8.5x11 self cover · regional trends. a central theme of the 2006 edition was the state’s gradual...

MISSISSIPPI SOCIETY OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

VOLUME XLVIII APRIL 2010

continued on page 4

InThisIssueWelcome New Members............2

Sandestin Housing Form ...........3

Turning Prospects Into Clients ..7

MSCPA Career Center................8

Hardware Tracking.....................9

Does Your Technology MeasureUp............................................10

Mail BallotsAvailable forOfficer Election

Members who choose tocast an absentee ballot for the2010-2011 officer slate and the at-large Board of Governors membermay now request a ballot from theSociety office. Requests should bemade in writing to the MSCPA,306 Southampton Row, Ridgeland,MS 39157 or by email [email protected]. The Bylawsrequire that an absentee ballotmust be voted and returned to theSociety office no later than 15 daysprior to the date of the AnnualBusiness Meeting (June 26).

2010 MSCPA ConventionJune 24-27, 2010

The 2010 MSCPA Annual Convention isJune 24-27, 2010 at the Sandestin Golf &Beach Resort in Sandestin, Florida as theSociety marks the 90th anniversary.President Bob Cunningham invites allMSCPA members to attend.

Activities begin on Thursday, June 24when exhibitors set up booths in theBaytowne Conference Center. Two four-hourCPE programs are offered to the membershipwith Dr. Quinton Booker of Jackson StateUniversity presenting a four-hour Ethics,Rules & Regulations Seminar Thursdaymorning and Dr. Stan Clark of theUniversity of Southern Mississippipresenting a four-hour Accounting &Auditing Update Thursday afternoon. Aseparate brochure with complete details isavailable on the two four-hour programs atwww.ms-cpa.org.

The convention registration desk opensat 1 p.m. Thursday on the second level ofthe Baytowne Conference Center. Thewelcome reception starts at 7 p.m. in theAzalea Ballroom officially opening themeeting and members will be greeted by thecurrent MSCPA officers.

u u uBarry Melancon speaks at 9 a.m. onFriday…….

Barry Melancon,President of the AICPA, willprovide a professional issuesupdate Friday morning.Barry is the President andChief Executive Officer ofthe American Institute ofCertified Public Accountants

(AICPA), the national professionalorganization of CPAs with 350,000 members.As head of the largest body of CPAs in theworld, Melancon is called upon to representthe Institute with state, national andinternational organizations and is soughtafter by key opinion leaders for his expertise.

Under Melancon, the Institute hasspearheaded private company financialreporting standards; eXtensible BusinessReporting Language (XBRL); thecomputerized CPA exam; audit qualitycenters; an Audit Committee EffectivenessCenter; and two consumer educationprograms: 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy, anational effort to help Americans understand

how financial issues affect them at differentlife stages, and a related campaign, Feed thePig, created with the Ad Council anddesigned to help 25 – 34 year olds gaincontrol of their personal finances.

Melancon is a member of the AICPA’sdelegation to the International Federation ofAccountants and founding board member ofthe Global Accounting Alliance. In 2007and 2008, he served on the U. S.Department of the Treasury AdvisoryCommittee on the Auditing Profession.

Prior to joining the AICPA, Melanconserved for eight years as Executive Directorof the Society of Louisiana CPAs. He beganhis accounting career in 1979 at a small CPAfirm in Louisiana and was elected partner in1984. Melancon holds a bachelor’s inaccounting and MBA from Nicholls StateUniversity, where he served four years as anadjunct professor of accounting.

u u uJonathan Turner discusses fraudissues at 10:15 a.m…..

Jonathan Turner hasextensive experienceconducting civilinvestigations,concentrating on financialfraud, money launderingand computer crime cases.During his career, he has

helped hundreds of companies andorganizations resolve fraud matters,primarily in the healthcare, banking,manufacturing, and service sectors.

He is a Managing Director with Wilson &Turner Incorporated, where he specializes inthe prevention and detection of financialfraud and employee crime issues. Prior to co-founding WTI, he served in investigationsmanagement positions with regional,national and international investigationsfirms, with operational responsibility forthousands of investigations. Turner waseducated at Tulane University (BA,International Relations) and the Universityof Leicester (MSc, Security & RiskManagement).

