By: Diane Hernandez The record-setting stock market performance and increase in housing prices has enabled the United States economy to grow largely in recent years. This underlying trend, and an increase in a much larger diverse and intellectual population, has given rise to the financial health of philanthropists. Charity Navigator is currently one of the larges [...]

The California Craft Brewer’s Association Conference (CCBA) is a chance for brewers and industry professionals from all over the state to attend workshops and seminars focused on the craft beer industry. This year’s conference was located at the Weston Hotel in beautiful downtown Long Beach, and I arrived at the show hoping for a better look into the industry and thos [...]

GHJ is once again sponsoring the CalCPA Not-for-Profit Conference. Nonprofit Tax Principal Lauren Haverlock will be a featured speaker, and Nonprofit Partner and Practice Leader Donella Wilson is co-chairing the event. About the Event The 2016 CalCPA Not-for-Profit Conference will be held on May 24 in Burbank and May 25 in San Francisco. The conference is [...]

This year, GHJ held its annual Nonprofit Accounting and Tax Update Workshop on June 8 at the Goodwill Community Enrichment Center at Fletcher Square. Panelists discussed how recent updates to accounting standards could impact a nonprofit’s financial reporting. They also shared insights on the latest developments in the nonprofit industry and their effects. At [...]

For those of us involved in profit participation, either as talent (actors, directors, producers, creators and/or investors) or representatives thereof (lawyers, business managers, agents and/or auditors), the concept of “Breakeven(s)” is becoming ubiquitous at all major motion picture and television studios for profit participation reporting. You may be asking yourse [...]

Living in Southern California, I can’t help but look at the beautiful ocean and think, “No water?” Of course I know seawater is undrinkable, and yet I still ask myself, “why?” Water usage restrictions are mentioned everywhere in media and around water coolers. Most people think of their baths, showers and brown-green lawns when they talk about saving water and the res [...]

Return on investment (or ROI) is no doubt a key metric (and usually the only metric that matters) to business investors. As an outsider to a company, an investor hands over his surplus cash to the owners of that company in the hopes that he will get something greater in return. A little money and a lot of faith are involved in such transactions. Stock traders do it al [...]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE GHJ Partner Steven D. Sills is nominated as 2016 Entertainment Accountant of the Year Also recognized by the CalCPA Education Foundation for 25 years of teaching LOS ANGELES, CA (June 29, 2016) – Los Angeles-based accounting firm GHJ is proud to announce that one of its partners, Steven D. Sills, was nominated for the 2016 Entertainmen [...]

Reflecting on our annual firm-wide Community Day last week, I am reminded of a saying we have here at GHJ: “Serving the nonprofit community is not just what we do; it is who we are.” Community service is a central part of the Firm’s identity, and we promote this company culture throughout our organization by contributing to various local charities (and not just once [...]

During the last 10 to 20 years, “A-List” actors such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, who made famous the quote “Hasta La Vista Baby,” were consistently receiving “first dollar gross” (FDG) deals from most major studios. A FDG deal can be defined as all Revenues (with home video at the industry standard 20-percent royalty) less only “Off-The-Top” Expenses, which typically co [...]