Many years ago, a survey of computer usage showed that Lotus 1-2-3 was the most commonly used spreadsheet, database, graphics package and word processing package used by members of the American Institute of CPAs. Replace the nearly forgotten Lotus package with the almost universally used Microsoft Excel, and the results would probably be the same. Accountants use Excel for everything, including tasks it really wasn't designed for.

"In the Lotus days, I used to try to teach our staff that a spreadsheet is not the correct tool for everything," says Peter Frank, principal with Manhattan-based Cornick, Garber & Sandler

Frank, a CPA and CITP, is the firm's technology partner and hosts regular staff luncheons to discuss technology issues, such as the use of software applications.

There have been changes - the firm once used a spreadsheet for write-up work but now uses Quicken and QuickBooks, which are quicker to use, but which are inherently more secure than Excel since they are built on a database.

But he notes that, "We still use Excel as much or more for that we ever did, but not deliverables." That's in part due to a fact that Cornick Garber's consulting business is smaller than it once was.

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