Saturday 28 February 2015

5 Technology Innovations Supporting Outsourced...

Full time accounting jobs are disappearing in the mid-market. Get your #consultant hat on!

5 Technology Innovations Supporting Outsourced...

Posted byDennis Najjar on Fri, Feb 20, 02015 Effectively outsourcing bookkeeping requires a significant amount of transitioning to electronic and cloud-based systems. If you've been heavily reliant on paper reporting, hand-keyed entry and snail mail invoicing, making the transition to outsourced bookkeeping will change all of this. In part because it is simply more effective to automate your accounting systems and also because engaging with an outsourced provider is a fundamental part of improving business processes, embracing accounting technology is an important step. Rest assured however, that technological innovations across the board have gone to great lengths to support outsourced bookkeeping. 1. Expense Tracking Apps Whether...Read More
accountantvip

9 New Features in @QuickBooks Enterprise 15

@QuickBooksCA is moving up. Better inventory, sales orders and #accounting reports. Yay!

9 New Features in @QuickBooks Enterprise 15

QuickBooks® Enterprise 15 now offers a bevy of new features, creating a simpler, more convenient and more effective way for customers to operate. Here are nine of those new features: Disallow Negative ... [Read More…]
accountantvip

Friday 27 February 2015

Eliminate M.E.S.S. - Energized Accounting

Columns that don't add. Totals that don't carry forward. Blank cells in spreadsheets. Why?

Eliminate M.E.S.S. - Energized Accounting

Home›Accounting Software›Software›Eliminate M.E.S.S. Eliminate M.E.S.S. Posted on May 17, 2007 by Bill Kennedy—2 Comments ↓ M.E.S.S. stands for Manually Entered SpreadSheets. Don’t get me wrong. I was raised on spreadsheets: first Visicalc, then Lotus 123, finally Excel. They are a second language to me. But when I see people pecking away entering raw data in them, I have to wonder why they can’t get it from their accounting system. Ideally, their time should be spent analyzing their data, not keying it in. Why does M.E.S.S. happen?A lack of trust in the accounting system, particularly when someone was not in favour of the change to begin with. Early in my career, a mining client converted their accounting system. The Accounts...Read More
accountantvip

Thursday 26 February 2015

ProFile® Support For Accounting Solutions '...

If you use ProFile for #CRA #tax filings, you should know about this site.

ProFile® Support For Accounting Solutions '...

Visit ProFile Support site to view Trending topics, How-to Videos, and Resources to help you stay current and save time this tax season
accountantvip

Wednesday 25 February 2015

“Intuit Accountant Council – It’s Your Time....

#Accountants don't tend to speak up. If you want a better @QuickBooksCA, sign up!

“Intuit Accountant Council – It’s Your Time....

Intuit® is currently seeking applicants to participate in the Accountant Council for open positions this summer. The Accountant Council is a forum that solicits the voice of accountants and consultants on ... [Read More…]
accountantvip

How I Moved my Clients to @QuickBooks Online -...

Practical advice from @jazfun about moving #accounting clients to the #cloud

How I Moved my Clients to @QuickBooks Online -...

Cloud, Cloud, Cloud. The term is floating around in every article we read and being stated from every corner in our industry. At first, it was a whisper, but has ... [Read More…]
accountantvip

Tuesday 24 February 2015

What makes us feel good about our work?

What makes your #accounting team feel good about their work? Hint: it's not just the money

What makes us feel good about our work?

What makes us feel good about our work? 3,544,946 What makes us feel good about our work? What motivates us to work? Contrary to conventional wisdom, it isn't just money. But it's not exactly joy either. It seems that most of us thrive by making constant progress and feeling a sense of purpose. Behavioral economist Dan Ariely presents two eye-opening experiments that reveal our unexpected and nuanced attitudes toward meaning in our work. (Filmed at TEDxRiodelaPlata.) It's become increasingly obvious that the dismal science of economics is not as firmly grounded in actual behavior as was once supposed. In "Predictably Irrational," Dan Ariely tells us why. This talk was presented to a local audience at TEDxRiodelaPlata, an independent...Read More
accountantvip

How to Offer Criticism that Employees Will Welcome

This is about employees, but sometimes you have to criticize clients (diplomatically)

How to Offer Criticism that Employees Will Welcome

Managers often hate delivering criticism, so performance problems may continue to grow. But there is a way for managers to deliver criticism that employees not only welcome, but helps them be more productive and engaged. If you Google “performance review … Read »
accountantvip

Monday 23 February 2015

Who Is In Charge of Value? @RonaldBaker weighs in

Whether or not you do fixed pricing, you should have someone else check what you charge!

