tech and fintech
coronavirus culture-shift hits accounting firms
transitioning to a virtual firm requires more than the right technology: it requires new thinking about how your firm works.
by jess coburn
applied innovations
as the coronavirus situation intensifies, it is becoming more and more apparent that we must become increasingly flexible and innovative in how we approach our day-to-day lives. nowhere is it more evident than in how we run our tax and accounting firms.
more coronavirus: how to sanitize electronics against covid-19 with uv light | working remotely shouldn’t mean feeling isolated | planning for the coronavirus recession | tax season turns ugly under coronavirus | 16 tech tools for working through the coronavirus | coronavirus rattles tax season
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the coronavirus crisis requires a total re-evaluation of how we conduct our business. for those firms with employees – as opposed to sole practitioners – it is critical to consider going fully remote during this time. it makes sense from a health standpoint and also from a business survival perspective. it’s important for employees to remain healthy and to be able to conduct work, especially during these busy times which involve tax filing deadlines and inevitable extensions.
it’s also important to recognize that families are being impacted due to school and daycare closures, requiring employees to be at home to care for them.
all of that said, the move to a fully remote status requires a culture shift. for many cpa firms and other professional services organizations, this is a major adjustment. read more →
automation and the future of accounting
critical thinking is best left to humans.
by jody grunden
there’s no doubt that advancements in technology are changing the world, and the accounting industry is no exception. technology is making us more productive, more efficient and more connected.
more: when the irs and fbi come knocking | cyber security at a virtual cpa firm | top tech choices for the virtual firm | keeping the right people on the bus | how to run effective leadership team meetings | disc helps remote team work together effectively | 3 ways to keep client files safe from security threats
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on the flip side, it’s also taking over some of our jobs. this is a reality in the accounting industry that we cannot ignore. technology is driving major changes for the future of the accounting world. we need to be aware of what’s happening and take strategic steps to advance along with these changes. otherwise, we are going to be left in the dust.
read more →
16 tech tools for working through the coronavirus
the apps and platforms we use, and why.
by sandi leyva
maybe you were thinking about taking your practice virtual sometime in the future. but with the novel coronavirus, the future is now. we’re lucky we’re in a profession where we can deliver our services virtually.
more tech for the coronavirus crisis: three tech solutions for protecting client data | top tech choices for the virtual firm | 5 questions to evaluate new tech tools | innovate for the right reasons | how to leverage app technology for streamlined services | cyber security at a virtual cpa firm | how core values affect remote work culture | the hidden costs of running a virtual cpa firm
our office became fully virtual in july 2019. meanwhile, here are the main 16 tools we use, sorted into 11 categories:
- appointment-setting
- conferencing
- data collection
- client portal
- shopping cart
- client emails
- customer support
- task management
- employee messaging
- phone calls
- cloud storage
note, some vendors are offering free services for the pandemic. now i’ll tell you exactly what we’re using and why…
deborah fox launches new tech platform for wealth advisors
^ click to play video: deborah fox on financial planning for accountants, interviewed at aicpa engage 2019.
fox financial network rebrands as advisortouch with interactive training, resources, tools, and systems for advisors and staff.
by 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research
advisortouch.com
fox financial planning network, a leading consulting company for wealth management firms and the institutions that serve them, has rebranded to advisortouch and is rolling out a new interactive social platform with the training, resources, tools, and systems for advisors and staff at advisortouch.com/collaborative.
three tech solutions for protecting client data
you’ll be happy you already have these when the irs and fbi come knocking
by jody grunden
have you ever been contacted by the irs with the fbi involved? i can tell you from firsthand experience that it’s a bit alarming when that happens!
more: cyber security at a virtual cpa firm | innovate for the right reasons | creative perks for remote employees | 10 interview questions for unlocking true potential | toss the org chart for an accountability chart
we were once contacted by the irs because they thought our server had been compromised. when the field officer who came to our office asked to see our server, we explained that we didn’t have a server.
read more →
cyber security at a virtual cpa firm
file and folder sharing is just one complication.
by jody grunden
working remotely has some great perks for the employees – flexible hours, no commute, casual dress and fewer distractions, to name a few. however, working remotely can also present some unique challenges when it comes to technology and security.
more: innovate for the right reasons | 5 questions to evaluate new tech tools | traditional benefits for remote employees | the hidden cost of running a distributed company | 3 ways to keep client files safe from security threats | the rise of the virtual cfo
exclusively for pro members. log in here or 2022世界杯足球排名 today.
unlike a traditional brick-and-mortar office, when you work remotely, no one is going to walk into your home office and set up your equipment for you. employees have to be willing and able to hook up all those cables, monitors and other peripherals themselves.
read more →
accountants’ top picks in network servers
innovate for the right reasons
evaluate the effectiveness of existing tools vs. new options.
by jody grunden
depending on your age, you may or may not remember lotus 1-2-3. it was a hugely popular spreadsheet program back in the ’80s and early ’90s that was eventually taken over by excel. if we had been “married” to lotus 1-2-3 at that time, we may have gone out of business because we wouldn’t have been able to react fast enough.
more: 5 questions to evaluate new tech tools | top tech choices for the virtual firm | keeping the right people on the bus | how to run effective leadership team meetings | disc helps remote team work together effectively | 3 ways to keep client files safe from security threats
this is the world of technology today. we have to operate under the mindset that what we’re currently using may or may not be around in five years.
read more →
survey: top firewalls for accounting firms
the battle among cisco, sonicwall, watchguard, fortigate, and checkpoint.
accounting firm operations and technology survey
5 questions to evaluate new tech tools
they’re shiny, but will they be effective?
by jody grunden
whether you purchase a one-time software license or pay for a tool on a subscription basis, the cost of software can add up quickly. it’s necessary to conduct a thorough analysis of any new software program before you decide to buy it, and you need to constantly evaluate the effectiveness of the tools you’re using.
more: top tech choices for the virtual firm | creative perks for remote employees | 10 interview questions for unlocking true potential | toss the org chart for an accountability chart | how core values affect remote work culture | how ‘tech stacks’ can help you standardize | ready to be a virtual cfo?
we have learned that we want to be sure we’re getting the most out of our software, that our tools remain the right fit for our needs and that they are cost-effective.
read more →
tax season is hacker season
checklist: five things to do today to protect your firm and your clients.
the 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 busy season barometer:
new year, new strategies
join the survey. get the results.
by jess coburn
applied innovations
businesses of all sizes are targets from what has become the most vicious, innovative, and lucrative criminal endeavors we’ve ever witnessed. and tax practitioners are particularly easy targets.
more on busy season 2020: irs urged to form tax preparer strategy | 5 small leaks that can sink a tax season | data points down as tax season opens | the fight for new tax clients | 5 tax review keys | tax pros forecast a better 2020 | see all tax season 2020 coverage here
the financial services industry is perhaps the most targeted because of the value of data it possesses. and the most frequently targeted are cpas and those who prepare tax returns.
survey: ipads for work?
solo practitioners rely more heavily on ipads or other tablets to complete work-related tasks more than in any other size practice.
accounting firm operations and technology survey