Today's Technology for Tomorrow's Firm.
Issue link: https://cpapracticeadvisor.epubxp.com/i/80319
Have you embraced cloud computing for your practice? Are you moving your clients to the cloud? Joe Lauzen CPA — 36 President, Lauzen Accounting Warrenville, Illinois Hobbies: Fly Fishing, Rowing, College Football Website: www.lauzenaccounting.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ Lauzen-Accounting/154555584599636 Twitter: www.twitter.com/jlauzen LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/pub/joe-lauzen/10/533/478 Education: Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from University of Illinois Professional Associations/Memberships: RootWorks, PASBA, AMMO We have embraced cloud computing for our firm. We currently use the full suite of Thom- son Reuters products through their Virtual Of- fice application so our staff has more flexibility relative to where and when they get their work done. We have also been moving clients to the cloud for bookkeeping and accounting so that we can share information with them in real-time. How is cloud computing changing the ac- counting profession, and how concerned are you with the security issues related to cloud computing? Cloud computing is making where and when we get our work done more flexible. It's also allowing us to better serve our clients by sharing information in real-time. And, yes, I'm always concerned about the security of infor- mation. That's why we use trusted vendors like Thomson Reuters and Right Networks to host our applications. What are some ways your firm has gone "pa- perless" and/or "green" in the last few years? We have continued to push sharing static docu- ments with our clients through portals rather than printing and mail- ing. Sharing documents through portals not only saves paper, but it's also a more efficient process for our clients and our office. We have also continued to push sharing live accounting and bookkeeping data with our clients rather than having clients print and mail informa- tion. Sharing live data in real-time allows us to better serve our clients throughout the month rather than waiting until month-end. Our cli- ents enjoy 24/7 access to their financial state- ments, tax returns, and accounting software, all conveniently available through our website. How mobile are you regarding your work? How have mobile devices and apps impact- ed your productivity and work-life balance? The ability to work remotely has allowed me to spend more time with my family, especially during busy season. However, if I really have a lot of work to do, I still prefer to be at my of- fice rather than working remotely. NOT including your current employer, what company do you most admire and why? I admire what my grandfather, Leo G. Lauzen, accomplished with his company, Comprehen- sive Accounting Corporation. Beginning in the 1970's, Comprehensive Accounting Corpora- tion focused on providing small businesses with the accounting and tax services that were typically only available to larger companies with more resources. They developed a sys- tem to serve these small business clients with meaningful business guidance and tax plan- ning based on timely and accurate monthly financial statements. We have been focused on the evolution of that system by utilizing current technologies like hosted QuickBooks, QuickBooks Online, Bill.com, and SmartVault. However, the core idea of his business has re- mained the same, providing services that help small businesses be more successful, making more money and spending less time doing it. And after blowing a little dust off it, these systems still work today. Have you found business success via social media, either via recognizable ROI, new customers, marketing or networking? When allocating marketing resources, I be- lieve it is important to consider which resourc- es will most effectively reach and communi- cate with your target market. Although we currently have a social media presence, it has not been our main focus. However, I do think that social media can be used as an inexpen- sive and efficient method to deliver infor- mation to our clients and prospects. So it's something we need to continue to explore. What ONE piece of technology could you absolutely not live without? Probably my iPad. We've been using it as part of our sales presentations for prospec- tive clients and have found that it can be an effective tool in communicating the value of our services. What sports team/championship event do you absolutely refuse to miss? University of Illinois football and New Year's Day College bowl games. What cell phone do you carry/use? iPhone What is your favorite professional mobile app, and why? I don't think that I have a favorite professional mobile app, but I am looking forward to the continued development of Thomson's Mobile CS app. 24 | 2012 CPA Practice Advisor 40 Under 40 BACK TO PAGE 4