WebCPA - Tools and Resources for the Electronic Accountant

Sage users, execs connect at summit

A flurry of legislative activity focuses on small businesses

Receivables Exchange Links to Ariba

The Receivables Exchange, an online marketplace for trading accounts receivable, is connecting with Ariba’s spend management system.

KPMG Allies with Guidance Software on Forensics

KPMG is partnering with Guidance Software to offer services that use Guidance’s EnCase eDiscovery software with KPMG’s forensic technology services.

Intuit Sells Real Estate Business

Intuit has sold its real estate management software business to Vista Equity Partners for approximately $128 million in cash.

KPMG, Thomson Reuters Team on Paisley Services

KPMG and Thomson Reuters are partnering to help companies improve their governance, risk and compliance processes via Paisley GRC software.

Intacct Offers Free Service to Softrax Customers

Web-based software developer Intacct is offering customers of Canton, Mass-based revenue and billing software provider Softrax Corp. six months of free service of its cloud financial applications.

AFS Technologies Acquires Assets of Softrax Corp.

Enterprise software provider AFS Technologies has announced a cash acquisition of certain assets of Canton, Mass.-based revenue management and billing solutions provider Softrax Corp.

IDEA Teams with Audimation on Risk Monitoring

CaseWare IDEA and Houston-based Audimation Services have launched SymSure for IDEA continuous auditing and monitoring risk management software.

Intuit Posts Q1 Loss

Citing drops in its core QuickBooks revenue and typical ³seasonal² losses during the first quarter, Intuit Inc. posted a loss of $68 million versus $52 million for the prior year for the period ended October 31.

NetSuite Partners With Aria Systems on Billing

NetSuite has integrated Media, Pa.-based Aria Systems’ billing functionality, which was developed using NetSuite’s SuiteCloud technology.

Fujitsu and Trintech Partner to Extend XBRL Capabilities

Trintech Group has embedded the Fujitsu Interstage XWand XBRL processing engine into the Trintech Unity Xtensible Financial Reporting software module.

Intuit Receives SMB Excellence Award from IDC

Market research firm IDC has recognized Intuit’s work with IBM on the Smart Business Platform as part of its first SMB Excellence Awards.

Intuit Offers to Convert Microsoft Accounting Clients

Intuit Inc. is providing a free conversion tool to small businesses affected by the discontinuation of Microsoft Office Accounting.

Discover New Innovations in Tax Prep

Software as a Service (SaaS) has become popular in today's business environment. But what exactly does SaaS mean and how can it play an integral part in your operation? After completing the session, you will be able to:

• Recognize the significance of SaaS in an increasingly complex world.
• Build your practice become more efficient and profitable.
• Identify ways to improve workflow and your bottom line.

Don't miss this chance to learn more about a tool that can help your practice be more successful!

Thomson to Acquire Sabrix

In a move designed to bolster its global transaction tax offerings, Thomson Reuters Tax & Accounting has agreed to acquire San Ramon, Calif.-based Sabrix, a provider of tax transaction software, for an undisclosed amount.

NetSuite, InsideView Team on Social Intelligence

San Mateo-based cloud computing vendor NetSuite and sales automation service provider InsideView have announced what they are describing as the first social intelligence application for both customer relationship management and enterprise resource planning software.

Intuit Selects Siegel for IBM Smart Cube

Intuit has selected Siegel & Associates as its only reseller in New England offering IBM’s Smart Cube, an integrated hardware-software solution designed to run all core business applications.

Sleeter Group Honors QuickBooks Add-Ons

The Sleeter Group, a network of small-business technology consultants, has announced the annual winners of its 2010 “Awesome Add-ons for QuickBooks” at the group’s Next Generation Accounting Solutions Conference, which showcases management tools and technologies.

Sage Welcomes Customers, Talks Market Trends

At Sage Summit, Sage’s annual customer conference, it’s all about, well, the customer.

Sage Honors Customers at Awards Luncheon

Women will be taking over the world.

SmartVault Unveils Document Management for QuickBooks Developers

Software-as-a-Service provider SmartVault has announced software that allows other developers of QuickBooks add-on applications to integrate SmartVault's document management system with their applications.

