Today's Technology for Tomorrow's Firm.
Issue link: https://cpapracticeadvisor.epubxp.com/i/399112
What is Intuit's commitment to helping accounting professionals succeed in the cloud? Over the years, Intuit has evolved from providing singular solutions to offering a platform of online products and services that seamlessly integrate with each other. Working together, this integration creates amazing opportunities to solve important problems and pain points for accountants across their end-to-end workfow. As the cloud moves from a "new" technology to a required commodity for accountants, it has helped improve client collaboration, allowing accountants to improve data collection and leverage electronic systems to help manage and execute work for their clients. Gone are the days of re- entering data into multiple programs. For example, we provide a connection between our QuickBooks Online Accountant product and Intuit Tax Online so there is a seamless integration between accounting and tax. This type of integration that creates a seamless, end-to-end workfow will only continue to improve and be offered across more online products, cutting down on the time it takes to do data entry. How is the cloud changing the lives of accounting professionals and small businesses? Accounting professionals now have the freedom to better serve clients anytime, anywhere. The cloud has moved from being a "new" technology to a foundational element for accountants and small businesses. It has helped improve client collaboration, allowing accountants to improve data collection and data sharing, and enables them to respond more quickly to client needs via nearly any device: laptop, smartphone or tablet. Intuit has been innovating in the cloud since 2001 when we frst launched QuickBooks Online. This was long before "the cloud" meant anything more than the word you use to describe what you see in the sky. Our strategy is to continue to innovate and deliver awesome product experiences to accounting professionals in all the work they do to serve clients and to run their frms effectively and effciently. What are the current trends and adoption rates you are seeing in the cloud? We're continuing to see a behavioral shift in accounting professionals when it comes to the use of cloud-based and mobile technologies. For example, many of those now entering the workforce have enjoyed nonstop connectivity most of their lives, from campuses with wireless networks to smartphones. In addition, accounting professionals and their clients are increasingly looking to smartphones and tablets as necessary tools for managing the complex choreography of work and life. Accounting professionals and small businesses want to be able to leverage mobile devices to run their payroll, gain insights into their business's performance and manage their customers from one device on the go. Regarding adoption, there are now more than 683,000 subscribers worldwide using QuickBooks Online. This translates into more than 1.7 million individuals, making QuickBooks Online the number one cloud accounting solution for small businesses. In addition, Intuit has reached an infection point – for the frst time ever, more new users joined QuickBooks Online than QuickBooks Desktop during Q4 of our Fiscal Year 2014 and accountants are loving it, too. The number of accountants with three or more QuickBooks Online clients has tripled. It is clear small businesses are moving online and demanding services and support from their accountants that only online and mobile solutions can deliver. It is our job to make sure accountants can join them in the cloud and delight their clients. How can today's accounting professional use the cloud to stay relevant and grow their practice? By embracing mobile and online technologies that are available, accounting professionals can realize the time saving benefts of improved workfows and integration across products and third-party applications. In addition, accountants who stay current with technologies that offer time-saving benefts are able to focus more effort on strategies to help them and their clients succeed and grow. Cloud Special Report Q&A; with Jim McGinnis, Vice President, Accountant and Advisor Group, Intuit Jim McGinnis Vice President, Accountant and Advisor Group Jim McGinnis is the leader of Intuit's Accountant and Advisor Group and has led accountant teams since he joined Intuit in 2010 as Vice President of Marketng. His extensive marketng, general management and global experience has been invaluable as the Accountant and Advisor Group contnues to serve as a center of excellence for Intuit's worldwide eforts with accountants. Before joining Intuit, Jim was EVP and GM of Actvision's $400M Licensed Products Division, where he was responsible for videogames associated with blockbuster movies franchises such as Shrek, Transformers, James Bond and Spiderman. Previously, Jim led marketng for PepsiCo's Tropicana business, where he was responsible for the company's $3B juice and juice drink portolio, including the acquisiton of Naked Juice in 2009. Jim received his B.A. from Duke University and his MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management. He is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, the Chicago Yacht Club, and leads the Duke Alumni Associaton in Dallas, TX. Jim is married and has two young sons, James and Charlie. 30 October 2014 • www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com ADVERTORIAL