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Source: Accounting Today
Services on which CPAs traditionally thrived are becoming obsolete or commodities offering low profits. CPAs must ask themselves if they are truly providing clients what they need. Technology and globalization are profoundly impacting traditional services, and CPAs are valuable only to the extent to which they are involved with clients in a holistic sense. Skills at managing relationships and designing solutions will be more important than specific technical skills.
Firms must embrace change if they are to succeed. Examples of changes in the profession currently in process are:
- Workflow systems are being offered by several companies and are continually improving. These systems allow CPA firms to move tasks through the office, adding information and knowledge along the way and providing remote, real-time access and control of the process.
- Content management systems and paperless environments are challenging because they require overhauling outdated processes. But they offer important enhancements in client service.
- Firms are delivering services through portals. Clients input data digitally and have continuous access to the portals.
- Firms are hiring college graduates of non-accounting programs such as business management and management information systems.
CPA firms must create alliances and engage outsourcing organizations, and they must reconsider staffing decisions. And they should do it now.
From Accounting Today, October 10, 2005. For the complete article, click on the following link: http://www.webcpa.com/article.cfm?articleid=15798&;pg=acctoday. | 
