Accounting Technology articles from June 2005

Accounting Technology archives from June 2005

The Invasion of the Sis.(systems integrator)(future of the value added resellers market )
June 1, 2005... In the 1980s and early 1990s, there was a category of business called computer specialty stores. There were thousands of them selling personal computers and products. Few of them exist in the same form today. The mass retailers such as...

The Mobile Office.
June 1, 2005... Technology makes it possible to do work from anywhere. So how are accounting firms using new technology to be more productive? Associate Editor Carly Lombardo looks at the impact of mobile technology on how accounting professionals are...

Need Insights?
June 1, 2005... Editor Robert Scott also writes "Consulting Insights," a free, twice-monthly electronic newsletter that addresses issues concerning the consulting and reselling market. It's insight with an attitude. If you want to subscribe, you can do so at...

What is your firm's biggest technology security issue and what are you doing about it?(public opinion)
June 1, 2005... Our challenge was how to securely interconnect 52 locations in seven countries to improve collaboration across the enterprise while insuring the integrity and security of the information we needed to share to support our growth. These locations...

Practice Development News.(Jeffrey Odom appointed at Business Technology Solutions)(Chuck Chauvin appointed at Brown Smith Wallace L.L.C.)(earnings of Information Technology Alliance)
June 1, 2005... GRANT SELLS IT GROUP Grant Thornton has sold its Application Software Group, which sells Great Plains and Solomon software, to BroadPointe Technologies, a Bethesda, Md.-based reseller. The Grant organization, based in Vienna, Va.,...

Accounting News.(earnings of Microsoft Business Solutions)(Rajesh Patel appointed Exact Software)(earnings of Sage Group Inc.)
June 1, 2005... MBS LOSSES WIDEN Microsoft blamed increased marketing and hiring within its channel organization as the losses for Microsoft Business Solutions reached $54 million for the third quarter ended March 31, up 4 percent from $52 million a year...

Accounting Revenue Gains Span Wide Range.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 1, 2005... Company Period Ended Revenue Income March 31 Percent Change Percent Change(Loss) Blackbaud 1Q 9 percent 173 percent Epicor 1Q 79 percent 55...

Tax & Financial Planning.
June 1, 2005... TER BUSH MOVES TO LEXISNEXIS Charles Ter Bush, an industry veteran who has been president of STF Corp., has been named vice president for the tax and accounting market segment at LexisNexis. Ter Bush is responsible for tax and...

2005 Show Calendar.(certified public accountants)(Calendar)
June 1, 2005... June 15-17 Florida Accounting & Business Show 2005. Florida Institute of CPAs. Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla. www1.ficpa.org/ficpa/CPE/Courses/Conferences/FABExpo. June 27-29 AICPA Tech 2005. Bellagio...

Accounting Technology July's Coming Attractions.
June 1, 2005... Back to the Web Remember Internet-based applications and how they were going to change the world? There are indications that Web-based packages are gaining more acceptance. Tax Software Preview Professional tax preparers are...

The Mobile Office: More CPA firms are adopting wireless technologies and mobile devices to work from anywhere.(certified public accountants)
June 1, 2005... Whether he is on the beach or coaching a baseball game, James Bourke will always answer a client's phone call or email within 30 minutes. "I can get the firm's bills done on a weekend morning or, if an issue pops up, I can solve it...

Bringing It to the Clients.(Robinson Grimes provides wireless services)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Robinson Grimes isn't just using wireless systems to run its own business. It is offering its technology knowledge to help clients conduct their operations. One client, a principal owner of a business, took a year off to go sailing. ...

Better Safe Than Sorry.(security management of new technologies)
June 1, 2005... Fears about the lack of security of wireless technologies and other mobile technologies may deter some organizations from implementing them. But experts say all it takes is a little patience and planning to keep information safe. "Security...

A Wi-Fi Primer.(analysis)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... It is hard not to be exposed to the phrase Wi-Fi when Wi-Fi hot spots-places where a laptop user can get an email and Internet connection-are spreading throughout facilities such as coffee shops and airports. What is Wi-Fi? The name stands...

Wi-Fi Broadcasts: Curb Your Computer?(management of information)
June 1, 2005... Wi-Fi, the wireless communication technology, is popular. Sit down in coffee shop or airport lounge and it's easy to hook into to network. It's way too easy, says David Cieslak. "Wi-Fi is high on everyone's radar screen. It's almost...

Got the 404 on That?: SOX and other laws require greater care and protection for computer systems.(Sarbanes-Oxley Act)
June 1, 2005... In many ways, there is nothing new about the requirements that Sarbanes-Oxley imposes on technology audits. There is a need for internal controls, including segregation of duties. "The biggest issue I see is that IT people are not very good...

