2008 Interactive Webcast Series from The CPA Technology Advisor and The NSA Technology Advisor

The CPA Technology Advisor and The NSA Technology Advisor present the 2008 Interactive Webcast Series. These FREE online seminars, also known as Webcasts or Webinars, are a continuation of the magazines' mission to provide unbiased, independent information on technologies available to practicing public accountants and tax professionals. Participants have the opportunity to ask a panel of experts questions on the respective topics and take part in live polls throughout the webcast presentations. The sessions enable small firms to bring the most respected accounting technology mentors into their practices for free! If a webcast is listed as qualifying for CPE credit, please note that such credit is only available to attendees of live webcasts, not to viewers of the archived versions of the programs.

Upcoming Webcasts

The Digital Accounting Office

July 8, 2008

Earn 2 hours of CPE Credit for this live event

Join Executive Editor Greg LaFollette and industry expert Dr. Bob Spencer as they discuss the digital accounting office. Greg will lead Dr. Bob through his observations of various tax and accounting firms� "journey to paperless" with special emphasis on the main obstacles to success � overcoming FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt)! The session will include tips, tricks and techniques on identifying project champions, consensus building, process identification, scope definition, documentation, software and hardware selection, and implementation scheduling. We will also cover the many "add-on" benefits flowing from the digital environment, such as client portals, remote access, added security, disaster preparedness, etc.

Empowering Small Firm Productivity

A Look at How Small Firms Can Reap the Benefits of Technology

July 29, 2008

Earn 1 hour of CPE Credit for this live event

Learn How To:

Use technology to improve client management
Understand staffing through software
Go beyond spreadsheets for managing workload

Empowering The Audit Process Through Technology

How Leading Auditors Employ Technology to Meet New Standards

August 6, 2008

Earn 1 hour of CPE Credit for this live event

Learn how professional state-of-the-art engagement systems and tools will help your auditors to:

Apply new technologies to risk-based audits
Ensure compliance with new auditing standards
Leverage time-savings using integrated tools
Standardize and organize your audit process
Efficiently control the logistics of fieldwork
Collaborate using anywhere-anytime technology

Archived Webcasts

NOTE: CPE credit is only given for watching and participating in LIVE online webcasts. CPE credit will not be given for watching any archived webcast.

Automating Tax Preparation

A Look at How OCR Can Open the Door to Efficiency

June 24, 2008

Watch the Archived Webcast | Download Materials

Join Greg and David as they discuss the evolution of Optical Character Recognition and the role it plays in a tax and accounting firm.

You�ll learn how:

OCR has improved and matured
Workflow can be adapted for better efficiency
Admin staff can be better utilized
Time requirements can be reduced for professional staff

It�s Not Just About Paperless Anymore�

How top-performing firms deploy state-of-the-art technology for document management

June 19, 2008

Watch the Archived Webcast | Download Materials

Learn how a web-based document management and workflow solution will enable you to:

Have anytime-anywhere access to documents and files
Standardize and organize volumes of documents
Efficiently share, route and review files
Gain better control over client engagements
Ensure safety and integrity of documents and files
Provide better and faster service to your clients

Integration & Reporting

Approaches in QuickBooks and Dynamics GP: Session 2

June 4, 2008

Watch the Archived Webcast | Download Materials

Learning Objectives

Word and Excel Integration
Grouping, Consolidations CRM and Workflow
Understanding the Costs of QuickBooks and Dynamics
Deep Functionality

What to do when your client has outgrown QuickBooks:

Session 1

May 28, 2008

Watch the Archived Webcast | Download Materials

Learning Objectives

Understanding the Product Lines of Intuit and Microsoft
Client characteristics: When to choose QuickBooks or Dynamics
Internal Control Issues
Inventory and Warehousing
International issues

Work Smarter, Not Harder: A Look at How Technology Can Bring Effective Time Management to Small Firms; May 20, 2008; Watch the Archived Webcast | Download Materials; Join Executive Editor Greg LaFollette and Fred Lindsley as they discuss how technology has enabled small firms to attain the same time management benefits that larger firms have been realizing for years. We�ll identify and examine some of the biggest time wasters in small firms, and we�ll explore some of the steps that can make you more productive and profitable. You�ll learn how to work smarter and not harder by utilizing technology to manage tasks and deadlines within your firm through effective tracking, scheduling and due-date monitoring.