Thomson Reuters Unveils Next Generation Software, Services

Thomson Reuters has unveiled what it has billed as its next-generation software and services, the Accounting CS payroll system and Virtual Client Office, along with new enhancements to its Source Document Processing offering.

Intuit Names New Members to Advisory Council

Intuit has named eight new members to its 17-person Accountant and Advisor Customer Council.

NetSuite Integrates Cloud Platform with RedPrairie

Productivity software provider RedPrairie plans to offer pre-integrated application modules on software developer NetSuite’s cloud computing platform.

Microsoft Discontinues Office Accounting

Microsoft has announced it will stop distributing its Office Accounting as of Nov. 16 but will continue to offer product support for the software for five years.

Sage Honors 2009 Business Partner, Club Winners

Sage North America has honored Blytheco of Laguna Hills, Calif., as its business partner of the year and announced its Chairman’s Club and President’s Circle for 2009.

Sneak preview: Tax tools for 2010

Vendors focus on workflow and the Web, as tax pros wait to see if taxpayers will return

Vertex Launches Certification Program

Vertex has announced an online certification program through which continuing professional education credits can be earned.

Thomson Reuters Partners with Bill Payment Service

Thomson Reuters has joined with Palo Alto, Calif.-based Bill.com to offer accountants using Thomson’s CS Professional Suite software a way to handle bill payment workflow online and help clients stay organized.

Sage Launches Financial Certification Program for Nonprofits

Sage North America has launched a certification program for its Sage MIP Fund Accounting nonprofit customers aimed at gaining recognition for their expertise through continuing professional education-eligible workshops.

High-Performing Firms Leverage Technology

High-performing accounting firms are more likely to leverage technology to help them optimize performance in areas such as staffing, client service and practice management, according to a new survey.

V1 Document Management Seeks Partnerships

Paperless office solutions company V1 Document Management is seeking partnerships with accounting, enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management software developers and resellers.

Intacct Chooses New CEO

Web-based accounting software developer Intacct has chosen a new CEO, Rob Reid.

AICPA Teams with Copanion

The American Institute of CPAs’ CPA2Biz subsidiary has added Copanion’s GruntWorx tax document automation software to the set of Trusted Business Advisor Solutions it sells on its Web site.

CCH Starts Online Community

CCH has introduced a new online CCH Community that allows accounting, auditing and compliance professionals to interact in a kind of social network over the Web.

Intuit Offers Free Training for Accounting and Tax Pros

Intuit will be hosting free CPE-credited training sessions starting next week for tax and accounting professionals to explain new features in its QuickBooks Premier Accountant 2010, ProLine Solution, and Lacerte products.

Intuit to Expand 401(k), Health Insurance Market

Intuit plans to expand its presence in the market for helping small businesses manage their 401(k) and health insurance benefits, even though many of its own customers do not offer such benefits.

Copanion Receives $10.2M in VC Funding, Replaces CEO

Software developer Copanion has closed a $10.2 million round of venture capital financing and named a new CEO.

Intacct Integrates with CCH ProSystem fx Tax

Intacct said its cloud accounting system is now able to exchange client financial data with CCH ProSystem fx Tax.

CPA2Biz Site Helps Firms Expand Client Services

The American Institute of CPAs’ CPA2Biz subsidiary has opened a new Web site to help firms grow their client accounting services practice.

CPA2Biz Offers Tiered Pricing for Intacct

The American Institute of CPAs’ CPA2Biz subsidiary has introduced a tiered pricing option for Intacct’s Web-based accounting software.

Sage Gives Free Copies of Peachtree to Flooded Businesses

Sage Software is distributing free copies of Peachtree Accounting to small businesses that have been affected by the recent floods in Atlanta.

Inovium Upgrades Billing and Collections System

Software developer Inovium has introduced Inovium Pay 2.0, the latest version of its online billing and collections system.

Grappling with SOX

Software solutions tackle Sarbanes-Oxley from many different directions

Coda 2go Becomes New Company, FinancialForce.com

Coda’s Web-based accounting application Coda 2go has been spun off into a separate company, known as FinancialForce.com, headed by Coda CEO Jeremy Roche.

