CPAmerica Advantage News From Your Accounting Association
How Can CPAmerica Surveys Help Your Firm?
April 2021
P. 3 4 Preferred Provider Spotlight P. 4 Member News
President's Corner - Alan Deichler P.
CPAmerica offers a variety of customizable surveys that are exclusive to our members. They are used to collect informa tion that can help improve employee engagement, improve client communications, and help partners and managers find out their firm’s overall climate in order to make the changes needed to make their firm a more desirable place to work. The Employee Engagement Survey identifies key indicators and drivers of employee engagement to help your firm develop an action plan for its continued success. This roughly 20-minute survey solicits information about firm culture, work environment, employee engagement, and overall job satisfaction. For $750, you receive the complete raw data, a two-page summary report that provides a quick glance of overall results, and a full survey report that includes analyzed findings for each question. The Upward Evaluation Survey asks a series of questions about each partner and/or manager to evaluate key aspects of his or her performance. This assessment is intended to help motivate supervisors to achieve their highest potential by reviewing employee responses about their communication, training practices, and leadership. When you purchase this survey for $250, you receive the raw data and a brief summary report for each supervisor. We offer a premium report that offers an in-depth look at each supervisor’s results and compares their scores to the firm’s overall averages for an additional fee of $750. In addition to these valuable internal assessments, CPAmerica also offers a Client Satisfaction Survey designed to determine overall client satisfaction, identify potential niche services, improve client communication,
and clarify areas of strength and weakness within your firm. For $750, your firm receives raw survey data and a full report that is ready to share with employees. Most recently, Thomas Howell Ferguson, P.A. (THF) needed a survey to gather a COVID pulse on staff. THF’s People Champion Amy Rubes, PHR, SHRM-CP, reached out to CPAmerica’s Member Services Manager Colleen Gaddy to develop this survey and she received the help she needed. “I recently inquired if they had a survey for COVID. I explained to Colleen what our desired goal was and within 48-hours she compiled information I could build from. I was provided options for roll out, messaging and results that suited our needs,” Rubes said. “In all of my experiences with CPAmerica Surveys, I have been pleased with the timeliness, professionalism and assistance provided. Our results are comprehensive, easy to understand and very cost effective. I would recommend this service to any firm in this arena.”
These thorough and customizable surveys can help you better understand the way your staff and management work together and provide a way to benchmark year-to-year progress. Please contact Colleen Gaddy at cgaddy@cpamerica. org for more information on any of CPAmerica’s custom surveys.
Technology for the Next Normal: This is Part 2 of 2. Part 1 can be read in the March issue at: https://bit.ly/2OSoXRi Scheduling time on Tuesday through Thursday or on Tuesday and Friday was sufficient to handle all administrative work and needed face-to-face meetings. Can your firm make the transition to embrace and adopt all the technologies mentioned before? First, vendors may not give you a choice as older technologies are discontinued. Second, you will need to adopt many of these technologies to provide a better team member experience. Technology remains one of the best recruitment levers available to firms. Third, your clients have come to expect ease of use and convenience. Firms cannot continue to business in this third decade of the 21st century the same way they did in the 20th century! Clients may stay with your firm because they like you and your work, but they may not tell you that your client experience is terrible!
by Randy Johnston, shareholder, K2 Enterprises LLC What are some potential tools to use today? While this article cannot provide all the details to make the transition, I would encourage you to participate in CPAmerica events this year and beyond. Presenters will cover every topic above in the technology conference, and many will be covered during other events. Consider this “best of the best” evolving product guide below for each category named above. There are many technologies to consider, but remember to look at your firm’s Mission, Vision, Goals, Strategic Business Plan, and Tactical Business Plan before adding these tools to your Strategic Technology Plan and Tactical Technology Plan. So, what can we review and select in each of these categories? While your firm strategy, size, and expertise could change these products, these recommendations should be directionally accurate. See Next Normal, continued on page 2
Next Normal, continued from front page
1. Collaboration requires the right platform • Google Workplace • Microsoft 365 (best for CPA Firms) • Zoho One (best for start-up businesses)
2. Client Experience is going through one of the larger transitions • CCH Axcess Client Collaboration Portal • Liscio • Suralink 3. Workflow RPA tools will notably improve productivity • Digilence for efling automation and other functions • Microsoft Power Automate • XCM with Automation Anywhere 4. DMS • Doc.It • GetBusy Virtual Cabinet • Microsoft Teams for DIY instead of a network share • Thomson Reuters ONVIO Firm Management Document Center 5. Web Meetings • Microsoft Teams • ON24 • Zoom 6. Core accounting firm options using Software as a Service with digital plumbing tools • CCH Axcess • Intuit QuickBooks Online and ProConnect Tax • Sage Intacct • Thomson Reuters ONVIO • Zapier 7. Passwordless security • FIDO2 keys like Yubico YubiKey • Microsoft Authenticator, Hello, Edge • Microsoft Azure AD PREMIUM P1 8. Audit and trial balance tool evolution • CCH Axcess Engagement • Dynamic Audit Solution • Validis with Valid8 • Verady • Tallyfor 9. Tax planning, compliance, and other tax advisory will experience a notable change • Corvee • LukkaTax • SOVOS