Scanning Tax Documents

Best Practices and Lessons Learned from the 2007 Tax Season

May 15, 2008

Watch the Archived Webcast | Download Materials

Learn about the best practices that tax professionals used to improve productivity this tax season with the results of a new industry survey.
Learn how firms used tax document automation to organize client data and prepare 1040s faster.
Hear case studies from the 2007 tax season with firms that took the first steps to a paperless workflow by scanning source documents.

Optimal Production Workflow

Discover what workflow can really mean for your firm

May 8, 2008

Watch the Archived Webcast | Download Materials

Workflow often means different things to different firms. And while we all may agree that its purpose is to simplify and streamline processes, we�re still left wondering what it is exactly, what approach is best, where it belongs, how to buy it, and most importantly, how to implement it!

Join Executive Editor Greg LaFollette as he and Randy Johnston examine all aspects of the mystery of workflow. They�ll discuss tax document automation, the emergence of "dashboards," exception alerts, data integration, tracking systems and describe how jobs travel digitally through today�s high-performing firms.

Cash Flow - the Lifeblood of America's Small Businesses

How to Manage Through Times of Economic Uncertainty

February 14, 2008

Watch the Archived Webcast | Download Materials

To review cash management strategies and discuss specific methods through which small business owners can more effectively manage through uncertain economic times.

Small business overview
Learning to keep cash on hand
How to measure cash
The causes of cash flow problems
Cash flow decisions for Growth
How to plan for growth

Are your clients using the best software for their business needs?

How To Know If Your Clients Have Outgrown Their Current Accounting Product

December 19, 2007

Watch the Archived Webcast | Download Materials

People outgrow things all the time, and it's not always obvious.

Find out FIVE questions you need to ask your clients to see if they've outgrown their current accounting product.
And then learn the FIVE questions to ask your Microsoft partner (consultant/implementation professional) to make sure that they are the right person to work with your clients.

Are your clients using the best software for their business needs?

How To Answer Your Clients' Questions About Microsoft Office Accounting

December 13, 2007

Watch the Archived Webcast | Download Materials

With over 2 Million downloads of Microsoft Office Accounting this year, chances are your clients will have some questions for you.

Don't rely on what you already know about Microsoft Office Accounting.
Equip yourself with the most up-to-date information for 2008.
Be prepared to start the year off right and provide your clients with the best professional advice available.

Learn how to verify names and numbers with Social Security

December 4, 2007

Watch the Archived Webcast | Download Materials

ssa.gov/employer

Join Executive Editor Greg LaFollette as he visits with top SSA executive Chuck Liptz about the agency's efforts to assist the tax and accounting profession as practitioners work with their employer clients. We'll discuss the extensive tools available, review the current rules, and demonstrate how you can help your clients avoid problems by verifying their employees' names and Social Security numbers over the Internet with SSA.

Learn about the SSA's special site designed for CPAs, accountants and enrolled agents.

Learn how to verify employees' names and Social Security numbers over the Internet with SSA for free.
Learn how to file W-2s electronically with SSA.
Learn about W2 Online, SSA's free W-2 package designed for your small business clients.

Increase PROFITS This Tax Season With Automated Solutions for Organizing & Indexing Client Documents

Learn The 10 Questions To Ask When Considering Tax Document Automation

November 28, 2007

Watch the Archived Webcast | Download Materials

Attendees will also:

Learn how automated solutions for organizing and indexing client tax documents enable fast and accurate data entry - giving you increased productivity and profitability this tax season.
Learn how your peer firms view the business value of processing client tax documents through the results of an industry survey.
Learn about a guide that you can use to evaluate whether these solutions make sense for your firm and how to choose the best solution for your tax workflow - "Ten Questions to Ask When Considering Tax Document Automation."
Hear directly from the principal of one firm that used tax document automation to do more returns with less staff.

