Member of Russell Bedford International, a global network of independent professional service firms.
Member of Russell Bedford International, a global network of independent professional service firms.
If you’ve spent any time on LinkedIn lately you’ve no doubt seen multiple posts talking about company culture, all with the similar theme—culture can make or break an organization.
At Cray Kaiser we are extremely proud of the company culture we have created. Our core values of education, integrity, people, care and trust define our work and our actions.
CK is not just an accounting firm, we are a community. Our family atmosphere promotes strong relationships. We care not only about our work, but about each other on a personal level. Which leads to greater engagement and a healthy work environment.
We believe that every member of our team has something to offer, regardless of title or experience level. We all have a common goal, and everyone contributes to the success of the firm and our clients.
To learn more about our culture listen to what Aaron McWilliams, Eva Koziel, Raimonda Kesler, and Maria Gordon have to say.
As college students are heading back to campus and beginning to hunt for the perfect internship, Cray Kaiser asked interns Thomas Cirrincione and Priyangiben Patel to reflect on their time at CK. From discussing their daily roles as interns to sharing their favorite parts of the experience, listen in on how impactful a CK internship can be for you!
In his two summers interning at Cray Kaiser, Thomas Cirrincione experienced many aspects of the business, from administrative work to employee audits and working in the field. His time at CK allowed him to connect the dots between classroom curriculum and real-world situations.
Hear Thomas reflect on his time spent interning with the CK Team in the audio recording below.
Priyangiben interned with Cray Kaiser for seven months and is excited to apply the knowledge she gained at CK when she heads back to the classroom. She credits Cray Kaiser with giving her clarity on which aspect of accounting to pursue after her graduation from DePaul University.
Listen to Priyangiben’s audio blog below to hear more about her CK internship experience.
If you are interested in learning more about internship opportunities at Cray Kaiser, learn more here.
Studies show that workplace mentors have a positive impact on mentees, mentors, and organizations, including improved employee engagement, retention, inclusion, and career outcomes.
As showcased in our Core Values, our People and Education are at the center of our success. The growth and advancement of our team members, through strong mentor and mentee relationships, are an integral part of how we operate at Cray Kaiser, with senior employees taking an active role in career development.
The Mentor Program provides guidance, support and understanding by sharing experiences and knowledge to help employees reach their full potential; a win for everyone.
Weekly Planning on Demanding Schedules or PODS meetings provide a time for staff to check in with their supervisor or manager. These weekly touchpoints are a platform to address training opportunities and promote communication throughout the firm. The PODS also assist in onboarding new staff and allowing them to experience CK with a buddy.
To learn more about these opportunities we provide to employees, click below to hear what teammates Kayla Daniels, Maria Gordon, and Rolake Adedara have to say about mentorship at Cray Kaiser.
We’ve all learned a number of things over this past year and a half, and most important is creating flexibility for our team members. We were able to successfully shift to a hybrid work model, splitting time between the office and working from home. Leveraging technology, increasing communication and team support, allowed Cray Kaiser to move to a hybrid work model going forward.
We allow employees to schedule their week in advance, by selecting a few days a week to work from home with the remaining days at our Oakbrook Terrace office. This model enhances the employee experience by allowing them flexibility with continued connection with team members. For individuals looking for a flex-time experience, we work with them to determine the level of their contribution without compromising their career and growth objectives.
CK is also passionate about maintaining open lines of communication. We equip our team with the tools and resources they need to ensure we are always on the same page.
To learn more about Cray Kaiser’s hybrid working arrangement, check out these audio blogs from one of our Senior Assurance Accountants, Kayla Daniels.
In this audio blog. CK Tax Manager Eric Challenger, CPA shares important tax information for independent contractors including:
Listen to Eric outline what you need to know if you are filing taxes as an independent contractor:
Note – To listen to this audio blog, please make sure you are not using Internet Explorer as your browser.
If you are an independent contractor and need help filing taxes, please don’t hesitate to contact Cray Kaiser today.
In this audio blog, CK Principal Karen Snodgrass addresses some common questions surrounding potential future COVID-19 relief, including:
Of course, we don’t know exactly what will happen in the coming months. With a new administration and the pandemic still surging, there is a lot at play. Rest assured, as developments occur, we’ll be sure to keep you informed on our blog. In the meantime, you can listen to Karen’s current insights and predictions of future COVID-19 relief below:
If you have any questions about current or future COVID-19 relief, please don’t hesitate to contact Cray Kaiser today.
Please note that this blog is based on laws effective on Friday, January 15 and may not contain later amendments. Please contact Cray Kaiser for most recent information.