Who Is In Charge of Value? @RonaldBaker weighs in

I have had the privilege of posing this question—Who’s in charge of value in your organization?—to thousands of leaders around the world. I’m usually met with a momentary staring ovation, ... [Read More…]
accountantvip

How Introverts and Extroverts Can Live in...

How Introverts and Extroverts Can Live in Harmony at Work - an issue for some #Accountants

How Introverts and Extroverts Can Live in...

Most work groups will have a mix of introverts and extroverts in them, and their differing work styles can cause conflict or frustration if not managed well. Extroverts, after all, tend to engage in more social interaction at work, and … Read »
accountantvip

Sunday 22 February 2015

The Top 5 Expense Management Challenges for SMBs

Yup, #management is about #cost control. Not the most exciting part but you gotta do it.

The Top 5 Expense Management Challenges for SMBs

Posted byDennis Najjar on Fri, Feb 13, 02015 Businesses can’t operate efficiently if they don’t know how their budgets are being spent. Often, however, companies don’t maintain effective policies and procedures to ensure accurate reporting of expenses. In some cases, expense padding and outright fraud are the culprits. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the typical American company loses 5 percent of annual revenue due to fraud, and 15 percent of that is from fraudulent expense reporting. Most expense management (EM) problems are the result of ineffective policies and procedures. Identifying where policies are deficient and addressing these problems can solve the majority of expense management issues. Following...Read More
accountantvip

Running a Security Checkup

Practical #computer #security tips. #Accountants are experts in this, right?

Running a Security Checkup

The new year is officially underway, and a lot of consumers use this time to make a fresh start. For most people, that means making healthier choices or being smarter ... [Read More…]
accountantvip

Saturday 21 February 2015

How to Talk to Your Angriest Customers by...

When a client complains, thank them. They are giving you the chance to make it better.

How to Talk to Your Angriest Customers by...


accountantvip

. @QuickBooks Online Update for February 2015

Who gets excited by #accounting #software #upgrade? I do!

. @QuickBooks Online Update for February 2015

QuickBooks Online has just released a new update, which includes a mix of earth shattering tweaks and fixes. Well… not earth shattering, but who doesn’t get excited by the ability to sort rows in new ways or to be able to tab across fields? The Tweaks The tweaks include the ability to see the number […] The post QuickBooks Online Update for February 2015 appeared first on QuickBooks and Beyond .
accountantvip

3 Things to Stop Doing to Boost Productivity On...

Team input, meetings and email. I already know this, but productivity reminders are good.

3 Things to Stop Doing to Boost Productivity On...

All the productivity hacks in the world won’t matter if your team is operating in ways that at their core are inefficient. Here are three things to stop doing today in order to boost your team’s productivity. 1. Stop making … Read »
accountantvip

Friday 20 February 2015

4 Key Principles to Keep on Track & Sustain...

As exciting as #Accounting is, it can still be hard to maintain focus and keep on track.

4 Key Principles to Keep on Track & Sustain...

Career Consultant, Editor and Career Savvy Fed Blogger Do you aspire to earn more than your current salary? It can be easier than you think. Share your wisdom in a course. Jake Ducey's new book, Purpose Principles, is chock-full of examples of high achievers who persisted despite overwhelming tough odds. Three successful leaders in business are modeling the idea that being generous is a valuable goal in itself. January 16, 2015 For most entrepreneurs, coming up with a brilliant, executable idea is easy. The hard part is staying focused on it long enough to actually see it through to fruition. Sound familiar? That’s why the power of focus is so crucial. I like the definition I heard podcaster John Lee Dumas of Entrepreneur on Fire give,...Read More
accountantvip

