October 2012

RedGear Technologies — TaxWorks Tax Planner800-230-2322www.taxworks.com From the October 2012 review of professional tax planning systems. Best Fit: Small tax-focused practices using TaxWorks who want an integrated tax estimation and scenario testing tool that can help clients prepare for potential liability changes. Strengths:• User friendly interface• Adjustable inflation projections• Affordable price-point• Direct integration with TaxWorks […]

Public accounting firms are seeing how radical advancements in mobile technology have created a new way of working, and forward-thinking, savvy decision makers at accounting practices are using this to further their business by making their workforce more engaged.

The goal of many accounting firms is to be as efficient as possible when dealing with clients and their associated paperwork and an EDMS can help a firm streamline the document flow throughout the office.

Apart from the shock of how fast time goes by, I’m also amazed at how far my firm has come and the changes in the profession as a whole.

Great PracticesRichard Buller CPA Services, LLC Resilience and a stick-to-it attitude allow one firm to rise above the chaos to achieve streamlined, melodic success Richard Buller, CPA and owner of Richard Buller CPA Services, LLC, referred to the early years of firm ownership as “the crazy days.” After purchasing a firm in 2007, Buller had […]

The leadership in firms across the country is aging, and most are concerned with where the next wave of leaders will come from.

Most accounting software has long since moved to the Cloud, giving up the every-other-year upgrade cycle and the quarterly updates that used to be the mainstay of the industry.

A Top Technology Initiative Article. If you reflect on your progress in using software, you’ll find that you have become more collaborative year after year.

Everyone has heard the old Benjamin Franklin quote about the only certain things in life being death and taxes. The certainty of taxes, however, is far more subject than the first.

There are few accounting professionals that have had the opportunity to serve in multiple roles and gain insight from several unique vantage points over the course of their career. Greg LaFollette is one of the few.

This month’s applications are tools which help you save time and access desktop applications from your mobile device. While these apps might not seem like deserve to be called “revolutionary”, almost all of the technology leaders I work with use mobile apps like these to perform tasks which previously needed human interaction or required the […]

Thomson Reuters — Planner CS800-968-8900 cs.thomsonreuters.com From the October 2012 review of professional tax planning systems. Best Fit: Although it can be used as a stand-alone program, Planner CS provides the greatest benefit to users of UltraTax CS and other programs in the Thomson Reuters CS Professional Suite due to tight integration with tax preparation, […]

Intuit — Lacerte Tax Planner800-765-7777 www.lacertesoftware.com From the October 2012 review of professional tax planning systems. Best Fit: Although Lacerte Tax Planner can be used independently, integration and automated features make it even more valuable to firms using the broader tax preparation system. Strengths Intuitive interface and user-friendly navigation Direct integration with Lacerte Tax 1040 […]

BNA Software — BNA Income Tax Planner800-424-2938 www.bnasoftware.com From the 2012 review of professional tax planning systems. Best Fit Firms with clients across the spectrum, including high net worth individuals, serial entrepreneurs, ex pats and others with increasingly complex planning and compliance requirements. Strengths Simple interface and navigation Exhaustive calculations and analysis functions Side-by-side comparisons […]

PenSoft Business Solutions888-PENSOFTwww.PenSoft.com From the Oct. 2012 Review Section on Payroll Systems. For firms managing payroll for dozens or even hundreds of companies, the per-client payroll model that many of the online systems use isn’t always cost-effective. That’s why PenSoft , which has been developing payroll systems for nearly 30 years, provides installed programs that […]

Paychex Online Payroll800-322-7292www.Paychex.com From the Oct. 2012 Review Section on Payroll Systems. Paychex is one of the most mature payroll brands on the market, having started as an payroll service provider in 1971. The company has continually developed their programs and offers a range of systems and services, including the Paychex Online Payroll system. Paychex […]

Cougar Mountain – CMS Professional Payroll800-388-3038www.CougarMtn.com From the Oct. 2012 Review Section on Payroll Systems. The CMS Professional Payroll system from Cougar Mountain is designed for professionals managing payrolls for multiple clients, including larger businesses. The system offers total integration with the company’s other programs, which include complete business and non-profit accounting systems and point-of-sale […]

ADP, Inc. — RUN Powered by ADP Payroll for Accountants855-408-3751www.accountant.adp.com From the October 2012 review of professional payroll systems. Best Firm Fit: Accounting professionals looking to provide full service payroll options to small businesses with 100 or fewer employees and prefer a web-based interface Strengths Internet-based to achieve anytime, anywhere payroll processing Integrates with most […]

