BEST SOFTWARE UNVEILS ACT 2005: Best Software has debuted new versions of Act 2005, its contact and customer management product, at a recent briefing held in New York.

How can accounting firms help clients with software needs, above and beyond the obvious acquisition and installation of accounting software? This question is being repeated by accountants everywhere as they look for new directions in which to grow their practices and serve their clients.

The leadership skills required in information technology today are similar to those of a managing partner or chief executive.

Fixed asset software does not get a lot of attention in many accounting practices. That lack of attention often follows through to the client's sites as well. If you took the time to analyze the situation, you'd probably find that many of your clients are probably performing depreciation and amortization calculations either manually, or with the aid of a simple spreadsheet.

Nonprofit and governmental accounting software maker FundWare has rolled out the latest version of its software with a new general ledger with a three-dimensional account structure.

RIA has introduced two new modules for its InSource Sales & Use Tax software.

Intuit unveiled a new offering this week aimed at small business owners who still rely on pencil and paper, Excel spreadsheets or shoeboxes to track expenses and keep their business records.

While Microsoft rules the desktop operating system environment for small and midsized businesses in the United States, Linux is gaining more traction as an alternative to Windows in enterprises such as Boeing and UPS, and in countries such as Germany and Spain, according to research by consulting firm Yankee Group.

The roller-coaster economy seems to have skirted the nonprofit sector, as nearly 60 percent of NFP concerns surveyed recently reported an increase in their overall budgets, while nearly 100 percent responded that their respective management levels would either remain the same or increase.

OPEN SYSTEMS STARTS REFERRAL PROGRAMS: Open Systems has launched three new channel programs that will enable CPAs and other financial professionals who don’t want to be software resellers to be involved with the company’s mid-market software.

St. Louis — In response to booming growth in its insurance practice, Brown Smith Wallace has expanded into the Chicagoland market.

Chicago — The vast majority of U.S. senior financial executives surveyed support stock option expensing and uniform global accounting standards, according to a poll of executives at public and private companies released by Grant Thornton.

by L. Gary Boomer

by David McClure

New York — Raiser’s Edge, the proprietary nonprofit solution from Blackbaud, received the prestigious Campbell Award as a result of its being selected as Best Overall Software and Best Overall Solution in the 2004 donor/member software survey conducted by Campbell Research.

We all encounter professional conflict — but whether it’s owner disagreements, personnel issues, vendor relations matters, client concerns or competitive situations, our professional lives are filled with opportunities to manage it.

New York — Most business and information technology executives in the United States expect IT expenditures to rise over the next three years, according to the results of an online survey released by consulting giant Accenture.

INTUIT NAMES VP OF INVESTOR RELATIONS: Mountain View, Calif.-based Intuit has named Jessica Kourakos vice president of investor relations. In that capacity, Kourakos will work closely with Intuit’s senior management team to develop investor relations strategies and serve as the company’s liaison with the financial analyst and investor communities.

by L. Gary Boomer

by Ted Needleman