Modern CPA firms need modern software solutions, and cloud-based tax preparation software offers the flexibility firms need to keep up with evolving client and staff expectations. Firms that face staffing challenges or want to improve the client experience should evaluate their options with the future in mind.
While the status quo may be getting the job done today, innovation is what will keep firms successful in the long term.
Taylor CPAs & Associates switched to CCH Axcess Tax to simplify their server needs and accommodate virtual employees. But they also saw it as an opportunity to stay ahead of the competition.
According to Christopher Smith, “We saw where everything was going where you needed to be more virtual, you needed to get away from the server-based environments. We've got a couple of virtual employees now. And that was becoming an issue. You know, trying to use a remote server…”
“We don't want to be left behind,” he continues. “We know that that's the future. Even though we're not a first mover, we certainly don't want to be left behind.”
At The Bonadio Group, Debra Zarzycki’s team adopted multiple cloud-based solutions all at once, for a fully integrated digital tax workflow in the cloud. The firm wasn’t intimidated by the prospect of a cloud transformation.
“We moved to the cloud several years ago,” says Zarzycki. “Just because we knew that was the upcoming thing. That's where everything in the industry was moving to. So our firm just went all in, you know. I know people do it in pieces, but we just kind of ripped the Band Aid off and went in, figured out all the pain points and worked through it.”
She explains, “We've been on it now for about four years, and just have really understood how everything works easily. People can work anywhere, at any time. You just log in quickly and have access to everything you need. So that's kind of the main reasons we were ready to do it. We're ready to push ahead. We're ready to be that firm.”
Even before the pandemic, Tronconi Segarra & Associates wanted to offer remote work opportunities. The firm also had multiple offices they wanted to connect and technology-forward strategy that made them interested in the cloud.
Lisa Mrkall explains, “I think as soon as that option became available, we were all about it. We knew that remote working, and this was pre-pandemic, was definitely an ideal situation for us to move to the cloud for a variety of reasons. We have multiple offices, and multiple people working from all over. So this was a huge priority for us and a huge technology initiative.”
“We're very fortunate,” she continues, “to have partners that invest heavily in technology. When we demonstrated what benefits the cloud would bring to our firm, they were very much willing to invest in that. So I've been fortunate to be involved in a lot of these initiatives, and it's been really rewarding and enjoyable to be part of them. Just seeing what efficiencies they bring to the office and just easier, more usable work methods for everyone.”
Besides remote access capabilities, the CCH Axcess platform offers firms an ideal environment to integrate multiple functions and solutions. The centralized client database and common administration features help firms like JamisonMoneyFarmer streamline data entry and minimize administrative hassles.
According to Rachel Taylor, “One of the main draws for us was a single login… one client profile, one place to go. I can access the route sheet in Workstream from a variety of places. I can enter my time from different places. I can start clocks, and everything just talks to each other. And that's one thing we really wanted and that we've really found that to be the truth after we implemented it.”
CCH Axcess Tax helps firms achieve their growth goals by delivering high-quality, efficient tax preparation. Growing firms can ease staffing challenges and enhance client experience with CCH Axcess Tax’s automated tax workflow.
In the cloud or on premise, find the solutions you need to supercharge your tax preparation productivity.
