Virginia Collins CPA

Virginia Collins is currently a consultant for small businesses and CPA firms in managing and developing data initiatives. These data initiatives are managed with an “Agile” project methodology that allows the business or firm to respond to change and create value quickly. Using “Agile” principles businesses begin the journey to manage their data as an asset. When it is transformed into information data will improve operations, increase revenues and allow innovation to become part of the businesses processes. Ms. Collins has also developed training for Power Query an “ETL” tool with a friendly user interface that extracts, transforms and loads data which can than be used for reporting and data modeling and can saves many hours in data import and clean up tasks without the use of SQL, VBA or maintaining Excel formulas.

Ms. Collins was formerly a quality reviewer for medium size CPA firms in the New York City for ten years and has a total of more than 35 years of experience in public accounting. Ms. Collins has advised clients across a broad spectrum of industries, among them real estate (including HUD), not-for-profit, employee benefit plans, construction, wholesale and retail, health care, and hospitality. Leveraging broad experience in auditing, accounting, and internal controls, she has expertise in information technology including data analytics, Excel, and active data. Her experience extends to: Planning of Engagements— applying CAATS techniques, internal control IT review, quality control review of engagements of various industries, training staff on use of CAATS, data analytics, continuous auditing, and business intelligence.

Ms. Collins is a Certified Informational Technology Professional (CITP) which is a specialty designation administered by the AICPA and is awarded to CPAs with the unique ability to bridge between business and technology. Ms. Collins is a former Committee Member of the AICPA (CITP) Credential Committee. Ms. Collins has been actively involved in increasing the use of Computer Assisted Auditing Techniques (CAAT’s) by CPA’s as part of her role as a CITP Committee member. She has delivered webinars and podcasts for the AICPA and the California and Pennsylvania State Society of CPA’s. The AICPA Webcasts includes: Auditing in the Information Age, Computer Assisted Audit Techniques (CAATS) for All, and Power Query – Clean and Transform Your Client’s Data § Utilizing Business Intelligence to Your Benefit. More recently Ms. Collins has done webcasts for Surgent CPE.