He is an expert in the investigation anddocumentation of financial fraud andcomputer crime matters. He concentrates onthe prevention, detection and resolution of

Melancon

Turner

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Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants April 2010

Publishedby the

Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants

306 Southampton RowThe Commons

Highland Colony ParkwayRidgeland, MS 39157

PHONE: (601) 856-4244FAX: (601) 856-8255

E-MAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]

OFFICERS

PresidentBob Cunningham, Jackson

Vice President/President-ElectSim Mosby, Natchez

SecretarySusan Riley, Hattiesburg

TreasurerLee Adams, Jackson

Immediate Past-PresidentJan Lewis, Jackson

Executive DirectorJack O. Coppenbarger

The CPA Newsletter is the officialpublication of the Mississippi Society ofCertified Public Accountants. TheNewsletter invites articles of interest to theprofession and gives credit to the author;however, it reserves the right to editarticles for correct spelling, wording andpunctuation.

Opinions expressed are not necessarilythe official policy of the MSCPA.Advertising is accepted in good faith thatthe product/services are of value stated.

Committees MeetMay 4 at MSCPA

MSCPA Committees will hold theirSpring organizational meetings duringmorning (9-11 a.m.) or afternoon (1-3 p.m.)sessions on Tuesday, May 4 at the MSCPABuilding in Ridgeland.

Committees on a morning schedulestarting at 9 o’clock include Accounting &Auditing, Awards, Education & Scholarships,Business Valuation, Continuing ProfessionalEducation, Firm Administration &Development, Governmental Accounting &Auditing, and Health Care Services.

The afternoon committee schedule startsat 1 p.m. and includes Industry, InsuranceTrust, Legislation, Long Range Planning,Non-Profits, and Taxation.

Committees will plan their program ofwork for the new year. Minutes will bereviewed by the Board of Governors at theJuly meeting.

Volunteer forCommittee Service

MSCPA members are encouraged tovolunteer for committee service and theprocess is very easy.

Current committee rosters are carried onthe Society’s website at www.ms-cpa.org.Click on The Association tab at the top leftand then follow the link to CommitteeRosters. Review the committee titles andsend an email to [email protected] listing upto three committee preferences.

President-Elect Sim Mosby will makeappointments in early Spring and aconfirmation will be sent to the committeemember with details on your committeemeeting during May. Continuingcommittee members will receive a notice ofdetails on their committee meetingschedule.

Our Members inthe NewsJoseph E. Hines, CPA, CFFA, CFFdelivered a presentation on businessinterruption claims at the Jan. 26meeting of the Memphis ClaimsAssociation. Joey is a partner withTann, Brown & Russ Co., PLLC inJackson where he serves as manager ofthe firm’s litigation and forensicaccounting services practice.

Welcome NewMembers

New members include Melody AnnByrd, Ben R. Hester, Derek Wade Holeman,Jennifer Smith Lott, John Angelo Milazzo,Cal Rackley, Kallie Breanne Stacy, MelissaAnn Swetland, Donna Peninger Taylor,Rickey Reece Williams.

Now completing the membershipprocess are:

Rosemary Franks Jarrell was born inTupelo and received her Bachelor ofAccountancy and Master of Accountancyfrom the University of Mississippi. She isthe Director of Finance for Journal, Inc. inTupelo.

Jared Hunter King was born inHattiesburg and received an Associate ofArts degree from Jones County JuniorCollege and a BSBA from the University ofSouthern Mississippi. He is an In-ChargeAccountant with McArthur, Thames, Slay &Dews in Hattiesburg.

Jennifer Rochell Powers was born inHattiesburg and received her Bachelor ofScience degree from Belhaven College. Sheis the Controller for Jackson PreparatorySchool in Jackson.

Debbie Lynn Clark McClelland wasborn in Hattiesburg and received her BSBAwith an accounting emphasis from theUniversity of Southern Mississippi. She is aSupervisor with Horne LLP in Gulfport.

Scott Aaron Samuels was born inJackson and received his Bachelor ofAccountancy and Master of Taxation fromthe University of Mississippi. He is a TaxSupervisor with Horne LLP in Ridgeland.

Ellen Frances Williams was born inMeridian and received her BA and MS inAccounting from the University ofMississippi. She is an Accountant with A. T.Williams, CPA in Philadelphia.

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April 2010 Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants

4


NewMSCPA

CAREERCENTER

For

Job SeekersAnd

EmployersSign up at

www.ms-cpa.org

financial fraud schemes. He prepares fidelitybond and employee crime claims for victimorganizations. Working with Fortune 500and other leading companies, his effortshave led to numerous multi-million dollarrecoveries from fraud losses. He has beenretained to provide expert testimonyregarding fraud, on behalf of governmental,public and private organizations, for mattersbefore U.S. State, Federal & Bankruptcycourts, as well as international courts.

