Blake Oliver

Beat Spreadsheet Chaos and Improve Audit Efficiency

Blake Oliver · February 18, 2025 ·

If you’re running an accounting firm, one statistic should be on your radar: 30% of audit engagements fail to stay on time and within budget. In an era of talent shortages and rising client expectations, this isn’t just a scheduling issue—it threatens profitability and long-term client relationships.

The Frustrations of Manual Approaches

Anyone who has worked in public accounting knows how messy things can get trying to manage work with Excel spreadsheets, SharePoint folders, and long email threads. You may try to keep everything in one email, but it often becomes too cluttered. If you create several threads for each request, you can easily lose track of them. This confusion can lead to clients forgetting which documents they have sent, and the audit team spends too much time trying to find out what is still missing.

Many firms face challenges with low realization rates and delayed projects, largely due to cumbersome manual workflows. As a result, client experience can also suffer. Keep in mind that your client contact has a full-time job, and sifting through emails to locate the correct request only adds to their frustration.

Enter Suralink: Reinventing the PBC Process

In a recent Earmark Expo, Ryan Smith showcased Suralink, describing it as the industry’s leading “Provided by Client” (PBC) solution, serving over 1,100 CPA firms and 6,500 client users, including 60% of the top 200 CPA firms. Suralink was born from a CPA’s firsthand frustration with spreadsheets and email threads. The goal? Streamline client collaboration so that everything—document requests, file uploads, comments, and status updates—happens in one secure portal.

Key Features for Modern Audit Workflows

Here’s how Suralink helps to address the challenges of manual processes and reimagine client engagement for faster and more profitable audits:

Single Source of Truth

All request items are tracked within one platform—no more scouring inboxes, no more juggling Excel checklists.
Color-coded statuses (Outstanding, Fulfilled, Returned, Accepted) make it easy for clients to see what’s pending. Turning “boxes” yellow or green creates a sense of progress and gamification.

Assignment and Permissions

Each request can be assigned to a firm user or a specific client contact. Users see only the items relevant to them, reducing confusion.
Sensitive requests (e.g., payroll data) can be “locked,” so only designated individuals see those documents. Clients appreciate the added confidentiality.

Consolidated Communication

Instead of cluttered email threads, each request includes its own dedicated comment section. Conversations stay in context; everyone can refer to them as needed.
Daily digest notifications keep the engagement team updated on new uploads or comments, while an “escalate” feature sends real-time alerts for mission-critical deadlines.

Roll-Forward Simplicity

For recurring engagements—like annual audits—Suralink’s roll-forward function saves last year’s request structure and assignments. When the new cycle begins, your client can see what was provided before, drastically reducing guesswork and set-up time.

Secure File Sharing and eSignature

Documents are uploaded directly into a secure portal, eliminating the need for unencrypted email attachments.
A built-in eSignature feature allows firms to send engagement letters, Form 8879, or other documents for electronic signatures. Clients receive an automated prompt and can sign right into the platform.

Dashboard and Visibility

Partners and managers get an at-a-glance view of every active engagement. They can filter by department, office, or individual staff member to see where bottlenecks occur.
A complete audit trail logs every upload, download, comment, and status change, ensuring full transparency.

Efficiency, ROI, and Client Satisfaction

When CPA firms switch to Suralink they see up to 40% time savings in managing document requests alone. Instead of struggling through manual checklists and email clutter, engagement teams focus on higher-value tasks—like analyzing data and advising clients.

Clients also notice a major improvement in service quality. Everything is in one place, and they can easily upload or view what’s needed. Ryan Smith mentioned that some clients have explicitly told their CPA firms, “If you ever leave Suralink, I’ll find another firm that uses it.” That’s a telling endorsement for any technology investment.

Laying the Groundwork for an AI-Driven Future

The future of audit and assurance services will undoubtedly involve artificial intelligence. Suralink is already preparing to add document preview and AI-driven checks—so the platform can verify whether clients have uploaded the correct file or automatically flag mismatched data.