IT Security Controls: A Shopping List.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The requirements of Sarbanes-Oxley span a wide range of financial systems, information security, and physical system controls. Here is a list of the areas to be reviewed in the area of IT controls as outlined by Secnap Network Security, a...

The Vendor's No. 1 SOX Job? - Educating Customers.(rules for financial software)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The biggest issue with Sarbanes-Oxley regulations when it comes to accounting software vendors is not what their software does, but what it does not do, cannot do, and is not supposed to do. "Our user base is misinformed and they expect the...

Sox Software Vendors.(Brief Article)(Directory)
June 1, 2005... ACL Services Vancouver, B.C. (604) 669-4225 www.acl.com Approva Vienna, Va (703) 821-0165 www.approva.net CaseWare Berkeley, Calif. (800) 267-1317 www.caseware-idea.com InfoStep Santa Clara, Calif....

Replaying Time: Software can turn back the clock and capture hours.(new billing software)
June 1, 2005... The latest gadget in my ever-growing cache of technology toys is the personal video recorder. This device enthralls me - not just because it can be programmed to record multiple events over multiple time periods, but more so because it has the...

'What If's' Lead to I See's: Accountants are performing business analysis using assumptions based on key financial drivers to aide them in achieving their clients' business goals.
June 1, 2005... When clients of Gordon J. Wiber visit him annually for tax preparation, audits, and financial planning, Wiber offers to sit down with them to ask a few questions about their businesses. Wiber, a sole practitioner based in Vancouver, B.C.,...

Business Analysis Vendors.(Brief Article)(Directory)
June 1, 2005... Accpac International Pleasanton, Calif. (866) 654-7277 www.accpac.com Creative Solutions Dexter, Mich (800) 968-8900 www.creativesolutions.thomson.com CCH Riverwoods, Ill. (800) TELL-CCH www.cch.com ...

Helping Build Vendor Databases?(use of database analytical software)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Some vendors that market analytical software are relying heavily on their customers to provide the data that will be used to provide benchmarking. The larger the database, the more the comprehensive analysis they say it can perform. The...

Fixed Assets: Seeking the Unkown: As regulations increase, more and more companies are turning to fixed assets software.
June 1, 2005... Scott Swarts guarantees tax savings for his customers by uncovering assets they didn't even know they no longer own. "One of the main benefits of implementing a fixed asset solution comes from inventory reconciliation. When we assess a...

Reaching Governments and Nonprofits.(use of the fixed assets accounting software)
June 1, 2005... Fixed Assets software represents only 10 percent of John Francis' business. But with the GASB 34 and 35 regulations, more nonprofits and government entities are being pushed into using such software. "Companies have a desire for...

Fixed Asset Software Vendors.(Brief Article)(Directory)
June 1, 2005... Best Software Reston, Va. (800) 368-2405 www.bestsoftware.com BNA Software Washington, D.C. (800) 424-2938 www.bnasoftware.com CCH Tax and Accounting Torrance, Calif. (800) 739-9998 www.prosystemfx.com ...

The Benefits of a Fixed Assets Solution.
June 1, 2005... Most companies look at the initial costs associated with an inventory service and software solution, but fail to realize the bottom line benefits of an implementation. "The focus should not be on the cost of the solution, but on the cash...

Ayala: Making MBS Mainstream.(Orlando Ayala, Microsoft Business Solutions)(Interview)
June 1, 2005... Orlando Ayala became a person of importance in the accounting software business last year when he took over as the chief operating officer of Microsoft Business Solutions. He also continues in his role as Senior Vice President, Small and...

New Products.(Ftwilliam.com, TenDigits Software)
June 1, 2005... TENDIGITS WIRELESS CRM TenDigits Software's Mobile Access gives Blackberry users immediate access to data files stored on Microsoft Customer Relationship Management. Users can navigate and work on multiple records. Any changes made to...

AccuFund Flexes Its Flexibility.(company wants to sell its accounting software)
June 1, 2005... AccuFund entices resellers with the leeway to sell its accounting software and modules for government and nonprofits in whatever way fits their own individual sales goals. While the company is aggressively seeking resellers, it is not just...

Advertisers' Index June 2005.
June 1, 2005... For FREE product information, go to www.AccountingTechnology.com/freeproductinfo Ad Appears Advertiser on page Best Software Inc 18,19 Both Worlds 33 ...

Jo Barsa: CPA+Reseller=Advisor.(management of a new firm )(certified public accountant)
June 1, 2005... After being let go after six months as a comptroller for a small ambulance company Jo Barsa, who has also worked in the audit department of Ernst & Young, realized how best to put her auditing and accounting technology skills to use. "My...

