Take Note

Accounting Education Conference is Going Virtual

Accounting educators – Make plans to join your colleagues virtually for TXCPA's Accounting Education Conference on Friday, October 2! This year’s agenda will be packed with timely topics, insightful updates, engaging sessions and information on the latest technology trends that you won’t want to miss. Learn more and register now.

TXCPA Launches New Online Knowledge Hub!

TXCPA is excited to announce the launch of our new Knowledge Hub on the website! This resource features a library of free downloadable content written by experts and vendors within the accounting profession.

You'll find white papers, webinars, product guides, case studies, industry analysis and much more. Check out the new Knowledge Hub today.

December is TXCPA’s Statewide Month of Service

TXCPA's Month of Service is a great way for members to give back to their communities by participating in a volunteer activity of their choice. This year, TXCPA and our chapters are focused on service and education related to financial literacy. Look for more information about the December Month of Service to come in the weeks ahead.

Exclusively for Members: TXCPA’s Next Free Professional Issues Webcast Features Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar

Among the many valuable benefits you receive every year as part of your membership are TXCPA’s FREE Professional Issues Update webcasts. The next webcast, sponsored by Goodman Financial, is scheduled for Wednesday, September 23. Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar will be our special guest.

Take advantage of this valuable opportunity to earn two CPE hours while learning more about current issues and developments in the accounting profession. Register now on our website.

CPACharge

4 Ways CPAs can Successfully Work Remotely

Whether due to increasing advances in technology or emergency circumstances, being able to effectively run your practice remotely is becoming a critical skill. Here, we’ll break down best practices for CPAs and accounting professionals to successfully work from home.

Keep a structured schedule Try to stick to a daily schedule as much as you can. The more you can practice your typical morning routine, the better. This will help get your mind into “work mode,” which will help you focus on your tasks.

Conversely, some people find it difficult to shut off their “work mode” while working from home. To prevent burnout while working from home, consider relegating your work to one particular room, and allow yourself to leave that room once your work day is done.

Utilize productivity and connectivity tools Much of today’s modern productivity and communication tools were designed to let professionals (and their clients) share all aspects of their work with one another, even if they’re not in the same building. Making use of these tools is essential when working remotely. Some of the most popular software used for remote work include:

• Bookkeeping

• Cloud storage

• Email

• Document signing

• Practice management

• Real-time communication (think Skype, Zoom, etc.)

• Timekeeping

Let your clients pay online When working from home, you’ll need a way to accept payments from your clients. And while they could feasibly send their payments via traditional methods, there are faster and more convenient ways to get paid— online payment solutions.

Rather than having to wait for a check to arrive, online payments start processing as soon as your client clicks “Send.”

One of the most significant benefits of online payments is the fact that you can get paid just about anywhere you and your clients are. Plus, rather than having to wait for a check to arrive, online payments start processing as soon as your client clicks “Send.” In fact, a study showed that as much as 85 percent of electronic invoices are paid the same week they’re sent out!

Take advantage of multiple communication channels CPAs working from home have a variety of tools to host meetings and working sessions with their clients. Naturally, email and texting is still a standard for back and forth consultations and simple questions.

However, there are also communication solutions that allow you to easily have conversations with multiple people in real time. Some of these tools, including Slack, Skype, and Google Hangouts, also allow for video conferencing, so you can see one other and share your screen.

For more remote working tips, click here, or to learn more about CPACharge, click here.