February 2013

Illinois CPA Explains How the Fiscal Cliff Deal Can Help with Long-Term Planning

The good news is that Congress finally passed tax and budget legislation on the first day of the year. While the deal seems to have left people on both sides of the political aisle less than satisfied, at least tax professionals and taxpayers now know what they rules will be for TY 2013. That may […]

It was Christmas Eve and all the meteorologists were talking about the impending blizzard. They were calling for 10 inches of snow starting early morning on the day after Christmas. I just so happened to have flight reservations at the same time the storm was forecasted to hit. Great.

Thomson Reuters – Accounting CS800-968-8900CS.ThomsonReuters.com Best Fit: Full-service accounting practices that provide periodic client services that include account reconciliations, journal and ledger management, financial reporting and other functions associated with write-up, and want a system that integrates with a larger suite of professional programs. Strengths Built-in trial balance utility Direct integration with tax, payroll, portals […]

Xero Partner Program – Accountant Version800-411-9376 www.Xero.com Best Fit: Technologically progressive firms wanting a completely web-based professional accounting solution for use in performing periodic client write-up services, including account reconciliations, payroll reporting, ledger and journal management, and financial reporting. Strengths Online bank integration supports many deposit and credit card accounts Reconciliation tools simplify classification of […]

Intuit, Inc. – QuickBooks Online Accountant800-267-8379http://accountants.intuit.com/accounting/quickbooks/online-accountant/ Best Fit: Professionals seeking a web-based professional write-up solution that integrates directly with their clients’ versions of QuickBooks Online. Strengths Multiple client management in single online program Accountant Center with tools for books review and clean up Simple connection to clients’ QuickBooks Online Reporting options include PDF, Excel output […]

PC Software Accounting, Inc. – Client Write-Up800-237-9234www.pcsai.com Best Fit: Professionals who want an installed or web-hosted write-up utility and who prefer a fast, heads-down data entry approach. Also for firms using older systems looking for conversions into a new program. Strengths: Fast data entry Includes full GL, AP, AR and journals management capabilities Streamlined reconciliation […]

AccountantsWorld – Accounting Relief888-999-1366 ext 517www.AccountantsWorld.com Best Fit: Public accountants providing write-up services for multiple clients, who also want to take their firm and clients to a web-based solution that gives the professional anytime access to their clients’ live data, eliminating data transfer. Strengths Integrated web-based professional and client-side bookkeeping Anytime access to live client […]

Intuit, Inc. – QuickBooks Accountant 2013800-267-8379www.accountant.intuit.com Best Fit: Accounting practices providing write-up features for clients that use QuickBooks. Strengths Accountant version includes all industry-specific versions of QuickBooks Streamlined navigation and interface Batch and pasting of thousands of transactions at once Output to PDF, Excel and other formats Built-in client invoicing and electronic payment options Mobile […]

Micronetics, Int’l. – Accounting Xpert Enterprise Edition Client Write-Up561-995-1477www.axpert.com Best Fit: Accounting Xpert is designed for accounting professionals serving multiple clients of any size, including mid-sized and larger enterprises with consolidation needs and multiple locations. Strengths Supports consolidated and multi-division, multi-location entities Offers reporting for any desired time period/years Strong reporting and financials customization Newly-added […]

CYMA Systems, Inc. – CYMA 13: Financial Management System800-292-2962www.cyma.com Best Fit: Accounting firms that offer write-up, payroll compliance and reconciliation services to mid-sized and larger business clients, particularly consolidated entities and those with multiple locations or subsidiaries. Businesses can also use the system in-house. Strengths Good customization options Support for consolidations of multi-division/location entities Good […]

Whatever you call internet-based programs (cloud, web-based, online systems), the technology is significantly changing many aspects of the modern practice and how firms offer services to clients. With tax prep, the changes are noticeable in the move to paperless engagements, online tax organizers, portals and tax research. Perhaps the next most noticeable change the technology […]

As you turn to 2013 business planning, how will your firm drive profitable business from existing clients, and attract new ones? Consider a few resolutions that might lead your firm to an even better year in 2013.

Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability: The core principals of any effective information security program. Although often used interchangeably due to their tightly integrated concepts and areas of focus, the facets of a program for which they are used effectively differ in the implementation of controls.

CPA firms across the country continue to look for innovative ways to market their services, people and organizations as a whole. And branding and design are often important components to successfully executing an effective marketing strategy.

Social media rocks. I get it. I’m out there…posting to Walls, tweeting, Linkin’ it up! I’m also soaking up the information that comes in from my social media channels.

I have to confess that I am a gamer. I favor First Person Shooters, what we call FPS games, and I am addicted to the mayhem and challenge of the games. The good news is that, as far as I can tell, playing violent video games has not warped my brain or caused me to want to take an AK-47 to work.