CPA Practice Advisor

40UNDER40 2011

Today's Technology for Tomorrow's Firm.

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John E. Parsley, CPA, CVA — 38 Shareholder — Smith, Parsley & McWhorter, P.A. Lexington, North Carolina Education: Masters of Accountancy University of North Carolina at Wilmington Professional Associations/Memberships: AICPA, NCACPA, NACVA Hobbies: Golf and other sports What are some ways your firm/business has gone "paperless" and/or "green" in the last two years? All employees have scanners on their desk and we use Creative Solutions' File Cabinet software to organize our information. Do you embrace cloud computing? Absolutely. Last September, we went to Creative Solutions Virtual Office, where all of our programs and data are accessible via a secure internet connec- tion from any computer. How is cloud computing changing the accounting profession, and how con- cerned are you with the security issues related to cloud computing? Cloud computing is allowing our profession to give better "onsite" service to our clients and making us more efficient in the process. As far as security, regularly changing passwords is about all that can be done for protection. What sports team/championship event do you absolutely refuse to miss? Carolina Panthers and the Super Bowl. What are some of your favorite books, movies, music, websites, and TV shows? "Bible," Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Hootie & The Blowfish, www.google.com & Criminal Minds. Cell phone: Blackberry Storm What is your favorite smartphone or tablet app? ESPN App — it keeps me connected to all sports happenings. I'm a sports nut. 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 really think the in-house server will be a thing of the past, especially as they age and the price of cloud computing becomes more cost effective. 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 networking? I don't use the social networking sites personally. I'm on LinkedIn, but I'm not an active user. I only joined in an effort to facilitate easier communication in a local leads group I was a member of. The leads group, and my interest in social networking sites have since both went bust. What ONE piece of technology could you absolutely not live without? My BlackBerry. It's my connection to the world, especially my office … even when I'm not near a computer. Monitors on your desk? Four and counting. Other than SMS on your cell phone, what is your favorite way to IM with your friends and family? I don't use texting or IM. NOT including your current employer, what company do you most admire and why? Creative Solutions. That company, its products and its people have made me look like a genius to my partners. Noel Abdur-Rahim, CPA — 28 Manager — PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Detroit, Michigan Education: BA in Accounting (Michigan State University) & Masters In Accounting (Eastern Michigan University) Professional Associations/Memberships: AICPA, Michigan Association of CPAs, National Association of Black Accountants, United Nations Association, Boys Hope Girls Hope - Detroit. Hobbies: Shopping, Reading, Traveling What are some ways your firm/business has gone "paperless" and/or "green" in the last two years? I am in Assurance (Audit) at my firm, and our engagements are almost 100% paperless. We have audit programs that allow for a more "green"/paperless audit, and I love it! Do you embrace cloud computing? I definitely embrace cloud computing. I use it more so for my personal life that work at the present time. I share docu- ments/pictures with my family through a cloud computing service. It's really convenient. How is cloud computing changing the accounting profession, and how con- cerned are you with the security issues related to cloud computing? Cloud computing is changing the profession by allowing more data accessibility and reliability to firms. However, the security issues surrounding access to data and potential for data manipulation are an increased risk. What ONE piece of technology could you absolutely not live without? My iPhone! It has everything in one: email, phone, internet and, of course, Angry Birds!! NOT including your current employer, what company do you most admire and why? I really like the Disney culture and environment. The commitment to diversity is unparalleled. What sports team/championship event do you absolutely refuse to miss? Super Bowl, but more for the commercials than the game. What are some of your favorite books, movies and websites? My favorite book is, "A Long Walk to Freedom," the autobiography of Nelson Mandela. My favorite movie is Back to the Future II, and my favorite websites are any that have great shopping deals! Cell phone: I have an iPhone for personal use, and I have a firm-issued BlackBerry for work. What is your favorite smartphone or tablet app? My favorite app is the CNN Headlines application. Even when I'm busy working, it keeps me updated on the headlines and breaking news for the day. 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? Currently, I only use social networking for personal reasons. I have heard great business stories from the use of such media outlets. I could see how one could benefit from using these tools to enhance their business and marketing strategies. What pitfalls or what unwritten rules of social networking etiquette exist, which are frequently missed by others in the profession? My #1 rule is, if you wouldn't say it to your mother, don't put it on the Web! Monitors on your desk? I actually carry a laptop since I have to travel from client to client, so my answer would be one monitor. Other than SMS on your cell phone, what is your favorite way to IM with your friends and family? BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) 19 Back to Contents Page 3

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