October 2008
In This Issue...
Online Tools & Resources
- Productivity Survey - Free benchmarking tool for you to get your firm's Productivity Score and helpful report
- Webcasts - Register for upcoming educational events and receive Free CPE, plus you can view archived programs
- Podcasts - Check out our monthly podcast programs:
- TheTechGap.com - Blog from Executive Editor Gregory L. LaFollette, CPA.CITP that covers the random musings of this thought leader
- Online Buyer's Guide - Relevant search tool for the accounting community where you can search by company name, product name or product category
- Document Management Product Selector - free survey that offers suggestions for document management/storage products that are the best fit for your firm based on your responses
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Because it Makes Business Sense
By Randy Johnston
What is virtualization and why do tax and accounting professionals need to know about it? Randy explains the technology and how it works, plus describes its benefits for professional firms.
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Easy as 1-2-3
By Brent Goodfellow, CPA.CITP, MCSE, MST, MCT
By now, you've probably read many articles about virtualization and how it can benefit your practice. But how do you start? What steps are necessary? Brent takes you step-by-step through the process of implementing virtualization in your firm.
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REVIEWS FOR YOUR FIRM
Integration Key to Today's Time & Billing Systems
By M. Darren Root, CPA.CITP, Contributing Editor
Whether your firm uses fixed, value-based pricing or charges by the hour, a time and billing system is imperative to managing productivity. Darren reviews several time and billing programs and notes that if you aren't tracking your time, how do you know you aren't giving it away?
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Client-Side Accounting: A Blessing Or Curse For Client Write-Up?
By Isaac M. O'Bannon, Technology Editor
The small business accounting revolution that started in the mid-1990s continues to greatly shape almost every aspect of the services that professional accountants provide. But has it been a blessing or a curse when it comes to write-up? Isaac looks at several professional packages on the market.
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Unlock the Door to Better Efficiency & Effectiveness
By Richard Oppenheim, CPA.CITP
Most successful entrepreneurs don't just take risks—they seize the opportunities to make things and do things more effectively. Richard introduces readers to some tech tools that can help small businesses be more productive. Read more |
Productivity in Practice
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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Use our FREE DMS Product Selector to find the best Document Management product for your firm. |
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Tech2Go provides a fast-paced roundtable discussion with Executive Editor Greg LaFollette and regular columnists Brent Goodfellow, Randy Johnston and Dave McClure. These thought leaders tackle current technology issues that are impacting the tax and accounting profession.
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SBC2Go features nationally recognized accounting software expert Doug Sleeter. He and Greg discuss technology, QuickBooks and other small business consulting accounting software, integration, add-ons, online software, and the process of developing an accounting software consulting practice.
Sponsored by A/R Connection
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DMA2Go features Executive Editor Greg LaFollette and the country's foremost document management consultant, John Higgins. John is a CPA and a CITP and has been helping tax and accounting firms move to "the digital world" for over 20 years. He and Greg talk about product and system evaluation factors, scanning, workflow, portals, Adobe Acrobat -- all with a laser focus on the special needs of the practicing accountant.
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IBI2Go (Intelligent Business Ideas 2 Go) features Executive Editor Greg LaFollette interviewing various thought leaders in the profession to discuss "Intelligent Business Ideas" and best practices. Meet these movers and shakers and glean insight into the minds of today’s mavens as they discuss topics such as staff training, health in the workplace, effective staff communication, and “How to Grow Your Business.”
Sponsored by CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business
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We would love to hear from you. Call 800-456-0864, ext. 2106 to ask questions and leave comments. Or tune in to future episodes where you'll be able to ask questions LIVE during the podcasts via Talkshoe.coma> | |
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Columnist Corner
Accountant Tech Talk
Getting Control of Your E-mail
By Brent Goodfellow, CPA.CITP, MCSE, MST, MCT
It's pretty much a no-brainer that being organized is better than not. While Brent admits he's lacking in this skillset, he's working to fix the problem and has some advice, starting with organizing e-mail.
Tricks & Tips
Wireless Is As Easy As 1-2-3
By Isaac M. O'Bannon, Technology Editor
If you're still thinking about adding wireless capabilities to your office network, now's as good a time as any. And Isaac says not to fret too much, it's really not that difficult to do it yourself.
Technology IN Practice
In Firm: Making The Smart Phone Decision
By Roman H. Kepczyk, CPA.CITP
Many professionals carry PDAs or smartphones, but to best benefit a practice, Roman points out the specific features you will need to promote real work applications and communications.
The QuickBooks Advisor
Awesome QuickBooks Add-ons for 2009
By Doug Sleeter
Doug gives readers a first look at his annual Awesome Add-Ons for QuickBooks - programs designed to fill specific niche needs for small businesses using the accounting software.
From The Trenches
Help Your Clients with the Latest Tools
By Randy Johnston
Randy takes a look at, and recommends, some tools you can use in your practice over and over as well as solutions that you can recommend to your clients that will provide better controls in their business.
Better Technology For Better Clients
Crime: Coming To a Business Near You
By Lisa Kianoff, CPA.CITP
Unfortunately, employees sometimes steal from their employers, and these crimes can seriously cripple a company, if not run it into the ground. Lisa points out some tools that your small business clients can use to catch and prevent employee theft.
The eSecurity Advisor
Using Virtualization for Security
By John D. Anderson, CPA.CITP, CIA, MCP, MSA
Virtualization technology has become a powerful tool for improving security in accounting practices. John looks at the specifics of how it works.
The Bleeding Edge
Deep Packet Inspection
By Dave McClure
A new technology is emerging that holds both promise and potential danger, especially for accounting firms. Dave looks at some key steps that prudent professionals should take now in order to ensure the safeguarding of client data in the future.
Final Thoughts
Please Provide A Password, Pronto!!! (Redux)
By Gregory L. LaFollette, CPA.CITP, Executive Editor
It is imperative that you use "hardened" user IDs and passwords for websites handling sensitive information. Greg explains what that means, and offers some advice for keeping track of those new passwords |
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