Economy, Jobs Continue to Grow in Denver, Colorado

Economy, Jobs Continue to Grow in Denver, ColoradoEconomy, Jobs Continue to Grow in Denver, ColoradoFor nearly the brde 2 years Denver has been enjoying a steady economy. But in the last few months job growth is surging in Denver, growth unrivaled across much of the U.S. The Mile High City, is ascending. In December, Simply Hired again saw substantial increases in job listings in the Denver area. Over the course of last month some 73,180 jobs were available.At the close of each month we at Simply Hired like to take a look at our data to find insights into employment trends around the U.S. During December job openings grew 1.73% nationwide. The Simply Hired Employment Outlook shows good news in the new year for job seekers, said James Beriker, President and CEO of Simply Hired. Job listings grew 1.73% in December 2014, which is an important leading indicator of hiring in the months to come. Buoyed by more than a quarter of positive job growth, job seekers have significant opportunitie s for employment heading into 2015.The largest gains in job postings were found in Charlotte, NC (4.78%) and Washington, DC (4.43%). Job openings increased in 7 out of 18 industries in December 2014, with military (24.54%), non-profit (21.05%) and hospitality (8.48%) seeing the largest rise. Its no surprise that Denver also saw this increase in hospitality jobs, with ski season upon us. Vail Resorts were the 3 top job posting company in Denver during December.With all this growth, 2014 was an exceptional year for people in the Denver workforce. In fact, today Denver is facing labor shortages, indicating workers have options and can select the best opportunity for themselves and their families. These shortages appear to extend into even service industry jobs. But they can mean workers have a chance to advance and find more jobs, Were seeing (construction) workers go to higher paying jobs in other states, like Texas and North Dakota and to other industries, like oil and gas, according to Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce CEO Kelly Brough.But fear not. There are indications that well continue to see new workers joining the Denver workforce. Zillow recentlyannouncedthatDenvers 10.8 percent jump was the second highest percentage increase in total rent in the nation largest 25 large metro areas tracked. Coming in first was San Francisco. Which, we saw last month, is one of the most dynamic economies in the U.S. today. With hospitality leading the way, Denver looked poised to continue to be a destination for job seekers.Today Simply Hired shows the top hiring companies in Denver are Centura Health, Banner Health, Vail Resorts, and HealthOne.Click here to search for jobs in Denver.Read the full Employment Outlook Report.

Your comprehensive tax preparation to-do list

Your comprehensive tax preparation to-do listYour comprehensive tax preparation to-do listTax season is often the most stressful time of year for businesses. Ive seen it all at the company I co-founded to match growing companies to top freelance finance professionals founders of $20+ million businesses in tears because they found out they hadnt been making estimated tax payments over the course of the year and didnt have enough cash to pay the full tax bill $10 million businesses that havent filed their tax returns for five years an owner of a middle-market company who realized $200,000 in savings by implementing a new sales tax strategy their tax accountant and golf buddy of 20 years had missed.The anxiety is already palpable (and should be, given taxes are due on March 15 for S corps and partnerships and April 17 for C corps and individuals). I reached out to several of Paros tax experts to ask what businesses large and small need to focus on to make it through the season unscathed . Heres what they saidIts time to change your bad tax season habitsEvery year, the same thing happens the closer it comes to tax-filing time Tax preparers get a bunch of last-minute, frantic clients freaking out about getting their taxes paid on time. Business owners throw tax experts every document they can find, get frustrated when the tax preparers ask follow-up questions and request additional information (which they often dont have prepared) and end up filing late because they need a new bookkeeper and accountant to fix a multi-month (or sometimes multi-year) mess - elend to mention paying out the wazoo for tight turnarounds.Its time to get ahead of this headache. How? Preparation is absolutely key to tax success. So to help you prepare, weve compiled the13 most critical pieces of information you need to provide your tax preparer with. If you know right now that you do not or will have some of these elements, talk to your finance team, understand why and come up with a plan in the coming few weeks to get these items together.13 critical items your tax preparer needs from youTrial balance that reflects balances in each of your companys general ledger accountsReconciled statements for the entire year, including bank, investment, credit card and loan accountsDocumentation for transactions within the past year that are especially unique to prior yearsFixed assets purchased in the given tax year, with information necessary for depreciation, including the year put into service, whether asset was new or used, cost and weight (if a vehicle)Fixed assets disposed of in a given tax year, with the same details as needed for asset purchasesLoan documentation that reflects principal versus interest paymentsPayroll tax returns for each quarter with form 941Sales tax returns from throughout the yearAging details for accounts receivable and accounts payableNew rental, equipment lease or utility agreements and related prepaid expensesDistributions to partners or ownersAll 1099 contractor information(1099s were due January 31Heres what you need to know.)And, finally, if youre filing taxes on a cash grund but like to analyze your business on an accrual basis, be prepared to explain any adjustments that the tax accountant needs to back out to file on a cash basis.If youre looking at this list and feeling a sense of dread, chances are your bookkeeper and accountant have some work to do before they make the handoff to your tax preparer. Reach out to them and ask for the plan. If they dont have one or take a week to respond, its probably time to move on and find someone who gives your business the time and priority it deserves. Above all, know that youre not alone in this. Theres always someone worse off from a tax standpoint than you. That I can promise.Michael Burdick is CEO ofParo, the alternative employment model for the future of finance work, which empowerspeople to do what they love.BusinessCollective, launched in partnership with Citi, is a virtua l mentorship program powered by North Americas most ambitious young thought leaders, entrepreneurs, executives and small business owners.

