NOW AVAILABLE: The 3rd Annual Accounting Firm Operations & Technology Survey Results

Click to learn more
Click to learn more

Full-size softcover plus free ebook edition.

Randy Johnston, Chairman and CEO, Network Management Group Inc., and Leslie Garrett, PhD, CEO of Insight Research Group, are the principal authors of the Annual Accounting Firm Operations and Technology Survey Report. Available as softcover and ebook, published by CPA Trendlines, available at cpatrendlines.com/shop/afot.  

The report provides easy to understand bar charts and tables featuring three consecutive years of data which highlights trends in the profession. The survey results book also provides tables where survey respondents are segmented by size of firm, making it easy for accounting and tax professionals to benchmark their firm against others of the same size.

“This year we focused our efforts on increasing participation from mid- and large-size firms, we achieved success in this initiative,” says Garrett. This information-rich resource provides partners, owners, shareholders and IT Professionals with insight into how the profession is moving in terms of operations, technology, and practice management.  “It is our goal to provide an unbiased valid resource that aids firms in decision-making for the next 12 months,” says Johnston.

The 3rd Annual Accounting Firm Operations and Technology Survey report features:

Productivity, Profitability, Risk Mitigation Award Winners

Respondents to the 3rd Annual Accounting Firm Operations Technology Survey identified the company’s products as having the greatest impact on their practice in the one of the following three areas: 

1) Productivity,

2) Profitability, and

3) Risk Mitigation. 

Congratulations to the 2016 award-winners:

Productivity Award:

  • Solo Practitioner: Drake
  • Small Firm: QuickBooks
  • Medium Firm: XCM
  • Large Firm: XCM

Profitability Award:

  • Solo Practitioner: Xero
  • Small Firm: QuickBooks
  • Medium Firm: CaseWare
  • Large Firm: Doc.It (Note: There was a good showing in the large firm category by CCH Engagement, CCH Practice Management, Practice CS)

Risk Mitigation Award:

  • Solo Practitioner: Drake
  • Small Firm: QuickBooks
  • Medium Firm: XCM (Note: There was a good showing in the medium firm category by Doc.It and Lacerte)
  • Large Firm: XCM

Inside the Numbers: For each section of the survey (Demographics, Practice Management, Technology Management, Operating Systems, Computer Hardware, Application Software, File & Date Storage/Management, Remote Access/Internet/Telecommunications, and Technology Decision-making, Annoyances and Trends) our research, analysis and editorial team reports on significant findings in the data. The content in these sections is data-driven, based on survey results.

Consultants Counsel: For each section of the report, the research team provides consulting commentary to help practitioners understand how they might apply the results to their practice, which aids in planning and future decision-making.

Trend Watch: For select survey results the authors comment on trends revealed in the results, giving readers the opportunity to adjust operations and technology planning accordingly.

Thought Leadership: Several of the profession’s most respected thought leaders weigh-in and provided insight into select results: Daniel Hood, Editor-in-Chief of Accounting Today, Rick Telberg of CPA Trendlines, and Bob Scott, Executive Editor of The Progressive Accountant.

About the Report

The Accounting Firm Operations and Technology report is 191 pages in length and features 89 survey questions and overall results for each survey question presented in easy-to-understand charts and tables. The report also provides survey results by size of firm broken down by solo practitioners, small firms (1 to 10 employees), mid-sized firms (11 to 49 employees) and large firms (over 50 employees).