Isaac Matthew O'Bannon

Who’s Who Among Technology Vendors Serving the Accounting Profession

Your Silent Partners

By Isaac Matthew O'Bannon

Article Tools


 

From the April/May 2007 Issue

Whether your practice is a one-person shop, a multi-office full-service accounting practice, a seasonal tax-only firm or somewhere in between, you have silent partners that you may not even think about. They don’t share in profits or receive a K-1, but the role they play is a critical component of your business, from client engagements and service, to internal processes like practice management, security and paperless document management.

These “Silent Partners” are your technology vendors, and while they don’t participate in day-to-day decision making, they are crucial to implementing those decisions, and you’d have a hard time getting by without them. These vendors provide the tax compliance, payroll, client write-up, engagement management, and data storage applications that are an essential component of your productivity, your efficiency and your profitability, and they help you present a professional and competent face to your clients.

Of the hundreds of technology vendors serving the professional tax and accounting community, you make the decision of which programs and vendors to bring on board as part of your team. And while these partners may keep quiet most of the time, this special section is designed to give them a voice to tell you more about themselves. It also gives vendors that you have not yet met a chance to introduce their companies, showcase the products and services they provide, and explain how your practice can benefit from their use.

It’s your practice, but these technology partners and their products and services are an integral component of your success. Use this information as a pre-interview so that when you make your “hiring decision,” you’ll have a broad understanding of your potential partners. 

