Technology: Is the Right Person in the Driver’s Seat?

Source: Accounting Technology

The most effective and efficient CPA firms are the ones that best leverage rapidly changing technology, and that means having the right person in the IT leadership position.

When choosing a technology leader, technical skills have surprisingly little to do with it. Driving a firm’s IT strategy is a lot like driving a car. It’s more important to know where you’re going than it is to understand the mechanics of how the car will get you there. Obviously, IT leaders need to understand technology capabilities and trends, but they should be more concerned with what should be done than with how things are done.

Among other things, an IT leader should be:

• Effective
• Efficient
• Visionary
• A good communicator
• A good motivator of both IT staff and end users
• Trusted and respected by the partners
• Passionate about training
• Committed to standardization of processes

For the complete article, click here and select “Who is in Charge of Technology?” in the April 2009 issue.

From Accounting Technology, April 2009, SourceMedia Inc., One State Street Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10004, 800-221-1809.