Great Practices: The Mindset of a Leader

The Fuoco Group isn’t your average tax and accounting firm. On one hand, you have the quirky and out-of-the-accounting-box “shall we dance” marketing theme, and on the other you have a collective expertise that spans a broad accounting repertoire. But what really differentiates the firm is its mastery of the fine art of technology — having designed and implemented a streamlined, paperless internal system that allows the firm to operate (queue dance analogies) with grace and agility.

“We are a multi-office, multi-state firm, so we rely on technology to keep us connected and to keep work flowing, uninterrupted, through our offices,” explained Lou Fuoco, CPA and managing director of Fuoco Group. “If we are going to provide our clients with exceptional service, we have to operate at peak efficiency internally.”

That’s the attitude of Lou Fuoco and all the firm’s partners. Of course, across-the-board partner buy-in didn’t happen on its own, and it didn’t happen overnight. Before moving forward with the first round of system changes a few years back, Fuoco brilliantly secured the okay from all partners by educating and informing them of the value and necessity of implementing new technology and upgrading processes.

“You have to get the partners on board first; they have to be part of the process in order for change to occur with limited chaos,” Fuoco asserted. “It starts at the top. We have to lead by example.”

To date, the firm operates in a digital environment, and productivity is high. However, Fuoco has a vision for his firm and asserts that there is a lot more change to come.

“We are always focused on staying ahead of technology and best practice trends. It ensures our continued growth.”

Good thinking indeed. If the Fuoco Group is to maintain the status of a leading firm, that is exactly the mindset required.

So Much More on the Horizon

“It’s never over; change never stops,” Fuoco stated. “A firm has to stay consistently apprised of new technologies and practices. If you don’t, you fall behind fast.”

With that attitude, it is clear why Lou Fuoco has become the self-proclaimed office “cheerleader” and why his vision for the firm is vast.

“We have to provide the partners and our staff with best-of-breed tools that allow them to work and serve our clients efficiently. We also have to provide tools directly to our clients to ensure an exceptionally positive service experience. That’s why I continue to push the adoption of new innovations, like SaaS-based products and portals. I’m the cheerleader; that’s for sure.”

When the firm was launched in 2003, partners opted for an in-house Citrix server environment to run applications. Eventually, the firm moved data and software off-site to an independent data center.

“It was much more efficient that way,” Fuoco recalled. “Staff could access apps and data in a virtual setting, but we no longer had to invest time in maintaining the hardware.”

Other internal changes included implementing a voice over Internet phone system (VoIP), up-front scanning practices to support paperless processes, and other web-based communication tools.

“While all these changes have progressively fueled efficiency by supporting streamlined cross-office communication and workflow, there is so much more planned for the future,” Fuoco said.

He has a well-defined plan for the coming year with one major change involving the migration to CCH’s SaaS-based Global fx solution. The benefits of a true SaaS platform include automated software updates, shorter development periods and enhanced system speed, which works well into the firm’s strategy as they look ahead.

The firm also has a large-scale social media plan in place — including creating a firm presence on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

“We know that social media is a must,” stated Fuoco. “It increases our presence in the market and offers a reach into the community that is not limited by distance.”