Turner is a Certified Fraud Examiner(CFE), a Certified International Investigator(CII), and is licensed as a private investigator.He maintains active membership in theAssociation of Certified Fraud Examiners,where he is Chairman of the Board ofRegents; the American Bar Association; theAmerican Society of Criminology; and manyother professional groups. He serves on theEditorial Boards of Fraud Magazine and TheJohn Liner Review, and he is an advisor to theAudit Committees of Not-for-ProfitOrganizations.

u u uFollowing the morning

presentations, members are free to enjoyan afternoon of relaxation or may choose toparticipate in the golf tournament on theBaytowne Course or aboard the Sweet Jodyfor an afternoon of fishing. A box lunch willbe provided after the last speaker concludes.

The Young CPA Group will sponsor aGame Night Friday night in the BaytowneConference Center following the reception.This is a new event in the conventionschedule.

u u uAnnual Business Meeting Starts at 9a.m. on Saturday…….

The Annual Business Meeting will becalled into session at 9 a.m. on Saturday byPresident Cunningham. Officers for the2010-2011 fiscal year will be elected andreports from the Secretary, Treasurer,Insurance Trust Chairman, Legislation, andthe Mississippi State Board of Public

Accountancy will be presented. Memberswho have won the Outstanding Educatorand Public Service Awards will also behonored. CPA Exam Medal Winners will alsobe recognized.

u u uAndy Taggart and Jere Nash talkpolitics at 11 a.m on Saturday:

Originally published in2006, Mississippi Politicsquickly became thedefinitive work on thestate’s recent politicalhistory, campaigns,legislative battles, andlitigation, as well as howMississippi shaped and wasshaped by national andregional trends. A centraltheme of the 2006 editionwas the state’s gradualtransition from aDemocratic surety to aRepublican stronghold. For

the updated edition, authors Jere Nash andAndy Taggart examine the aftermath of the2007 gubernatorial and 2008 presidentialelections—and all the fireworks in between.The new edition adds a chapter covering thelast two years and includes analyses of the2007 and 2008 statewide, legislative, andfederal elections; the resignations of SenatorTrent Lott and Congressman Chip Pickering;the indictments of Richard Scruggs and otherprominent lawyers; President BarackObama’s influence on the state’s 2008 votingdynamics; and the election of House SpeakerBilly McCoy. Jere Nash, a Democrat, is aconsultant whose political positions haveincluded executive director of MississippiFirst, deputy state auditor, and chief of stafffor the Office of the Governor. He hasconsulted on numerous state and localcampaigns. Andy Taggart, a Republican,currently operates his own law firm, focusingon business counseling and consulting withemphasis on government and health. He hasserved as executive director of the MississippiRepublican Party, chief of staff for the Officeof the Governor, and president/CEO of the

Mississippi Technology Alliance.u u u

Free Time Saturday AfternoonMembers return from a free afternoon for

a reception and dinner on the Grand Lawn.President Cunningham will introduce newlyelected officers and the traditional exchangeof gavel will be made as President-Elect SimMosby nears the beginning of his term.

u u uPrayer Breakfast Closes ConventionSunday morning…..

The traditional Sunday morning PrayerBreakfast, very popular with members andwell attended, will close the 2010 meeting.

u u uSpecial for Spouses: On Friday

morning at 9 o’clock, a breakfast buffet willbe served for Spouses. This will be held onthe Second Level of the Baytown ConferenceCenter. And on Saturday starting at 9 a.m.,bingo will be held in the conference centerwith prizes made possible by the MSCPAChapters.

Taggart

Nash

2010 CONVENTIONCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

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Tech Bit: Plane Quiet by Gregg Marshall, CPMR, CSP

If you fly a lot you’ll see more and morepeople wearing their own headphones,usually active noise cancelling.

My first experience with noise cancelingheadphones came the first year United flewthe new Boeing 777. Upgraded to businessclass, the headphones were nicer and had anoise cancellation switch. It made anoticeable difference.

Active noise cancellation headphoneswork using a small microphone to listen tothe outside noise then generate a soundpattern that neutralizes that noise as itreaches your ear.

The gold standard for noise cancellationheadphones has been the Bose QuietComfort 2 at around $300. I actually thinkAble Planet’s Clear Harmony headphoneshave better sound because their digitalsignal processing is more sophisticated.