Emerging Technologies for Accounting Firms and Their Clients

A Look at 10 Hot Technologies for Accounting Firms & Their Clients

November 20, 2007

Watch the Archived Webcast | Download Materials

"Scan & Organize" & "Scan & Populate"
Microsoft Home Server
Virtualization
SANs (storage options)
Exchange Unified Messaging
iPhone, iTouch, iDon'tKnow
Virtual servers & storage
Social networking sites
Wi-Fi 802.11n, EVDO, WiMax, etc.
"MYSTERY TOPIC"

Move Your Firm One Step Closer to Paperless

November 13, 2007

Watch the Archived Webcast | Download Materials

Learn how optical character recognition (OCR) software can quickly transform paper documents into searchable PDFs, maximizing their value to you and your clients.
We will discuss OCR software as a cost and time-savings solution for the modern tax and accounting firm, and we will provide tips on how to best implement and utilize the technology.

Revenue Opportunities for Tax Preparers with Tax Planning:

How to Use Tax Planning to Boost Profits and Delight Clients

November 1, 2007

Watch the Archived Webcast | Download Materials

Learn 10 Important Things about the World of Tax Planning

How to Identify Planning Opportunities in Your Client Base
How to Get Past the Urgent to Find Time for the Important
Use Your Tax Compliance Projection Worksheet to �Tease� Your Clients
How to Delegate Preliminary Planning to Junior Staff
Why Multi-Year and Multi-Scenario Plans Are So Valuable
How to Structure the Planning Interview Meeting - why it�s NOT part of the compliance interview
How to Charge for Planning � Different Strokes for Different Folks
How to Build Recurring Planning Engagements
How to Structure the �Every Third Year� Plan
Products to Consider � Is Your Suite-based Product Good Enough or Should You Move to Best-of-Breed

Practice Management/Time & Billing

Have you really looked at these products lately?

October 4, 2007

Watch the Archived Webcast | Download Materials

A precious few short years ago, most tax and accounting practices were managed via the venerable "time and billing" software package. It generally tracked time by staff and client and, if you were lucky, even engagement and activity. Its highest function was to send bills and track receivables. Times have changed and foresighted firms are now enjoying the benefits of true "practice management" software. This new genre� is revolutionizing practices everywhere, and high-performing firms are flocking to adopt such products. Join us as we discuss this new tool � what it does and how smart practitioners are using it to make more money in less time.

Technology's Impact on Client Communications:

A close look at what portals mean to your practice

September 18, 2007

Watch the Archived Webcast

Portals – a strategic advantage!

Learn how portals will:

Improve and expand client services
Secure data and communications
Aggregate client financial data
Improve workflow and processes
Offer 24/7 service and convenience
Eliminate geographic barriers

Practical and Proven Solutions for Tax Workflow

With Pricing and Functionality to Fit Any Size Firm

August 29, 2007

Watch the Archived Webcast | Download Materials

SCAN > ACROBAT > WORKFLOW > DISTRIBUTION

Learn the secrets to superior tax workflow and hear how today’s solutions can have immediate impact on your firm’s productivity and profitability!

E-Marketing as a business development tool (Discover the power of e-newsletters)

August 2, 2007

Watch the Archived Webcast

Discover the power of using the Internet & technology to deliver personalized communications that provide immediate measurable and trackable results

See how hundreds of professional service firms are using e-marketing tools to:

Increase Lead Generation
Improve Cross-Selling
Enhance Branding & Communication

Trends in Electronic Transactions

Tools and technology to help you and your clients improve the bottom line

July 17, 2007

Watch the Archived Webcast | Download Materials

Tools and Technology to help you and your clients improve the bottom line.

Learn why many accounting professionals are focusing on two critical areas of the treasury management function: cash management & risk management.

Key topics include:

Trends to watch that will impact your practice and your clients
Tools to protect against market, credit, operational and liquidity risks
Technologies to streamline cash flow, speed collections and improve reporting capabilities

Technology's Impact on Workflow in the Accounting Firm

June 14, 2007

Watch the Archived Webcast | Download Materials

Technology tools are providing unparalleled productivity in forward-thinking accounting firms across America. Join us as we examine what happens when �due date monitoring� grows up, �time and billing� finally matures into the long promised �practice management� and bar-coding, OCR, and high-quality scanners join forces. The results will amaze and delight you and will most definitely impact your bottom line.