10. Client accounting services tools will become more seamless and comprehensive • AccountantsWorld Accounting Relief • Autoreview.io • BaCo Tech • Botkeeper • SmartBooks Genie • Vic.AI 11. Cash flow forecasting and other business advisory tools will become commonplace • Commercial Loan Success • Complete Advisory Solution (F3C Advantage) • Fathom • Jirav • LivePlan • Spotlight 12. Practice management will evolve to enable hybrid workforces, collaborative workflows, and interactive team member and client experiences • Aero Workflow • Avii • Clarity Practice Management • Empire RESOURCE • Karbon • STAR • TPS Rarely would I caution you with “buyer beware” since the initial vetting of these products is already complete. However, with uncertain financial times still ahead of us, many businesses will fail because of unexpected cashflow shortages and sales that do not materialize as expected. You probably would not miss the offerings of the large publishers of Wolters Kluwer, Thomson Reuters, and Intuit, so I focused on interesting alternatives. Can we do things the same old way? Of course! However, you know that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Your firm may be wildly profitable today, particularly since 2020 produced extraordinary financial results for most firms. What about five years from now or even ten? Do you want your team to be prepared for the future? Picking the right technology tools today can make a notable difference in your firm tomorrow. Randy Johnston is a shareholder in K2 Enterprises LLC, and co-founder of Network Management Group Inc. Concepts for this article came from Johnston’s consulting experience at firms and sessions written for the K2 Technology Conferences. Contact him at 620-664-6000 or randyj@nmgi.com.
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Member News
Maxwell Locke & Ritter celebrates 30 years and announces new partner
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, , recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. The firm has experienced tremendous success and growth in the Central Texas market. In 1991, Maxwell Locke & Ritter began with 17 employees including the three founding partners. Today, the firm, along with its affiliate, ML&R Wealth Management, has 140 team members including 22 partners. The full-service CPA firm has expanded by adding wealth management, due diligence, and IT security and compliance service lines, as well as advisory services within each practice. The firm has a strong history of promoting from within, including the firm’s newest partner, Doris Ayala. Doris joined Maxwell Locke & Doris Ayala Ritter in 2012 and provides tax compliance and consulting services to business entities and their owners.
Matthews, Cutrer and Lindsay CPAs announces expansion
Two area accounting firms, Montgomery & Associates and Lefoldt & Company, recently joined through mergers. Combined, the firm boasts a group of 11 shareholders and about 50 professionals operating in four offices in Ridgeland, Clinton and Yazoo City, Miss. These four locations offer geographically centric access from the capital city area, its surrounding counties and Yazoo County.
Kassouf promotes 19, including four new principals
Birmingham-based member firm, , recently announced the promotion of 19 team members, with four employees named principals. • Michelle Carney, CFP®, AEP®– Principal, Financial Planner • Margaret Cook, MBA, CMPE – Principal, Healthcare Advisor • Russ Dorsey – Principal, Chief Information Officer • Joni Wyatt, MHA, MHIA, CPHIMS – Principal, Healthcare Advisor • Georgina Perry, CPA, CMPE – Senior Healthcare Advisor • Janet Day, MBA, CMPE – Senior Healthcare Advisor • Anna Arnold, CPA – Supervising Senior Accountant • Caitlyn Tortorici, CPA – Supervising Senior Accountant • Carolina Canales, CPA – Supervising Senior Accountant
• Elizabeth Livesay, CPA – Supervising Senior Accountant • Jessica Stewart, CPA – Supervising Senior Accountant • Kami West, CPA – Supervising Senior Accountant • Reagan Glaze, CPA – Supervising Senior Accountant • Taylor Reed, CPA – Supervising Senior Accountant • Ashley Burns, CPA – Senior Accountant • Bridget Adams, CPA – Senior Accountant • Griffin Clark, CPA – Staff II • Jeremy Green, CPA – Staff II • Philip Johnston, CPA – Staff II
Coulter & Justus announces promotions including new principal
headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., announced recent promotions. The following staff members have been promoted to senior: • Ben Curtis • Emily Oliver • Sydney Jeffcoat The following staff members have been promoted to manager: • Kelly Bumbalough • Shane Wells • Cassie Carter
Christy Burgess has been promoted to principal. Christy provides tax services for clients in industries such as wholesale distribution, transportation, Christy Burgess restaurants, and government contracting. Christy has over 18 years of accounting experience and joined Coulter & Justus in 2006.
THF Congratulates Ying Wang on being named a "25 Women You Need to Know"
, headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida, congratulates Ying Wang on being selected as one of the 2021 “25 Women You Need to Know,” by the Tallahassee Democrat. The women on the list have achieved great success in their professions and Ying Wang have contributed to the greater good of the community. Ying, a senior manager at THF, is a notable leader in the community. She currently serves as a board member for Girls on the Run Panhandle and is a member of Leadership Tallahassee Class 36.