Of course a $300 set of headphones youmay leave on a plane doesn’t fit ineveryone’s budget. My first pair of activenoise cancelling headphones were $50 fromAWAI. They gave me a noticeableimprovement, subjectively 80% of what Igot from top of the line Bose. I’ve triedseveral similarly priced headphones andfound them to be roughly comparable.

While trying a pair of Senheiser XX-250noise canceling headphones that were lightand didn’t cover the ear, I realized they dida great job if I held them against my ears.But just wearing them let noise leak inaround the ear. I understand the new QuietComfort 3 have a similar issue.

At the Consumer Electronics Show thatyear I had a chance to try a pair of ShureE3c in-ear headphones. They weren’t activenoise cancelling, they are called noiseisolation, but they did an amazing job ofblocking out the show noise. The pair Ihave flown with the last two years haveworked flawlessly (and they are very small).

Not everyone can wear in-earheadphones, they find them uncomfortableand I’m sure certain ear conditions makein-ear headphones unsuitable. I can. I’mnot sure I would ever go back to regularheadphones. I find them more comfortable(once you get used to having somethingstuck in your ear). I can even sleep wearingthem, something I could never do withtraditional headphone.

The next year at CES I was talking to theShure people and they shared a paperwritten by Virginia Tech that showed thatnoise isolation headphones outperformed

active noise cancellation headphones, aresult I find empirically accurate.

I’ve tried a number of inexpensive in-earheadphones (as low as $10 from a Chinesevendor at CES that actually were prettygood but I’ve never seen them in the USretail market). While the sound quality is“ok,” and I’m no audiophile, most don’thave enough options on their ear buds toget a good seal. The vModa headphoneshave good sound but “leak.” Isolation isthe name of the game as far as I’mconcerned.

My current favorites are the Etymotic 6iisolation headphones, they came with aselection of ear buds (Available at Amazon).Same noise isolation as my E3c’s (lost on anairplane), but they deliver much bettersound quality.

Noise canceling/isolation headphonesare “the only way to fly.” Being on onlyone flight with the screaming baby 3 rowsback will convince you. They are also greatwhen you need to concentrate at the officeor some other noisy environment.Gregg Marshall, CPMR, CSP, is a speaker, author andconsultant. He can be reached by e-mail [email protected], or visit his website athttp://www.repconnection.com.

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2010 MSCPAAnnual Convention

June 24-27, 2010Sandestin Golf& Beach Resort

Turning Prospects into Clients: It’s Personal by Lisa Benson

You’ve heard it before, building yourbusiness means building relationships.That’s especially true in the accounting fieldwhere a company or individual chooses anaccounting firm primarily based onpersonal relationships. The process ofchanging your accounting firm can take aconsiderable amount of time. How youutilize that time with your prospects canmean the difference between signing a newclient or losing them to another firm.

You can gather all the leads you want,but if you don’t cultivate those leads – withpatience and on a personal level, very fewof them will ever become customers. Fartoo often, leads are generated, but businessdevelopment efforts will stop too soon onthose that haven’t yet reached the “ripe”stage of the sales cycle. The truth is thatwhen you have built a relationship with aprospect, when they are ready to make achange that lead will have a shorter salescycle and buy more services.

It is vital to build trust and credibilityover time with your potential buyers, aswell as nurture your current clients to makesure that your competition doesn’t lurethem away from you. If you graduallybecome detached from a prospect, trust will

never be established, and if you detachfrom a current client, the trust you workedso hard to create will be lost.

So, how do you turn leads into clients? Understand how prospects decide

on an accounting firm. The majority ofthe process involves logic – how can yourfirm do a better job than their current oneor another firm they’re considering? Theywill certainly look at your experience andbackground carefully, but your “stats” aren’teverything. A company’s finances are at thecore of its survival, so don’t underestimatethe role that emotions play in the decision-making process. Your firm’s credentialsmatter, but trust matters even more. Andtrust comes only through building arelationship with the individuals who willchoose your firm over another.

Get to know your prospects andclients. While it’s important to know yourfirm’s unique selling proposition, it isn’tenough. You want to make sure you aretaking the time to learn about theprospect’s organization and their issues andconcerns. Imagine going to a doctor andbefore you discuss any of your symptoms,the doctor starts prescribing medications.Make sure you diagnose before you start to

prescribe. Spend time before a meeting tolearn about the prospect, the company andthe industry. Internet research makes thisquick and easy.

Put yourself in the shoes of yourpotential client. What would you need toknow in order to buy? Think about whatthis company or individual needs. Whatproblems or issues are they facing? Howcould you make life easier for them? Whatis in it for them to work with you?

