With continued staffing challenges across the industry, accounting firm efficiency has taken center stage as a strategy for increasing growth and improving client service. An integrated software platform smooths workflow gaps and offers automation opportunities that can help firms get more work done. And by eliminating redundant steps and reducing data entry, firms can focus on providing high-value expertise.
As the owner of a boutique professional accounting firm, Randall Sansom strives to provide top-notch client service. To provide the service his clients expect, he has implemented an integrated CCH Axcess Tax workflow. The efficiency the firm has realized as a result has saved hours of time and improved work/life balance for staff.Tax & AccountingAugust 15, 2023
Case study: How integrated workflows increase accounting firm efficiency
Reduce data entry and maximize expertise
One way Sansom has improved efficiency is by shifting work from the firm’s professional preparers to the administrative staff. He says, “Then I'm using my preparers for the true technical side, using their expertise of being a tax preparer, and not having to do all the administrative work... The work papers are all set up for them. They love it. Because once they get a return, they can start actually doing the work versus having to get ready to do the work.”
For individual tax returns, the firm’s administrative staff scans in client documents with CCH ProSystem fx Scan and then uses AutoFlow technology to send the data into the return. The preparers and reviewers work in CCH Axcess Tax but also benefit from integrated time capture with CCH Axcess Practice and integrated project tracking with CCH Axcess Workstream. Then, the administrative staff prints the return, and final review, e-signatures and e-filing all happen electronically in one integrated process. Throughout the whole process, Sansom is able to answer client questions from anywhere.
I’ve always felt that technology, if used correctly, can help you be more productive, and also have less staff and actually provide better services for your clients.
Save time on every return
Since implementing CCH Axcess, Sansom’s staff can complete more work, with fewer people. In addition to shifting work from professional to administrative staff, the administrators are also saving time, with configurable printing features and integrated billing and invoicing.
According to Sansom, “With the entire array of products that we have… we're saving between an hour and two hours on the tax preparer side of things that an admin person is able to do. And it's cutdown on my admin time, at least, you know, 45 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on the size of the return... When I started this eight years ago, we're doing double the amount of returns with less staff, which is amazing.”
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Integration with CCH AnswerConnect
As an expert solution, CCH Axcess Tax integrates with CCH AnswerConnect to provide convenient access to tax research. CCH AnswerConnect content helps professionals find the answers they need from within the tax return. It also integrates with Google to provide the search experience that professionals expect.
Sansom explains, “I mean, you can be anywhere in the tax return, and poof, you can get your answer. Right then and there from that particular worksheet that you're on with that particular line, you can get an answer, get instructions; there's all sorts of things that you've got.”
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