NetSuite Offers iPhone, iTouch Access

New Apps Provide Mobile Access to ERP Software

Thomson Reuters Integrates NetClient CS Portal

Thomson Reuters has added integration features to its NetClient CS client portal technology to provide better workflow and interoperability with the company’s other products.

CCH Integrates ProSystem fx with TaxScripts Pro

CCH has integrated its ProSystem fx Tax software with TaxScripts Inc.’s TaxScripts Pro to automate IRS transcript requests and disclosure authorization submissions.

Thomson Reuters Donates CPA2Biz Stock to AICPA

The Tax & Accounting business of Thomson Reuters has donated its entire stock holdings in the American Institute of CPAs’ CPA2Biz subsidiary to the AICPA Foundation.

CCH Offers Sales and Use Tax System for Oracle

CCH and Global Tax Management are partnering on a sales and use tax system that can work with a corporation’s Oracle software.

Spotlight on CCH, a Walters Kluwer business

Reval Buys FXpress

Hedge accounting software developer Reval has acquired FXpress Corp., a treasury software provider.

Intuit to Offer Free Online Tax Software

Intuit Inc. is gearing up to debut ProLine Tax Online Edition, a limited-time free 1040 software-as-a-service offering that will be available in California and Arizona in early September.

Approva Receives Extra $14 Million Funding

Approva, a company that develops software for continuously monitoring financial controls at businesses, has completed a $14 million financing round.

Shopping around?

It's well accepted that the firm of the future will succeed (or fail) as a result of applying new technology and software.

Spotlight on XCM Solutions

Paperless is somewhat of a misnomer because as long as the mail is delivered every day, no firm will ever be 'paperless.'

Spotlight on CCH, a Walters Kluwer business

Integrated solutions for every practice area exist, along with scanning and document management systems that eliminate the need to rely on paper files.

Spotlight on Thomson Reuters

Becoming a paperless office combines three primary efforts: the adoption of paperless workflow procedures, changing the individual mindset, and applying technology.

Spotlight on SurePrep

Although many firms have made great strides, the industry as a whole is a long way from being truly paperless.

Coda Signs Mavens to Extend U.S. Presence

British accounting software developer Coda has signed a deal with Chicago-based Mavens Consulting to expand the company’s market reach in the U.S.

NetSuite Offers 'Cash for Clunkers' Software Swap

Taking a Page From Uncle Sam

NetSuite Offers ‘Cash for Clunkers’ Software Swap

NetSuite has introduced a “cash for clunkers” incentive program for selling software, patterned after the government’s car sales efforts.

Mint.com, Bill.com Raise Extra VC Funding

Online personal finance and budgeting site Mint.com has raised $14 million in its third round of venture capital funding, joining Bill.com, which raised $8.5 million earlier this month.

NetSuite Posts Higher Revenue, Bigger Loss in Q2

NetSuite saw a 10 percent increase in revenue for the second quarter, jumping to $40.3 million this year from $36.6 million in last year’s second quarter, but the company also experienced a larger net loss on a GAAP basis.

Intacct CEO to Retire

Intacct president and CEO Mike Braun plans to retire by the end of the year.

Universal Accounting Sees Revenue Growth

Accountant training materials provider Universal Accounting reported growth in revenue this year.

Waging War on Cyber Threats

Just this past spring, the Obama administration did what many in the political and national security arenas have been advocating for some time.

Amazon, Overstock Drop Affiliates in Three States

Both Amazon.com and Overstock.com have stopped using affiliate Web sites in three states that have passed laws requiring sales tax to be collected on Internet sales if companies have local affiliate partners.

Coda Teams with Corefino on Cloud Computing

Accounting software developers Coda and Corefino have partnered on a three-part Web-based accounting service called Corefino 2go.

Intuit Picks Stimulus Grant Winners

Intuit has awarded grants of between $10,000 and $20,000 in value to 10 tax and accounting professionals.

Thomson Reuters Signs Clarity Deal

Thomson Reuters’ Tax & Accounting business has signed an agreement with Clarity Systems to provide users of Clarity FSR financial governance software with access to content and tools on the Thomson Reuters Checkpoint research service.