Always think about what you cando for your client/prospect. Talkingabout the prestigious companies you haveserved is all fine and good, but it doesn’ttell prospects how you can help them savemoney, save time, or increase efficiency.The bottom line is: It’s not about you – it’sabout them. Again, ask yourself what you

continued on page 8

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MSCPA Launches New Online Career CenterThe MSCPA has launched an interactive job board, the MSCPA Career Center. Thecenter offers an easy-to-use and highly targeted resource for online employmentconnections. A link is on the Society’s website.

Both members and non-members can use the MSCPA Career Center to reach qualifiedcandidates. Employers can post jobs online, search for qualified candidates based onspecific job criteria, and create an online resume agent to email qualified candidatesdaily. An added benefit is online reporting that provides job activity statistics.

For job seekers, MSCPA Career Center is a free service that provides access toemployers and jobs. In addition to posting their resumes, job seekers can browseand view available jobs based on their criteria and save those jobs for later review ifthey choose. Job seekers can also create a search agent to provide emailnotifications of jobs that match their criteria.

Honor an OutstandingMSCPA Member ForPublic Service

The membership is invited to nominatea member for consideration as the 2010Public Service Award winner.

The winner will be recognized duringthe Annual Business Meeting Saturday, June26, 2010 at the Sandestin Golf & BeachResort. President Bob Cunningham hasnamed members of the 2010 Public ServiceAward Committee including: StacyThomas, Jackson; Juliette Mays, Houston;and Steven Palazzo, Biloxi.

Qualifying activities for the awardinclude service clubs, church work,children’s programs, economic developmentand public service. Submit a nominee’sname to one of the committee members orto the MSCPA office ([email protected]) forforwarding to the committee.

would need to know in order to buy, andhelp your prospect understand the benefitsof working with your firm. Make sure theyknow that you understand their businessand want to serve their best interests.

Offer valuable information for free.This can be done through relevantnewsletters, emails, whitepapers, blogs, orwebinars that offer useful and engaging tipsto your prospects and clients on a regularbasis. The key word is relevant. Your clientsand prospects won’t appreciate your givingunless your gifts matter to them. Otherwise,you become like the aunt who always givesthe gift no one wants. Keep the sales pitchout of it, and simply offer your firm as an

expert and advisor to your clients and leads.Meet in Person. Don’t try to build

relationships via email, social networking,and telephone alone. Request theopportunity to meet with the prospects inperson. One face-to-face meeting will domore to establish a relationship with aclient or prospect than months of emailsand phone calls. Don’t you feel moretrusting and connected to people you havemet in person?

Demonstrate that you’re worth thetrouble of changing firms. Everyinteraction you have with a prospectdemonstrates what it will be like to workwith you in the future. No company orindividual will change accounting firmsunless they believe it is truly to theiradvantage. Take time to think about theprospect and their situation. Then let themknow how you can help make a differenceto them.

Never forget about your current

clients. It is easier to keep existing clientsthan to go find new ones. So, stay involvedwith your clients on a regular basis. Makesure you know where they are struggling,and make sure you are proactivelycommunicating how you can help. Stayabreast of the changes and challenges inyour existing clients’ industries, and showthem that you care about the success oftheir businesses.

It may sound like a never-endingmantra, but that’s because it works.Building relationships is how you not onlyincrease your bottom line but how you stayafloat in a tough economy. That is true ofevery business, but it is even truer ofaccounting, where a client’s trust in you isparamount.About the Author: As a shareholder at The Growth Partnership, LisaBenson guides the strategy and operations of the Lead GenerationServices Division. Using a sophisticated nurture-marketing model,she and her team of experienced marketing and businessdevelopment professionals helps accounting firms achieve a delicatebalance between short-term results and long-term relationships.

TURNING PROSPECTSCONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

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Hardware Tracking by Val Steed, CPA, MA, CITP

In this era of heightened data securityconcerns, the idea of asset tracking seemsto also have merit. While tracking downa lost laptop or desk system will not solveall the issues related to data breach laws, itmight help minimize the damage. Irecommend using data encryption alongwith hardware tracking to protect yourdata. This article does not discuss dataencryption. Instead, the focus of thisarticle is on hardware or asset tracking,especially laptops.

To learn more about hardware trackingI have been using LoJack for Laptops nowfor over a year. To date, I have installedthe solution on two of my laptops andalso on my daughter’s laptop which iswith her at college. After installing thetracking solution the first time, I wasamazed to see how my system wouldautomatically log or ping back to thereporting system at least every other day.

