Expanding Your Role in the Lives of Your Tax Clients

Dec 4, 2018 11:35am ‐ Dec 4, 2018 12:25pm

Identification: DCA1814

It is the year of major tax reform and your clients have a million questions. Don't give away the most valuable thing you do - advising! It’s time to make the transition from tax return preparation to future-facing advisory services, with the tax return as the bi-product. Set up your appointments differently, staff those appointments differently. Ask yourself: Is the fee you receive for the tax return or for the client’s engagement with you?

Learning Objectives:

1. Explore ways in which your tax expertise gives you the credibility to expand the financial discussion with clients

2. Learn how to use the tax return as a launching point for additional services

3. Learn how digital tools can open the door to a year-round relationship with your tax clients


Hot Apps for Data Analytics

Dec 4, 2018 11:35am ‐ Dec 4, 2018 12:25pm

Identification: DCA1815

We know the future includes harnessing the power of data analytics, but what tools exist to help us do that? This is an area of emerging applications and use cases. Join this session to get insight on what is available and ideas on ways to leverage them throughout your practice.


Managing Virtual Work Teams

Dec 4, 2018 11:35am ‐ Dec 4, 2018 12:25pm

Identification: DCA1816

There are benefits as well as challenges to incorporating a remote workforce. Building and leading a virtual team requires a varied skill set and techniques. To prepare for your future readiness master a strategy for maintaining collaboration, knowledge sharing and firm culture while offering flexibility of schedules and work environments.


Telling the Story through Financial Dashboards

Dec 4, 2018 1:30pm ‐ Dec 4, 2018 2:45pm

Identification: DCA1818

Dashboards help you to effectively communicate complex financial data into meaningful visualizations, revealing key performance indicators (KPIs) and insights to clients. Leaving accounting jargon behind, offering you customization, and standardization, of metrics and faster tracking of data making you more valuable to your clients. There are multiple tools and ways to build and leverage dashboards are part of your service; join this session to hear of options and get inspired on ways to put them to in your client interactions.


Cybersecurity: Prevention or Service?

Dec 4, 2018 1:30pm ‐ Dec 4, 2018 2:45pm

Identification: DCA1819

Today everyone needs systems and procedures in place to maintain cybersecurity. Firms are continually enhancing these procedures within their own firm, but many of your clients are not. In this session, hear a checklist of items you should be monitoring in your business, and how firms are turning this knowledge into reporting services for clients. Most security breaches are by the end user; learn of ways you can stay and help your clients' businesses.


Transforming, Not Digitizing Preps, Comps & Reviews

Dec 4, 2018 1:30pm ‐ Dec 4, 2018 2:45pm

Identification: DCA1820

Technology has been automating attest and assurance engagements over the last decade, but the procedures have stayed the same. In this digital age we are now seeing tools employed such that a whole new way of performing preps, comps and reviews are performed; it is not just digitizing, but transforming. Take this opportunity to learn what is happening and what is possible going forward.


Effective Service Teamwork and Client-centric Technology = Great Client Experiences

Dec 4, 2018 3:15pm ‐ Dec 4, 2018 4:30pm

Identification: DCA1821

Effectively managing the client relationship requires higher levels of team collaboration and mandates holistic approaches to “helping” clients. Learn how to build a cross-functional service team that works between engagements and jobs to create superior client experiences. By building a strong team who understand their roles in owning the client experience, CPAs can become better business advisors and deliver more value. Add client-centric technology to the formula and you can create a brand differentiated position in your market.

In this session, you’ll learn

  • What leading firms in the industry are doing to become better advisory organizations
  • Ways to build systematic approaches & best practices to attract and retain clients

This session will include table break-outs that encourage attendees to identify next steps and overcome hurdles of becoming stronger advisory organizations.


Blockchain: What Can We Do With It?

Dec 4, 2018 3:15pm ‐ Dec 4, 2018 4:30pm

Identification: DCA1822

It seems everyone is talking about Blockchain and the possible implications, but what can we do with it really? CPA.com hosted a Blockchain Symposium, bringing 60 leaders from across the country together to discuss this question. Join this session to get the latest on Blockchain, and emerging use cases.


Strategies to Deal with the Challenges of Successful Mergers - Before, During, and After the Deal Discussions

Dec 4, 2018 3:15pm ‐ Dec 4, 2018 4:30pm

Identification: DCA1823

In his presentation Allan Koltin will explore items such as culture, change, technology, innovation, and leadership and share how firms have successfully dealt with these areas as part of a successful merger. His belief, based on 30 years of consulting firms through mergers, is that firms too often focus on the numbers (deal value) and don’t spend the necessary time and discussion on the areas that ultimately impact the success or failure of the merger.

In this session:

  • Learn what questions to ask to assess the cultural and strategic fit of a merger
  • Discussion on how to align the needs and wants of the buyer and seller
  • Strategies for tackling awkward or sensitive deal points
  • Techniques to ensure successful integration after the merger

Mergers can be an effective way to add niche markets to your practice or additional services, but only if the right match is found and merged in effectively. Learn from a leader in this area to gain effective strategies.


Digital CPA Update

Dec 5, 2018 8:00am ‐ Dec 5, 2018 8:50am

Identification: DCA1826

The most successful CPA firms have an eye to the future, action and momentum; they are becoming future ready. Join Erik Asgeirsson as he provides his annual update on emerging topics for digital CPAs, shares transformative technologies, and highlights success stories from around community.