Editor's Note: The Future is Now.(Lawrence Berra and his predictions)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
June 1, 2005... In another lifetime, I once met Lawrence Berra, affectionately known as Yogi. Of course, he was much younger then, as was I, but he still had that twinkle in his eyes when he would espouse something prolific such as, "It's tough to make...

Start the Journey.(firms with new technology)
June 1, 2005... Using the power and speed of the Internet to your competitive advantage is no longer an intangible dream waiting to be realized. In fact, those firms who have embraced the Internet along with the latest technologies it affords, are serving more...

Successful Firms Will Be Online On Time!
June 1, 2005... It's surprising. Although most accountants earn their livelihood by analyzing historical data, very few have learned an important fact of professional life that's evident from the history of the past five decades of the profession: Accountants...

Accurate Financial Data Needed.
June 1, 2005... The end-point of gathering financial data and organizing it is to make sense of the numbers and to be able to make better decisions. Accounting is not just about aggregating data and reporting it; rather, accounting is supposed to help us...

Value-Added Services a Must.
June 1, 2005... One of the big buzz words in accounting circles today is outsourcing. Anything that can be commoditized can be outsourced. Tax preparation is a commodity and it is getting easier for consumers to find alternative ways to get tax prep done for...

Providing a Range of Services.
June 1, 2005... The accounting firm of the future will be a blend of two or three professional specialties. The most common will be the combination of wealth management and traditional accounting services. Progressive firms have already begun to co-locate with...

Leveraging Technology.
June 1, 2005... A key question for the firm of the future will be how best to leverage technology to improve business performance, as well as client service and retention. With the competitive nature of the market nowadays, cutting-edge firms are...

What's on the Horizon?(trends)
June 1, 2005... Despite the current surge in accounting majors at universities, the supply of accountants to the CPA profession will decrease again because the major detriments to choosing a career in public accounting still have not been resolved: The work...

The Future Is Not What It Used To Be.(auditing)
June 1, 2005... I don't claim to be a futurist, but feel my following predictions have a better than 50-50 chance of occurring in the next three to five years: * Firms will create separate entities for their audit/review practices in an effort to...

Advisors Building Bridges.
June 1, 2005... Faster, sooner, better, more. The Internet gives consumers a rising benchmark by which to measure the excellence of any service or product. On the Internet, people are searching for kernels of truth and wisdom that will help them build a sound...

An Important, Premium Service.
June 1, 2005... Wealth management is a term that has become as common a branding statement for financial services firms as "new and improved" is for consumer goods like laundry detergent. The spotlight on wealth management is a result of increasing demand from...

Knowledge for Future Competitive Advantage.
June 1, 2005... The dominant forces that will shape the accounting firm of the future are already upon us: rapid regulatory change, strategic growth opportunities, security and privacy concerns, challenging workforce demographics, continuing technological...

Components in Building to Knowledge Management.(accounting services)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... The electronic components available today to help organizations migrate to knowledge management include: Document Management - Systems providing an electronic repository for documents, streamlining workflows, automating document retention...

Trends, Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities.(accounting firms-management)
June 1, 2005... To visualize the firm of the future, we first must identify the trends shaping the way firms practice, the services they provide, the people who work for them, and the technology that drives them. Accordingly, I've looked into my clouded...

A New Dimension in Tax Preparation.
June 1, 2005... What if all you had to do was think and work got done? No more typing, no more 10-keys, and no more spreadsheets. Sound too futuristic? Well, the tools to accomplish this are here today. The Internet is enabling completely new workflow...

Traditional Firm Today-Industry Leader Tomorrow.(acocunting firms)
June 1, 2005... The average firm of the future will look like the average firm of the present. It will continue to be in a highly fragmented industry, will employ fewer than 10 people, and will primarily offer compliance services to individuals and small...

Affordable Document Management Solutions.
June 1, 2005... Paperless is here, except it isn't. What's causing the hold-up? Costs, for one thing. For small and mid-size accounting firms, the cost of installing an in-house document management system can easily run into six or seven figures-and that's...

A Ready-Made Accounting Services Department.(TAD Accounting)
June 1, 2005... TAD Accounting in 2005 is not the same business that we were in 2000. In 2000, we saw ourselves as having developed a technology that supported our outsourced online accounting practice. Now, we are an accounting services company that simply...

IT Expertise Highly Prized Asset.
June 1, 2005... The elegantly ambiguous phrase, "May you live in interesting times," certainly applies to the U.S. accounting profession today. Especially among firms that serve small business clients, the current landscape is interesting both in the sense of...

