AI for Accounting and Finance Blog

Accountants Can’t Afford to Delay Client Service in the Wake of COVID-19

Last week, we polled the accounting community about the many ways COVID-19 was impacting them. Our research encompassed a wide range of firms, from independent operators and small firms under 50 employees, to companies that span over 10,000 employees.

By Phil Sweeney and Taylor Sarsfield

We recently attended the Sage Partner Summit to learn from Sage experts, soak in peer knowledge, and network with over 1,000 of our CPA colleagues. So what did we learn from one of the biggest accounting partner events? Here are a few key themes and takeaways from our time on-site:

Marc Linden, EVP and General Manager, Medium Segment Native Cloud Solutions, Sage, explains how the company and its partner ecosystem can capitalize on cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. Photo credit: Taylor Sarsfield.

So, your accounting firm has likely closed due to COVID-19 and you’re charged with working remotely or setting up your company's remote office, maybe even for the first time. What now? 

Thankfully, companies have long been using technology platforms and apps to eliminate office headaches, whether planning for more efficient communication, collaboration or processing - and there are more options today than ever before. 

Let’s dive into some technology options for getting started working remotely.

In this post, you’ll learn tips on how to optimize your remote accounting home office, what tools Vic.ai leans on itself, options for cloud accounting, and thoughts on how to protect your data.

In this time of worldwide uncertainty due to COVID-19, the one thing that has remained unchanged is the need to communicate with those around us, including our valued partners, clients, colleagues, and families.

We at Vic.ai are aware that many of you have had to become part of a virtual workforce rather unexpectedly and under inconvenient circumstances.

Schools are closing, conferences and sporting events are being canceled and people’s business and personal lives are being upended - but companies are still expected to maintain the same high standards of business and carry on as usual.

You've heard it before. Process documentation is key to an efficient business. But why do some accounting firms document their processes and others don't?

If you're running your own accounting practice, you probably think you have to do everything. If you have a larger practice, you'll make that same mistake, thinking you must do everything yourself. 

No matter how long you've been a CPA, you've probably witnessed significant changes in a short time. 

Does today's outsourced CPA firm need a crystal ball to help their clients proactively? And does the choice of accounting systems affect the firm’s ability to forecast trends and identify opportunities?

Time is your most precious asset, but do you know how to leverage it to work smarter? As a business owner, you have dozens of decisions to make every day that can waste your time - or maximize it.

In the olden days, accountants wore a green eyeshade and looked for every infraction, down to the penny. But with today’s large, high volume transactions, is it worth doing a detailed review of your client’s expenses? The answer is a resounding, maybe, as long as you are looking for the right expenses.