Tech-forward CPA firms — including those listed in this year's
One of the most commonly mentioned areas was firm practice management systems.
Some, like California-based Navolio & Tallman, wanted better reporting options than were currently on offer from their practice management systems. New Jersey-based WilkinGuttenplan said it needed practice management software with better billing and reporting features. And others, like Top 25 firm Citrin Cooperman, wanted better solutions for internal administrative tasks. Meanwhile, Top 100 firm Prager Metis wanted better workflow and integrations.
"[We plan to] focus on improving inward-facing practice management workflows that seamlessly provide connectivity between different vendor applications, effectively automation from client intake to delivering the service," said Prager Metis chief information officer Gurjit Singh.
However, such upgrades are not always easy and can present a major challenge for firms such as Iowa-based Community CPA & Associates.
"Our biggest technology challenge continues to be managing technical debt and navigating the limitations of our legacy systems—particularly the lack of interoperability and scalability in key platforms like our practice management system," said CEO Ying Sa. This system handles many interconnected functions—client tracking, engagement and project management, time entry, billing and collections—but its tightly integrated design makes it difficult to enhance any one area without impacting others. While we've made progress with some integrations and automations, we're still working to develop and migrate these functions to more robust modern platforms that allow for greater scalability."
Firms also reported a need to update and improve their technology infrastructure. Top 25 firm Armanino, for instance, was expanding its cloud footprint even further, wanting to move its remaining on-premise dependencies into native cloud solutions. Illinois-based Mowery and Schoenfeld similarly pointed to its server infrastructure as an area that needs updating.
For others, though, the question of infrastructure was less about hardware and more about software. In particular, while firms have already made upgrades and improvements to their tech stack, getting these programs to talk to each other seems to be a consistent challenge across firms, one that Top 50 firm LBMC said it was eager to address in both its client-facing and back-office technology solutions.
"Our firm's biggest technology challenge is the ongoing effort to integrate various service-specific applications so they can work seamlessly together," said CEO Jim Meade. "This integration is crucial for enhancing collaboration and efficiency across different service lines."
But while these were the more common answers, there were many other areas that firms said could stand some improvement. Some, such as the Florida-based Network Firm, are looking to upgrade core service solutions like audit, tax and data analytics software. Others named process efficiency as a priority, such as Top 25 firm Cherry Bekaert, which cited automation readiness and standardization for certain practices as an area due for an upgrade, or Top 50 firm UHY, which said it's working to streamline the engagement life cycle.
And of course there are those, such as Top 25 firm EisnerAmper, that want to boost their AI capacities.
"Our focus for technology capability additions are in generative AI where it can help us work smarter and faster—across both client-facing services and internal operations," said chief technology officer Sanjay Desai.
AI, automation and infrastructure
These pain points have served to inform these firms' plans for technology investments over the next year. While firms provided a wide variety of plans and priorities, most seem focused on improving efficiency and insights through automation and AI.
However, when it came to AI tools, most declined to provide specifics beyond their overall intentions to invest in them, though they're hoping to use these solutions to speed up workflows in client-facing service areas like tax or audit, or to acquire tools that would let them create or modify their own AIs.
More expansive visions came when discussing the kinds of hardware purchases that would support these AI tools. California-based Navolio & Tallman, for example, elaborated on its plans to purchase new laptops specifically optimized for AI applications.
"We're planning to invest in a new generation of laptops that come with Copilot-enabled Neural Processing Units," said IT partner Stephanie Ringrose. "These laptops are designed to accelerate AI-powered tasks, and we see them as an investment that keeps our firm aligned with the future of the tech industry. The laptops will have improved internal specs for multitasking and include touchscreen functionality to make day-to-day usage more intuitive,"
Other firms also made mention of new laptops optimized for AI, including Armanino, which is considering pairing them with hardware and storage for internal AI production.
Beyond hardware, Community CPA & Associates is planning to invest in its software infrastructure as well.
"We plan to begin transitioning to a new ERP and CRM platform as well as explore agentic AI tools for saving time in our accounting services workflows for our clients," said Sa. "We also intend to purchase replacement hardware for routine replacement of equipment that has reached the end of their lifecycle."
Cherry Bekaert said it's looking into new ERP systems.
Other planned investments include virtual servers and desktops, API access for SaaS applications, resource scheduling and pricing solutions, data management and governance tools, cybersecurity solutions and internal communications software.
Some, such as the Network Firm, are not planning to purchase new solutions but to make them in-house.
Other firms are planning to buy some and make others, such as Cherry Bekaert, which is building a custom intelligent automation platform. Assurance partner Jonathan Kraftchick said the firm is looking at many different avenues to align its technology investments with business objectives.
"As our portfolio broadens, it introduces new layers of complexity to our operations, requiring cutting-edge systems that deliver actionable insights, enhance decision-making, and streamline internal processes," he added. "This challenge propels us to implement diverse technology solutions, meticulously tailored to meet the evolving demands of our expanding portfolio and ensure the seamless integration of new acquisitions."
