Jill Ward, who has headed Intuit's programs for accountants, is leaving the company. In a letter, Ward says she would leave the Mountain View, Calif.-based company in March to return to be near her family in Boston, Mass. She will be replaced by Jim McGinnis, who joined Intuit in 2010 as VP of the Accounting Professionals Division. McGinnis brings several years of international experience to the accountant program.

CPA firm owners are well aware of their payroll costs and tend to be very cautious when it comes to investing in administrative personnel. Much like the accounting staff, members of the administrative group must provide value that will generate a solid return on their investment.

Councilor, Buchanan & Mitchell, a Bethesda, Md.-based accounting firm, has elected Peter Reilly, CPA, CVA, to the positions of president and managing partner. He succeeded S. Vincent Crescenzi, CPA, CVA, CFE, who had held the positions since 2000 and becomes chairman of the board. Reilly will lead the firm's operations, focusing on business development, process improvements, client satisfaction and employee development.

JTH Holding, the parent of Liberty Tax Service, has hired Kathleen E. Donovan, as CFO as of February 1. She replaces Mark F. Baumgartner who has moved to the role as CEO of JTH Financial. Donovan had been CFO of Catapult Learning since 2008. She was with MedQuist from 2005 through 2008, and Dendrite International from 2002 through 2005.