Installations of these solutions are veryquick and simple. The tracking process isvery good. Features to look for aretracking and logging use, test of tracking,and remote data wipe capabilities. Note,

the solution is not installed on the harddrive. I am not sure where it embedsitself in the system but it is deep, maybeBIOS. Lojack for Laptops would notanswer this question for good reason. Totest this, I have replaced the hard drive inmy laptop and it is still pinging away withno further installation! So thieves can tryto replace the hard drive, but the systemwill still ping back to the tracking system.

The cost will typically range from $25-$40 per year per device. Deals areavailable for multiple year contracts andmultiple systems. For those with collegestudents or employees who go into thefield, this is an easy decision. For thosethat are mobile but not really in thepublic, the cost may be prohibitive. Forme, this is a great technology as I amconstantly on and off planes and in andout of hotels, etc. I use LoJack for Laptopsand combine that with PGP Whole DiskEncryption to also protect the data fromunauthorized access. Laptops are a bigtarget for data theft when used in publicareas.

In a casual discussion with a police

detective, he mentioned to me that thesesystems work very well and that if thethief is dumb enough to stay online, theycan triangulate the location of the stolenequipment in hours. If the thief only usesthe equipment on an intermittent basis, itwill take a few days to locate but theyeventually do locate the equipment. Also,he mentioned that law enforcementofficials love these solutions because whenthey find your equipment, they often alsofind many other stolen goods and thethief.

To date, I have not needed to report alaptop stolen, but, I now am confidentthat if I need to do so, I can get thehardware back quickly. I recommendhardware tracking to anyone. Remember,this is just one element in data andhardware protection. You really need agood encryption solution, as well, for atotal solution.

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Does Your Technology Measure Up? by Thomas G. Stephens, Jr., CPA, CITP

IntroductionIt’s a fair question, don’t you think?

With today’s economic issues stillpressuring organizational budgets, manyaccountants and other businessprofessionals are examining howtechnology can improve organizationalefficiency and profitability. So, where doesyour organization stand with respect toimplementing practical technology that canhave an immediate positive impact on yourbottom line? What are some of today’stechnology best practices for firms andorganizations of all sizes? At K2 Enterprises,we see several key areas where organizationscan realize an immediate return oninvesting in technology. Among the morenoteworthy are:• Migrating to Microsoft Office 2007/Office

2010,• Managing information more effectively

with a document management system,and

• Implementing a workflow solution.• Each of these is discussed briefly below.• Migrating to Microsoft Office 2007/Office

2010For organizations currently running

Microsoft Office 2003 or prior,implementing Office 2007 or Office 2010(currently scheduled for release on May 12),represents a significant opportunity for end-users to become more efficient whenworking with everyday tools such as Excel,Word, and Outlook. Yes, the user interfaceis much different than that in Office 2003and learning how to work with it effectivelyis a training issue that you will need toaddress, but the advantages offered in bothOffice 2007 and Office 2010 far outweighthe transition issues associated withmigrating from Office 2003. Among thefeatures in these versions of Office thatimprove productivity are enhancedcapacities in Excel workbooks; improvedcharting engines in Excel, Word, andPowerPoint; and easier exchange ofinformation through new XML-based fileformats. New features available in Office2010 include a 64-bit version that can takeadvantage of additional memory installedwith 64-bit operating systems; Office WebApps, a web-based version of Excel, Word,PowerPoint, and OneNote; and significantimprovements to Outlook, includingQuickSteps and Conversation View, both ofwhich provide for managing email moreefficiently.

Neither Office 2007 nor Office 2010require Windows Vista or Windows 7, butorganizations that implement a 64-bit

version of either of these operating systemsin conjunction with a 64-bit version ofOffice 2010 are likely to notice superiorperformance, as compared to prior versionsof Office.

Managing Information moreEffectively with a DocumentManagement System

Leaders in many organizations considertheir organizations “paperless” because, atsome level, the organization is scanningand storing documents as digital files –usually PDFs. However, scanning paperdocuments to PDFs and storing them intraditional Windows file folder structuresdoes not represent the paperless office.Rather, managing information from cradle-to-grave through a document managementsystem (DMS) is how the paperless office isdefined. This management process includesaddressing issues such as document securityand integrity, defining and enforcingdocument retention policies, retrievingdocuments on demand, and placingdocuments on litigation hold. Further, itaddresses all documents in an organization,including documents from non-traditionalsources such as email, voicemail, and faxes.