Following the results of the Georgia runoff elections, we know that the Democrats hold the majority in Congress. As a result, there is a lot of speculation about President-Elect Biden’s tax plan and what changes we can potentially expect in the future. In this audio blog, CK Principal Karen Snodgrass addresses the speculation and how you can prepare:
Of course, we don’t know exactly what will happen in the coming months. With a new administration and the pandemic still surging, there is a lot at play. Rest assured, as developments occur, we’ll be sure to keep you informed on our blog. In the meantime, you can listen to Karen’s insights and predictions below:
If you have any questions about President-Elect Biden’s tax plan, please don’t hesitate to contact Cray Kaiser today.
Please note that this blog is based on laws effective on Friday, January 15 and may not contain later amendments. Please contact Cray Kaiser for most recent information.
Do you know what your tax nexus is and how it impacts your business? In this audio blog, CK Principal Karen Snodgrass gives an overview of nexus, how the Wayfair ruling has affected businesses, and what business owners should be doing to comply with nexus.
This is a complex topic that requires a lot of careful attention to ensure compliance. You should work with your tax advisor to make sure you’re taking the necessary steps to follow the law. In the meantime, click below to listen to a quick introduction to nexus:
If you have questions about your tax situation, please don’t hesitate to contact Cray Kaiser today.
Please note that this blog is based on laws effective on April 2, 2020 and may not contain later amendments. Please contact Cray Kaiser for most recent information.
With the ink barely dry on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act, there have already been several hot topics surrounding the benefits it provides. Below are the top 5 tax provisions that we believe will be most impactful to our clients. You are welcome to listen to these key points in podcast format and then scroll down to read more details for each topic.
What It Means:
Eligible taxpayers will receive a payment of up to $1,200 ($2,400 for married filing jointly) plus $500 for each “qualifying child” (under 17 years of age).
What We Advise:
If you have not yet filed your 2019 return, it may be wise to delay filing in order to maximize the advance payment if your 2018 income is less than 2019.
What It Means:
A refundable payroll tax credit for 50% of wages paid between March 12 and December 31, 2020 for the first $10,000 in wages per employee. Eligible businesses will be required to have full or partial suspension and a significant (more than 50% decline) in gross receipts.
What We Advise:
DO THE MATH! In most cases, the benefits of the forgivable Payroll Protection Loan will outweigh both the employee retention tax credit and deferral.
What It Means:
2018, 2019, and 2020 losses can now be carried back 5 years to fully offset income, as opposed to strictly carried forward. This will allow businesses to recoup previously paid taxes, including in higher tax years. After applying the carryback, certain net operating losses can be carried forward and offset 100% of taxable income, instead of only 80%.
What We Advise:
The CARES Act provides opportunities to businesses to review prior loss/expense limitations and determine if returns should be amended to recoup prior year taxes. At CK, we are looking at all of our business clients’ results for this opportunity and amending returns where beneficial.
What It Means:
“Qualified Improvement Property” (QIP) includes any improvement to an interior portion of a building that is nonresidential real property.
What We Advise:
If you have previously placed QIP in service in 2018 and 2019, review with your tax advisor whether it is beneficial to amend returns in order to claim this benefit. If so, utilize the new net operating loss provisions to recoup taxes paid in years prior to 2018.
What It Means:
The required minimum distributions from certain retirement plans (for example 401(k)s and IRAs) are waived for calendar year 2020.
What We Advise:
Tax planning with RMD’s will be critical in 2020. Just because you are not required to take an RMD, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. Work with your advisors to project your taxable income, especially in light of tax provisions that could significantly reduce your 2020 taxable income. 2020 might be a good time to withdraw from your plan if you are in a low tax bracket, although the RMD is not required.
In these rapidly changing times, know that CK has your back when it comes to supporting your tax and accounting needs. Please call us at 630-953-4900 if you’d like to discuss how any of these provisions affect you.
These are certainly trying times and we want to reiterate that Cray Kaiser is here for you. As things continue to evolve in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we at CK are taking additional precautions for the benefit of our team members and our clients.
Effective immediately:
We want to remind our clients of our portal access and your ability to safely and securely share your information with our team. We ask that you email efile@craykaiser.com to request your portal access. This will eliminate the need for you to drop off your tax information at our office.
Thank you for your patience and understanding during this challenging time. We wish you, your family, and your business health and safety. We will continue to support you as best as we can while keeping each other’s health a priority. If any changes occur during the course of the next few days, we will update our website.
In this audio blog, CK Principal Karen Snodgrass walks us through the complexities of Illinois taxes. If you live and/or own a business in Illinois, you know that taxes have continued to rise. To put it simply, it’s a tough time to be a resident. That’s why many individuals and companies are looking for ways to move out of state and reduce their tax burden.
But is it as simple as moving out of Illinois? Unfortunately, it’s not. There are many steps required to establish domicile in a new state, and even then, Illinois will look for ways to keep taxing you. So, if you’re one of many residents considering a move out of Illinois, listen to the audio blog below to learn more about what that entails:
If you have questions about your tax situation, please don’t hesitate to contact Cray Kaiser today.