Behind the scenes, an extensive API allows firms to integrate Suralink with other core systems, from CRM platforms that create new engagements automatically to document storage solutions for archiving. This open architecture paves the way for AI tools that handle basic document verification, sampling, and initial quality checks. Think of it as building a modern foundation that supports the next wave of innovation in accounting tech.

Fast Implementation and Transparent Pricing

Beyond the technology itself, Suralink stands out for its rapid onboarding:

Implementation: Firms with hundreds of users have gone live in about a week or two.
Training: Options range from weekly webinar sessions to dedicated Customer Success Managers under the Professional plan.
Pricing: Typically per firm user (around $29 per month under the Standard plan). All clients, engagements, and storage are included, so there’s no added cost per client or per project.

Why Now Is the Time to Innovate

With talent shortages squeezing firms, rising client demands for better digital experiences, and a 30% risk of engagements blowing past budgets, now is the moment to rethink your PBC process. Modern collaboration tools like Suralink eliminate inefficient back-and-forth, keep data secure, and free your team to focus on what really matters—delivering high-quality audit and advisory services.

And this is just the beginning. As AI capabilities expand, the right platform will let you tap into automated reviews, faster document verification, and other efficiencies we’re only starting to imagine. By choosing a solution designed for the future, you’ll protect the investment you make today and position your firm for years of innovation and growth.

To learn more about how Suralink can transform your engagements and improve client collaboration, check out the Earmark Expo. Whether you’re a solo practitioner or part of a top 25 firm, it’s time to break free from the old way of doing things—and close the door on that 30% problem for good.

Accounting Firms Boost Profits by 10% Without Losing Clients—Here’s How

Blake Oliver · February 7, 2025 ·

Are outdated billing practices holding your accounting firm back?

While many firms see proposal and payment systems as necessary yet purely administrative, forward-thinking practitioners are discovering their immense potential to reshape client relationships—and boost profitability.

In a recent Earmark Expo webinar, Tom Maxwell of Ignition showed how modern engagement systems do more than simply streamline operations. They fundamentally change how clients perceive and value accounting services. Forward-thinking CPAs are eliminating accounts receivable, implementing annual price increases, and shifting from after-the-fact billing to genuine value-based partnerships.

The results are striking: Firms report implementing 10% annual price increases with no negative impact on client acceptance rates. More importantly, they’re building stronger relationships rooted in transparency, clarity, and mutual respect.

Below, we explore how these systems turn traditional billing bottlenecks into opportunities for transformation.

The Billing Bottleneck: More Than Just a Payment Problem

For many accounting firms, getting paid feels like an administrative hassle. However, according to Tom Maxwell, this challenge runs deeper—right to the heart of client relationships and firm profitability.

After talking to thousands of firms, Tom identified three main reasons clients struggle to see the true value of accounting services:

Mandatory compliance work: Clients often see compliance as a “must-do” rather than a “value-add.”
Expertise gap: Clients rarely grasp the depth of expertise required for high-quality work.
Value disconnect: When billing happens long after services begin, clients lose sight of the direct benefit.

The result is a vicious cycle of payment delays and weaker client relationships. But forward-thinking firms find that modern engagement systems address both the practical and psychological barriers head-on—starting with the first client interaction.

Transforming Client Engagement from Day One

Modern engagement systems reshape the client experience right from the start, setting clear expectations and articulating value. Gone are outdated PDF proposals, manual credit card processing, and clunky engagement letters—all of which can subtly lower the perceived value of your services.

Instead, clients receive a digital, professional proposal that:

Clearly lays out services and value
Offers up to three package options with different billing frequencies
Guarantees payment authorization before work begins

“My favorite feature,” Tom says, “is that clients must enter payment information before accepting the proposal. That ensures you get paid for your services before you even get started.”

This process is also more secure—no more mishandling of credit card details. Once clients accept a proposal, they receive a signed engagement letter, and their payment information is securely stored for future billing. This streamlined approach does more than save time; it also signals professionalism and shifts the conversation from awkward payment requests to demonstrating tangible client value.

