Technology adoption and its role in improving client accounting for CPA firms is one of the primary drivers behind CPA2Biz’s current efforts as the technology services subsidiary of the American Institute of CPAs has released a Learning Management Systems (LMS) white paper around the topic.

Erik Asgeirsson

CPA2Biz president chief executive Erik Asgeirsson made the announcement today during the AICPA’s Fall Council meeting, along with touting the business unit’s efforts over the past five years.

The new AICPA white paper, The Evolution of CPA Firm Learning, documents how high-performing practices invest more in professional education than their peers. The report, created in partnership with the consulting firm ConvergenceCoaching, found the following benefits accrued to organizations that made this commitment:

• Better client service through superior knowledge
• Team members motivated by firm investment in broader skill sets
• Opportunities to fast-track high performers
• Market differentiation through specialty credentials and certificate programs
• Career development mapping as a succession planning tool

“The LMS platform is a critical enabler of technology adoption [for CPA firms],” said Asgeirsson. “We’re working hard on education and change management is probably the biggest service we are providing right now. We are positioning firms for success in the digital age.”

Asgeirsson also said that CPA2Biz launched an LMS platform last August and there are now 500,000 courses in the AICPA Navigator -- a learning management system from CPA2Biz that allows CPAs to track and build their professional education through customized study paths that are available anytime and anywhere.

The CPA2Biz CEO continued to note other technology trends and how his business unit plans to address them for the profession. For one, as businesses and the consumer world become more mobile, CPA2Biz plans to have more products and information around use of mobile products and apps beginning with the launch of white labeled firm apps, for all size firms powered by CPA2Biz which will contain basic content services, calculators, and more in the coming months.

In addition, Asgeirsson touted the success of their efforts to educate firms about cloud technologies and their role in client accounting

“Five years ago we made a commitment to cloud computing through our Trusted Business Solutions Provider Program and that has been helping change client accounting,” he said. “We see the cloud as one of the greatest opportunities today for firms, related to client accounting services. Firms are reclaiming this space and they are building vertical practices in this area. Write up has done well, but to really success you need to think of attacking verticals like being virtual CFOs and controllers or assisting niches like nonprofit organizations and healthcare.”

Finally, Asgeirsson noted that over 1,000 firms are now using the .CPA branded email service, which CPA2Biz rolled out last year.