Referrals, Referrals, Referrals
Trend Watch: Referrals are the top three ways firms get new clients, and professional referrals have increased notably.
Here’s what you’re looking for: Accounting Firm Operations and Technology Survey
Firms Name Their Top 3 Challenges
Trend Watch: Recruiting talent issues are back with a vengeance, while focusing on managing the practice has come to the forefront.
Accounting Firm Operations and Technology Survey READ MORE →
‘Going Cloud’ Requires More, Not Less, Cybersecurity
It's a team approach, not a handoff.
By William Murphy
Accounting Firm Operations and Technology Survey
It seems that everyone is "going cloud," or soon will be. If you are not already in the cloud, chances are you are working your way toward getting there, or you are at least thinking about it.
One reason you are thinking about abandoning those servers in your back office is to avoid the possibility of cyberattack and the loss of your data, or a "holdup for your data" in the form of ransomware. You think that moving to the cloud is going to give you the ultimate in cybersecurity when it comes to protecting your data and the confidential information within it. You had better think again!
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SURVEY: Are You Reading This in the Office?
Odds are, you may be working from home.
Compliance Is Not Dead, It’s Evolving
Personal education is key.
By Seth Fineberg
Accounting Firm Operations and Technology Survey
For all of the talk of automation taking away basic accounting work and the bell tolling for any practitioner not moving toward more advisory work, the fact is compliance is not going away.
If anything, the evolution of technology has made compliance work easier – and I dare say more profitable – for particularly small accounting firms that rely on this work as an annuity, their “bread and butter” if you will. The point is, and particularly for the small firms that make up the majority of the accounting profession, compliance is not going away but it is evolving.
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SURVEY: Practice Management by the Numbers
BONUS: 6 charts, including most and least effective ways to control costs.
Accounting Firm Operations and Technology Survey
Our survey respondents were asked practice management questions that explored how much time is spent working from remote locations, the top challenges of managing the firm, channels to bring the most new clients to the firm, time spent managing tasks, and methods for controlling costs.
They were also asked about initiatives that generate revenue, their biggest technology challenges, security in the cloud, communications with clients, mergers and acquisitions, wireless networking and plans for the firm’s website.
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SURVEY: Centralized Scanning on the Upswing
Trend Watch: There is a notable shift toward centralized scanning.
Six New Rules for Smarter Tech Spending
Plus: Topline findings and recommendations for firms of every size from the new Accounting Firm Operations and Technology Survey.
By Brian Tankersley
Accounting Firm Operations and Technology Survey
Many practitioners think that CPA firm information technology is easy, and the really hard work is done with people who have large databases, etc. Nothing could be further from the truth, as it would be normal for a staff tax preparer to have as many as 12 applications open at once.
More from the AFOT Survey: Top Video-Conferencing Tools: GoToMeeting, Skype | 3 Monitors the New Standard | Ready for a New Laptop? | Dell Gains on Laptop Rivals | When to Replace Your Desktop PC? | Accountants’ Favorite Desktop PC | Who’s Still Using Windows 7? | Cisco, SonicWall Top Firewall Choices | How Firms Manage Mobile Devices
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Very few things are as important to your firm’s effectiveness and efficiency than the reliability and effectiveness of your technology.
Some general guidance on how to approach IT in your firm includes the following. READ MORE →
Top Video-Conferencing Tools: GoToMeeting, Skype
Trend Watch: Firms are trying new collaboration tools.
Accounting Firm Operations and Technology Survey READ MORE →
SURVEY: 3 Monitors the New Standard
Trend Watch: Attempts to use fewer monitors appear to not be panning out. Three monitors is the new standard. READ MORE →
SURVEY: Ready for a New Laptop?
Trend Watch: More firms are stretching their replacement cycles. But what about the increased risk of hardware failure?
Accounting Firm Operations and Technology Survey READ MORE →
SURVEY: Dell Gains on Laptop Rivals
Trend Watch: Dell increases market share, taking small pieces from all competitors, including Apple.
SURVEY: When to Replace Your Desktop PC?
Trend Watch: Firms appear to be delaying their replacement cycle and accepting the possible risk of hardware failure.