AccountantsWorld — Payroll Relief888-999-1366www.accountantsworld.com From the October 2012 review of professional payroll systems. Best Firm Fit: Accountants in public practice looking to expand service offerings or process payroll in a cost effective manner without the administrative burden Strengths Designed with accounting professionals in mind Good management and analytical tools Fully automated for payments and compliance […]

Thomson Reuters – Accounting CS Payroll800-968-8900CS.ThomsonReuters.com From the October 2012 review of professional payroll systems. Best Firm Fit: Accounting firms processing a large volume of small client payroll for their clients. Strengths Batch process multiple company payrolls at one time Multiple integration points Strong employee self-service offerings Potential Limitations Must purchase accounting solution to process […]

SurePayroll, a Paychex Company877-954-7873www.surepayroll.com From the October 2012 review of professional payroll systems. Best Firm Fit Accounting professionals looking for a payroll service resell opportunity for their clients and to centrally manage multiple client payrolls Strengths Strong Internet and mobile apps to process payroll virtually anywhere Patent-Pending One-Click Payroll to process payroll with one mouse […]

Sage – Sage HRMS 2012866-271-6050na.sage.com/sage-hrms From the October 2012 review of professional payroll systems. Best Firm Fit: Organizations seeking a comprehensive in-house solution to manage payroll and human resource functions for up to 1,000 employees Strengths Strong SQL database platform to ensure data is shared accurately Ability to process US and Canadian payroll Employee history […]

Red Wing Software, Inc. – CenterPoint Payroll800-732-9464www.redwingsoftware.com From the October 2012 review of professional payroll systems. BEST FIRM FIT: Organizations looking for a fully customizable, in-house solution to meet a variety of payroll needs STRENGTHS Highly customizable user interface Ability to allocate payroll across multiple departments, locations and pay rates Strong reporting capabilities High level […]

Paramount Software Solutions, Inc. – Crest Payroll888-400-1613www.ParamountSoftware.com From the October 2012 review of professional payroll systems. Best Fit: Firms seeking an automated payroll preparation and compliance system that can support any number of businesses, provides client-side and employee self-service tools, free direct deposit, and quarterly/annual reporting handled and guaranteed by the vendor at no extra […]

Intuit Online Payroll for Accounting Professionals888-236-9501www.accountant.intuit.com/payroll From the October 2012 review of professional payroll systems. Best Firm Fit: Accounting professionals mainly reliant on the QuickBooks accounting software platform but need a higher level of outsourced payroll support Strengths Internet-based solution to allow anytime payroll processing Provide platform for collaborating with clients on various payroll tasks […]

Intuit — QuickBooks Payroll Enhanced for Accountants888-236-9501www.accountant.intuit.com/payroll From the October 2012 review of professional payroll systems. Best Firm Fit: Accounting professionals currently using QuickBooks extensively throughout their practice who need a cost effective way to manage live and after-the-fact payroll Strengths Cost effective service to enhance payroll functions built into QuickBooks Full range of custom […]

CompuPay, A BenefitMall Company — PayrollOnline877-729-6299www.compupay.com From the 2012 Review of professional payroll systems. Best Firm Fit: Larger organizations looking for an Internet based solution or that may require more support and guidance on processing payroll Strengths Easy to use employee portal is included with the service Strong support options are included Company setup is […]

Advanced Micro Solutions — 1099-Etc800-536-1099www.1099-etc.com From the Oct. 2012 Review of Professional Payroll Systems. Best Firm Fit: Accounting professionals providing annual and quarterly payroll reporting for clients or are only processing payroll for a few small clients Strengths Cost effective system to achieve payroll compliance reporting Integration with popular small business accounting software to provide […]

Vacations more enjoyable for SMB owners thanks to mobile tech.

CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business — ProSystem fx Planning800-739-9998 CCHGroup.com From the October 2012 review of professional tax planning systems. Best Fit: Professional accounting and tax practices seeking a planning system that integrates directly with ProSystem fx Tax and other programs in the ProSystem fx Suite. Strengths Direct integration with ProSystem fx Tax and Engagement […]

Bad online etiquette can send employee, peer, and client relations plummeting. Offenses are certainly prolific.

Tax legislation over the past couple of years has affected a wide range of tax types and payroll tax has been no exception. Legislation put into effect in January 2012 continued that trend and debates will certainly start taking place as we head into 2013. Payroll tax affects an overwhelming majority of the workers in […]

Firms are spending extra time reviewing current solutions to current problems in the hope of finding some respite during these times. Problems like rising costs, loss of clients, low efficiencies, ineffective information tracking and even poor management need attention in difficult economic times.

There are many stereotypes when it comes to accounting firms and professionals. For starters, many people seem to think that small firms pretty much focus on individual and small business tax compliance, write-up and business planning.