed will be of interest for practitioners looking to sell or to acquire a practice. Topics will include current trends in the profession: soft issues in practice transition; merger vs. direct sale; valuation: risk, earnouts, transition time; taxation: sale of shares vs sale of assets (client list); client retention: the fit between the current and incoming practitioner, client relationships, communication; ethics: technology, communication with clients.

Join Melanie Russell, CPA, CA, CBV, CIM, CFE, CFF, ABV, Founder and President of Kalex Valuations Inc., who has valued, consulted with and sold a number of accounting practices, who will cover everything you need to know about purchasing or selling an accounting or tax practice.

More specifically, topics covered will include:

1. The Why’s of buying a practice/book of business

2. Why some practice/book acquisitions fail

3. Preparing for a sale

4. Options for starting the transition

5. Indicators of a desirable practice

6. Current trends

7. Practice values

8. Methods of transitioning

9. Tax implications of various transition structures

10. Stages of purchase/sale of a practice/book

11. Ethical and other practice issues including technology, and relationships and communications with staff and clients

12. When to involve a valuator/intermediary

Target Audience

This webinar will be of interest to accountants and tax practitioners who are looking to purchase, sell or otherwise transition an accounting practice or client base. The session with guide participants through the process and focus on key areas of concern based, and focus on practical issues. 

Professional Development Credits

WoltersKluwer professional development programs are designed to meet the continuing education requirements of a variety of professional associations. These requirements do vary by association and region. Please consult your provincial association to ensure this webinar meets the continuing professional development standards for your specific situation.

Registrations for each Live Webinar are available until the start of each program. We reserve the right to substitute speakers in the case of instructor illness. In the event that we must cancel a Live Webinar, all registrants will be notified immediately and given the opportunity to either transfer their registration to another Live Webinar or a Recorded Webinar or obtain a refund. For all Live Webinars that are recorded, participants will have access to the recording for three months following the Live Webinar. Partial credit will not be awarded for attendees that are not present for the entirety of the Live Webinar. Credit will not be awarded if an attendee does not answer all of the polling questions (where applicable). Additional credit will not be awarded due to the instructor presenting over the allotted time.

PRESENTER
 
This webinar is being presented by Melanie Russell, CPA, CA, CBV, CIM, CFE, CFF, ABV, President and founder of Kalex Valuations Inc.

Melanie E. Russell, CPA, CA, CBV, CIM, CFE, CFF, ABV

Since obtaining the CA, CPA designation in 1988, Ms. Russell has gathered experience in a number of areas including business, asset, financial instrument and liability valuations; income valuations/determinations; quantification of economic damages; expropriations; financial/forensic investigations; financial projections and modelling; due diligence; quality of earnings; external auditing; internal auditing; and treasury management.

Ms. Russell has worked in accounting and valuation practice for more than 20 years, and in industry for three years. Ms. Russell has qualified as an expert witness in the Ontario Court of Justice, the Ontario Superior Court, the Federal Court of Canada, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (“CPAO”, formerly Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario)’s Discipline Committee (which determines whether members should be charged with offences as brought by the CPAO’s Professional Conduct Committee) and the Investment Dealers’ Association. She has qualified as an expert in the areas of business/asset valuation, quantification of damages, income determination and forensic accounting. She has also acted as an accounting expert in arbitration, mediation, mediation/arbitration and other alternative dispute resolution proceedings (e.g., collaborative practice), and negotiated a number of buy/sell transactions (including accounting practices/client books).

Ms. Russell has been active in accounting, auditing, valuation and finance education since 1987. For example:

Taught at various institutions including York University - Atkinson College and Schulich School of Business, ICAO, CPAO, University of Toronto, Ryerson Polytechnic University, Seneca College, Humber College, Chartered Professional Accountants Canada (“CPA Canada” formerly Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants), School of Accountancy and various CA/CPA preparation courses. 
Presented lectures and seminars in various areas including valuation, income analysis, financial reporting, finance, accounting, auditing/assurance, personal financial planning for various organizations including the Ontario Bar Association, Law Society of Upper Canada, CICA/CPA Canada, the CICBV, ICAO/CPAO, Department of Justice, various district CA/CPA associations, ESOP Canada, Estate Planning Council of Toronto (“EPCT”), Innovation Guelph, Junior Trust and Estate Practitioners Group, Toronto Entrepreneurs’ Conference, Junior Achievement, Federated Press, Peel Lawyers’ Association and various law firms, accounting firms and industry groups.

More Information