Firm Management

AccountantsWorld (AW) offers a bundled suite of cloud-based applications to run an accounting practice via the cloud. The suite, called the Power Practice System, consists of bookkeeping, write-up, trial balance, document management, after-the-fact-payroll and the website builder reviewed here.

Accounting and Financial Site Builder (AFSB) has been providing websites for accounting and tax practices since 2000. It is part of Tenenz, Inc., which has focused on providing marketing materials and accounting supplies to the industry for over 40 years.

CCH Site Builder has been around for quite a while and is a very mature tool. The depth of resources that Wolters Kluwer, CCH brings to the table provides the confidence that they will be there for the long run and will continue to invest in improving this practical tool. Between the pre-designed web page templates and the web site customization services offered by Wolters Kluwer, CCH, you can design a web site that can be as comprehensive as you want.

CPA Site Solutions claims to be the largest provider of websites for accountants with over 7,000 firms using the platform. The company was founded in 1999 to help accountants take advantage of the internet. They believe so strongly in the service that they will setup your website and email accounts and give you two months to work with it and if you’re not happy with the results you owe nothing.

Web Builder CS is part of one of the most comprehensive suites of cloud based applications to run your tax or accounting practice with. The Thomson Reuters CS Professional Suite consists of 16 integrated applications including tax preparation, payroll processing, client accounting, document management and more.

GetNetSet, LLC (GNS) specializes in providing web sites for accounting and tax firms. Unlike many of the other solutions reviewed, GNS does not directly integrate with tax and accounting software. While that may sound like a negative, it actually can be a positive attribute in that they have built their system generically to work with other systems. GNS offers a very comprehensive website development feature set.

Building on CPAs’ long-standing commitment to provide high-quality services that protect the public, the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) has issued a discussion paper for all stakeholders in the audit process of private entities. The discussion paper summarizes the Institute’s multi-faceted effort that is designed to help auditors excel in a fast changing and complex business environment.

Mark K. Rich, CPA, the director of investments for the Kimbell Art Foundation, has been selected by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) as the 2014 winner of the Maximo Mukelabai Award. Rich was honored for his work with the Fort Worth chapter of the Texas Society of CPAs (TSCPA) and his service to his local community.