From Reactive to Proactive: Managing Dynamic Client Relationships

With a rock-solid foundation in place, modern systems empower firms to become more proactive. They not only enable systematic price increases but also enhance client relationships.

“We found that Ignition customers were increasing prices by about 10% on average in the past year,” Tom explains. “And when we added the feature enabling a standard price increase, there was no change to proposal acceptance rates.”

These tools also end stressful negotiations around scope creep or service changes. Firms can quickly update both service levels and pricing, and automated billing continues seamlessly. Every adjustment is tracked for full transparency, reducing tensions and letting both parties focus on a healthy working relationship.

Integrated workflows further enhance automation. For instance, if you integrate payroll data, your fees can automatically scale based on fluctuating employee counts—so you’re always fairly compensated as client needs evolve. By treating billing adjustments and scope changes as a routine, expected part of the engagement, firms solidify their value without appearing adversarial or inflexible.

Embracing Modern Engagement Systems: The Path to Business Transformation

This evolution—from billing bottleneck to strategic asset—goes beyond operational efficiency. It marks a foundational shift in how firms approach client relationships.

By tackling the practical and psychological pain points of billing, modern engagement systems let you focus on what truly matters: delivering measurable value. The evidence is clear:

Accounts receivable evaporates
Annual fee increases of 10% become standard—with minimal client pushback
Client relationships strengthen through transparency and respect

Watch the full Earmark Expo to see these tools in action. You’ll see how industry leaders implement automated billing, consistent price updates, and stronger client relationships—freeing them to concentrate on higher-value, growth-oriented services.

The future favors firms that view proposal and payment systems as strategic levers for better, more profitable client relationships. The question isn’t if you should upgrade your engagement systems—it’s how soon you can begin.

How a Red Chair is Transforming Client Relationships in Accounting

Blake Oliver · January 28, 2025 ·

In the conference room of a CPA firm, there’s a bright red chair—off-limits to employees. It’s reserved for clients, even if they’re not physically present. When the client can’t attend a meeting, the chair stays empty, yet serves as a vivid symbol: imagine the client is here, listening to every word. This approach to client-centric service cuts through the day-to-day grind and reminds everyone on the team that the client’s best interests must guide every decision.

On the Earmark Podcast, I spoke with Kyle Walters—Managing Director of Atlas Wealth Advisors and Partner at CPAs & Advisors—about the power of integrating wealth management with accounting services. Walters explained how his unique perspective as a longtime financial advisor, combined with the expertise of his CPA partners, opened the door to a more cohesive, future-focused experience for clients.

Why Integrate Wealth Management and Accounting?

Kyle Walters grew up in financial planning. For two decades, he helped families invest, save on taxes, and retire comfortably. But he noticed a common frustration: clients viewed their financial picture as disjointed. Their CPA was crunching past numbers and tax returns, while their financial advisor was projecting out into the future. Neither professional was fully aware of what the other was doing.

By bringing both wealth management and tax under one roof, Walters realized he could deliver a more seamless client experience. Rather than running in circles between two trusted advisors—one in the present and one in the future—the client can enjoy an integrated dialogue. In Kyle’s words: “If you can get your CPA, your financial advisor, and your client on the same call, you solve problems in five minutes that otherwise would drag on for weeks.”

Two Ongoing Relationships: CPA + Financial Advisor

When it comes to finances, most families or business owners consistently rely on two professionals:

A CPA or Tax Specialist – Focused on bookkeeping, tax returns, and making sure numbers are correct and on time.
A Financial Planner or Wealth Manager – Oriented toward helping people invest smarter, plan for retirement, and meet long-term goals.

Because these two experts often operate independently, the client must shuffle data and questions back and forth. Even little miscommunications can create confusion, missed deadlines, or unnecessary stress. The integrated model aims to remove the client from this “middleman” role. Whether it’s about a new business launch, a company sale, or an unexpected life event, a single cohesive team can handle both tax and wealth implications together.

A Fresh Perspective in the CPA Firm

Part of what makes Walters’s model so successful is that he’s not a CPA. Instead, he brings a financial advisor’s perspective to firm operations. CPAs traditionally focus on deadlines, precise data, and compliance. Financial advisors naturally explore client goals, family needs, and big-picture strategies. Together, these mindsets create a more robust decision-making process.

