cloud

SURVEY: Embracing New Technology a Must

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A man tries to fix a broken hourglass in the forestWhat value are you adding?

By Rob Nixon

2015 was much the same as other years. Too many hours for not enough profit.

MORE FROM THE SURVEY: Technology Will Solve Labor Shortages | Accounting Profession Demands Swift Change | Next-Gen Leaders Getting Restless | Do You Have a Firm or a Co-op? | CPA Firm Revenues Rise a Hefty 8%
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A CPA firm will never make serious profits (more than $1 million profit per partner) if they focus on billable hours and realization margins.
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SURVEY: The Risks of Subscription-Based Software

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Businessman working on laptop with binary code in the backgroundPlus 7 key findings on SaaS, remote access and more.

By Randolph P. Johnston, Leslie Garrett and Brian F. Tankersley
The Accounting Firm Operations and Technology Survey

While subscription-based software has significant advantages, it also has some significant risks that need to be considered, including contingency planning, data backup, and data extraction and export when ending the relationship.

MORE FROM THE SURVEY: Ins and Outs of Email, Document Storage | Cloud Software Improves Financial Reporting | Accountants Quit Trying to Manage IT Themselves | How Top Tech Vendors Are Failing CPAs in the Cloud | Master Change, Master the Future
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Firms should have a clear plan for how they will operate if the cloud service is down for a day or more, including having enough data offline to permit manual preparation of payroll, invoices and other time-sensitive transactions.
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SURVEY: The New Software Scramble

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Server rack floating on a cloudFirms switching programs more often than ever. But is that a good thing?

Sample finding: The number of firms subscribing to Office 365 is increasing 20% a year.

By Randolph P. Johnston and Leslie Garrett
The Accounting Firm Operations and Technology Survey

We are seeing a high level of dissatisfaction among most firms with their software, and more firms have been changing software in the last three years than all of the switching we have seen in the previous three decades combined.

MORE FROM THE SURVEY: Operating System Updates Cause Headaches | Accounting Firms Add New Service Lines | Why Every CPA Firm Is a Tech Company at Heart
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We are concerned that many firms are signing long-term contracts for desktop solutions at the same time that some software is migrating to being hosted online.
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Don’t Let Technology Make You Dumber

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Courier on scooter delivering envelopeIt’s a tool, not a substitute for you.

By Rob Nixon

Accountants have been in the pursuit of efficiency for as long as I can remember.

MORE ON STRATEGY: What It Means to Be a Real-Time Accountant | 12 Predictions on the Future of Accounting | Will the Internet Replace CPAs? | The Profession Disrupted: Compliance Commoditized
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You have electronic working papers, e-mail, document management, knowledge management, social media, two and three screens on every desk, intranets, portals, cloud accounting for your clients and superfast computers. The list goes on and on.
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SURVEY RESULTS: How Top Tech Vendors Are Failing CPAs in the Cloud

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Failed Stamp Showing Reject And FailureDon’t blame accountants.

By Bob Scott
The Accounting Firm Operations and Technology Survey

The major question about accounting professionals and the cloud is not whether they are moving to web-based applications in greater numbers. The real question is what is necessary to make this as complete as it has been in other areas of the business market and with consumers.

MORE FROM THE SURVEY: Master Change, Master the Future | Why Every CPA Firm Is a Tech Company at Heart
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The clear signs are there – the greater acceptance of portals although from a security perspective, although a troubling
number of practitioners still rely on email for transmitting tax documents.
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12 Predictions on the Future of Accounting

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Business hand holding hot chart in crystal ballWhen the market changes, what will be left for you?

By Rob Nixon

The last time I made 12 predictions on the future of the accounting profession was in 2010. They were bold predictions and I am happy to report that 66 percent (eight) are done and the other four are a work in progress but happening.

MORE ON STRATEGY: Finding New Opportunity in Compliance Services | The World Is Flat | Will the Internet Replace CPAs? | How Offshoring Is Shaking Up Accounting | The Profession Disrupted: Compliance Commoditized
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The profession has changed a lot mainly due to the new threat and opportunity with cloud computing. So it’s time to make another 12 predictions…
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Finding New Opportunity in Compliance Services

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A new recipe for the secret sauce of success.

By Rob Nixon

Statutory compliance or “have to” annual accounting is mandated by the government as a task you need to do with your clients.

MORE ON STRATEGY: The World Is Flat | Will the Internet Replace CPAs? | How Offshoring Is Shaking Up Accounting | The Profession Disrupted: Compliance Commoditized
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The main reason the government agencies want you to do this task is so you can accurately (or thereabouts) collect the right amount of money for them. The government agencies are not that interested in the accounting profession.

The secondary reason is to check that your clients are complying with their rules. The government is using you as an intermediary. They are outsourcing their job to you. READ MORE →

5 Steps to Get Clients to Say ‘Yes’ to Cloud Applications

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Businessman using smartphone while waiting at a subway stationFind the unique benefit that will resonate with each client.

By Sandi Leyva and Michelle Long
The Ultimate Accounting Virtual Conference

Today we’re talking about getting clients to say “Yes” to cloud applications.

MORE SMALL FIRM GROWTH STRATEGIES: 10 Easy Tips to Boost Your Business Cash Flow | Use Payroll to Grow Client Retention | 3 Ways to Work Less and Earn More | What to Do When a Client Doesn’t Pay | How to Handle Price Sensitivity | How to Find Hidden Money for Your Clients | How Small Firms Can Use Value Pricing | 3 Killer Lead Generation Channels
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Our guests from Bill.com will be giving you a very detailed five-step plan.
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