Today's Technology for Tomorrow's Firm.
Issue link: https://cpapracticeadvisor.epubxp.com/i/494869
ADVERTORIAL AMONG THOSE SERVING THE TAX & ACCOUNTING PROFESSION INTUIT 2632 Marine Way, Mountain View CA 94043 Phone: (650)-944-6000 Website: www.Intuit.com Year Founded: 1983 Number of Employees: 8,200 Q: What is Intuit's key differentiator in the market? A: We uniquely bring together and connect a global ecosystem of more than 60 million small businesses, developers and accounting professionals. QuickBooks Online is the number one cloud accounting solution for small businesses and accountants worldwide with 841,000 subscribers and more than 120,000 ProAdvisors globally. QuickBooks Online was built on an open platform. This means that small businesses can create an online accounting solution that integrates with a variety of apps to meet their specifc needs. It also means that data is shared seamlessly between accounting, tax and app solutions, which helps accounting professionals reduce the amount of time it takes to enter data so they can focus on providing their clients with proactive, strategic advice. Q: What is Intuit's focus for the accounting profession over the next 5-10 years? A: We are focused on lowering, if not eliminating, the barrier to help accounting professionals transition to an online accounting platform so they can focus on being strategic advisors to their clients. The power of data and online technologies is fueling the next wave of evolution in the industry. As a result, accountants need to adopt a new mindset and technology model to remain successful. The integration of data sharing across multiple online platforms reduces the time spent on overall data collection and validation. This is creating an opportunity to put the accounting professional in the role of strategic advisor, where they can provide clients with analysis, performance management and decision-support services. Q: For accounting professionals that have not adopted a cloud model, what do you see as the common barrier to adoption? A: The biggest barrier is fear of the unknown. And while we've seen rapid adoption of QuickBooks Online, with more than 4,000 new subscribers every 10 days and a 3x increase in the number of accountants with three or more clients using QBO, there are those who remain hesitant. As a result, we provide accounting professionals with the opportunity to try QuickBooks Online at no risk through our free QuickBooks ProAdvisor Program. By joining the free ProAdvisor Program, accounting professionals have access to one free QuickBooks Online account to use themselves and access to QuickBooks Online Accountant, an online accounting product that includes the specifc tools accountants need to manage their clients' books. Q: What are you doing to help accounting professionals adapt to the adoption of online accounting solutions and transition to become a frm of the future? A: First, we value the relationship we have with accounting professionals and view them as partners, working closely with them to listen and gain their unique insights and feedback in order to deliver products that ft their needs. Second, we train, educate, certify and partner with more than 350,000 accounting professionals each year in an effort to help them confdently work with our products. When it comes to adopting cloud technologies, accounting professionals should focus on migrating just one client frst. By starting with a less complex client, they can gain confdence and understand the migration process. OVERVIEW Intuit's Accountant and Advisor Group (AAG) is dedicated to helping accounting professionals save time and grow their practice while confdently helping their clients succeed. Working with Intuit's Small Business Group, AAG supports accounting professionals use and recommendation of Intuit's fnancial and employee management solutions, including QuickBooks Online, the number-one cloud accounting solution used by 841,000 small businesses worldwide. AAG also supports the more than 115,000 global ProAdvisors with products and services that help them serve as strategic advisors to their clients. MARKETS SERVED Today, our expanding portfolio serves customers in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore and India, making it easier for small business owners and accountants to manage their fnances, offering localized, desktop and online versions of QuickBooks. And our products have evolved from the desktop to the cloud, with many available both online and for mobile devices. PRODUCTS Our fagship products – QuickBooks, TurboTax, Quicken and Mint – defne our commitment to revolutionize the way people manage their personal fnances, run small businesses and pay employees. Our lineup of tax preparation products helps individuals and small business owners easily and accurately fle their own taxes. And working with accountants, we've become a staple of American small business, with a widespread and deep-rooted presence that's second to none. 30 April 2015 • www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com Jim McGinnis is the leader for Intuit's Accountant and Advisor Group. Jim has led accountant teams since he joined Intuit in 2010 as Vice President of Marketing. His extensive marketing, general management and global experience is invaluable as the Accountant and Advisor Group continues to serve as a center of excellence for Intuit's worldwide efforts with accountants. Before Intuit, Jim was EVP and GM of Activision's $400M Licensed Products Division, where he was responsible for videogames associated with blockbuster movies franchises such as Shrek, Transformers, James Bond, and Spiderman. Prior to his time there, Jim led marketing for PepsiCo's Tropicana business, where he was responsible for the company's $3B juice and juice drink portfolio, including the acquisition of Naked Juice in 2009. Earlier in his time at PepsiCo, Jim led marketing for Smiths Snackfood in Australia. Before that, Jim introduced P&G;'s detergent portfolio into China and later into Argentina as they expanded globally in the 90's. 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 Association in Dallas, TX. Jim is married and has two young sons, James and Charlie. Jim McGinnis