Thursday 19 February 2015

. @QuickBooks Online For Dummies Cheat Sheet

For all my QuickBooks friends, a cheat sheet

. @QuickBooks Online For Dummies Cheat Sheet

You can make the most of your work in QuickBooks Online (QBO) and QuickBooks Online Accountant (QBOA) using handy and time-saving shortcuts and tool buttons. Using QBO keyboard shortcuts means you can seamlessly access various windows and pages without touching a mouse. The various icons at the top of the QBO page help you quickly search for items, create new items or display transactions. Keyboard shortcuts can help you save time in QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Online Accountant. By using keyboard shortcuts, you can keep your hands on the keyboard when you enter information. Mac users, substitute Option for Alt in the tables that follow:ToPressOpen the Check windowCtrl+Alt+WOpen the Expense windowCtrl+Alt+XOpen the Estimate...Read More
accountantvip

Wednesday 18 February 2015

2015 Review of Intuit QuickBooks Online Accountant

CPA Practice Advisor's take on @QuickBooks Online #Accountant version

2015 Review of Intuit QuickBooks Online Accountant

by Isaac M. O'Bannon, Editor On Feb 13, 2015 Last year, Intuit launched a newly-redesigned online collaborative accounting system designed for accounting professionals who serve small businesses that use QuickBooks. The company has, of course, offered online versions of its traditional QuickBooks and QuickBooks Accountant versions for many years, but the redesigned version of QuickBooks Online Accountant is directly focused on the business-accounting firm relationship. The system includes several new collaboration features, reporting tools and mobile accessibility functions for both the small business and accounting firm users, as well as features designed specifically for managing multiple clients. Best Fit: Accounting firms with...Read More
accountantvip

Tuesday 17 February 2015

. @StacyKildal on importance of having a backup...

What do you do when your online system is offline? For whatever reason, it's gonna happen some time.

. @StacyKildal on importance of having a backup...

A few days ago, QuickBooks Online suffered a short term outage. Man oh MAN, you would have thought that the world was coming to an end, reading some of the comments online about this!
accountantvip

The 7 Most Effective Ways To Gather Customer...

This article has practical survey tips, but I like #7 the best - client conversations

The 7 Most Effective Ways To Gather Customer...

As a busy business owner, it’s important to collect client/customer feedback effectively so that you get quality results and make the best use of your time. You can use these ... [Read More…]
accountantvip

50 Accounting Blogs You Should Follow

Happy to be mentioned as a top #accounting blog - sometimes #13 can be lucky!

50 Accounting Blogs You Should Follow

Written by Scott Lynch on July 9, 2014 in Finance And Lending - 4 Comments Accounting is one of the most challenging aspects of running a business – heck, it’s one of the most challenging aspects of life. If you’re not a knowledgeable accountant, bookkeeping and financial management is likely one of the biggest hassles you encounter on a day-to-day basis. Business owners have more than just the tax man to worry about when it comes to finances. White-collar crime is a prevalent problem in society, with cases spanning every sector from not-for-profits to multi-national corporations. Corruption aside, there’s payroll, record-keeping, and ever-changing regulations and laws like the Affordable Care Act muddying the waters. In short,...Read More
accountantvip

Monday 16 February 2015

Intuit Loves Accountants - See how just how...

#IntuitLovesAccts It's true Got the t-shirt, also the free #accounting training + webinars

Intuit Loves Accountants - See how just how...

Accounting professionals are some of Intuit’s most important customers, and this Valentine’s Day season, we wanted to share our love for all of you. The team took a few minutes to record why we love coming to work and helping accounting professionals. Take a look! #IntuitLovesAccts
accountantvip

Saturday 14 February 2015

7 Ways to Keep Your Clients’ Tax Info Secure

7 Ways to Keep Your Clients’ #Tax Info Secure - good advice for #accountants

7 Ways to Keep Your Clients’ Tax Info Secure

Identity theft is a fact of life. Clients who are victimized by identity theft are likely to be on the lookout for unauthorized credit card charges or erosion of their ... [Read More…]
accountantvip

