technology

cloud & mobile technologies drive change in tax and accounting

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cloud and mobile top the list of emerging technologies transforming the tax and accounting profession, according to a new cch survey.

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“we’re now at a point where all the benefits that have been talked about from emerging technologies are here – firms using these technologies today are seeing tremendous benefits in productivity and the value they can deliver to clients,” says kevin robert, president and ceo for wolters kluwer tax and accounting, which runs cch.

complete conference coverage: cloud & mobile technologies drive change in tax and accounting  |  how apple is changing your business  |  10 ideas to keep your firm moving forward  |

according to professionals surveyed, improved client service is the driving force behind their adoption of these emerging technologies, along with improved productivity and profitability.

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the accountants’ first look at microsoft surface

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microsoft ceo steve ballmer introducing the surface tablet

and the plethora of new tablets. 

by randy johnston 
network management group 

randy johnston

microsoft surface has shipped, and i was one of the lucky people to get one of the very first units. we are going to see many new tablets released this fall including the ipad mini, which i have on order ($634.99), as well as the new ipad4 and replacements for the google nexus7 and samsung galaxy tab 2 that i own, like and use. the tablet operating systems, usability and applications improve daily. i am the most productive on a tablet with a keyboard, but that may not be true for you. my skin type requires touching a screen multiple times for the touch to be recognized. for example, it is normal right now that i have to touch my iphone 5 2-5 times for each character i type. this past friday, i counted 17 touches to type a single letter. interestingly, though, is that the microsoft surface has not required me to touch the screen multiple times. i’m not sure if there is a technology difference that makes this touch actually work, or if it is something else, but it is fun to have a correctly working touch surface!

it is helpful for you to know that i have used every apple ipad and every apple iphone since release. i “get” how apple’s technology is supposed to work.

for business purposes, the microsoft surface may be a better product.
but should you wait?

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revenues on the rebound for most u.s. cpas

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billing rates and partner incomes gaining strongly.

most cpa firms are reporting some measure of revenue growth, according to one widely followed survey obtained by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间.

“and while the profession has yet to rebound to pre-recession levels,” the authors say, “it is steadily gaining momentum.”

furthermore, the smallest firms appear to be the biggest winners, with 33% growth in net client fees per professional and per partner.

the report includes data and trends on:

  • increase in net fees
  • fees per partner
  • net remaining per partner
  • average partner billing rates
  • average partner compensation
  • utilization rates
  • paid time-off
  • firm technology
  • online technology

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how to make an extra $72,000 by working smarter

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if you own or manage a small cpa firm, you can’t ignore effective workflow management.  if you do, you are losing money, clients, and your sanity. here’s one cpa’s story.

by frank stitely, cpa, cva

every year around the middle of tax season, the following telephone conversation happens in small cpa firms, probably yours as well.  you or one of your staff picks up the telephone to hear, “i’m calling to check on the status of my tax returns.  i dropped them off in february and haven’t heard from you since.”

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accounting firm leaders agree: the cloud is here

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90% already using saas for some work.

by rick telberg

the debate, if there ever was one, is over.

the leadership at virtually every mainstream accounting firm in the us. now recognizes that they are already using software-as-a-service or “cloud-based” software applications and they regard the move to the cloud as inevitable for the profession.

according to new survey results, they differ only on when, and how fast.

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the powerful mega-trends behind the upheaval at sage software

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sage’s one-brand cloud strategy is built on a tidal wave of change.

sage na ceo pascal houillon addresses 3,500 attendees at sage summit 2012

by rick telberg

it would be an understatement to say that the accounting software mavens arriving for the 2012 sage software convention were in a skeptical mood. at last year’s meeting, they were told that some of the products they know and support (and sometimes love) — like mas 90, peachtree, and accpac — are disappearing under a single sage label.

it was a long time in coming. the company, with roots in the 1990’s in state of the art and best, was built through almost helter-skelter acquisitions without merging and consolidating brands, nor even marketing departments, r&d efforts and support departments.

complete sage summit coverage and analysis:

now all that is changing. and it’s about the cloud, subscription pricing and a wrenching transformation to a new business model. the question for sage’s resellers: can sage deliver? the question for sage’s accountant partners: can they keep up?

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five tech questions before adopting value pricing

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keys to success in value pricing.

by drew west and ken mccall
boomer consulting

in order to avoid competing on price for commoditized services in the face of a wider array of competitors, more and more firms are evaluating value pricing as a model for the future. industry leaders including large firms such as kennedy & coe, llc in kansas and smaller ones like lawhorn cpa group, inc. in tennessee have already made the move.

perhaps your firm is already considering adopting a value pricing strategy but you wonder if your processes and technology will support it. read more →

cch opens platform to connect 3rd-party apps

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new partner program with other software vendors supports immediate integrations.

via cch wolters kluwer

tax and accounting professionals now have a new way of working, integrating applications from different sources on cch’s new “open” integration platform, sharing common data and streamlining workflows easily between systems. applications available for integration include those created by cch, and other applications by third-party providers – and even applications developed within a firm or corporation.  

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