CPA2Biz, the technology subsidiary of the American Institute of CPAs, is adding social CRM provider Avectra to its Trusted Business Advisor Solutions program, with a focus on having the company become the preferred provider of constituent management services to CPA firm clients.
Specifically, CPA2Biz and Avectra are looking to have the product be utilized by CPA firms to better serve niche client areas with a heavy emphasis on nonprofit organizations.
Avectra already serves as the back office management tool for nonprofit entities, state CPA societies, and trade organizations including the AICPA itself and the Information Technology Alliance(ITA). The two companies, both of whom are ITA members, announced their partnership at the 2013 Spring ITA Collaborative in St. Petersberg, Fla.
The AICPA Trusted Business Advisor Solutions program is a collection of cloud services from Bill.com, Intacct, Paychex, Confirmation.com, and XCM Solutions.
CPA2Biz vice president of corporate alliances Michael Cerami explained that Avectra went through nearly a year of due diligence before they were selected into the program.
“Firms with the most success are those building out deep niches, we have our anchor tenants[in the program] but as we get into niches there’s a need to add solutions and for CPA firms, serving nonprofits and service-oriented companies are big,” said Cerami. “AICPA moved its back office to Avectra and we feel it makes sense for firms who are digging deeper into niches. This deepens their advisory value to clients. Avectra is a strong addition to our lineup because it is a key vertical solution for firms specializing in accounting services to associations and charitable organizations.”
Avectra’s social constituent CRM software was designed to help donor and member-based organizations collaborate, share and manage complex data and information. The two companies will work together over the next few months to refine a product set and price points for the accounting profession.
"We know staff in many smaller associations who run the back office really do not want that job, there’s high turnover in that position.” said Avectra’s vice president, North American channels, Kevin Cumley. “That role is critical for the success of these organizations and working with BPO partners through CPA2Biz will help to solve that problem by providing them with a great solution as well as stability and consistency in their back office operations. The overall cost would likely be the same or possibly even lower, and they get a highly qualify resource that is an expert and will be with them long term.”
