FaceBook, MySpace and LinkedIn present a dizzying new world to many people, not just CPAs. But a few hardy and adventuresome tax, accounting and finance professionals are making their way into the new online world of social media, some with truly astounding results.
Take CPA Scot Justice, for example. A few years ago Justice was working for a printing company in Nashville and hoping, someday, to open his own CPA firm. He started blogging as an introductory Web presence and a marketing tool. A year or so later the company was sold and he was out of a job – and he couldn’t have been happier.
Today, Scot says, “Fifty-percent of the prospects who contact me mention this blog and how the topics I’ve written about directly relate the financial management and accounting help their business needs.” Read Scot’s blog at http://virtualcfo.typepad.com/.
Or how about Lisa Khayyat? The Charlotte, N.C., CPA calls her firm “America’s Virtual Accounting Solution.” She offers controller services, taxes and QuickBooks support – all without actually leaving the office. She blogs at http://www.virtualcpablog.com/.
And then there’s Michelle Long. Another QuickBooks ProAdvisor, Michelle has written the book on successful QuickBooks consulting, aptly titled “Successful QuickBooks Consulting.” She teaches at the local university and works with clients from all over from her Kansas City office. Find her at http://www.mlongconsulting.com/.
And that’s just a sampling of the CPAs you can find online. READ MORE →
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants announced that Barry Melancon’s term as president and CEO has been extended for an additional five years by the Institute’s Board of Directors.
States are apparently resisting the move to a globally-mandated set of accounting rules for fear of ceding authority to foreign regulators. And, since Obama appointees clearly have more urgent work to do, IFRS will probably be back-burnered for now. So the question is: Is IFRS dead? Should it be?
The NASBA news release:
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Moving to convergence with, rather than adoption of, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is the right path for the Securities and Exchange Commission to be following, the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy has told the SEC. READ MORE →
McGladrey traces its root back to 1926 when Ira McGladrey established I.B. McGladrey & Co, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Three years later the country plunged into the Great Depression, but Ira McGladrey remained true to his employees and didn’t lay off a single one.
“It’s yet another reminder that there is more than doom-and-gloom out there if you care to look for it,” says Roger Philipp, CPA at the Roger CPA Review. “There is hope that just as Ira McGladrey did during the Great Depression, the industry can overcome whatever financial uncertainty awaits us.”
Tech vendors need to know what closes the sale and creates a lifelong customer
by Rick Telberg/for CPA Channel Marketer
Looking for every advantage available in a tough economy, vast numbers of tax and accounting professionals are aggressively investing in technology to improve productivity, client service and marketing practices.
Paperless processes, dual monitors and application integration top the list of hot buttons for these CPA decision-makers, according to a CPA Trendlines survey by Bay Street Group LLC.
And many CPAs are not stopping there. “We have two monitors for everyone now. Let’s make it three a piece,” said the managing partner of a local CPA firm. “We have mastered the paperless office and web-based suite of programs and have created the infrastructure to manage our firm efficiently.”
You can pretend that you don’t order pizzas during tax season, but no one will believe you. That’s why Dominos made this list. Technically, most pizza lovers give Papa John’s a higher rating for taste, but that chain’s website and online ordering systems are a disaster. Pizza Hut is a close contender, with an excellent online order system and great pizzas. But the difference that puts Dominos at the top of our list is the “Pizza Tracker” feature that allows you to know within minutes when your pizza will be delivered. That, combined with economy and selection, put this at the top of the delivery list if not the flavor list