--------------------------------------------------

Acct1st Technology Group LLC
Acct1st is a winning combination of accountants, document management experts and cutting-edge software developers. Acct1st EDRMS differentiates itself by focusing on one core issue: Document Management Specifically Designed with Accountants in Mind. Acct1st Technology Group, LLC provides document management, tax scan, OCR autotax population, tax workflow and client portal solutions and services to accountants.
Advanced Micro Solutions, Inc.
Originally founded as Edmond Software, Advanced Micro Solutions has been working in the tax software business since 1985, and officially changed its name in 1989. AMS started as a small two-man software shop and has since grown into a nationally respected software company.
AICPA
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is the national, professional association of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), with approximately 340,000 members, including CPAs in business and industry, public practice, government, and education. It sets ethical standards for the profession and U.S. private auditing standards and also develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination.
AppRiver, LLC
AppRiver LLC was founded in April of 2002 to provide simple, yet powerful email security solutions to the enterprise market. Today, the privately held company has lived up to its mission, counting more than 25,500 clients on six continents relying on AppRiver email protection services to maintain network security and enhance productivity.
Bisk Education
Nathan M. Bisk JD, CPA founded Bisk Education in 1971 to provide continuing education programs for working professionals. Since its inception, Bisk Education has grown to become the nation’s largest exclusive provider of online degree and certificate programs from the nation’s leading universities, offering end-to-end, lifelong-learning solutions that allow working adults to reach their personal and professional goals through education.
Blackberry -- Research in Motion
Research In Motion (RIM) is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market. Through the development of integrated hardware, software and services that support multiple wireless network standards, RIM provides platforms and solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, phone, text messaging (SMS and MMS), Internet and intranet-based applications.
BQE Software
First released 12 years ago, BillQuick is the product of “time” — too much time to capture hours, bill clients and get management information. In other words, the desire to maximize billable hours and minimize non-billable hours was the frustration that motivated BQE Software’s founder, an owner of a small professional firm, to create BillQuick.
Cabinet NG
Since 1992, Cabinet NG (CNG) has provided document management solutions to small and medium-sized businesses. CNG transforms manual filing tasks into an automated process that is user-friendly for accounting professionals and their clients. By eliminating paper, office procedures are streamlined making it easy to file, store, retrieve and route documents electronically.
CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business
CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business, is the professional’s first choice for integrated tax and accounting solutions. CCH is extending its leadership position in research and compliance by continually delivering comprehensive, integrated research and software solutions that provide a strategic business advantage to CPAs, corporate tax and accounting departments, and tax attorneys.
Commercial Logic, Inc.
Practice Engine is a product of The Practice Engine Group, Ltd., a supplier of Professional Relationship Management Systems (Professional Practice Management + CRM) to professional organizations since 1993. Their clients range in size from 15 to 1,000+ staff in single and multiple offices.
Compunite Computers
Compunite Computers is a multi-faceted computer services company, located in north central New Jersey. We take a different approach than most of our peers, believing it’s not enough to merely keep your network running — it’s making sure your security, stability and profitability are protected over both the short and the long term. We maximize your technology ROI.
Dexter + Chaney
Dexter + Chaney is a leader in the development of technologies that help the construction industry be more productive, efficient and profitable. Founded in 1982, the company’s flagship product, Forefront Construction Suite, is in use by thousands of construction firms across the United States, and houses dozens of robust modules to support every aspect of the construction process.
Doc.It
Doc.It is a complete digital document management solution that differentiates itself by providing a strong focus on up-front planning, support and a training and implementation methodology developed by accountants for accountants.
DoubleSight Displays
DoubleSight Displays provides a wide variety of Monitor Solutions for the home and office. In 2003, DoubleSight launched the first of its successful Dual Monitor Family of Products. We have listened to our customers and designed this product group to meet the needs of today’s busy professional.
Greatland Corporation
Greatland Corporation is a national supplier of software, forms and supplies specialized for tax and accounting professionals. In the fall of 2006, Greatland became an employee-owned company. The employee ownership is Greatland’s commitment to people – the people who work here, our customers, colleagues and vendors.
H.D. Vest
H.D. Vest has been partnering with CPAs since 1983 to support them as they offer financial services to their clients. Evolving markets have changed clients’ needs. Clients are demanding a broader range of financial products from their tax professionals. At the same time, a recent survey of investors found that CPAs topped the list of most trusted financial advisors – edging out Certified Financial Planners.
Intuit, Inc.
Best known for its top-selling small business accounting package, QuickBooks, and tax preparation solutions, Lacerte and ProSeries, Intuit has evolved over the years into an accounting powerhouse. Today, more than 325,000 accounting professionals use one of its accounting, payroll or tax solutions.
North 40 Systems
Serving the accounting profession for nearly 10 years, Office Tools Pro has received recognition as being a specific solution for the small office. Listed in Accounting Today’s “Top 100 Products” and consistently receiving 4 to 5 stars by The CPA Technology Advisor in three categories (Practice Management, Document Management and Time & Billing) are just a few of the acknowledgements.
PayCycle, Inc.
Introduced in 2001, PayCycle is the leader in on-demand payroll and is designed for accountants that serve small business clients, with 1 to 50 employees. PayCycle’s online solution has eliminated nearly all of the paperwork involved with client payroll, by automating the entire process from paychecks to W-2s.
Serenic Corporation
Serenic Corporation is an industry-leading publisher of mission-critical software products that satisfy the unique and sophisticated functionality requirements of nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies. Built on Microsoft Dynamics NAV, Serenic’s products deliver fully integrated solutions that eliminate the need to cobble together multiple third-party business applications...
Thomson Tax & Accounting
Thomson Tax & Accounting is a leading provider of technology and integrated research solutions to accounting, tax and corporate finance professionals. With the leading and most trusted brands joining forces under one company, Thomson Tax & Accounting is dedicated to partnering with tax and accounting professionals to make them as profitable, productive and efficient as possible.
Toolbox Software
Toolbox Software began in 1994 with the purpose of developing construction financial accounting software utilizing a SQL-based relational architecture. The development was paid for by a Denver-based CPA firm that specializes within the construction industry. Toolbox Software is a system that has been developed by CPAs who have practiced in public accounting, and who have performed thousands of audits/reviews.
TrakTronix
TrakTronix was founded in early 2004 with the vision of providing a full spectrum of products and services that allow companies to track their business in motion. After three years of research and development, the vision is brought to life in the flagship product “ActionTrak.”

[Get Copyright Permissions] Click here for copyright permissions!
Copyright 2008 Cygnus Business Media

eNewsletters

Sign up for our free Newsletter & Business Solution Briefs