The Dos and Donts When Looking for a Position

The Dos and Donts When Looking for a PositionThe Dos and Donts When Looking for a PositionThe Dos and Donts When Looking for a PositionIt can be confusing and somewhat discouraging to look for a new lage. Many people feel overwhelmed and simply dont know where to start. Lets face it, most of us dont make a career of finding a job, and there are many hurdles to get over.No matter where you start tactically, I recommend considering a strong business strategy backgrounder. Here are some dos and donts when looking for your next positionDO Start with a job search strategy. Write down your accomplishments make sure you can back up career homeruns with bottom-line results such as revenue growth, team building or organizational changes that drove results.People are always asking me to evaluate their resume. Understand that your resume is simply a written summary that should be easy to evaluate and interpret by future business colleagues. Resumes dont get people jobs. But your replies to the questions it provokes could. Make your resume work within the above strategy you craft.DONT Assume networking sites are for personal use only.Social networking sites have hidden land mines, so utilize these tools with discretion and understand the culture of the community. According to CNN, 34 percent of hiring managers chose not to hire a candidate based on what they found in profiles. Future employers are looking for candidates who will fit their culture, therefore controversial information such as inappropriate photographs on Facebook are evidence of poor communication skills and lack of maturity.Networking sites are often viewed by recruiters and hiring managers looking for active and passive candidates, so make sure that your profile is updated and positive.DO Seek out executive recruiters.Seek out the best recruiters in your industry, because good recruiters usually will give you a lead, advice and at the very least keep you on the radargert for the next appropriate position.S end your information to appropriate executive search firms and follow up with them every couple of months either via email or phone call. Dont get down if they dont get back to you they simply dont have a position that matches your profile.Build your relationships with worthy recruiters who will keep an eye out for people they know and who have taken the time to get to know them.DONT Bad mouth your boss and/or colleagues.Its off-putting and sends a red flag to prospective employers. Most hiring managers are viewing sites and looking for people that have positive comments about past social and business experiences. This includes online mentions. Hiring managers use social networking sites to quickly gain a well-rounded view of potential candidates. According to ComputerWorld, 22 percent of employers said they already pursue social networks to screen candidates, while an additional 9 percent said they are planning to do so.DO Know thy self.The candidates who land jobs understand valu e, crafting the best strategy that communicates that value and how to assert a winning attitude. How can you be one of those candidates? Know thy self understand how your skills and qualifications relate to the position you are applying for. Then write a brief, to-the-point cover letter stating what value you bring and how it relates to the company and their needs.DONT Be discouraged.If a recruiter doesnt call you back it doesnt mean youre not right for their niche, but they work for companies that hire them to find talent to identify specific profiles.DO Talk about solutions.Refer to industry trends and ask for a meeting to talk about future growth dare to be smarter and talk about business problems and solutions.DONT Just push send.The www is a rocky road and can be a big waste of time if youre not focused. Please dont press send before looking up the company, do your homework and understand business needs.Searching for a position is work, and work takes effort and a lot of time. Its easy to be discouraged in this market, but hiring managers can only find you if you are putting yourself out there. You need to be vigilant in keeping up with specific job boards, networking communities, friends and past colleagues. Talk about business solutions by asking pertinent questions. Know the company and marketplace before sending your resume. Keep your profile professional and updated and dont lose heart, you will find a position.