Technology takes the lead as the trend of real-time reporting increases in the accounting industry. C. Lynn Northrup, consultant and certified public accountant, has been working with companies for years helping them to understand the benefits of digitally recording data, rather than keeping file cabinets full of paper.

Northrup will host two seminars for the MACPA, Virtual Accounting for the Competitive Advantage and Techniques of Effective Change Management. Both seminars focus on the impact technology has on the accounting industry and provide solutions for moving from paper dependence to digital independence.

Using new business software and technology will help save accounting firms time and money, and improve the business process. “Not as much time will be spent closing the books, so this extra time can go towards strategic planning and developing forecast models. Plus, CPAs will spend less time searching for files and information because the data will be easily searchable and accessible,” said Northrup.

“The logistics of changing a firm into a technology-based company is not the hard part. A person’s mindset is truly the hardest thing to change,” said Northrup. “When someone, or a firm, has been doing something for years one way, it is hard to get them to put their trust into new and better technology.” He added, "With the right amount of trust, drive and determination, on the part of the CPA or firm, the change can be made successfully."

By attending these seminars, CPAs and accounting professionals will be exposed to new ideas to streamline business, different from traditional accounting concepts. For more information or to register for one or both of Northrup’s seminars please visit the MACPA web site.

The Virtual Accounting for the Competitive Advantage seminar will be held on March 19, 2007 in Livonia then again on March 20, 2007 in Grand Rapids. The Techniques of Effective Change Management seminar will be held in Grand Rapids on March 21, 2007.

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