The Mobile Professional

How Local Accounting & Tax Firms are Leveraging Smartphone Technology

May 8, 2007 -- Earn 1 Hour of Free CPE During the LIVE Webcast

Watch the Archived Webcast

How Local Accounting & Tax Firms are Leveraging Smartphone Technology to:

Improve Client Satisfaction
Enhance Productivity
Recruit and Retain Staff
Sharpen Their Competitive Edge

Plus: The Smartphone Buying Guide... in new research conducted by Bay Street Group LLC, sponsored by BlackBerry

Join Executive Editor Gregory L. LaFollette, CPA.CITP, as he talks with Rick Telberg and Lyndon Burrell about how smartphones increase personal productivity, improve client service and satisfaction, increase billable hours, improve coordination with colleagues, and enhance work/life balance.

Document Management vs Document Storage: April 26, 2007; Watch the Archived Webcast; There are many document management solutions available for practicing accountants, but determining which one is the right one isn't always easy for a busy practitioner. Join two of the leading accounting tech gurus as they discuss the differences between Document Management and Document Storage, and how to get the most out of your system. Executive Editor Gregory L. LaFollette, CPA.CITP will be joined by John H. Higgins, CPA.CITP for this webcast.

Valuable Tools for You and Your Construction Clients

December 19, 2006 -- 2:00 pm EDT

Watch the Archived Webcast

Automating SOP81-1 processes can promote quality and consistency with your Audits and Reviews.

Topics included in this webcast include:

* Employing a mechanical process approach with your clients' in-house accounting processes can promote consistency and thoroughness with your audit and review clients.
* Use a mechanical process to facilitate the educational process that should take place for your clients to consistently produce quality in-house financial statements.
* See an illustration of how the full summary of contracts process can be automated in a way that automatically ties into the income statement.
* See how accrued wages, over/under billing and depreciation entries can be automated, and how the over/under allocation of indirect costs can automatically reflect on the income statement with no manual entries.
* Achieve a direct correlation between the accounting and bidding processes.

Resell, Recommend or REFUSE: The Choice is Up to You: December 12, 2006; Watch the Archived Webcast; Your small business clients want and need information on how to take advantage of the technology tools that are available to make them more successful and streamline their business processes.

Join Executive Editor Gregory L. LaFollette, CPA.CITP, as he visits with real practitioners and small business specialists from Microsoft about programs that are available to educate and assist you, whether you choose to become a reseller or an informed and educated recommender (of course, you could always refuse to help your clients in this area, but they WILL find someone to help them). Learn how to be the hero in the eyes of your clients (there are some FREE online tools available that you probably didn't even know existed).

Disaster Recovery: An Accountant's True Life Story of Katrina's Devastating Effect: November 28, 2006; Watch the Archived Webcast; Join Executive Editor Gregory L. LaFollette, CPA.CITP, as he discusses the real-life events that occurred when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans and hear how one firm and its staff endured the storm and how the practice handled the strains of a prolonged closure and what they did to get back on track.

Emerging Technologies for Accountants & Their Clients

November 14, 2006

Watch the Archived Webcast

What's working? Where? How is it helping accountants? What's next?

Join Executive Editor Gregory L. LaFollette, CPA.CITP, Randy Johnston, executive vice president and partner of K2 Enterprises, and Brent Goodfellow, CPA.CITP, MCSA, MCSE, MST, MCT. These three gurus of technology for practicing accountants will discuss what they've seen at countless tradeshows, conferences and in-office firm visits. There are no prerequisite or advanced preparations required for this basic program. Live attendees are eligible for 2 hours of CPE credit and attendees will be entered into a FREE DRAWING to receive a 19” Dual Screen Monitor from DoubleSight Displays.

How Technology is Helping Accountants SEE The Future

October 24, 2006

Watch the Archived Webcast

The Advantages of Optical Character Recognition

Join Executive Editor Gregory L. LaFollette, CPA.CITP and guest presenter David Wyle, CPA, President & CEO of SurePrep, a provider of tax preparation services and software. The two will discuss how optical character recognition (OCR) is the next technology that will bring real productivity gains to the accounting space. Learn how it will enhance your paperless process!

How to Know When it's Time to Change Software

Earn 2 Hours of Free CPE!

