Isaac M. O'Bannon is the managing editor and digital content manager for CPA Practice Advisor (www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com), drawing on two decades of experience covering the areas of professional accounting, taxation, business productivity and consumer technologies. Prior to CPA Practice Advisor, O'Bannon was a consultant at firms in San Francisco, Denver and Tulsa, serving clients that included Logitech, Polycom, Hilti, Microsoft, the Stanford Research Institute, the University of Oklahoma's College of Engineering and other technology leaders. He is a U.S. Navy veteran. Email: isaac.obannon - @ - cpapracticeadvisor.com
November 9, 2010
There are hundreds of thousands of iPhone apps on the market, including many for financial management. But the new iDonatedIt app (www.iDonatedIt.com) was created by CPAs to help their clients, or anybody else, keep track of non-cash charitable deductions. Created by BMG CPAs (www.bmgcpas.com), a Lincoln, Nebraska-based practice, the iDonatedIt app includes calculation and reporting...…
November 8, 2010
LAS VEGAS – The winners of this year’s Awesome QuickBooks Add-Ons were announced today at the 2010 Accounting Solutions Conference, recognizing technologies that can be added to, or used alongside, QuickBooks to provide additional features and capabilities for the millions of small and mid-sized companies that rely on the world’s leading business accounting system. The...…
November 4, 2010
Did you hear about the CPA who went into comedy? It’s no joke… the next great stand-up comedian just might be a professional accountant. Sage Accountants Network is serving as the evening sponsor of Accountants One’s 6th Annual Search for the South’s Funniest Accountant, which culminates tonight at 8 p.m. at the CW Midtown’s Center...…
October 26, 2010
A new survey of small business owners from ADP show that despite concern about ongoing economic challenges, 52% of small businesses nationally expect to grow over the coming 12 months. Another 35% of small businesses anticipate their business volumes will remain the same.
October 11, 2010
What do graphic designers, public relations professionals and forensic accountants have in common? They all made the top of a list of fun jobs, as compiled by Yahoo’s Education Staff. Although the heyday of crime-based television shows may be a couple of years behind us, many still find the role of a sleuth to be...…
September 29, 2010
As part of the new IRS preparer registration initiative, the IRS has announced that preparers at CPA firms will also be required to obtain a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). The IRS had initially considered exempting CPA practices from the requirement. Under the new registration system, all persons receiving payment for preparing all or substantially...…
September 3, 2010
About five years ago, Intuit was the first professional tax software developer to develop and market an integrated “scan and populate” system. There are several on the market today, but they introduced it to the mainstream of tax and accounting practices, allowing staff to scan in client source documents like W-2s, 1099s and 1098s. The...…
August 20, 2010
As a technology information source, here at the CPA Tech Views blog and at the The CPA Technology Advisor we generally focus on how technologies can aid in streamlining workflow in professional practices or even enhance client relationships. The point is often made that effective implementation and adaption is key: In other words, how the...…
July 23, 2010
What do you think of payroll? Does your firm consider payroll services as a significant component of your offerings? For professional accounting firms, payroll services have been somewhat of a roller coaster ride over the past couple of decades, and many firms are eagerly diving back into the client service. Why? Because this core need...…
July 7, 2010
Looking for some guidance in getting your clients to use web-based programs- and finding the best ones out there? The Sleeter Group is offering a seminar at several cities across the country (Starting in the Bay Area on July 20) specifically geared toward helping accounting firms find the best technologies, how to implement them, security...…
June 29, 2010
The nomination period for The CPA Technology Advisor’s 40 Under 40 recognitions is nearing its end. Be sure to nominate a colleague or even yourself, if you are a technologically savvy professional in the accounting space or are a vendor serving the profession. Honorees do not have to possess any credential, but should be directly...…
June 25, 2010
Technology and business experts have long been proclaiming the benefits of “the cloud” – getting business online can help with productivity and efficiency, and also help control costs. From the professional accountant’s perspective, having clients that use web-based programs and collaboration tools can also greatly streamline in-firm workflow processes and help the practice be more...…
