INTUIT OFFERS IMPROVED PROGRAMS FOR CPAS: Intuit Inc. announced that it would increase its commitment to accountants by rolling out a series of new and enhanced programs, including free technical support for QuickBooks ProAdvisors, an accountant-dedicated support team, and free in-person training seminars in 80 cities."We want to send a clear message that no one is more committed than Intuit to understanding the needs of accountants and giving them the resources and support they need to be successful," said Intuit's vice president of accountant programs, Jill Ward, in a statement.

Financial and accounting software publisher Intuit Inc. is poised to launch QuickBooks 2006 sometime this fall, marking the first major overhaul of the software's underpinnings since it was launched in 1992.Intuit's vice president of product management, Dan Levin, said that two key components the company has been working on for years have come together in the latest version.

In this last article in a series that has explored a number of dimensions of leadership, we'll focus on ways to further develop leaders in your organization by helping your people map their career success.In public accounting and technology, we spend a lot of time producing annual performance appraisals. In these appraisals, we are essentially looking in the rearview mirror to assess what our people have done in the past, and then sharing our thoughts about their accomplishments and areas for improvement. Because most of us are adverse to conflict, the performance appraisal process is perfunctory, and all but the most egregious offenders against firm policy receive at least a "meets requirements" rating on the appraisal itself.

Two years after Microsoft chairman and chief software architect Bill Gates first revealed an early version of his company's next operating system - originally codenamed Longhorn - Microsoft has finally released the first beta for the new system, which is now branded as Vista.The new system was released at the end of July to about 500,000 programmers and technology professionals for review and testing, and thus far, a sample of early users has expressed optimism about Vista's Beta 1, which showcases a number of security and ease-of-use enhancements over Windows XP and older MS operating systems.

What does it take to rise to the position of partner in an accounting firm?While the criteria vary from firm to firm, I believe it is an interesting and generally difficult question for firms to answer. I have asked existing partners to list what they require in a new partner, and they tend to come up with a list of skills and criteria for which many of them probably would not qualify. Most managing partners readily admit that too many people were made partner for the wrong reasons over the past 20 years. The most common answer is, "We were afraid he or she would leave."

Taxware, a tax calculation and compliance software developer and First Data Corp. company, has unveiled a new integration with Oracle's PeopleSoft.

Why does a company like Microsoft plan a launch for an ambitious new low-cost software package and then steal its own thunder?

Serenic Corp., an international publisher of financial and operational software, has acquired the software product OneCare from accounting firm Clifton Gunderson LLP.

PayCycle, a provider of on-demand payroll services, announced that accounting and tax software company ATX has selected its product for its base of 55,000 customers.

CBIZ Accounting, Tax & Advisory Services LLC and Mayer Hoffman McCann PC will offer temporary employment opportunities to qualified and eligible accounting industry professionals who have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

The Seven-Second Egg

BQE Software Inc. unveiled a new PayPal payment button within BillQuick 2005, the company's flagship billing and project management software.

Creative Solutions and PPC, both tax and accounting software providers and part of the Thomson Corp., unveiled a new integration between tax prep software UltraTax CS and PPC's IRS form preparation software 1040 Deskbook.

Microsoft Corp. announced that its new accounting software for small businesses will hit retail shelves priced at $179 for a standalone copy, but ship with a $30 mail-in rebate.

RIA, a provider of technology and tax and accounting information, has been working to implement a recovery plan for customers impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

Until this week, most people would probably say that Sage Software had the most confusing name change in the history of mid-market accounting. Microsoft has decided to give Sage a run for its money.All of this makes sense from the corporations' points of view. But pity the poor resellers trying to sell software and the end users who are trying to separate out competing claims.

Trustfile, a manufacturer of electronic state sales and use tax e-filing and payment technology, announced a reselling agreement with Independent Systems and Programming, a developer of sales and use tax calculation software, databases and forms.

ARMANINO MCKENNA ABSORBS RESELLER: Armanino McKenna, a large California-based CPA firm, has acquired Thibault Associates Inc., an independent reseller of hardware and software in northern California. The merger would create an IT consulting practice of more than 40 professionals. The majority of TAI's employees, mostly based in the East Bay area of San Francisco, will transition to Armanino McKenna's headquarters in San Ramon, Calif.

During one hectic tax filing season, the Philadelphia-based CPA firm of Asher & Co. Ltd. managed their clients' tax return forms the same way most firms do - by placing them in piles on the floor or shelves.

You return to your office from an afternoon meeting and decide to check e-mail. An hour later, having downloaded your messages, selecting those you should read, deleting junk, crafting replies and filing others that you want to work on later, you wonder where your day went. It was like that when you arrived at work this morning, and tomorrow, unfortunately, promises to be no different.