Computing Trends Firms Can Expect.(accounting firms-technology application.)
June 1, 2005... What computing innovations will the accounting firm of the future use? How will they affect financial services, practice management, and revenues? The Internet, access to high-speed connectivity, and improved security have allowed firms...

Becoming The Accounting Firm of Tomorrow.
June 1, 2005... With tax season over, the planning season has begun. Gaze into the crystal ball and strain to see the future of your firm. Every partner seeks to uncover the mysteries of building a successful practice. If only it were as easy as the magic of a...

The Best Is Yet To Come.
June 1, 2005... Each year, we are introduced to many tools that make our job easier. And who can complain about that? The great thing is: The best is yet to come. Technology in the accounting world allows us to better serve our clients in many ways....

Life As A CPA Is Fun Again!(Column)
June 1, 2005... No, I am not on drugs or anything else for that matter. In this era of post-Enron, Worldcom, and Sarbanes-Oxley, my clients are more energized, more enthusiastic, making more money, and having a ball doing it. The respect factor is up, the...

Note from the Editors: Killer VARs: The Secret to Success.
June 1, 2005... Compiling the annual list of Killer VARs is an intriguing experience. It always seems that there are just about as many different ways of being successful in this field as there are companies that are involved in the accounting software...

Building Loyalty - Jack Ades & Alan Kahn.(Interdyn AKA )
June 1, 2005... Even though Interdyn AKA has been growing, the company has not hired a consultant since before 2000. Its employees are loyal. "The culture that has been created through the years creates a team of individuals that are very happy," says...

Engineering a Business - P.J. Bain.
June 1, 2005... New employees at Inspired Solutions don't have to be engineers. But they would probably understand more about how the Atlanta-based reselling company operates if they do. "The engineering culture is pervasive to our organization. We are...

Creating Culture - Jan Goodman.
June 1, 2005... Perhaps the most important thing to Jan Goodman in growing her business at Forepoint's Chicago office is the way members of the staff relate to each other. "In my office, it's a lot of about culture," says Goodman. "Because I am more of a...

Taking Risks - Stan Kania.(Software Link management)
June 1, 2005... Even though Stan Kania prizes a relaxed work environment in which all employees have incentives, he also believes in taking chances in order to succeed. "I am willing to take a risk. Our history has been one of full, wide-open growth. A...

Using the CPA Model - Forrest Koch.
June 1, 2005... Forrest Koch left public accounting behind in 1995,when he left a firm in San Jose, Calif., to help with a new product, called Avista, that had just entered the United States. Two years later, Koch got deeper into the accounting software...

Achieving Balance - Gene Marks.(The Marks Group)
June 1, 2005... Gene Marks has no doubts that he could be a lot more successful and make a lot more money with The Marks Group if he really wanted to. He doesn't want to. It's not that he doesn't want to work. He does. "I work really hard, but I feel...

Speaking the Language - Robbie Pollock, Peter Saul & Bob Schilling.(Capital Business Solutions)
June 1, 2005... Capital Business Solutions has a simple rule for serving not-for-profits and government agencies: It doesn't do anything else. The Raleigh, N.C.-based reseller has concentrated on those markets since its founding. The business was...

Going It Alone - Rick Sexauer.(Avayle Solutions )
June 1, 2005... The accounting software market is full of big companies trying to get larger. Avayle Solutions isn't one of them. Owner Rick Sexauer, who has more than 20 years in the financial software business, served for six years as consulting manager...

Constructing Relationships - Kevin Stroud.(NexLan)
June 1, 2005... Kevin Stroud decided it was a good idea to be near the Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Conference. So he relocated his reselling operation, NexLan, to the same building. NexLan is on the third floor, while the chamber is on the...

Staying Focused - Mike Silver.(Omnios management)
June 1, 2005... Mike Silver has the opportunity to serve a diverse customer base in the Chicago region. He doesn't do it. "We have focused our business around project accounting," notes Silver, a CPA who also has a degree in computer science. "We turn...

Moving Quickly - Ray Tetlow.(Skyytek business growth)
June 1, 2005... Ray Tetlow liked the way NetSuite's online applications ran his business so much, he decided to start selling the product-and he's selling it in a big way. "Obviously, we have a very solid product and being able to rapidly implement it is...

The 2005 VAR 100: The focus shifts as companies consolidate and look overseas.
June 1, 2005... Things have changed in the last year since Accounting Technology published its first VAR 100, ranking accounting software resellers based on their revenue. The top players are far more involved in international markets than a year ago, and they...

Picking the top 100.(accounting software rankings)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2005... Defining an accounting software VAR is as much a part of the process of compiling a list of the 100 largest organizations as determining revenue is. All resellers that handle accounting software also handle other products, such as hardware...