Accountant urges Christians to be bold - Lebanon Daily News

In Myerstown, Scott Heintzelman said businesspeople should feel free to share their faith

Scott Heintzelman walks among his audience at Evangelical Seminary on Thursday morning. He was the speaker during Faith in the Marketplace breakfast meeting. (LEBANON DAILY NEWS STEVE SNYDER )

MYERSTOWN - Using biblical and modern-day examples, Scott Heintzelman on Thursday morning urged Christian business owners to be bold in their faith.

During a breakfast meeting at Evangelical Seminary, Heintzelman cited the example of Benaiah from 2 Samuel 23, who had killed a lion in a pit on a snowy day.

"Be brave, courageous, fearless," said Heintzelman, who spoke to a Faith in the Marketplace gathering on the topic "The Power of One."

The fear of rejection, the possible cost to a business and the effect on one's reputation were mentioned by his listeners as reasons why people are reluctant to share their faith in public.

His parents "made sure I was passionate," Heintzelman said, and that trait was on display as he walked among his audience.

"Sometimes we're afraid to (share our faith) because it might hurt our bottom line," he said. "At times it can be difficult to share our faith, particularly from Monday through Friday. ... We're supposed to be channels, not reservoirs. He'll bless you with greater strength and contentment."

One Bible verse that is misunderstood, Heintzelman said, is the familiar one that reads, "Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the kingdom of God."

While many people think "meek" means "weak," it actually means "easily directed by God," Heintzelman said.

A partner in the accounting firm McKonly & Asbury, Heintzelman writes a blog, "The Exuberant Accountant," which attracts readers from around the world.

He will soon stop writing that blog because on Monday he will start a new job as vice president of finance for Martin's Famous Pastry Shoppe of Chambersburg. Another blog could follow in the future, he said.

"God made it clear to me he wanted me to chase my lion and be bold," said Heintzelman, who has spent 22 years in public accounting since graduating from Messiah College, where he admitted he was more focused on basketball than classes until his father helped him rearrange his priorities.

"I believe in the power of one," he said. "I challenge you as well. ... What lions should you be chasing?"

During a question-and answer session, the Snyder County native said his daughter has been an inspiration for him.

"I'm blessed to have a 17-year-old daughter whose mission field is Facebook," Heintzelman said. "Every day she puts a Bible verse on there."

Each person has an opportunity to provide a "living testimony. ... You have to live a certain way before you get credibility."

While he was at Messiah, Heintzelman said, he and other students conducted a street ministry on Second Street in Harrisburg. That ministry gave him an early opportunity to share his faith with strangers.

"God gives us each talent and gifts," he said, mentioning church, neighbors, friends and kids as gifts.

In his job, Heintzelman said, he has stood against "wrongness."

"I've walked away from gentlemen where it was unethical," he said, using tax avoidance as an example. "Some methods are legal but not correct."

Heintzelman said sins of omission can be worse than those of commission.

"In church, sometimes we focus in on things we should stop doing," he said. "We're focused on sins of commission. Maybe we're tired or scared. ... God wants us to be bold. Maybe I need to take a stand in my business and take a risk."

The next Faith in the Marketplace breakfast is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 17, and will feature a panel discussion on integrity.

stevesnyder@ldnews.com; 272-5611, ext. 152

Source: http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNE76Gx63FgQNzgbWDKzy1hBLwfdsA&url=http://www.ldnews.com/ci_19002927?source=most_viewed

cpa rancho cucamonga california cpa in rancho cucamonga cpa firms rancho cucamonga ca

Source:

accounting firms in rancho cucamonga accounting firms rancho cucamonga ca cpa rancho cucamonga

Lotto winner fleeced and murdered by accountant - The Age

Maria Lourdes (Lou) Devrell was found in a pool of blood in the dining room. Photo: Supplied

A MAN who managed the finances for a Tamworth woman who had won $5 million in Oz Lotto 12 years ago pleaded guilty to her murder during a court appearance yesterday in Tamworth, the Northern Daily Leader reports.

The guilty plea came after almost six months of police and forensic investigations into the death of Maria Lourdes (Lou) Devrell, 55, who was found in a pool of blood in the dining room of her Kingswood home on March 28 this year.