Friday 13 February 2015

. @QuickBooks Online Update for February 2015

Important news for #QuickBooks #bookkeepers #accountants - February updates

. @QuickBooks Online Update for February 2015

QuickBooks Online has just released a new update, which includes a mix of earth shattering tweaks and fixes. Well… not earth shattering, but who doesn’t get excited by the ability to sort rows in new ways or to be able to tab across fields? The Tweaks The tweaks include the ability to see the number […] The post QuickBooks Online Update for February 2015 appeared first on QuickBooks and Beyond .
accountantvip

10 Conversation Starters For Accounting Firms...

I'm an Isaac fan. He "gets" #accountants and our troubles starting convos @cpapracadvisor

10 Conversation Starters For Accounting Firms...

Isaac M. O'Bannon, Managing Editor On Feb 10, 2015 During tax season, some clients will be easy to get into your office, while others ... well, hopefully you'll get their financial information in time to file an extension. However, when it comes to the other nine months of the year, starting a conversation with clients or prospective clients isn't always as obvious or as easy. Although most accountants probably didn't get into the profession because they have the skill set of a car salesman, you can take note of what the most successful sales people have an innate knowledge of: To gain trust, sales people will ask open-ended questions to get people talking. After all, most people enjoy talking about themselves. Unfortunately, once the...Read More
accountantvip

Why Is The Dollar Sign A Letter S?

This could be a Just So story except that it's real-How the $ sign came to be-Good read

Why Is The Dollar Sign A Letter S?

Why Is The Dollar Sign A Letter S? The letter S appears nowhere in the word "dollar", yet an S with a line through it ($) is unmistakably the dollar sign. But why an S? Why isn't the dollar sign something like a Đ (like the former South Vietnamese đồng, or the totally-not-a-joke-currency Dogecoin)? There's a good story behind it, but here's a big hint: the dollar sign isn't a dollar sign. It's a peso sign.Bohemian Rhapsody Though the dollar and peso symbols are inextricably linked, the origin of the word "dollar" is rooted in elsewhere. Its story begins in 1500s Bohemia, a central European kingdom spanning most of today's Czech Republic. Central Europe had just become rich with silver. After centuries of sending its silver (and gold)...Read More
accountantvip

Wednesday 11 February 2015

Switch to cloud accounting, but for the right...

Go to the #cloud for #accounting, but with eyes open and hand on wallet!

Switch to cloud accounting, but for the right...

Google cloud accounting and you’ll likely get a list of articles, apps and consultants promising a better life with a switch to the cloud: save time, save money, make your business better – it’s essentially the best invention since the abacus. Are you switching to the cloud for the right reasons? The fact is a switch to the cloud isn’t always better. The automobile was faster than the bicycle but even today, not everybody needs a car. Sure cloud accounting has a variety of benefits and is in many cases a great solution – however, it’s only a great solution if you know what your problem is. Transitioning to cloud accounting software may mean additional resources from your team and higher costs in the short run as you learn and adjust to...Read More
accountantvip

Tuesday 10 February 2015

Budget Spreadsheets are Complex! - Energized...

Simplifying #Budget #Spreadsheets, not just for #Accountants, also #Entrepreneurs

Budget Spreadsheets are Complex! - Energized...

Even as a professional accountant, I find other people’s budget spreadsheet models complex and difficult to follow. This article is about simple steps that budget preparers can do to help other people understand how their spreadsheets interact with one another.…Read more ›
accountantvip

Monday 9 February 2015

. @HuffingtonPost - The Ultimate Routine For A...

In praise of little things in (work) life-who says an #accountant can't smell the daisies?

. @HuffingtonPost - The Ultimate Routine For A...

