More than ever, accounting professionals are responsible for handling significant volumes of sensitive data through financial and personal pipelines, any of which could create a data leak if your firm falls prey to a cybersecurity attack. The time is now to prevent such a breach before it has devastating effects on your firm and your clients.

We’re coming up on almost six months since the last Scaling New Heights conference, but I still vividly remember the moment at that event when my entire view of how to secure my own firm and handle data security requirements changed for good, and for the better. It was during a keynote given by Swizznet’s Chief Technology Officer Wes Stillman when the a-ha moment happened.

With 72% of tax-filing adults in the US expressing some level of concern over their personal data being compromised when they file taxes, accounting professionals need to carefully consider threats connected to software, hardware, and communications channels.

Reboot. The COVID pandemic was a tragedy for everyone affected, but it had the side effect of being a reboot of the modern workplace. It helped uncover unproductive ways of working. It forced companies to adopt modern technology practices. And after over a year working from home, it helped many people realize the benefits of being in a room with work colleagues.

Winning CPA firms are moving past bookkeeping to become trusted advisors for their clients. With ever-increasing competition from technology and overseas outsourcing, CPA firms are finding new ways to specialize and make themselves indispensable.

With all the news about accounting cybersecurity threats, there’s another angle that’s less talked about: the opportunity these breaches create for CPAs and accountants. Clients increasingly see accountants as trusted advisors for all aspects of finance. By developing a comprehensive security plan, you’ll increase the value you bring to your relationship with clients.

With 72% of tax-filing adults in the US expressing some level of concern over their personal data being compromised when they file taxes, accounting professionals need to carefully consider threats connected to software, hardware, and communications channels.

It’s been nearly a year of running your business or accounting practice from home. It’s required a lot of adjustments, particularly in the technology realm, as business processes moved to the cloud. Video conferencing, collaboration tools, accounting software — welcome to the virtual world. But in light of news about ongoing hacks in both industry and government sectors, you’ve likely wondered just how secure your new digital workflows really are. 

At the end of 2019, nobody could have predicted the events that 2020 would bring. From our personal lives (toilet paper hoarding, anyone?) to dramatic changes in how businesses run, it will be a year for the history books. One thing is certain, the accounting world is at an inflection point.

It wasn’t that long ago that small and medium-size business (SMB) accounting software resided on a PC – and only on a PC. Today, with more than 1.3 million Intuit QuickBooks users alone accessing the online version of QuickBooks, it’s time for every accountant to take a look at what Cloud computing can offer for streamlining the process of everyday tasks. But the question lingers - “can I use my Quickbooks on a Tablet?” When coupled with mobile devices, the Cloud offers the freedom of anywhere/anytime availability that can be hugely beneficial to in-house financial teams as well as consultants.