Sage Sales Vet Joins SpeedTax

SpeedTax has hired Jonathan Morgan, a former Sage Software sales executive, as director of sales at the Web-based sales tax software company.

Host Analytics Offers Team Financial Consolidations

Host Analytics has introduced version 9.0 of its Web-based corporate performance management software, along with a discounted “team edition” that focuses on consolidations for midsized companies.

Intuit Cuts 300 Employees

Intuit has laid off about 300 of its employees, mainly in the software developer’s Small Business Division, which sells QuickBooks.

Sleeter and CPA2Biz Offer Bill.com Bill Management

CPA2Biz, the business arm of the American Institute of CPAs, has teamed up with the Sleeter Group, a small business and accounting software consultancy, to resell Bill.com’s online accounts payable service through Sleeter’s network of accountants and consultants.

Intuit to Acquire PayCycle for $170 Million

Intuit has signed a deal to acquire online payroll service PayCycle for approximately $170 million in cash, boosting the accounting and tax software vendor’s presence in the payroll business.

Intuit Names 25 Finalists for 'Stimulus Grants'

Intuit has narrowed down the applicants for its “Power to Get More Done” competition to 25 accounting and tax professionals from 19 states.

Sage to Include MISys in Peachtree Manufacturing

Manufacturing Information Systems has signed a deal with Sage North America to bundle its Small Business Manufacturing software as a component of Peachtree Quantum Manufacturing Edition.

Consulting Insights, May 22, 2009

Intuit doesn’t hand out many numbers on its QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions Business.

CCH Provides Sales and Use Tax for Oracle

CCH has introduced sales and use tax products for Oracle.

Pulaski builds (Smart)Vault for QuickBooks

Eric Pulaski ventured into information technology security nearly two decades ago, took his company, BindView, public and sold it to Symantec for $209 million. Three years later, Pulaski's building a different kind of security system - an online storage vault for accountants and bookkeepers to share QuickBooks documents with their clients.

Consulting Insights, May 8, 2009

The numbers are coming out for the March quarter revealing the hardly surprisingly fact that software sales are down.

Sage Cuts 500 Employees in North America

Sage North America announced 500 job cuts as the accounting software developer’s U.K. parent company posted revenue declines.

CCH Provides Free CPE Credits for Tax Research

CCH is offering free CPE sessions to tax and accounting professions to introduce them to its new IntelliConnect online tax research service.

UBCC Adds Anti-Fraud Forensics to Payroll

Universal Business Computing Company has added an anti-fraud forensic feature to its payroll software that tracks the history of changes made to employee maintenance.

ACCOUNTING NEWS

Software review: Recession relief: Using online payroll can save you money

The economic meltdown has many companies evaluating methods for preparing payroll

In brief

Boomer's blueprint: Great teams equal big wins

Accelerating your firm's progress with technology is more imperative than ever. With new business models emerging in light of the fluctuating markets, firms must be prepared to compete under a variety of scenarios.

Tax Season Essentials: Amended Returns Increase Refunds

CCH reminds your clients of a second chance.

Prophix Partners with Blum Shapiro

Conn. firm becomes business intelligence reseller.

Accounting Technology Ranks VAR 100

The annual list reveals the top resellers in the country.

WebCPA Tweets on Twitter

Like everybody else these days, WebCPA is now jumping on the Twitter bandwagon.

Coda Upgrades Coda 2go for Salesforce.com

Coda Group is rolling out the latest version of its online accounting software, Coda 2go Spring '09, emphasizing its integration with Salesforce.com's customer relationship management software.

IRS Offers New Free Way to File for Extensions

This year, the Internal Revenue Service is offering a new way to file an extension request for free.

IRS Takes Slow Train to Security Fixes

The Internal Revenue Service has made slow progress in implementing federally required security settings on nearly 100,000 desktop and laptop computers, said a newly released audit.

AICPA Teams with Intacct on Cloud Computing

The American Institute of CPAs and its CPA2Biz subsidiary have struck a deal with accounting software developer Intacct to market "cloud computing" services to CPA firms.