You might think the perfect workday includes a promotion or a raise, or perhaps your evil boss getting fired. Sadly, such monumental events don't happen very often. The good news is that there are plenty of little things you can do to improve both...Read More
accountantvip

Saturday 7 February 2015

Impact of @QuickBooks Online Accountant on Firms

Is now the time you take your #accounting practice online? Let's talk about the right apps

Impact of @QuickBooks Online Accountant on Firms

December 30, 2014 By M. Darren Root The prospect of a new year on the horizon often incites many of us to take stock of where we are on the path toward reaching our goals. If you are feeling weighed down by the choices you are making, it’s critical for you to make the commitment now to being intentional about your business and to exercise your power to choose to create the kind of firm you want. At Rootworks, our members are evolving their businesses to become Next Generation Accounting Firms™ (NGAF) and building businesses to support the lives they want. Using QuickBooks® Online Accountant (QBOA) as a key solution in your firm is clearly aligned with this model, enabling you to succeed as you progress through these steps: Future – The...Read More
accountantvip

Friday 6 February 2015

Accounts with Sub-Accounts - How to Fix In...

These guys have a great community. I love how he calls this issue "The Ugly Other".

Accounts with Sub-Accounts - How to Fix In...

schoolofbookkeeping.com - Bookkeeping and accounting training courses for bookkeepers, accountants, business owners and students.
accountantvip

Thursday 5 February 2015

. @QuickBooks Options for Mac Users

For all my creative friends who want something to take care of the paper!

. @QuickBooks Options for Mac Users

Using QuickBooks with a Mac has never been easier! Now Mac users have more options and can use any QuickBooks products #QBO #QuickBooks
accountantvip

If Only I had Known: Referral Relationships...

Murphy's law: for an #entrepreneur, it takes longer than expected, even with Murphy's law

If Only I had Known: Referral Relationships...

If only I had known ... that it would take so long to establish myself, that it would take so long to form relationships that resulted in referrals, that it would take so long for promotional strategies to gain traction. I did my homework. I didn't go out on my own until I had work to get me going. I had a plan. I had support. I was realistic, or at least I thought I was.
accountantvip

Here's a Crazy Idea: Let's Not Just Focus on...

I agree - it's not just profits, it's long term sustainable profits that add value

Here's a Crazy Idea: Let's Not Just Focus on...

Young professionals say business is too focused on a narrow agenda of profit and product, rather than on improving society by addressing the purpose and people of business.
accountantvip

Wednesday 4 February 2015

QuickBooks Connect Interview With @Intuit...

Interview with @QuickBooksCA head @Jeff_Cates1 by @JulietAurora -Cool (in a quiet Cdn way)

QuickBooks Connect Interview With @Intuit...

While I was at QuickBooks® Connect in October, I had the opportunity to meet and hear many of the global executives at Intuit. I also had the privilege to sit ... [Read More…]
accountantvip

Tuesday 3 February 2015

QBO VIP Event - Toronto Recap

Last Friday, @Intuit held a VIP event in #Toronto featuring @QuickBooks Online and 4 apps

QBO VIP Event - Toronto Recap

Intuit rocked the Trump Tower in Toronto on Friday. The day started with the classic story about the flash of insight that created Quicken and ended in the Cloud with success stories (and practical tips) from ProAdvisors who are already there. For me the best quote came from the audience. One attendee asked how long she should run parallel between Desktop and Online. Someone else yelled, "Not. One. Second!" It brought the house down. Other sessions included a Design4Delight experience around what features and other changes (e.g. a lot of talk around pricing) we want to see Online, and a demo of the new Profile workflow that lets Advisors check on client returns and answer questions from a mobile device. In addition to the ProAdvisors,...Read More
accountantvip

The Extraordinary Power of Visualizing Success...

I don't believe in the Secret, but I do visualize #business goals until I can "taste" them

The Extraordinary Power of Visualizing Success...

If you can't see yourself accomplishing your goals in your mind, chances are you probably won't.
accountantvip

Goodbye Timesheets … Hello Value Pricing!

Fixed (Value) Pricing vs. Time & Materials - which do you want as an #Accounting client?

Goodbye Timesheets … Hello Value Pricing!

This lucky Canuck spent a few days in Napa in late January … which was fabulous for a few reasons. I got to get away from the Canadian deep freeze ... [Read More…]
accountantvip

Monday 2 February 2015

Import PDF Bank Statements (or CSV/Excel) into...

A little time saver for people doing #QuickBooks bank statements

Import PDF Bank Statements (or CSV/Excel) into...


accountantvip