Rushton announces new partner, promotions, and new hires
, headquartered in Gainesville, Ga., recently announced that Samuel Latimer, CPA, CFE has become a partner with the firm. Latimer joined Rushton in 2012. Prior to being named partner, he served as Audit Manager for the firm’s governmental and nonprofit division, overseeing Samuel Latimer financial statement audits of local governments of all sizes and specializing in assisting clients with development of internal control policies. Rushton recently announced the following promotions: • Andrew Beauchamp, CPA, was promoted to tax supervisor. • Kelly Parmer was promoted to audit supervisor. • Denille Biddy, CPA, CFE, was promoted to audit supervisor. • Chelsea Sullivan, CPA, CFE, was promoted to audit supervisor. • Greyson Schuebert, was promoted to audit senior. Rushton recently announced the following hires: • Joseph W. Coates, CPA, was hired as a tax manager. • Noah Evans was hired as a tax associate. • Christina Page was hired as a tax associate. • Gabi Santangelo was hired as a tax associate. • Rebecca Blythe was hired as an audit associate. • Kristen Woodall was hired as a tax associate.
GRF CPAs & Advisors announces new accounting technology services practice and partnership with Sage Intacct
(GRF), headquartered in Bethesda, Md., announced the firm has launched a new Accounting Technology Services practice. The firm’s newest practice area expands GRF’s strategic partnership with Sage Intacct, a recognized leader in cloud financial management software. After several years as a member of the Sage Intacct Accountant Program, GRF has extended its relationship with Sage Intacct in response to increased demand for Software as a Service (SaaS) business solutions from prospects and clients. As a Sage Intacct Value Added Reseller (VAR), GRF will now sell, implement, support, and develop enhancements for the awardwinning Sage Intacct cloud financial management system.
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President's Corner: To Everything There is a Season This is my second to last President’s Corner. Throughout 2021, we are in the midst of transitioning the role of president of CPAmerica to Grace Horvath who will take over the role on January 1, 2022. It Alan Deichler is indeed an interesting President process full of all sorts of emotions for both of us. For me, I am looking forward to my retirement, but am also trying to imagine not being part of this organization. I will miss all the members and staff! I’m pretty sure Grace will be providing insight into her thoughts and feelings in subsequent President’s Corner articles.
plan.
Part of this transition process is giving the future staff leaders of CPAmerica a chance to participate in this column, so after this article you won’t “see” me again here until December.
New member development took about 20 percent of my time. Development is critical to the association’s health. New firms not only help us grow, but replace firms that have sold or merged up. New firms and members also provide our association new thinking and a fresh perspective.
I am reminded of the song by The Byrds from the mid-sixties, “Turn! Turn! Turn!” and from Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 in the Old Testament. You may remember it as “To everything there is a season …” and so it is with the process of moving on. There is a time to do it yourself and there is a time to teach others to do it themselves. The transition to a new president is moving along nicely. Grace and I built a plan for this transition last fall and with the board’s approval and regular inspection, we are proceeding along with that implementation
Grace has named her successor, Jenn Walker, from our staff, to be the new leader of services. Jenn was a senior member services manager supporting A&A among other duties. So her first task will be to find and train her replacement. Grace is coaching and training Jenn on her new role as director of services. In the coming months, Grace will start managing more and more of what is, and was, my role. She has already begun work on our innovative technology support to firms, implementing an enhanced learning management system (more on that in coming months), and preparing to assume responsibility for our marketing and new member development efforts this summer.
and I have split up the VIPs to assist the two visiting leading partners and we plan to continue that practice this year. That said, it will be a very busy July, August and fall for traveling to VIPs along with our regular events that are planned to be in person this year. If all goes to plan, Grace will be trained on all her new responsibilities as president, and will be over a number of activities by fall. I’m sure she will do a great job as your new president of CPAmerica. A phrase that made me a bit sad over my career was whenever I heard someone talk about a recently retired executive, stating, “…he retired a couple of years before he left.”
During the shutdown times of 2020, we were able to continue a number of programs and events virtually. However, the Visitation Improvement Program (VIP) was completely cancelled in 2020, putting us a whole year behind. Our plan of each firm hosting a VIP every four years was already a challenge with the recent growth in firms, but by missing a whole year of VIPs, we are seriously challenged. We are working hard to catch up and have scheduled 25 VIPs for this summer and fall. In past years, Grace
I promise that I’m working to try to not have that be a comment about my remaining time at CPAmerica. I continue to be responsible for CPAmerica and achieving our mission of members improving through sharing. It just happens that my primary responsibility today has changed from doing it myself to making sure Grace is comfortable and capable to be president on January 1.
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Dext Connect introduces the same speed and accuracy of Prepare (with Receipt Bank) to your Quickbooks Desktop clients. Now the power of bookkeeping automation extends to all your clients - so your processes can be uniform across the board. Dext Precision gives you trust in your data by automatically spotting errors and allowing for proactive correction. It provides award-winning data assurance, with client dashboards and HealthScore checks that power advisory services - coming to the U.S. market soon.
Contact us at: 7555 W. University Ave. Gainesville, FL 32607 (352) 727-4070 www.cpamerica.org
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