Today's Technology for Tomorrow's Firm.
Issue link: https://cpapracticeadvisor.epubxp.com/i/40356
Cathy Iconis, CPA — 31 Owner and CEO, Iconis Group Atlanta, Georgia Blog URL: www.atlantasmall.biz Twitter ID: twitter.com/cathyiconis Education: B.S. in Accounting from Oglethorpe University Professional Associations/Memberships: Atlanta Independent Women's Network, Georgia Society of CPAs Hobbies: Shopping, Decorating and Hanging out with friends What are some ways your firm/business has gone "paperless" and/or "green" in the last two years? My firm has been paperless from day one. We scan documents from clients as soon as we get them. We also work with dual monitors instead of printing out documents for reference. We are on a mission to show our clients how great it can be. Not only are we helping the earth, but we are saving time and money, too! What are some of your favorite TV shows? Whenever I get a chance, I watch nearly any show on Bravo, in part because they have shows that feature some great business owners. I love Bethenny Frankel, star of Bethenny Ever After and creator of SkinnyGirl Mar- garitas. She is so down to earth, but all of these "bigger than life" things are happening to her and her career. It's pretty inspirational that she has gotten herself to this point, and it's so much fun to see how she is just as crazy as the rest of us business owners. Other shows I'm addicted to on Bravo are Flipping Out, Tabatha's Salon Takeover, The Millionaire Matchmaker, Real Housewives of NYC and Real Housewives of New Jersey. Do you embrace cloud computing? Absolutely. Not only have I embraced it, but I use it to run my business on a daily basis. QuickBooks Online is my go-to resource for managing my clients' finances. I use Google Apps for my email. I use SalesForce for all of my customer relationship needs. I store client files in Dropbox so others can access what they need to, and we eliminate the confusion of emailing files back and forth. My company is completely cloud-based, and I couldn't be more of a fan. Cell phone: The HTC Droid Incredible How is cloud computing changing the accounting profession, and how concerned are you with the security issues related to cloud computing? Cloud computing has made the accounting profession more mobile, flexible and collaborative. It allows me to do my job remotely, and gives my clients the option of reviewing work no matter where they are. Security is an issue to consider, but I'm comfortable with the level of security provided by the tools I regularly use, and feel the benefits outweigh the risks by far. What sports team/championship event do you absolutely refuse to miss? The Super Bowl – just for the commercials! What is your favorite smartphone or tablet app? I don't have that many apps on my phone, but the one I use most often is Facebook. It takes my mind off waiting for other people. (I'm not a very patient person at times.) Are you using social networking (such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google+) as a marketing tool for your practice … or do you use such sites for personal use only? Have you gained any clients or seen other demonstrable benefits from the use of social net- working? Absolutely! When I started my company, I used social media almost exclusively to get the word out about my services, and at one point nearly 90% of my clients had come from Twitter. As my company has grown, I've expanded my marketing tactics, but social media is still a very important part of my marketing plan, and one that reaps benefits on a regular basis. What pitfalls or what unwritten rules of social net- working etiquette exist, which are frequently missed by others in the profession? Many miss the point that social media is a two-way communication tool. Unlike more traditional methods of marketing, like advertising or direct mail, it is not one-way messaging. To get the most from social media, you have to be a part of the conversation, and frankly, that is where you really see results from your efforts. Just posting articles or information about your firm will typically get you nowhere and just frustrate your fol- lowers. But if you start conversations and establish relationships with fol- lowers, it can be incredibly valuable. Do you foresee the majority of firms still implementing servers for the majority of their computing in their offices five years from now or do you think they will be outsourcing this component to vendors who specialize in this area? I expect more and more firms will become cloud-based, or at a minimum, purchase their own cloud solutions. The options are growing every day. For those that aren't comfort- able using a public resource like QuickBooks Online or Dropbox, there are technology companies that can provide a private cloud solution. In five years time, I anticipate server rooms all over the country will be converted into closets because most have gone to a cloud option. What ONE piece of technology could you absolutely not live without? My second monitor. I recently tried to get something done remotely off of my laptop, and it was such a burden that I gave up. I would go insane without the second monitor now. People may think I'm crazy, but I just don't work as well without having a screen to reference or compare documents, numbers, etc. NOT including your current employer, what company do you most admire and why? One of my clients, User Insight. I was sitting in a meeting with them the other day and was completely amazed by the culture they have created. The teamwork is amazing and proves to be a perfect fit for their service offering, as well: user experience research. They are leaders in the industry, and they have a tremendous amount of respect and pride in the work they do. That is how I define success. Employees love what they do, respect each other, and want to provide the best service possible for their clients. I'm just lucky they've allowed me to be a part of their team. Monitors on your desk? Two. I would love to have more, but I worry that I'll really be dead in the water when I have to work on my laptop! Other than SMS on your cell phone, what is your favorite way to IM with your friends and family? For work-related conversations, I love Google Talk as a way to communicate with my clients and other contacts since it is easier to communicate in real time that way. My non-work client communication is usually left to Facebook or Twitter. I am fortunate to have very friendly relationships with my clients and want them to feel that they are a part of my life and that I am a part of theirs. I work to create a true partnership with each client and am dedicated to their success and happiness, both in and out of business. 27 Back to Contents Page 3