05.26.22
Has COVID-19 Hurt Your Public Support Test Percentage?
Not-for-profit organizations that qualify as public charities are required to pass a public support test annually to maintain their tax-exempt status. For many organizations, this test has been more of a formality than a hurdle. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic, which started in March of 2020, many not-for-profit organizations have had to cancel or change […]

04.29.22
How To Strengthen Staff Culture After a Challenging Few Years
Is your organizational culture thriving? In a recent market research survey I conducted, not one respondent said yes. To reiterate: Zero people said their culture was thriving. ZERO! The most popular responses were their organizational culture was either “riding the struggle bus” or “getting better.” With all that has been going on in the world, […]

03.18.22
Work Opportunity Tax Credit: Hiring Veterans May Lower Your Payroll Taxes
Employers often overlook a federal tax break available to organizations that hire new employees from certain groups who have traditionally faced obstacles to hiring. While the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)  is more limited for not-for-profit organizations, it nonetheless presents payroll tax-saving opportunities that can prove especially valuable for organizations that are ramping up hiring. […]

05.16.22
Not-For-Profit Group Newsletter – Spring 2022
ORBA's Not-For-Profit Newsletter examines how not-for-profits can achieve the greater financial stability that typically comes through diversification of revenue streams and highlights the revamped Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program that is intended to provide debt relief to student borrowers who go into public service, including some not-for-profit employees.

02.25.22
Not-For-Profit Group Newsletter – Winter 2022
ORBA's Not-For-Profit Newsletter provides an overview of what not-for-profit lessees need to know about Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) and covers how the use of automatic enrollment has pushed participation in 403(b) retirement plans to the highest level since 2008.

12.06.21
Not-For-Profit Group Newsletter – Fall 2021
ORBA's Not-For-Profit Newsletter provides four best practices for successful virtual events and covers the latest trends in employee philanthropic behavior.

05.18.22
The Financial Reporting Framework for Small- and Medium-Sized Entities: The GAAP Alternative for the Back Bone of America
As a banking professional, you’ve undoubtedly noticed that accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (US GAAP) has become increasingly complex in recent years, especially for the middle market companies who comprise the back bone of the US economy. With limited resources available to devote to the accounting function, software that does […]

04.20.21
Is Your Not-For-Profit Ready for the New Revenue Recognition Standards?
ASC 606 is effective for most organizations. Are you ready? ASC 606 deals with the reporting and disclosure of revenue recognition relating to contracts with customers (exchange transactions). For most not-for-profit organizations, the standards were originally effective in 2019 (or fiscal years ending in 2020). If your organization elected to defer the recognition of ASC […]

06.18.20
How Not-For-Profit Organizations Can Safely Return Employees to the Workplace
As not-for-profit organizations begin reopening and allowing employees to return to the workplace, what issues should leadership be considering in managing their workforce? Join ORBA and guest speaker Rebecca B. Canary-King, labor and employment attorney from Chicago-based Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC, for a complimentary webinar that will focus on issues particular to not-for-profit organizations and managing the workforce consistently with its mission.

04.28.22
ORBA Wins 2022 Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award
ORBA, one of Chicago’s largest public accounting firms, is pleased to announce that it has earned the 2022 Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Awards for Compensation & Benefits, Innovation and Leadership.

04.04.22
ORBA’s Stephanie Zaleski-Braatz Named Chair of Illinois CPA Society’s Young Leaders Advisory Council
ORBA, one of Chicago’s largest public accounting firms, is proud to announce that  Stephanie Zaleski-Braatz, CPA has been named Chair of the Illinois CPA Society (ICPAS) Young Leaders Council (YLAC). She will serve in this role for a two-year term through March 31, 2024.

03.09.22
ORBA Named to Accounting Today’s 2022 “Beyond the Top 100: Firms To Watch”
ORBA, one of Chicago’s largest public accounting firms, has been named as one of Accounting Today’s “Beyond the Top 100: Firms to Watch” for 2022. The firm is also ranked among the top 25 firms in the Great Lakes Region.

05.18.22
New Tax Reporting Requirements for Payment Apps Could Affect You
If you run a business and accept payments through third-party networks such as Zelle, Venmo, Square or PayPal, you could be affected by new tax reporting requirements that take effect for 2022. They do not alter your tax liability, but they could add to your recordkeeping burden, as well as the number of tax-related documents that you receive every January in anticipation of tax-filing season.

05.12.22
After Tax Day: Take These Action Steps
The April tax filing deadline has passed, but that does not mean you should push your taxes out of your mind. If you filed an extension, you should gather your remaining tax information sooner rather than later. Here are three other tax-related actions that you should consider taking in the near term.

03.17.22
EIDL Borrowers Receive Additional Six-Month Deferment
On March 15, 2022, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced an additional six-month deferment of principal and interest payments for existing loans made under the COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.

04.08.19
Various Media – ORBA Appoints Chief Financial Officer
ORBA is mentioned in the media for announcing the appointment of Cara Sample, CPA, as Chief Financial Officer of the firm. Reporting media include Yahoo! Finance, Spoke, The Daily Herald, NewsBlaze, Star Tribune and ABC 7. View the official press release.

04.04.19
Various Media – ORBA Ranked Among 2019 ‘Top Firms to Watch’ by Accounting Today
ORBA is mentioned in the media for being ranked among the “Beyond the Top 100: Firms to Watch” list for 2019, as well being listed among the top 20 firms in the Great Lakes Region.

01.10.19
Various Media – ORBA Launches ORBA Wealth Advisors
ORBA was mentioned in the media for its announcement of the launch of ORBA Wealth Advisors, LLC. Reporting media include Wealth Adviser, Verdict, Yahoo! Finance, the Daily Herald and Merril Edge. View the official press release.

04.28.22
ORBA Wins 2022 Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award
ORBA, one of Chicago’s largest public accounting firms, is pleased to announce that it has earned the 2022 Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Awards for Compensation & Benefits, Innovation and Leadership.

03.09.22
ORBA Named to Accounting Today’s 2022 “Beyond the Top 100: Firms To Watch”
ORBA, one of Chicago’s largest public accounting firms, has been named as one of Accounting Today’s “Beyond the Top 100: Firms to Watch” for 2022. The firm is also ranked among the top 25 firms in the Great Lakes Region.

02.04.22
ORBA Appoints Chief Operating Officer
ORBA, one of Chicago’s largest public accounting firms, is pleased to announce the appointment of Markus Richter as Chief Operating Officer. He brings more than ten years of experience helping professional service firms execute growth and strategic plans, develop and manage performance models, business operations and human capital needs.