Poor health is expensive. It results in wasted resources and time, decreased productivity, increased turnover and loss of clients. Firm health is determined by five basic components:

Sales & use tax regimes are only growing more complex at all levels, requiring more of the systems that help with compliance

Developments in accounting technology from the previous month

In the time it took iPhones, tablets and cloud computing to threaten pc use at many CPA firms, their it departments evolved from virtually faceless repair shops to essential components of a firm's growth.

VAR and reseller news from the previous month

Although the month-end reconciliation process requires significant resources and staff time to provide a correct picture of a company’s figures, current processes at a majority of companies typically contain severe flaws that create distrust even in the finance departments.

SAP global channel leader Kevin Gilroy explains how the combination of rapidly evolving technology and an emerging generation of users who embrace innovation are combining to create powerful change.

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.

If you haven’t noticed, there’s been an apparent rush to “get to the cloud” but as cloud implementers, we constantly meet clients that are hesitant to move to the cloud for their sales, financial reporting, customer service or a myriad of other functions.

Since many time and billing systems don’t usually record time spent on a mobile phone with a client or emails sent, Chrometa has come up with a way to do just that in an app.

Some companies enhanced this or partnered with that, all well and good, but notable Sage family mergers and the fact that Microsoft may actually be going after accountants deserves more discussion.

Net@Work has officially launched a nonprofit reseller practice with the purchase of Huckstep & Associates -- one of top Sage North America's top nonprofit partners.

Additional payroll options are coming to Xero users as the cloud accounting software maker signed a partnership with online payroll service SurePayroll.

Sage North America has made available Sage 50 Construction Accounting 2014, offering the ability to accept mobile payments, enhancements to accounts receivable, and integrated Sage Intelligence reporting.

Free online accounting software maker Wave is now offering an iOS payroll tool as a companion app to their online payroll product.

Microsoft confirmed it is trying to establish a BPO program for accounting firms behind cloud versions of its Dynamics NAV and GP ERP products.

CCH has debuted CCH Axcess software, centered around new online tax preparation software and rebranded versions of the company’s document management, portal, practice management and workflow software.

Welcome to our newest feature, App of the Week, where we highlight some of the top business apps used by accounting professionals and technology consultants alike, this week it is Scanner Pro by Readdle.

BAASS Business Solutions and Axis Global Partners have merged, creating what will likely be an $18 million firm and the largest Sage reseller deal this year.

There's a lot to try to make sense of this week, however I feel I'm better suited to offer insight into the moves companies and consultants in our space have made, rather than those of individuals in a certain Northeastern city.