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H&S Partner to Teach Fundamentals of Financial Management

November 7, 2012/in Locations & Services/by revel

Learn the fundamentals of financial management with Randy Filbrandt on 11/14/12

Randy Filbrandt, Certified Public Accountant & H&S Companies Partner, will be teaching the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center’s Fundamentals of Financial Management Workshop on Wednesday, November 14, 2012.
This introductory class is designed to help small business owners understand how to apply financial information to managing their business more effectively. This will give those in-charge, the ability to understand accounting principles, financial statements, and work more effectively with their accounting team.

Fundamentals of Financial Management

When: Wednesday, November 14, 2012; 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Michigan Alternative Renewable Energy Center
200 Viridian Dr, Muskegon, MI 49440
Cost: Free
Register: MI-SBTDC Website

About Randy

Randy Filbrandt is a partner and has been with H&S Companies since 1994. His background includes work with non-profits and retirement plan audits, as well as, monthly accounting and tax preparation for individuals and businesses. Randy is a member of the MACPA, AICPA, BNI of Muskegon, and is active in the Muskegon and Grand Haven Chambers of Commerce. Randy has also served on the board of the Hume Home since 2002.

H&S Partner to Teach Fundamentals of Financial Management

November 7, 2012/in Locations & Services/by revel

Learn the fundamentals of financial management with Randy Filbrandt on 11/14/12

Randy Filbrandt, Certified Public Accountant & H&S Companies Partner, will be teaching the Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center’s Fundamentals of Financial Management Workshop on Wednesday, November 14, 2012.
This introductory class is designed to help small business owners understand how to apply financial information to managing their business more effectively. This will give those in-charge, the ability to understand accounting principles, financial statements, and work more effectively with their accounting team.

Fundamentals of Financial Management

When: Wednesday, November 14, 2012; 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where: Michigan Alternative Renewable Energy Center
200 Viridian Dr, Muskegon, MI 49440
Cost: Free
Register: MI-SBTDC Website

About Randy

Randy Filbrandt is a partner and has been with H&S Companies since 1994. His background includes work with non-profits and retirement plan audits, as well as, monthly accounting and tax preparation for individuals and businesses. Randy is a member of the MACPA, AICPA, BNI of Muskegon, and is active in the Muskegon and Grand Haven Chambers of Commerce. Randy has also served on the board of the Hume Home since 2002.

H&S Employee Receives Recognition For Work on Fraud Case

November 2, 2012/in Fraud and Forensic Investigation, Locations & Services/by revel

Tamra Matthews

Tamra Matthews started working in the H&S Companies Mount Pleasant location just a few short months ago, and she is already making a name for herself in the community.
In addition to being an accountant for H&S, she is a graduate student in the Central Michigan University Business Administration program. Last year, the Michigan State Police contacted an accounting professor at CMU to ask for his help, and his best students’ help, with open embezzlement cases. Tamra was among the top students selected to assist.
Through the team’s research, they were able to help prove embezzlement crimes had, in fact, occurred. Because of their hard work and dedication to reviewing the facts, a criminal is in prison. They were recognized at a ceremony held at police headquarters in October.

H&S Employee Receives Recognition For Work on Fraud Case

November 2, 2012/in Fraud and Forensic Investigation, Locations & Services/by revel

Tamra Matthews

Tamra Matthews started working in the H&S Companies Mount Pleasant location just a few short months ago, and she is already making a name for herself in the community.
In addition to being an accountant for H&S, she is a graduate student in the Central Michigan University Business Administration program. Last year, the Michigan State Police contacted an accounting professor at CMU to ask for his help, and his best students’ help, with open embezzlement cases. Tamra was among the top students selected to assist.
Through the team’s research, they were able to help prove embezzlement crimes had, in fact, occurred. Because of their hard work and dedication to reviewing the facts, a criminal is in prison. They were recognized at a ceremony held at police headquarters in October.

H&S Employee Receives Recognition For Work on Fraud Case

November 2, 2012/in Fraud and Forensic Investigation, Locations & Services/by revel

Tamra Matthews

Tamra Matthews started working in the H&S Companies Mount Pleasant location just a few short months ago, and she is already making a name for herself in the community.

In addition to being an accountant for H&S, she is a graduate student in the Central Michigan University Business Administration program. Last year, the Michigan State Police contacted an accounting professor at CMU to ask for his help, and his best students’ help, with open embezzlement cases. Tamra was among the top students selected to assist.

Through the team’s research, they were able to help prove embezzlement crimes had, in fact, occurred. Because of their hard work and dedication to reviewing the facts, a criminal is in prison. They were recognized at a ceremony held at police headquarters in October.

Bad Weather and Business

October 31, 2012/in Locations & Services/by revel

As Hurricane Sandy rips across the East Coast and sends bad weather west, H&S Computers would like to remind you that we need to remember to protect our important business records, files and documents. Things to do include:

Have a disaster recovery plan in place for your network and electronic files. If something happens to your hardware, you’ll want to be sure you are able to access the files later.
Be sure to keep paper records safe. Store them in fire and waterproof container or consider keeping copies in an off-site storage solution.
Be sure to have the proper insurance in place for your business to help cover any damages that may occur.

Need help developing a disaster recover plan for your electronic documents? Contact Andy Bradshaw today.

Andy Bradshaw
IT Systems Engineer
231.924.8001
andyb@hscompanies.com

New Malware Takes Computer 'Hostage'

October 12, 2012/in Fraud and Forensic Investigation, Locations & Services/by revel

Could your computer be taken hostage?

