technology raises the bar: four things accountants must do to keep up

dustin lubertazzi

principles of accounting remain unchanged, but…

by dustin lubertazzi,
senior consultant, sageworks, inc.

luca pacioli, an italian mathematician and franciscan friar, is widely known as the “father of accounting” for publishing 36 chapters on the double-entry accounting method used by venetian merchants during the italian renaissance. his book, summa de arithmetica, geometria, proportioni et proportionalita (which translates, “everything about arithmetic, geometry and proportion”), was written as a textbook for students in northern italy at the end of the 15th century. pacioli’s documentation of double-entry accounting and ledgers taught entrepreneurs of the day how to conduct business using timely and accurate financial information, and it established the fundamentals of accounting still practiced today.

pacioli’s fundamentals were only feasible thanks to the written numeral system and the abacus developed before that. and since then, the industry has seen further and more ground-breaking developments including the introduction of the typewriter, then computers, and later the internet. with each of these milestones, technology not only impacted how accountants handle financial information but also how they interact with their clients.

with the changing technological landscape, what must accountants do to stay competitive in the future, and how will technology change the future role of the accountant?

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how any accountant can start selling in six easy steps

and why it’s not like selling used cars.

the days when cpas could leave rainmaking to the rainmakers are long gone. today, technical skills aren’t enough. even the most talented cpas must bring in new business to succeed. but it’s about trust and relationships. the same skills you use to do business are the same skills you use to get business. prospects evaluate how you’ll work by how you sell.

here are some tips for building relationships and developing business: read more →

13 new rules for accounting marketing

alan vitberg
alan vitberg

adapt and grow. or don’t and you won’t.

by alan vitberg
vitberg llc

new rules about marketing and business development are at hand, and firms that adapt early are those that will grow, not unlike their predecessors who capitalized upon transformative changes that occurred over two decades ago.

here’s a “baker’s dozen” of those new rules that can transform your firm’s marketing and business development, and take it to new heights:

  1. start thinking about marketing as an investment, not just an expense.
  2. demand accountability from everyone. read more →

tax season 2011 disappoints some

despite economic recovery, many firms seem unable to capitalize on new opportunities. click here to join the tax season 2011 survey; get the results.

march survey results show 18% of accountants reporting "much" better overall results than a year ago and 26% reporting "somewhat" better results. source: 卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research

tax accountants are finishing the 2011 busy season with stronger results than they expected, but – perhaps surprisingly — not as strong as last year, despite somewhat improved economic conditions.

卡塔尔世界杯常规比赛时间 research suggests that many accounting firms may have over-reacted to the 2007 market crash by cutting staff and billing rates, leaving them unprepared to capitalize on the opportunities of the 2011 recovery.

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why clients don’t like you – and they don’t even know you yet

your firm’s image could be turning off prospects before they even meet you.

bob lewis

by bob lewis
visionary marketing

this is a simple concept, but one that eludes a large number of accounting practices.

when going to a fine restaurant a patron expects a higher check. the guests will pay more for the experience and come back if the food is excellent and the environment provides the level of comfort that meets their expectations. the restaurant next door may have better food at lower prices, but they look like a diner and do not present themselves as a more interesting experience so they immediately turn off a large segment of the higher paying clientele.

cpa firms do the same thing.

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