Peter Kelly, a finance manager and long time friend of Mrs Devrell and her husband David, was charged with the murder two weeks later.

Advertisement: Story continues below

His arrest came after a number of interviews with police investigating the murder, including statements he gave to homicide detectives after what police say was a suicide attempt on his way back from Tamworth to his central coast home.

Yesterday prosecutors formally handed the brief of evidence to the court, and Kelly, appearing by video link from Parklea prison where he has been for some time since his arrest, also formally pleaded guilty to Mrs Devrell's murder.

A 21-page statement of facts was tended to magistrate Roger Prowse detailing the history of the Devrell and Kelly personal and financial friendship, and associations and accounts of the events leading up to and after the discovery of Mrs Devrell's body.

Mrs Devrell was found by a family member and four friends about 7pm that day.

At the time, Mr Devrell and Kelly were enjoying a shooting and motorbike riding trip at Watsons Creek that had been planned weeks before.

The prosecution case is that Kelly and Mrs Devrell had an argument over money at the Devrell house before he hit her over the head with a rubber mallet and smothered her.

After killing her, he continued on his way to meet Mr Devrell at Watsons Creek, where they were to spend about three days.

In previous court hearings, there had been suggestions that a motive for the murder lay in the financial affairs of the Devrells and Kelly's management of them. Yesterday, the court documents detailed the extent of those financial arrangements.

Evidence was tended that there had been a number of failed financial investments undertaken by Kelly, including $600,000 towards a seniors' living complex at Umina Beach on the central coast and another $350,000 lost in a Fijian property development.

The statement of facts also detailed information alleging there had been money management problems on behalf of the Devrells and that Kelly moved to assume a power of attorney in 2000 thatgave him control over the couple's spending, bank accounts and payment of bills.

The Devrells had won $5 million in Oz Lotto in June 1999 and were living together. Mr Devrell worked as a train guard and Mrs Devrell for the Sara Lee food company in Gosford.

Mr Devrell and Kelly had known each other since about the late 1980s, having met through a shared interest in motorcycles and bike rallies.

Kelly was a financial adviser with a company at the time of the Oz Lotto win. He structured the couple's financial affairs, placing some of the prize money into superannuation and some in annuities to provide a regular income stream. The rest was allocated for immediate expenditure.

Later, Kelly went into his own business but continued to look after their affairs, including payments to himself for his services.

The Devrells moved to Tamworth soon after the win but Kelly continued to handle their affairs and visited them often.

Forensic evidence to the court yesterday included details of positive matches of traces of Mrs Devrell's blood found in Kelly's car and from his fingers.

There was also evidence that the murder weapon had not been identified until a police search undertaken near Tintinhull in early September uncovered a mallet and Mrs Devrell's purse.

The Leader reported on September 10 that the search was of bushland in Chaffey Lane, just off the New England Highway near Nemingha.

At the time, homicide squad detectives revealed information had been provided to them suggesting some items linked to the case had been disposed of there.

Yesterday's court hearing was only brief. Mr Prowse said he was satisfied with the guilty plea entered and adjourned the case to the NSW Supreme Court.

It is listed for the start of sentencing proceedings on November 4.

Kelly remains in prison and did not apply for bail.

Northern Daily Leader

Source: http://www.theage.com.au/nsw/lotto-winner-fleeced-and-murdered-by-accountant-20110922-1kmak.html

www.yorkecpas.com rancho cucamonga accounting rancho cucamonga accountant

Microsoft accountant facing prison for $1 million theft - Seattle Post Intelligencer

UPDATE: Randal Ray Seal, a Shoreline resident and ex Microsoft employee who stole $1.1 million from the company, was sentenced to two years in federal prison and ordered to pay back the full amount to the company. U.S. District Court Judge James Robart split the difference Tuesday morning, imposing a sentence halfway between recomendations from the prosecution and the defense.

--

An accountant who admitted to stealing from Microsoft Corp. to teach his bosses a ?lesson? will likely be sentenced to prison Tuesday.