In addition to supporting “green”initiatives, other benefits associated withusing a DMS to manage the paperless officeinclude quicker access to criticalinformation, enhanced security, reductionin square footage used to store paperdocuments, anytime/anywhere access todocuments, and increased capacity forgrowth without adding overhead.

Implementing a Workflow SolutionClosely associated with the concept of a

paperless office is that of more effectivelymanaging workflow within the office. Everyorganization has workflows; workflows arethose processes – either formally orinformally defined – by which transactionsare effected within the organization. Forexample, in an accounts payabledepartment, there is a workflow associatedwith how the organization processesinvoices from vendors; likewise, in a publicaccounting firm, there is a workflowassociated with how the firm processesindividual income tax returns. Asorganizations move paperless and paper-based routing slips and other documentscease to exist, how will we know the statusof any transaction within the organization?How will we know to whom the transactionshould flow once a specific processing stepis completed? These are the functions ofworkflow management solutions – to track

documents and transactions as they movefrom one participant in the workflow toanother.

Properly implemented workflowsolutions increase efficiency, improvecustomer/client service, support paperlessprocesses, and improve internal controls, allof which enhance profitability. Considerthe following scenario. Suppose you workin a small public accounting firm with tenpeople involved in the process of preparingindividual income tax returns. Further,suppose that the firm prepares 300 taxreturns during the 75-day “busy season.” Aworkflow solution that saves each personjust fifteen minutes per day saves the firm$18,750, assuming an average billing rate of$100 per hour, per person. Clearly,workflow solutions represent a terrificopportunity to enhance organizationalprofitability.

SummaryEvery organization is different and one

or more of the technologies mentionedabove may not be appropriate for yourorganization at this time. However, formany businesses, implementing one ormore of the technologies discussed in thisarticle can positively affect efficiency,productivity, and ultimately, profitability.Now is a great time to consider how yourorganization’s technology measures up; if itis not supporting organizational objectives,consider the many great options you haveavailable today to make your investment intechnology a real strategic asset.

Plan to attend the MississippiTechnology Conference on May 10th &11th at the Hilton Jackson to expand yourknowledge on these topics and more! Toregister or for additional information onthis conference, visit www.ms-cpa.org.

Mr. Stephens is a shareholder in K2 Enterprises, where hedevelops and presents technology-related continuing professionaleducation programs to accounting and finance professionalsacross the United States. You may reach him at [email protected].

Do We Have YourEmail Address?Visit the Members Section of theSociety website (top right mainpage at www.ms-cpa.org) toreview your member informationand make updates. Or, emailyour preferred email address [email protected] and we’ll dothe update for you.

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PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDJACKSON, MSPERMIT #814

Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants

and its Education Foundation306 Southampton RowRidgeland, MS 39157

CLASSIFIEDSReply in confidence to File #401, c/o MSCPA, 306Southampton Row, Ridgeland, MS 39157.

u u uThe firm of GranthamPoole CPAs, past recipientof the Mississippi Business Journal’s prestigiousBest Places to Work in Mississippi award, islooking for great staff additions. If you love taxpreparation and planning and enjoy takingexcellent care of clients, we may have a home foryou. Full time, seasonal, and part-time staffmembers are all valued at GranthamPoole.Competitive salary, partner track, great benefits,and excellent opportunity for advancement allmake GranthamPoole an outstanding place towork! Send resumes to 6360 I-55 North, Suite 101,Jackson, MS 39211, fax to 601-957-9599 or [email protected].

u u uCome join the Wolfe, McDuff, & Oppie team –the firm of choice on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.We have openings at all levels, each withopportunities for advancement. We are looking forambitious, energetic and self-starting individualswho seek a career in public accounting. You mustbe comfortable working in a laid-back, flexibleenvironment. We offer competitive salaries, bonusopportunities, great benefits and excellent growthopportunities. Send your resume [email protected] or fax to 228-762-4498.

u u uAlexander, Van Loon, Sloan, Levens &Favre, PLLC, a Gulf Coast based CPA firm,Finalist for the 2006 Best Places To Work inMississippi award, is accepting resumes’ for SeniorIn-Charge Level Auditors. Competitive salary,great benefits, limited travel and overtime– outstanding place to work! Send resume’ tothe following address (No Calls): Mail to: Attn:Cindy Moore, 9490 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport,MS 39503; E-mail: [email protected]; Fax:(228) 863-1165

u u uHADDOX REID BURKES & CALHOUN PLLCseeks experienced audit and tax professionalsinterested in a rewarding career with one of themost established and respected CPA firms in theJackson area. Excellent benefit package,competitive salary, and opportunity foradvancement. Flexible work schedule is anoption. Contact Debbie Holbrook([email protected]) or mail resume inconfidence to P.O. Drawer 22507, Jackson, MS39225-2507. For more information, visit ourwebsite at www.hrbccpa.com.