A Toolkit for the Financial Planner

Given the current economic situation, conducting a financial planning practice isn't getting easier. With the financial uncertainty of the past several years, investors have become uncomfortable with the 'business as usual' planning approach.

XBRL and document management: The perfect storm

How can companies turn the Securities and Exchange Commission's XBRL mandate into an opportunity? By implementing an XBRL-enhanced document management strategy as part of their internal corporate filing workflow, which will both boost compliance and save money.

In brief

Boomer's Blueprint: Who's in charge of technology?

This sounds like an easy question, but it may be one of the most important decisions your firm makes as you move forward in rapidly changing times. In some firms, the name of the person will be obvious, while in other firms, people may name multiple people or simply say, "No one is really in charge of technology."

IRS to Assess Risks of Tax Software

The Internal Revenue Service should determine whether using tax software creates any security and compliance risks, recommended the Government Accountability Office in a new report.

CCH Revamps Tax Research Service

CCH has introduced IntelliConnect, the next generation of its widely used online information service, Tax Research NetWork.

A Dickensian Year in Reselling

The best of times, worst of times description is one of those overused literary allusions. But it may well apply to the business of selling accounting software over the last year.

Cougar Mountain Releases Denali 2.7

Accounting software provider Cougar Mountain has released Denali 2.7, completing the company's core accounting line with the Denali Purchase Order module.

Software as a Service: Hot or Not?

Practice Development News

Accounting News

Tax & Financial Planning News

The VAR 100 Face a Tough Year

Despite the economy, some resellers had a great 2008.

Tax Research Comes in Many Flavors

Accountants gain an appetite for Google-like search.

BI for Offense and Defense

The Economy-Best Excuse In The World

Who Is in Charge of Technology?

Blackbaud, PayPal Team to Help Small Nonprofits

Nonprofit software provider Blackbaud Inc. has teamed with online payment concern PayPal to establish BlackbaudNow, a price-friendly Web site-building application to assist small and growing nonprofits publish their own Web sites and begin accepting online donations, manage constituent accounts and record donor giving histories.

Thomson Reuters Updates Tax Planning App to Include Stimulus

In order to include provisions in the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Tax & Accounting business of Thomson Reuters has updated its Planner CS program.

An Electronic Pet Rock?

The gallery of faces listed a "people you may know" paraded a number of accountants and software resellers, along with a picture of my 18-year-old daughter sticking her tongue out.

Intuit Unveils Co-Sponsors, Judges for Grant Competition

As part of its previously announced Power to Get More Done Initiative, which aims to help firms deal with the shaky economy by giving them money to hire extra staff and invest in their business, financial and tax software provider Intuit has announced the co-sponsors and judges for the effort.

CCH Adds More Audit Guidance to ARM

CCH has expanded the audit modules in its Accounting Research Manager database with expert guidance on topics such as construction and not-for-profit accounting.

Adaptive Planning Teams with NetSuite

-- Financial planning and reporting services provider Adaptive Planning has become a charter member of NetSuite's SuiteCloud developer network -- a multi-tiered program for software developers to leverage their offerings with NetSuite's online core business products.

Nobody Knows the Software I've Seen

Jean-François Champollion, the man who discovered the Rosetta Stone, which provided the clues to the meaning of Egyptian hieroglyphs, had an advantage: He didn't have to call tech support or read software documentation to figure out the meaning of those carvings.

Free Webcast: What You Need to Know About Estate Planning

No matter how much money your client has, it's crucial to have a basic estate plan simply to ensure that the financial goals of the client are met after the client dies.

Software review: Making documents go with the flow

A year ago, the emphasis in document management systems remained on the core areas of scanning, storing and retrieving documents. But the emphasis has changed in the past year, making it clear that document management alone will give way to integrated workflow in which document management is only one part.

Boomer's Blueprint: Perception - reaction - result!

Knowing what the future may hold for you and your firm is tremendously valuable in these uncertain times.

Intuit Says Small Biz Must Innovate

Intuit said that small businesses will need to innovate in order to succeed over the next decade, in a new report that is the first in a new series of research studies on the future of small business.

Home Computer Tax Filings Spike 20 Percent

The Internal Revenue Service reported that taxpayers are electronically filing their federal tax returns in record numbers this year.