Pleading guilty to money laundering in December, Randal Ray Seal stole $1.1 million while working as an accountant at the Redmond corporation.

Seal had become disenchanted in his work following a series of layoffs and a management change in his department. In a letter to the court, the 54-year-old faulted himself for worrying more about his ego than his conscience.

?When asked by the government, I stood up and took responsibility,? Seal said in a letter to the court. ?I didn?t make the same mistake twice.?

According to prosecutors, though, Seal made that ?mistake? many times over a year, stealing $1.1 million from his employer.

?The defendant abused the trust that his employer reasonably placed in him,? Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Parrent told the court.

?Over a period of many months, the defendant executed a scheme to steal more than $1 million,? Parrent continued. ?He had many chances to change his mind and end the scheme.?

An accountant and Shoreline resident of two decades, Seal went to work for a Microsoft contractor in the early 1990s and was later hired by the Redmond corporation to work in the corporate services department.

Seal, by his own description, initially took pride in his work at Microsoft and enjoyed working there until 2003 when a series of changes at his department saw him audited repeatedly. According to his attorney?s statements to the court, Seal took the supervision as a slight.

In a letter to the court, Seal claimed to have first stolen from Microsoft in an effort to expose a flawed disbursement system.

According to his version of events, Seal?s supervisors remained uninterested in the holes in the bookkeeping system, and Seal found himself in possession of the money he claims to have taken as a ?lesson to his superiors.?

Then, in 2004, Seal was laidoff. He left the company, and the money left with him.

?I made the poor decision of revealing the defects by exploiting the flaws in the department?s system,? Seal told the court.

?When I was terminated,? he continued, ?I had not thoroughly thought out how I would divulge my actions. ? In the end, instead of doing what was right and returning the money, I succumbed to my behavior was totally inappropriate.?

While stealing from his employer, defense attorney Robert Chadwell told the court, Seal robbed himself of a life after Microsoft.

?Randy has agonized over his actions and been unable to see any kind of future for himself,? Chadwell said in court documents.

?In fact,? the attorney continued, ?he was almost relieved that he was finally able to tell the truth about what he had done, especially to his wife.?

Seal has agreed to pay $515,000 in restitution ? about half the amount prosecutors claim he owes his former employer.

Writing the court, Parrent asked that the court order that Seal pay $1.1 million in restitution. Noting that Seal has cooperated with authorities for two years, the federal prosecutor suggested any objection to a $1.1 million judgment by Seal ?would be a jarring departure from the remorse and responsibility the defendant has demonstrated so far.?

Prosecutors have asked that Seal be sentenced to 2 � years in prison, a year longer than the sentence requested by the defense.

Free on bond, Seal is expected to be sentenced Tuesday morning by U.S. District Court Judge James L. Robart at the Seattle federal courthouse. �

Check the Seattle 911 crime blog for more Seattle crime news. Visit seattlepi.com's home page for more Seattle�news.

Levi Pulkkinen can be reached at 206-448-8348 or levipulkkinen@seattlepi.com. Follow Levi on Twitter at twitter.com/levipulk.

Source: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Microsoft-accountant-facing-prison-for-1-million-2156484.php

accountants rancho cucamonga accounting rancho cucamonga accountant rancho cucamonga

City names interim finance director

Senior accountant Jaye Monter has been selected as interim finance director for the city of Grand Island.

Mayor Jay Vavricek on Wednesday announced the interim appointment, which will need ratification by the Grand Island City Council during its Sept. 27 meeting.

A certified public accountant, Monter has 27 years of experience in accounting and finance, including 11 years as a member of the city's Finance Department. She has a bachelor of science comprehensive business administration degree with emphasis in accounting and finance from Kearney State College.

Monter has been with the Finance Department since 2000 and has served as senior accountant since 2003. Her responsibilities have included preparing, analyzing and interpreting financial statements and accounting records for the city, the Community Redevelopment Authority and business improvement districts. In addition, she has helped review, supervise and direct processes and procedures for the Finance Department, including the city's prioritization budget process.

Once approved for the appointment, Monter would start at step three of the treasurer/finance director pay scale, which is $81,852 annually.