In August, we discussed hackers attacking a small medical practice by breaching their security system, stealing encrypted files, and then holding them for ransom. According to slate.com there’s a new type of cyber attack people need to be aware of – ransomware.
Ransomware is a type of automated malware that locks you out of your computer and then demands money to unlock it. In a particularly frightening scheme, the ransomware uses your webcam to capture an image of your face and then displays it on the computer along with the demands.
Remember the importance of protecting your network and your machines. Ensure you have anti-virus software installed and make sure it’s up-to-date, ensure network firewalls are in place and don’t open links if you don’t trust the source.
To learn more about ransomware read, Pay Up or the Hard Drive Gets It.

Need help ensuring your network is secure? Contact H&S Computers today.

Tim-Nass-HS-Computers Tim Nass
IT Systems Engineer
616.735.3054
timn@hscompanies.com

New Malware Takes Computer ‘Hostage’

October 12, 2012/in Fraud and Forensic Investigation, Locations & Services/by revel

Could your computer be taken hostage?

In August, we discussed hackers attacking a small medical practice by breaching their security system, stealing encrypted files, and then holding them for ransom. According to slate.com there’s a new type of cyber attack people need to be aware of – ransomware.

Ransomware is a type of automated malware that locks you out of your computer and then demands money to unlock it. In a particularly frightening scheme, the ransomware uses your webcam to capture an image of your face and then displays it on the computer along with the demands.

Remember the importance of protecting your network and your machines. Ensure you have anti-virus software installed and make sure it’s up-to-date, ensure network firewalls are in place and don’t open links if you don’t trust the source.

To learn more about ransomware read, Pay Up or the Hard Drive Gets It.

Need help ensuring your network is secure? Contact H&S Computers today.

Tim-Nass-HS-Computers Tim Nass
IT Systems Engineer
616.735.3054
timn@hscompanies.com

HR Strategy | Revamp Your Incentive Program To Get The Best Results From Employees

October 11, 2012/in Locations & Services/by revel

What type of behavior does your organization encourage?

Does your incentive program involve encouraging employees to achieve behavior-focused goals? If not, your business may be missing out on receiving the best work performance possible from employees.
According to H&S HR Manager, Travis Sinquefield, research has shown that the best performance comes from defining, emphasizing, and reinforcing the behaviors that are important to an organization. Just as with training programs — which require constant reinforcement after the training in order to be successfully implemented and applied in the organization — the same goes for performance management
By switching the focus on the behaviors that lead to successful results, the performance management system can be designed to constantly emphasize and reinforce the desired behaviors, thus creating a strong, performance-based culture.
When designing a behavior-focused program, it is critical to take the time to really understand and do the following:

What behaviors are desirable and impact organizational results?
After you answer this question, you must then constantly reinforce those behaviors through communication and feedback.
Once employees understand the behaviors that are important to both the organization and the individual being successful, and how that leads to the desired result, a stronger culture of understanding and mutually beneficial goals will develop.

What approach has your organization taken towards performance management? Is it designed to reinforce and emphasize the end results, or is it designed to reinforce and emphasize critical behaviors?
To learn more about this topic read, It’s All About the Behaviors By Travis Sinquefield

For help designing a performance management system, contact Travis Sinquefield.

Travis Sinquefield
HR Manager
616.735.3088
traviss@hscompanies.com

UIA Employer Update

October 1, 2012/in Locations & Services, Newsletters, Tax Tips/by revel

Don’t forget to update your practices to follow UIA’s new rules.

Below is a checklist of a few key updates regarding Michigan unemployment taxes:

Beginning in 2012, the taxable wage base is now $9,500.
When computing the unemployment tax, employers used to be taxed at 2.7% for the first 2 years. After that, they were taxed at 2.7% plus the experience rating. Beginning in 2012, it will take a new employer 4 years to be considered experienced, rather than 5, and in 2013, it will take a new employer 3 years. Because of this change, the minimum tax rate could potentially be .06%, for some employers, after only 3 years.
Beginning in 2013, employers with more than 25 employees must file quarterly reports online. In 2014, employers with more than 5 employees but fewer than 26 must file online. In 2015, all employers must file online.
The penalty for filing a late or erroneous report is increased from $25 to $50 if the return is filed within 30 days after the due date. After that, the penalty is $250 per quarter that the report remains late. If the UIA notifies an employer of an error and it’s corrected within 14 days, no penalty will apply.
Seasonal designation can be obtained by any employer that employs workers for regularly recurring 26-week periods or less, in any 52-week period. As long as the employer gives the worker reasonable assurance of returning, the workers will not be paid unemployment benefits between seasons. It no longer matters whether the employer’s industry is also seasonal.
Beginning with the 3rd quarter of THIS YEAR, there will be a single quarterly report filed.
Beginning in 2013, an employer with 25 or fewer employees that incurred 50% or more of its unemployment tax liability in the first quarter of the previous year, may elect to spread out its first quarter liability in the current year over all four quarters without interest or penalty charges.
Household employers may elect to pay unemployment taxes once a year, but must still file quarterly reports.
The 7-week limitation of unemployment benefits for certain family members employed by family owned corporations has been removed.

For more information contact Melissa Miller

Melissa Miller
Accountant, Payroll Specialist
231.924.8052
melissam@hscompanies.com