More than half chalk it up to isolation from peers. What’s your stand?
[As seen in the AICPA Insiderâ„¢]
by Sukanya Mitra
[Managing Editor of the AICPA Insiderâ„¢ electronic newsletter group]
The right attitude and self-discipline will take you a long way toward working successfully outside a large office, according to three out of four (74%) accountants responding to a recent poll of CPA Insiderâ„¢ readers conducted by Bay Street Group LLC.Additionally 64 percent credit remote-work success to experience and maturity. Surprisingly, only about half (54%) of the survey respondents think having the right technology setup is essential.
Secrets to Working Successfully Outside a Large Office
(% of CPAs who agree)
(1) The right attitude and self-discipline: 74%
(2) Experience and maturity: 64%
(3) The right technology setup: 54%
(4) A quiet, dedicated work space: 54%
(5) Good communications with co-workers, clients: 52.0%
Source: Bay Street Group LLC and AICPA Custom Media Solutions 2006
A little more than half (54.2%) of surveyed CPAs in the small office/home office (SoHo) sector are considering buying tax software within the next 12 to 18 months, while half are planning to buy accounting software during that same time frame. As always professional liability insurance ranks high on the list of priorities, with nearly of respondents (45.8%) thinking of purchasing it in the next 12 months
Most seem to agree on the two pieces of office equipment most necessary for SoHo CPAs. Thirty-nine percent of surveyed CPAs think it is a notebook/laptop PC, while a flat-panel LCD monitor comes in at a close second.
Top Pieces of Equipment that SoHo CPAs Are Considering for Purchase Next 12-18 Months
(% of CPAs who agree)
(1) Notebook/Laptop PC: 38.5%
(2) Flat panel LCD monitor: 38.4%
(3) Desktop PC: 28.8%
(4) Installing wireless (WiFi) network: 21.2%
(5) Combo printer/copier/fax/scanner: 19.2%
Source: Bay Street Group LLC and AICPA Custom Media Solutions 2006
CPAs, like most professionals, still need face time with clients and co-workers, as you can only go so far with e-mail, video-conferencing and other forms of virtual working relationships. More than half of (55%) find meeting clients and colleagues in a professional setting to be a big challenge. The lack of administrative and support personnel comes in a close second at 43.3 percent, while time management rounds out the top five list at a mere 35 percent.
And the No.1 challenge? Peer isolation topped the charts at a whopping 63 percent.