Monter will serve in the role for an indefinite time period while the Human Resources Department renews its effort to fill the position permanently.

The finance director and city administrator position have been filled by Mary Lou Brown since December 2010. She was finance director at that time and was promoted to city administrator in March 2011.

Naming an interim finance director will allow Brown time to focus on the city administrator duties, Vavricek said.

"I acknowledge Mary Lou's many abilities, devotion and ability to maintain two jobs at once and feel confident Jaye's role in this interim leadership finance position is in the best interests of the people of Grand Island," he said.

Monter lives in Cairo and has served as the Cairo representative on the Regional Planning Commission for several years. Vavricek said because the appointment is an interim one, Monter would not need to resign from the commission. The commission makes non-binding recommendations regarding land use and development to the Grand Island City Council, Hall County board, Wood River City Council and villages of Alda, Doniphan and Cairo.

Should Monter's interim appointment turn into a permanent one, she would not have to leave Cairo to live in Grand Island, Vavricek said, because city code stipulates that department directors must live within 12 miles of Grand Island, and Monter complies with that.

---

City Government reporter, Tracy Overstreet can be found on Twitter and Facebook.

Source: http://theindependent.com/articles/2011/09/22/news/local/13930333.txt

accountant rancho cucamonga accounting firms in rancho cucamonga ca rancho cucamonga cpa

Accountant says company books didn't tally

A FORMER employee of Stuart Ariff Insolvency Administrators agreed in the NSW District Court yesterday that accounts he prepared for a Newcastle family company in liquidation did not tally with the company's bank statements.

Called as the sole defence witness in Stuart Ariff's fraud trial, Razman Razalee, an assistant accountant, agreed under cross-examination by the prosecution that the half-yearly accounts for HR Cook Investments Pty Ltd contained false entries.

Mr Razalee identified his own handwriting and initials on the original documents, known as form 524s and required to be lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. He also identified Mr Ariff's signature as liquidator of HR Cook.

Advertisement: Story continues below

Mr Ariff is charged with 13 counts of transferring a total of $1.18 million with intention to defraud HR Cook and six counts of falsifying HR Cook's form 524s. He disputes he intentionally ''caused money to be withdrawn'' from HR Cook's bank account, that he at any time acted with the intention to defraud or that he signed any forms lodged with ASIC knowing that they were false or misleading.

In his examination in chief by Mr Ariff's barrister, Brett Hatfield, Mr Razalee said that after completing the form 524s, ''I handed them to Tina for review.'' Mr Razalee said he was referring to Tina Battye, the manager of the HR Cook liquidation, who was a central prosecution witness.

He did not recall having any discussions with Mr Ariff about the forms, or about HR Cook.

A check list attached to each form contained the question: ''Has bank reconciliation been completed for all bank accounts?'' Shown one of the forms, Mr Razalee said he had initialled it to indicate completion.

''Did you in fact complete a bank reconciliation for that form 524?'' Mr Hatfield asked.

No, Mr Razalee said.

The prosecutor, Trish McDonald, SC, later asked Mr Razalee about the same part of the check list.

''When you initialled that, that was an indication you were saying it had been done, wasn't it?'' Ms McDonald asked.

Yes, Mr Razalee replied.

''And that you had done it?''

Yes, he said.

Ms McDonald read to the court excerpts from a compulsory examination of Mr Razalee last year by ASIC investigators.

He agreed when Ms McDonald said that in his evidence yesterday he was ''trying to involve Tina Battye to a considerably greater degree in the preparation of the 524s than your evidence back in March 2010''.

He denied Ms McDonald's suggestion that ''you really can't recall things now and you are just blaming Tina Battye so that you don't get into trouble''.

Mr Razalee, who graduated as an accountant in Malaysia, said he was sponsored by Mr Ariff on a temporary business visa from 2007 until 2009 and since by a company run by Mr Ariff's brother-in-law, David Venner.

Source: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/accountant-says-company-books-didnt-tally-20110919-1khu7.html

cpa rancho cucamonga rancho cucamonga cpa firm rancho cucamonga cpa firms

Source:

rancho cucamonga accountant rancho cucamonga accounting firms rancho cucamonga accountants