CPA Technology Advisor Newsletter

REVIEWS FOR YOUR FIRM

Practice Management Programs
Climate Models Predict a Changing Practice Management Environment
By Matthew Altman
Programs designed for practice management continue to evolve, adapting to changing user needs and operating systems like Vista, as well as offering more support for remote access, with one product even delivered as a hosted (web-based) solution. All of the programs reviewed here have seen improvements over the past year.

Webcast Logo Don't miss the October 4 webcast on Practice Management/Time & Billing
Earn 2 hours of CPE credit at this LIVE event.

W-2/1099 Tax
Compliance Tasks For Year-End Information Returns Continue To Get Easier
By Isaac M. O'Bannon, Technology Editor
W-2 and 1099 compliance issues can be a chore, especially for businesses that end up having to report earnings and financial transactions for hundreds or even thousands of employees and contractors. Plus, the requirement to prepare and mail each of the recipient copies can tax a business' printers. Fortunately, electronic filing of information returns is simple and included in most W-2/1099 packages, and it is required for larger entities. But even for small businesses, these programs offer centralized W-2/1099 compliance functionality often lacking in accounting and payroll systems, and at an affordable cost.

REVIEWS FOR YOUR CLIENTS

Not-for-Profit Accounting
New Requirements Cement Need For Quality Not-For-Profit Products
By Mary Girsch-Bock
The needs of nonprofits are considerably different than those of running a for-profit enterprise, especially when it comes to the regulations they must follow in their accounting. Some of these issues include direct and indirect costs, allocable costs, and indirect allocable costs. And 2008 will see the implementation of new forms and schedules. So nonprofits need accounting systems that can manage their compliance issues and, at the same time, help maximize efficiency in their workflow processes.

FEATURES

Technology Talk
A conversation between Greg LaFollette & Jerry Topp from Eide Bailly about the use of technology in tax and accounting firms
Greg and Jerry have both been accounting practitioners for more than 25 years. The two sat down recently for a discussion about how technology plays a role at Eide Bailly, one of the top 100 firms in the country. They also talk about emerging technologies and how the firm goes through the selection and implementation process.

Green Accounting Firms: This is Not a Reference to Eyeshades Anymore!
By Robert Carmines, MST, CFP, PFS, CPA
As the professional market continues to turn to technology to streamline workflow processes and maximize efficiency, an interesting positive side effect has emerged: The "paperless office" is also a "greener" office. This article explores several additional ways to minimize your firm's effect on the environment, even if you drive a Suburban.

Productivity In Practice
The Neighborhood Accountant
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.

Tech2Go
Gregory L. Lafollette
Gregory L. LaFollette CPA.CITP
Brent Goodfellow
Brent Goodfellow CPA.CITP, MCSE, MST, MCT
Dave McClure
Dave McClure
Randy Johnston
Randy Johnston

Tech2Go Episode 8

Don't miss episode seven of our fast-paced roundtable discussion of Tech2Go.

Executive Editor Gregory L. LaFollette, CPA.CITP is joined by regular columnists Brent Goodfellow, Randy Johnston, and Dave McClure.

Sponsored by:
ADP

This month's topics:

  • Payroll
  • VMWare IPO
  • Virtualization
  • Network Application Sharing

[Running time is 1:01:43]

Sample Employment Classified Ads

Career Opportunities for Tax & Accounting Professionals

Recruit tax & accounting professionals to fill your open employment positions!

For $395, your employment ad will be placed in the next eNewsletter as well as a special "help wanted" section on The CPA Technology Advisor website.

Deadline:
October 23, 2007 4:00pm EDT

Contact:
Jenny S. Hallett
920-563-1671
jenny.hallett@cygnuspub.com

Online Exclusives

 

Columnist Corner

Up Front
Management Montage
By Shari Dodgen, Publisher
Shari outlines how this issue offers practical tips and advice that can help you juggle the numerous management issues you face.

Accountant Tech Talk
Windows Home Server — A First Look (Or Second)
By Brent Goodfellow, CPA.CITP, MCSE, MST, MCT
Brent first saw Windows Home Server back in January, but after a long wait, Microsoft has finally released the program to the market. So what does Brent think? For starters, he likes the overall product and its approach to helping home and small office users with their storage, backup and remote access needs.

Tricks & Tips
Know Your Search Engine: Part I - To Find the Right Results, Ask the Right Questions
By Isaac M. O'Bannon, Technology Editor
In the first of a two-part column, Isaac looks at the evolutions of web search engines and how they get the information they catalog. In next month's issue, he will provide useful tips for making searches more efficient and productive.

Technology IN Practice
IN FIRM View on Minimizing the Impact of a Pandemic
By Roman H. Kepczyk, CPA.CITP
While many firms have a disaster recovery plan in case of data problems or natural catastrophes, Roman points out another potential event that few, if any, are prepared for — a worldwide flu or other outbreak that could result in quarantines, closed businesses and disastrous effects on firm productivity.

The QuickBooks Advisor
Software as a Service — The Future for Accountants, Bookkeepers and Clients
By Doug Sleeter
Doug is excited about online accounting applications and the genre of hosted programs called Software as a Service (SaaS). Since the debut of the first SaaS accounting programs around 1999, many more have joined the market. Doug points out the key benefits these systems offer clients and their accountant.

From The Trenches
Infrastructure Done Right: Part I
By Randy Johnston
In the first of a two-part article, Randy offers the first part of a checklist of IT network essentials. This is a good gauge of the health status of your firm's network infrastructure.

Better Technology For Better Clients
The Curtain Is Rising: It's Time For The New ACT!
By Lisa Kianoff, CPA.CITP
If you followed Lisa's recommendations from previous columns, then you're ready to put THINK CRM into practice. In this issue, she looks at the benefits your clients can realize with the new ACT! by Sage program.

The eSecurity Advisor
Web Ads: A New Virus Delivery Method — Part I
By John D. Anderson, CPA.CITP, CIA, MCP, MSA
Keeping your computer networks and your clients' data safe is a never-ending task, but just as technologies catch up with the bad guys, the bad guys push the envelope. In this column, John looks at a new threat emerging from web-based ads.

The Bleeding Edge
Back to Small Business
By Dave McClure
Accounting software developers are finally focusing on the small business market, instead of fighting for the big boys. This has resulted in a new class of programs called Corporate Performance Management systems, but Dave notes that, in many cases, vendors are just repackaging high-end systems without really identifying the needs of their small business users.

Final Thoughts
Do You Have 150 Friends?
By Gregory L. LaFollette, CPA.CITP, Executive Editor
The accounting tech guru extols the virtues of social networking websites like LinkedIn, Plaxo, Windows Live Spaces, Friendster and Facebook. While some of these sites were initially youth- or student-oriented, many are moving toward the business and professional space. Find out which ones make sense for accountants.

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