Case study: Automating the digital tax workflow for enhanced client experience

Integrated engagements

When it comes to business returns, integrated software provides more than just faster data entry. As client needs get more complex, the firm’s tech stack needs to scale up. “So our business tax workflow,” says Zarzycki, “everything kind of centers around Engagement, and we use CCH ProSystem fx Fixed Assets software as well. So that integrates right into CCH Axcess Tax. So that works great.”

She continues, “When we're done with preparing and reviewing a tax return, we print it right to Engagement, so it's in there. So everything's kind of all integrated, and works in a good flow.”

Proactive client service

The technology and processes The Bonadio Group has put into action make the firm more efficient, but even more importantly, it helps staff focus on providing value to the firm’s clients. The technology eliminates some of the more repetitive and low-value tasks that the firm typically would have junior employees work on.

According to Zarzycki, “I think technology is helping a lot with staffing. The more we can automate, [we can] do things to take off of some of our lower level staff, or even our reviewers to give them a better experience to be able to interact more with our clients. [They can] do things that humans can do and that automation can't.”

She goes on to explain how the technology can add value for clients, saying, “I think it's giving us more time by automating some of the tasks that we can, that are just repetitive data entry and don't really need a whole lot of thought process. It gives us a better experience to be advisors for our clients...”

Streamlined, end-to-end processes

For individual tax returns, firms can achieve huge efficiency gains by automating data entry. Zarzycki explains, “With our individual tax workflow, we really have a streamlined process. We start with the Scan and AutoFlow system that we use to get everything into our tax return…”

For more complex clients, additional document management and workflow solutions may be helpful to keep track of more complex needs. Zarzycki says, “We use Document to keep track of all our work papers. For a lot of our bigger individual [returns], we actually put them in the Engagement system, just for tracking lots and lots of K-1s and different things. A lot of our partners like to use Engagement as well for that purpose, and just kind of go right through to the end with giving the delivery of the product to the client.”