Netflix Co-Founder and IBM Data Science Director Among Keynote Speakers for Dec. 4-6 Event

NEW YORK (Aug. 16, 2017) – Artificial intelligence, blockchain and the continued evolution of data analytics are all expected to reshape the accounting profession, and CPA firms looking to gain insight into these changes can hear from a broad lineup of tech leaders at this year’s Digital CPA Conference, an event run by the American Institute of CPAs and its technology subsidiary, CPA.com.

This year’s conference will be in San Francisco, one of the world’s most vibrant technology hubs. The Dec. 4-6 event, held in collaboration with CalCPA at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, will include tracks for leadership development and practice management, as well as technical discussions on accounting technology.

Speakers at the event include:

• Marc Randolph, Netflix co-founder, who will discuss how CPA firms can embrace innovation and start thinking like startups
• Leon Katsnelson, director and chief technology officer of the IBM Strategic Partnership for Data Science, who will speak about the practical applications of artificial intelligence in the accounting profession
• Ron Quaranta, chairman of the Wall Street Blockchain Alliance, who will give a primer on blockchain and digital ledgers
• Richard Price, research associate at the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, who will discuss disruption in professional education and how that applies to accounting
• John O’Leary, motivational speaker and author of “On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life”
• Barry C. Melancon, CPA, CGMA, president and CEO of the American Institute of CPAs, who will give an update on issues affecting the accounting profession
• Erik Asgeirsson, president and CEO of CPA.com, who will give a “state of the union” on Digital CPA trends.

The Digital CPA Conference is designed for CPA firm partners, managers and members of client accounting services teams, staffers responsible for rolling out cloud solutions for practitioners, and business development, firm marketing and human resources directors within firms.

Reporters interested in covering the event can apply for on-site press credentials or make arrangements to hear live broadcasts remotely. Members of the media can contact Jeff May, jeffrey.may@aicpa-cima.org, for more details.

For more information about the conference, please visit digitalcpa.com/dcpa17.

About CPA.com

CPA.com offers a growing list of products and services for practice management, client advisory services and professional development. The company has established itself as a thought leader on cloud technology and has been a driving force around the reemergence of virtual CFO/controller services by firms.

CPA.com is a majority-owned subsidiary of the American Institute of CPAs, the world’s largest member body representing the accounting profession. For more information, visit CPA.com.

About the American Institute of CPAs

The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is the world’s largest member association representing the CPA profession, with more than 418,000 members in 143 countries, and a history of serving the public interest since 1887. AICPA members represent many areas of practice, including business and industry, public practice, government, education and consulting. The AICPA sets ethical standards for its members and U.S. auditing standards for private companies, nonprofit organizations, federal, state and local governments. It develops and grades the Uniform CPA Examination, offers specialized credentials, builds the pipeline of future talent and drives professional competency development to advance the vitality, relevance and quality of the profession.

The AICPA maintains offices in New York, Washington, DC, Durham, NC, and Ewing, NJ.

Media representatives are invited to visit the AICPA Press Center at www.aicpa.org/press.

About the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants

The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (the Association) is the most influential body of professional accountants, combining the strengths of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) to power opportunity, trust and prosperity for people, businesses and economies worldwide. It represents 650,000 members and students in public and management accounting and advocates for the public interest and business sustainability on current and emerging issues. With broad reach, rigor and resources, the Association advances the reputation, employability and quality of CPAs, CGMAs and accounting and finance professionals globally.

CPA.com, the technology arm of the American Institute of CPAs, has extended its partnership with Bill.com to beyond 2025. The deal “ensures that Bill.com will continue to make the accounting profession one of its highest priorities over that term,” according to CPA.com officials, although the exact length of the term remains unspecified.

BIll.com is the preferred provider of digital payments solutions for CPA.com, which recommends a range of software services to its members. CPA.com places great focus on helping firms transition to the cloud, and partnerships such as this with Bill.com are part of this strategy, according to the association.

Bill.com offers an Accountant Program in partnership with CPA.com. Program members get access to digital AR and AP, including the ability to review, approve and pay bills from any device; a single sign-on console that allows firms to manage all clients; cloud-based document management and storage; and certain certifications, training and tools for practice growth.

“Early on at CPA.com, we identified the cloud as a transforming technology for client accounting and virtual CFO services,” said Erik Asgeirsson, president and CEO of CPA.com, in a statement. “Traditionally, the business payment process presented a substantial pain point for accounting firms and their clients, and we felt we could play a role in reducing that burden. Our relationship with Bill.com offers firms a proven way to leverage technology to grow, establish a competitive advantage, and satisfy and retain clients.”

AICPA building in Durham, N.C.
Photo: AICPA

CPA.com, the technology arm of the American Institute of CPAs, and Bill.com, the nation’s leading business payments service, have agreed to extend their strategic partnership. Together, the two organizations will continue to help CPA firms grow their client accounting service practices and improve profitability through the power of cloud technology and digital payments.

Bill.com, used by more than half of the top 100 accounting firms, is the preferred provider of digital payments solutions for CPA.com, which offers a broad array of resources for firms on technology adoption and change management. The long-term partnership between Bill.com and CPA.com is based on strong traction and proven success with transitioning firms to cloud-based accounting services. Through training and educational programs such as the client accounting advisory services certificate and the Digital CPA workshops and conference, CPA.com has positioned firms to succeed in the shift to higher-margin, higher value services.

Firms using Bill.com, meanwhile, report substantial business growth and efficiency gains on once tedious, error-prone and time-consuming bill payment and invoicing processes. Bill.com is recognized as SOC 2 compliant, offers flexible and robust payment controls and, with features such as Positive Pay, offers greater payment security than paper checks.

“Early on at CPA.com, we identified the cloud as a transforming technology for client accounting and virtual CFO services,” said Erik Asgeirsson, president and CEO of CPA.com. “Traditionally, the business payment process presented a substantial pain point for accounting firms and their clients, and we felt we could play a role in reducing that burden. Our relationship with Bill.com offers firms a proven way to leverage technology to grow, establish a competitive advantage, and satisfy and retain clients.”

The Bill.com Accountant Program in partnership with CPA.com offers significant advantages for firms building an advisory practice and their clients with:

1. Digital AR and AP, including the ability to review, approve and pay bills from any device, at any time
2. A single sign-on console that allows firms to manage all clients
3. Convenient and secure cloud-based management and storage for bills and documents
4. Integrations with leading accounting solutions
5. The ability to maximize efficiency with certifications, training and tools that help grow practices

“With CPA.com, we have spent nearly a decade working with and listening to the nation’s leading accounting firms. Bill.com has developed into an essential tool that promises more innovations in the future. We are delighted to extend our partnership with CPA.com and continue our journey to help firms become more efficient and profitable through technology,” said René Lacerte, CEO and founder of Bill.com.

Firms say the best gauge of the program’s effectiveness is the response from their clients.

“Bill.com allows us to increase collaboration with clients, while adding the right controls and expediting the bill pay process,” said Lila McNair, a CPA with Warren Averett, CPAs and Advisors, a Top 35 firm in the southeastern United States. “The built-in access and controls are unmatched by other solutions.”

“We had no bill payment clients before adopting Bill.com three years ago. With Bill.com, we now have a service that brings in $250,000 a year in revenue,” said Matthew May, managing partner of Acuity. The firm has built its client base by bundling services with innovative third-party technologies.

For more information about the Bill.com Accountant Program, visit Bill.com or cpa.com/bill-management.