September 21, 2006

Watch the Archived Webcast

Join Executive Editor Gregory L. LaFollette, CPA.CITP and Randy Johnston, exevutive vice president and partner of K2 Enterprises, as they discuss the changing landscape of the software industry for both in-firm products (tax prep, practice management, etc) and external products (client-based). They will examine specific items to evaluate and consider when you're contemplating a change in your own firm or assisting clients with a transition in the software applications that help them run their businesses. Software changes are traditionally thought of as burdensome and time-consuming, and many firms and businesses will avoid them even when a change will result in better productivity and more profitability. Find out how you can make the process less painful for you and for your clients.

Save Them Money Save Them Time: Automate Your Clients' Accounts Payable; Sept. 12, 2006; Watch the Archived Webcast; Automated invoice processing helps you and your business clients reduce cycle times and combat rising supplier costs. Learn how you and your clients can streamline the A/P process with integrated systems to drive efficiency and manage spending by attending this informational, educational webcast.

The Move to Engagement-Based Software:

True-Life Stories from Real Practitioners

June 20, 2006

Watch the Archived Webcast

In the late 1980s, our profession began the move to electronic trial balances - ACE *now GoAudit), ATB, Pre-Audit and dozens of other programs sprung up and accountants everywhere began to realize the time savings provided by computerization. Now, 25+ years later, we're beginning another transformation. Today, engagement software is changing the way accountants work, and the change is every bit as fundamental as the one from pencil to computer. Smart firms have implemented engagement-based programs and achieve huge time savings while increasing accuracy and professional satisfaction. Other firms, especially those that didn't adequately plan and train, are mired in budget over-runs and disillusioned staff.

Join us as we discuss the opportunities and pitfalls with real practitioners. We'll discuss planning, implementation, monitoring, how to deal with staff who seem unwilling to change, and how to create "Process Champioins." We'll compare notes regarding the leading products in the field and have plenty of time for questions.

Congratulations to San Francisco CPA Mary Lamb, the winner of a 19” Dual Screen Monitor from DoubleSight Displays!

The Future of Tax Preparation is Here: June 15, 2006; Watch the Archived Webcast; Join Executive Editor Greg LaFollette as he talks with industry thought leader Dave Wyle about the evolution of tax preparation processes and these new dimensions available to tax professionals.

Document Management 101:: How to Get to the Paperless Office; April 25, 2006; Watch the Archived Webcast; Executive Editor Greg LaFollette, CPA.CITP, and John Higgins, CPA.CITP take a look at the life cycle of a document in various systems in regards to how it flows in and out of the system and integrates with the accountants’ workflow. They evaluate the following areas in relation to document management systems available for your accounting firm:

The Great American Payroll Opportunity - Part II

Digging Deeper into the Profitability of Payroll Services

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Watch the Archived Webcast

Executive Editor Greg LaFollette, CPA.CITP, explores the possibilities for increasing revenue in a professional practice and how client service can be enhanced through payroll. He was joined by special guest Anu Sanghvi from PayCycle, Inc. Ms. Sanghvi has 9 years of payroll industry experience and will share some very interesting statistics regarding payroll and the accounting profession, as well as tips on how to make client payroll easy and automated, and how to grow a client base through payroll services.

There are no prerequisite or advanced preparations required for this basic program. Live attendees are eligible for 1 hour of CPE credit.

Emerging Technologies for Accounting Firms

What's here, what's coming and what's profitable!

November 29, 2005

Watch the Archived Webcast

Executive Editor, Greg LaFollette, CPA.CITP, and some of the profession’s most respected thought leaders hold a round table discussion about the technologies that will affect the future of how you practice. The discussion focuses on technologies that are emerging on the horizon for CPAs and how you can implement them into your practice to increase your productivity and profitability. Panelists discuss payroll, portals, web services, integrated tools, etc, in a highly enlightening session.

Greg and the panelists agreed to have their contact information displayed.

Greg LaFollette, CPA.CITP
Executive Editor, The CPA Technology Advisor
Greg.LaFollette@cygnuspub.com
www.TheTechGap.com | 605-977-4823
Teresa Mackintosh
VP Marketing, Thomson Creative Solutions
teresa.mackintosh@thomson.com

Catherine Wolfe
VP Tax & Accounting Publishing, CCH Tax & Accounting
catherine.wolfe@wolterskluwer.com

Dr. Chandra Bhansali
Founder, CEO AccountantsWorld
cbhansali@accountantsworld.com

eNewsletters

Subscribe to RSS Feeds