As any organization operating in the United States, St. Patrick Proto-Cathedral has to comply with financial and accounting standards established in this country. This sphere is constantly evolving; therefore it is of crucial importance to be informed of the latest changes in legislation or best practices adopted among American institutions. For that purpose, it is necessary to find the most appropriate journal or informational resource which would serve as a guideline for the administration. Several periodicals have been reviewed; in particular, the Journal of International Business Studies (JIBS), the CPA Journal, and the Journal of Cost Management (JCM). On the whole, the CPA Journal appears to be the most optimal solution.
There are several reasons which justify this choice. The periodical, which has been selected, offers a good price-quality ratio. First, the cost of the annual subscription is relatively low, only 42 dollars. Moreover, there is a flexible system of discounts and bonuses for returned clients. But the price is not the most decisive parameter. It should be pointed out that this journal is published on a monthly basis; therefore, it can bring constant updates about accounting policies and standards. In contrast, JSM and JIBS are more specific but they are issued every three or four months, while very often the management of St. Patrick Proto-Cathedral may need news about the most recent innovations.
The second and probably most crucial aspect is the diversity of content. The CPA Journal provides information on a wide range of topics or departments, for example, auditing, taxation, finance, management, leadership, technology, etc. JSM and JIBS are much more focused they concentrate only on a separate area of research. But St. Patrick Proto-Cathedral may require data or tips on various questions; hence it might be prudent to select the most diversified periodical. In addition to that, the management of the parish should not forget about the technical style of writing. The major benefit of the CPA Journal is that its authors try to adjust their articles to the needs of the target population, people who can be either experts or amateurs. The style is not colloquial, but it is understandable even for a person who does not major in the field. Certainly, in other journals, the writing style is also appropriate but it is more scientific. The issues, published in these periodicals are oriented only towards professionals while less knowledgeable readers may not comprehend them. The thing is that sometimes professional accountants or financiers fail to take into consideration that many people may not be versed in accounting or economics, and some terms are not familiar to them. This eventually may give rise to misunderstanding. Apart from that, a great number of issues especially in JIBS and JCM are dedicated only to theoretical questions, which may not be relevant to a parish organization. The CPA is much more practice-oriented. It also acts as an advertising agent. At the moment, it is used mostly by accounting and consulting companies, whose services may be required by St. Patrick Proto-Cathedral.
Undoubtedly, under some circumstances, each of these periodicals may be applicable to the needs of this institution. The best solution would be to subscribe to all of them. But given the economic crisis, the parish cannot incur excessive expenses. The CPA Journal has been chosen for the following reasons: cost and frequency of publication, variety of content, clarity of style, and competence of the authors.
Reference List
Academy of International Business, Richard Ivey School of Business, Western Business School.
Journal of international business studies, vol 35, 2004.
New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. The CPA journal, vol 72, 2002.
Warren, Gorham & Lamont. Journal of cost management, vol 17, 2003.