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In
its 25 years as one of the nation’s foremost networks of independent
accounting firms, CPAmerica International has gained the well-deserved
reputation of being consistently true to its service goal: “To
always exceed members’ expectations.”
CPAmerica
is able to achieve that goal by employing the nation’s largest home
office team of 30 experienced staff members, who dedicate more than
55,000 hours a year developing a broad array of programs, services,
and products to help its member CPA firms surpass their profitability
goals.
“The
marketing, technology and technical resources available through
CPAmerica membership have allowed us to more than triple our gross
billings and per- partner profits in 10 years,” said Michael R.
Gillis, CPA, leading partner of CPAmerica’s Greensboro,
N.C., affiliate, Davenport, Marvin, Joyce & Co., L.L.P.
More
than 70 large independent firms around the United States comprise the membership of CPAmerica. Member firms have annual
revenues from $2 million to nearly $20 million.
For
smaller firms under the $2 million revenue threshold, CPAmerica
launched the CPAConnect companion network 10 years ago. That network
has grown to nearly 140 firms nationwide and offers many of the same
programs and services CPAmerica does, tailored for firms of their
size. The larger CPAmerica firms typically sponsor CPAConnect firms
and may look to each other for referrals and as potential merger or
acquisition candidates.
The
hallmark of CPAmerica membership is its sharing opportunities. Because
of exclusive market areas, members are able to openly discuss all
areas of practice management in an honest, informational,
noncompetitive way. Members network and share ideas at five major
conferences held around the country each year, at regional meetings,
and in regular conference calls. There are also more than 20 themed
listservs for daily online assistance and second opinions and one of
the most thorough and probing practice management surveys available
anywhere.
“We
love the benchmarking data from the Practice Management Survey. We
enjoy the consistent challenge to get outside the box and think
strategically,” said Stephen M. Tatone, leading partner of
CPAmerica’s Salem/Portland, Ore., affiliate, Aldrich Kilbride & Tatone LLC.
CPAmerica
member S. Scott Voynich, 2004 chairman of the AICPA, says CPAmerica
provides important additional perspective on issues facing his
practice and in predicting the future direction of the profession.
“In
this challenging time in the economy, our membership in CPAmerica is
one investment that continues to provide solid returns,” said
Voynich, managing partner of Columbus, Ga., affiliate Robinson, Grimes & Company, P.C.
Sharing
is made easy through CPAmerica’s online sharing library on its
members-only Web site. Members from around the country contribute
proposals, surveys, engagement letters, tax opinions and much more.
CPAmerica
members also have instant access to the network’s resources through
such new programs as the CPAmerica Engagement Concierge service and
the WOW! Program. Through the concierge service, specific CPAmerica
staff members are designated to facilitate engagements, especially
when time is of the essence. In the WOW! Program, one CPAmerica staff
member and one member of the board of directors serve as liaisons to
firms in each of the five regions of the country. The focus is on
regional sharing opportunities.
“We
believe that in addition to ‘Certified Public Accountant,’ CPA
also means ‘Close Personal Attention,’ and that is what we try to
give to our firms,” says CPAmerica President Douglas H. Thompson,
Jr. “We thrive on challenge. In the pursuit of excellence and
success, we are not afraid to be unconventional.”
Thompson
is one of the most respected practice advisors in the country. He uses
his entrepreneurial leadership in creating new opportunities to keep
member firms one step ahead of the competition. He is founder of CPA
Mutual Insurance Company, which provides liability insurance for CPAs;
CPACareerNet job recruiting service; and the subsidiary CPAConnect
network.
“CPAmerica
CEO
Doug Thompson
is a leader among the national experts on local CPA firm strategic
planning. His focused consulting with our firm is one of the many
reasons we have benefited from CPAmerica for over 22 years,” said
Albert Morrison, Jr., CPA, partner with Morrison, Brown, Argiz &
Farra, LLP, in Miami, Fla.
Members
are offered an extensive list of programs and products and pick and
choose those they need. By using CPAmerica resources rather than
purchasing outside, firms last year saved an average of $25,000 each.
Among
the broad services CPAmerica offers its members are:
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CPE
training. Called “the best custom CPE training available for
firms of our size,” nearly 20 separate courses are offered
annually, including sales and leadership.
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Print
publications. More than 15 client newsletters, 60 client
brochures, news bulletins and a nationwide ad campaign, all
customized individually with firm logos, are created exclusively
for network members to help them better market in their regions.
Many are available online.
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Marketing
services. Customized marketing consulting, marketing plan
development, coaching and mentoring, and client satisfaction
surveys are available to help affiliates grow their firms.
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Web
development/technology. CPAmerica custom designs Web sites for
its members and provides 24/7 accessibility on CPAmerica’s
members-only Web site. All CPAmerica members are electronically
linked for document sharing, e-mail and listserv networking.
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Consultants.
CPAmerica retains nationally known experts to offer quick
advice or in-depth expertise.
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Review
programs. Members administer professional reviews for affiliate
firms at no charge. In lieu of payment, hours are banked.
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Preferred
pricing. Discounts are available to members from dozens of
major national office supply companies, travel organizations,
training institutes and other business groups.
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International
affiliation. A strategic alliance with Horwath International
expands CPAmerica’s network to more than 10,000 CPAs and
consultants in 530 offices around the world. Together, the
revenues of CPAmerica/Horwath firms approach $2 billion.
As
CPAmerica enters its next 25 years, Thompson continues to repeat the
refrain to members and staff that has been so instrumental to the
phenomenal past growth of the network and its firms: “Just imagine
how much more we can achieve and how much better we can become
together.”
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