COLUMN HIGHLIGHTS
Accountant Tech-Talk
Vista — Love it or Hate it
By Brent Goodfellow, CPA.CITP, MCSE, MST, MCT
Read about a few of Brent's likes with Microsoft's new OS, Vista.
From The Trenches: Real-life solutions for real-life accountants
Key Technologies for Audit Teams
By Randy Johnston
Read about the technology tools that can make audit teams more productive.
Tricks & Tips
Hear Me, See Me — Business Quality Video Conferencing At A Reasonable Price
By Isaac M. O'Bannon, Technology Editor
Learn about video conferencing options for smaller businesses.
The Bleeding Edge
Bitten By 64-Bit
By Dave McClure
Read McClure's rules for upgrading to the new 64-bit platform.
Technology IN Practice
IN FIRM: Optimizing Today's Time and Billing
By Roman H. Kepczyk, CPA.CITP
Consider these 10 time and billing best practices for every firm.
The QuickBooks Advisor
Awesome QuickBooks Add-ons for 2007
By Doug Sleeter
See what products received Doug's "awesome" label for 2007.
Better Technology For Better Clients
Good Things Come In Small Packages
Just the 'Fax' Please — Microsoft Small Business Server Shared Fax Services
By Lisa Kianoff, CPA.CITP
See how two different small businesses took advantage of the functionality in Microsoft's Small Business Server.
The eSecurity Advisor
Baseball & Backups
By David Cieslak, CPA.CITP
Take advantage of these 11 best practices for a comprehensive backup policy.
Final Thoughts
All I Want is a Calendar That Works... and...
By Gregory L. LaFollette, CPA.CITP, Executive Editor
See Greg's Top 10 wish list for a calendar.
Now you can download and listen to columns by The CPA Technology Advisor’s Dream Team on your iPod or MP3 player at our Columnist Corner.
REVIEWS
Time & Billing
It's About Time (And Expenses, And Getting Paid)
By Isaac M. O'Bannon, Technology Editor
Whether a small one- or two-person professional practice or one of the Big 4, time and expense management systems provide firms with much more than just the ability to bill clients appropriately. These systems have evolved to offer integrated contact management functions, calendar/scheduling functions, AR systems, markup/markdown capabilities, and streamlined workflow and review processes. They also offer valuable analytical tools that allow management to not only keep on top of current issues, but also let them determine productivity levels by client, staff member, project or task, as well as forecasting capabilities.
Point of Sale
Light Years Away From Cash Registers Of Yesteryear
By Mary Girsch-Bock
Today, POS products are light years away from the cash registers of yesteryear. Designed to provide the retailer, distributor, video storeowner, gas station manager, or gift store owner with an efficient transaction processing solution, the products on the market today can give you as many (or as few) options as you like. Registers aren't even a necessity in many venues, as a computer can double as your cash register. Top-of-the-line products also feature touch screen technology, where you can process several tiers of information in record time.
Your Productivity Score is calculated using a proprietary algorithm that reveals a correlation between technology adaptation and overall productivity. The Productivity Survey is FREE and available to all tax and accounting firms nationwide. It includes a series of questions relating to professional practice standards, office processes, backup procedures, paperless office technologies, connectivity and general technology utilization. You can get your Productivity Score for free at www.CPATechAdvisor.com/productivity.
Can you improve your score?
You can, by improving your implementation and utilization of various technologies. Answers to the survey questions in four major categories are scored by awarding (or subtracting) points based on the relative importance of the specific question. Some answers are additive only, while others are subtractive. Some answers result in very small changes to a score while others change the overall score quite significantly. Certain questions are paired and their answers scored based on their combined answers. Each firm taking the Productivity Survey will receive an individualized report that includes suggestions for improving the productivity in your firm based on recognized "best practice" processes. Firms are encouraged to re-take the survey (up to three times per year) to see if their results have improved after implementing the suggested changes.
The Productivity Survey and Score are sponsored by Thomson Tax & Accounting.
Take the survey now.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Don't miss the upcoming free live webcast, "Disaster Recovery: An Accountant's True Life Story of Katrina's Devastating Effect," on November 28, 2006, at 2:00 p.m. EST. You'll hear practical advice for every practice and receive two hours of CPE credit!
Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity Special Section
• Catastrophic Disaster Planning & Recovery: Lessons learned by a New Orleans CPA firm from Hurricane Katrina
• Disaster Recovery is ... well ... a Disaster!
• No Matter Where You Live, Disasters Are Possible: A map of the United States
• The Most Common Uncommon Disasters
• Preparation: Key to a Swift Recovery
• Where Disaster Recovery Meets Document Management!
• Top 25 Things Every Accounting Firm Should Include in its Disaster Recovery Plan
• Baseball & Backups
• Destroying/Erasing Your Hard Drive
Increase Your Batting Average in Employee Recruitment with Technology
By John Higgins, CPA.CITP
Learn some of the key observations Mr. Higgins has made about the younger generation in the workforce and technology. And see a 10-point plan that will help you put technology at the forefront of your staff recruitment and retention strategy.
Very Small Networks Need Protection, Too
By Richard Oppenheim, CPA.CITP
Read about D-Link, a long-time manufacturer of networking solutions, and its hardware device for Internet security that can manage multiple computers throughout a single network. This device provides security for all computers on the network, including anti-virus, anti-spam, anti-popup and other security software programs.
Productivity IN Practice
Weathering the Storm
By Isaac M. O'Bannon, Technology Editor
See how one firm has scored on The CPA Technology Advisor 's Productivity Survey and learn more about what practices have worked and not worked for this firm. We hope you'll see your firm in these pages . . . or at least a firm very much like yours.
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THIS IS YOUR INDUSTRY - WE INVITE YOU TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD |
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NOVEMBER 2006 SURVEY:
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OCTOBER 2006 SURVEY RESULTS
Does your firm utilize remote backup/remote data storage?
40% — Yes, we currently utilize off-site data storage
12% — We're considering it
32% — We might consider it in the future
16% — We'd never store our data off-site under any circumstances
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EDITORIAL CALENDAR |
| December 2006: |
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Fixed Assets |
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Website Builders & Web-Based Tools |
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High-End Accounting |
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Emerging Technologies |
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Evaluating Technology When Buying or Selling a Practice |
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VAR Programs for Accountants |
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| January/March 2007: |
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Tax Season Survival Guide |
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Tax Research |
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Property Management |
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Tax Utilities |
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The CPA Technology Advisor's Readers' Choice Awards |
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MEDIA INFORMATION |
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No matter what your current marketing plan, custom reprints enhance your efforts. Among other applications, reprints are excellent tools for marketing presentations, trade shows and media kits. To discuss details on how you may obtain reprint information contact:
Mary Mullen Cygnus Reprint Services
Phone:
800-456-0864 ext.2104
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Advertisers: Plan to include this magazine or our website in your media schedule. To request a copy of the The CPA Technology Advisor media kit, click here . |
To request online advertising information, contact: Susan Douglas by e-mail or at 800-456-0864 ext. 2103.
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Newsletter Archives
The CPA Technology Advisor, The NSA Technology Advisor
& The CSEA Technology Advisor
110 North Bell, Suite 300 , Shawnee, OK 74801
Phone: (800) 456-0864 or Fax: (405) 275-3101
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