Wm. F. Horne & Co., PLLC seeks Health CareConsultant: South Mississippi Public Accountingfirm seeking full-time health care consultant towork with their physician and institutional clients.five years experience with Masters Degreepreferred. Candidate must have extensiveknowledge in the area of physician practicemanagement, including coding andreimbursement. Excellent benefits andopportunity for advancement. To apply, [email protected] or fax to 601-649-5233

u u uFred T. Neely & Co, CPAs is seeking a senior levelaudit and tax professional. Competitive salary,excellent opportunity for advancement, greatbenefits package and no travel. Please send resumeto P O Box 894, Greenwood, Ms 38935-0894

u u uWm. F. Horne & Co., PLLC is seeking a full-time audit supervisor for Hattiesburg and Laurel,Mississippi area. Excellent benefits andcompetitive salary with opportunity foradvancement. To apply, email resume [email protected] or fax to 601-649-5233.

u u uProfessional Staff: May & Company, LLP, inVicksburg, a recipient of the Mississippi BusinessJournal’s 2010 Best Place to Work inMississippi, is looking for highly motivated taxand audit professionals. We offer competitivecompensation, excellent benefits andopportunities for advancement in a relaxedenvironment. May & Company is extremelyemployee friendly with paid overtime or comptime, minimal out of town overnight travel, andopportunities in tax preparation and auditing.Mail resumes with confidence to Attn: HumanResources, P.O. Box 821568, Vicksburg, MS 39182-1568 or email to [email protected].

u u uBKD, LLP, one of the 10 largest CPA and advisoryfirms in the U.S., is looking for experienced auditand tax professionals for its Mississippi offices.Candidates must have CPA or be CPA eligible. Fora closer look at BKD, please visit www.bkd.com.

u u uCPA FIRM seeking experienced or entry levelauditors that live in the Central to South Delta regionof Mississippi. Competitive salary and benefits withlimited travel. No overnight trips or weekend work.

u u uKPMG LLP seeks experienced audit professionalsinterested in a rewarding career with one of thelargest and most dynamic CPA firms in the world.Competitive compensation, excellent benefits andample opportunity for advancement are offered.Mail resumes in confidence to 188 E. CapitolStreet, Suite 1100, Jackson, MS 39201, [email protected] , or visit our website atwww.kpmg.com.

u u uJACKSON CPA FIRM of Breazeale, Saunders &O’Neil, Ltd. is seeking experienced audit and taxprofessionals, both full time and part time. Ourstaff enjoys state-of-the-art technology,intellectually challenging assignments andmeaningful opportunities to enhance professionaland personal skills. In addition to an excellentcompensation package, we offer a familyatmosphere with a strong emphasis on client-centered professionalism. Send resume inconfidence to P. O. Box 80, Jackson, MS 39205-0080. FAX 601-355-9003.

u u uCALCULATORS PLUS is now handling theMonroe Calculators and supplies Call ChesterWasser at 601-709-0371 or 888-264-3939 for moreinformation and special CPA pricing.

u u uJIM BURFORD, AGENT FOR ACCOUNTINGPRACTICE SALES - WHERE PRACTICE SELLERSAND BUYERS MEET!!! We have a lending sourcethat will lend 100% of purchase price ofaccounting practices plus operating funds, 10 yearloan amortization period, with no down payment,to party that has good credit and at least 2 years ofrelative experience. An excellent opportunity toopen your own office or expand an existing office.ACCOUNTING PRACTICES FOR SALE: MS practice Gross $1,020,000 * Southeastern LApractice Gross $382,000 * Vicksburg Practice Gross$86,000 * Ocean Springs Gross $270,000 * Practice1 hour south of Tupelo Gross $85,000 * LakeCharles, LA Gross $558,000 * Jackson PurchaseArea of KY Gross $758,000. Thinking of selling?We have qualified buyers waiting and an everexpanding data base of qualified buyers and 100%cash out financing available to close the sale ofyour practice within 90 days. TO LIST YOURPRACTICE WITH US OR TO CHECK OUT OURCURRENT LISTINGS Call me, JIM BURFORD, CPATOLL FREE (800) 340-7002 or visit our website atwww.accountingpracticesales.com or e-mail me [email protected]

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