On Oct. 28-30, 2024, accounting professionals gathered once again for Intuit Connect at the ARIA in Las Vegas. Formerly known as QuickBooks Connect, the event continues to be THE event for accounting leaders to network, learn, and get inspired.
The name change to Intuit Connect encompassed the integrated platform’s ability to help businesses start up and scale up, with accountants as the key advisors who, along with the QuickBooks ecosystem, guide their clients to growth.
As always, it was difficult to choose from breakout sessions due to the sheer number of offerings in each time slot. Speakers were chosen to present based on their unique perspective and client/industry experience, elevating presentations from “how to use QuickBooks” to sessions that helped attendees grow their firms, and improve their business and their community. Programming tracks included the following:
- Client advisory/fractional CFO: Financial planning and analysis for clients with $3-5 million annual revenue, 10–100 employees, or multiple entities.
- Practice fundamentals: The latest strategies for improving your firm’s performance and streamlining operations.
- Firm growth: Strategies to help your firm find new audiences and expand its growth.
- Accounting and tax workflows: Bolster your client services with Intuit solutions.
- Technology: The latest innovative technologies for your clients and your firm.
- Leadership skills: Critical skills needed for leading your firm—from relationship building to performance reporting.
Imparting Wisdom and Learning
Lynda Artesani of Artesani Accounting, a firm with a niche in law firm advisory and accounting, has been attending Intuit Connect for years. Along with her business partner, Sarah Prevost, the two are co-founders of The Proper Trust. Because time is precious, the two professionals must carefully choose what conferences they want to attend. Artesani said Intuit Connect is always at the top of the list.
“I really enjoyed it, and after attending many of these conferences, this conference felt more ‘executive’ in nature, “she said. “I spoke to many of the attendees and there were definitely larger firms and a vastly different vibe than my first conference in 2016, where it was small firm owners—like me at the time—and also business owners who were non-accountants. Fortunately, my firm with Sarah fits the current direction that Intuit is progressing toward.”
Mainstage highlighted several improvements and forward-looking, visionary innovations demonstrated by Dave Talach, senior vice president of product for the QuickBooks Platform. Christine De Martini, vice president, Mid-Market marketing, Global Business Solutions Group, and Laurent Sellier, senior vice president, Global Business Solutions Group Mid-Market Solutions, showed the power of Intuit Enterprise Suite. The Suite launched in September, so this was the first time many attendees saw first-hand a drill-down into features and functionality.
“I am excited to sample Intuit Enterprise Suite with two of my largest law firm clients,” said Artesani.
Artesani and Prevost also presented at Intuit Connect with their session, “Payroll Revolution: Empowering Your Business with HRIS and QuickBooks Online Payroll Tools.” During the session, they discussed how to streamline payroll processes, maintain accurate employee data, ensure compliance with payroll regulations, reduce errors, and safeguard sensitive employee data through robust security measures. To prepare for the session, they talked to professionals who work in QuickBooks Online Payroll.
“I enjoyed meeting with the people in payroll; it’s fun to see their energy and excitement in making the product better.”
Learning, connection, and inspiration were top of mind for another attendee, Bob Wang, owner and CFO of Tee Up Advisors, a fractional CFO firm. He hosted “Blue Ocean: Flip From Service-led to Advisory-led Discovery Calls,” a session with Kenji Kuramoto from Acuity, and Roman Villard, CPA, founder of Full Send Finance.
“Our goal was to present several actionable takeaways for creating more meaningful, results-driven client interactions,” said Wang, who also said the networking during Intuit Connect was very important to him. “As a fractional CFO, I primarily partner with other accountants to provide strategic financial services to their clients, so I was able to build new connections and strengthen existing ones during Intuit Connect.
“I was really inspired by Priya Parker, one of the keynote speakers, on how to create intentional, meaningful, and powerful meetings,” he continued. “I hope to ‘set the intention’ for each meeting that I host.”
Keynotes and Takeaways
Other keynote speakers included Leslie Odom Jr., Tony & Grammy Award-winning artist; and Mark Mathews, international speaker and big wave surfer. Intuit presentations from the main stage included a chat between Sasan Goodarzi, CEO, and Greg Johnson, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Global Business Solutions Group. Highlights of Intuit’s vision for a connected platform and its role in driving success for its partners were presented by Marianna Tessel, executive vice president and general manager, Global Business Solutions Group.
Visit Intuit Connect to see even more content, including keynote presentations, and be on the lookout for information about Intuit Connect 2025.
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Tags: Accounting, Advisory, CAS, Small Business
