(September 10, 2009) - Inside Public Accounting (IPA) has recognized Hein & Associates LLP as an "All-Star" firm according to its September 2009 issue. IPA selected firms exclusively on their performance in specific areas of practice management, including "Training."

Hein & Associates LLP was among ten firms named in the "Training" category, with 90 hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours per year, per professional.

According to Larry Unruh, Managing Partner, the firm has boosted its training offerings in four areas for each professional: basic technical skills, industry-specific expertise, personal and leadership skills, and technology training. "The fourth is one that I don’t think many people appreciate, but our professionals have to be adept in at least six primary software technologies," he says.

The firm’s aptly named Hein University, which offers both undergraduate and graduate programs, helps the firm manage this heavy investment in its employees. The undergraduate area, aided by training coordinators in each office, offers employees the opportunity to deepen their technical skills and specialized industry knowledge. Professionals are able to create a personal training program, sign up for classes, and record their CPE. In addition, Hein University also offers Graduate Programs in a series of three long-term courses designed to develop future leaders of the firm.

According to IPA, the "All-Star" firms were compared with hundreds of others who participated in the IPA Annual Survey and Analysis of Firms. The All-Star statistics did not include national firms.

Additional categories of "All-Star" firms included: Fastest Growing Firms, Net Revenue per Charge Hour, Leverage, Net Revenue Per Partner, Net Revenue per Professional, Net Revenue Per Employee, Highest Percentage of Net Revenue from A&A, Highest Percentage of Net Revenue from Tax, Highest Percentage of Net Revenue from Non-Attest Services, Human Resources, and Long-Range planning.

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