Aligning Controls With Risk: A Framework for Employee Benefit Plans and Labor Organizations

By Allison Katz

Effective internal controls are not one-size-fits-all. They must be tailored to the specific risks faced by an organization. For employee benefit plans (EBPs) and labor organizations, this means aligning control activities with operational, financial and compliance risks that are unique to their environments. A structured framework, such as the COSO model, which is an internal…

Navigating Rising Insurance Costs in Hospitality

By Allison Katz

The hospitality industry has faced mounting challenges over the past five years, with insurance costs emerging as one of the most pressing issues for hotel owners and operators. In a recent episode of Withum’s Lodging Insights and Innovations Podcast, Lena Combs, Partner and leader of Withum’s Hospitality Services Team, sat down with Joey Masters, Senior…

SOC Reports Explained: What Boards and Executives Should Actually Look For

By Allison Katz

Digital transformation has redefined how organizations evaluate operational reliability and third-party risk. Business critical systems and sensitive data are now routinely processed and hosted outside the enterprise boundary through cloud providers, managed service organizations, Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms and outsourced technology environments. As a result, executive teams and boards are increasingly expected to…

Where AI Actually Moves EBITDA in Private Equity Portfolio Companies

By Allison Katz

For private equity firms evaluating AI across portfolio companies, the challenge is no longer understanding the technology. It is deciding where AI actually changes the economics of the business. In the previous piece, Moonshots and Mop Buckets: When AI Investment Math Actually Works in Private Equity, the focus was on when AI investments make sense….

A Practical Guide to Business Record Retention: What To Keep and For How Long

By Allison Katz

In today’s environment of complex regulatory demands and rapidly expanding digital data, businesses face an ongoing challenge: knowing which records must be retained, the appropriate length of time to keep them and the most effective way to manage them. An intentional and well maintained record retention policy is not just a compliance necessity – it’s…

Auto Dealership Valuations in a Normalizing Market Environment

By Allison Katz

Auto dealers are experiencing one of the most unusual transition periods the industry has seen as pandemic-driven profitability returns to more traditional levels. Inventory shortages that once pushed gross profit-per-unit to historic highs have eased, yet dealership performance remains elevated by long-term standards. Blue sky values, while off their peak, continue to sit above historical…

Curtain Up on Cash Flow: How Entertainment Companies Can Track Money Like a Pro

By Allison Katz

Behind every standing ovation is a complex financial performance happening offstage. Theater and entertainment companies rarely manage just one production at a time, they juggle multiple productions, each with its own budget, revenue stream and timeline. Without clear cash flow tracking, even successful organizations can overspend, miss critical payment deadlines or find themselves unprepared for…

Founded in Tech Podcast

By Allison Katz

Tune into Founded in Tech as we engage in insightful interviews with technology professionals and industry experts who discuss the challenges, success stories, and innovations within the industry.