His journey to integrate services involved finding two CPA firm owners who shared his vision. They pooled resources, formed an entirely new firm, and established a culture where neither side worked in isolation. Now, the CPAs ensure the numbers are accurate and deadlines met, while Walters and his advisory team look forward—helping clients see how today’s financial decisions ripple into tomorrow.

The Power of the Red Chair

Early on, Walters noticed language in internal meetings that sometimes cast the client as an “obstacle”: “The client isn’t getting us their documents fast enough” or “The client doesn’t understand what we need.” To change the tone, he placed a bright red chair at the table, designated it for the client, and instructed the team to speak as if the client were right there—listening, seeing how they’re spoken about.

This seemingly small gesture fosters empathy. Team members are reminded clients don’t speak accounting jargon all day—if they knew how to gather every document perfectly, they wouldn’t need a CPA. They’re juggling businesses, families, and complexities. By imagining them in the red chair, the firm reframed their role from “client is a problem” to “client needs our help.”

Overcoming the Usual Pain Points

Walters regularly hears client feedback from both sides—the CPA perspective and the wealth management perspective. Three major pain points come up time and again:

Slow or Nonexistent Communication
Clients want speedy responses, or at least acknowledgment that their questions matter. Even a brief courtesy check-in can help them feel valued.

Inflexible Processes & Crunch Deadlines
Traditional accounting often revolves around one or two deadlines. Firms endure a stressful “rush to the finish,” leaving little bandwidth for deeper client conversations. Scheduling tax return preparation into monthly or quarterly cohorts can solve this. When clients understand that being “extended” won’t lead to penalties—and that it can mean better guidance throughout the year—most are happy to follow a more strategic timetable.

Disjointed Advice
A business owner selling their company doesn’t just need a properly filed return—they need a plan to handle the influx of cash, tax implications, and possibly a shift in personal goals. When multiple advisors operate in silos, misalignment and confusion can cost a client time and money.

Interestingly, small tax mistakes rarely drive clients away. They understand honest errors can be corrected. What they won’t tolerate is feeling unappreciated, being ignored, or left in the dark.

Delivering True Integration

Under an integrated model, advisory conversations flow naturally. For example, a client might hop on a Zoom call with their CPA and financial advisor at the same time to discuss mid-year tax estimates, projected income, and potential investment shifts. Instead of playing telephone, the client watches their two experts coordinate in real-time.

Year-round scheduling also adds a proactive structure:

Early in the year – Identify high-complexity clients or those who prefer timely filing, and complete the first batch of returns. Extend any clients not filed by April 15.
Middle of the year – Perform “pulse checks” on tax projections and investment performance. Complete the second batch of returns.
Later in the year – Finish up any open client returns.
End of the year – Engage in tax planning and forward-looking financial decisions. This is prime time for capturing deductions or shifting money before year-end.

By spreading out the busy season, both CPAs and advisors can provide the attention that clients crave.

Looking Ahead: AI and the Evolving Role of the Advisor

As technology advances—particularly artificial intelligence—routine accounting tasks like sorting transactions or populating tax forms will become more automated. Rather than viewing this as competition, forward-thinking professionals see AI as a powerful ally: It handles rote tasks so humans can focus on relationships, nuanced conversations, and strategic planning. The CPA or financial advisor of the future will be less about data entry and more about empathetic counsel.

Walters believes clients ultimately pay for clarity, confidence, and guidance. In this new landscape, the “trusted advisor” is the one who integrates all the moving parts of someone’s finances and helps them make better decisions. AI can help gather data, but the human element—like making someone feel heard or reflecting on their family goals—still belongs to the professionals.

A Single Seat for Service

Across the table sits that red chair—occupied or not—representing the heartbeat of a firm that puts the client first. By merging wealth management and tax expertise, firms create a single seat where every financial question can land. The result? Less confusion, fewer missed opportunities, and a client who genuinely feels they have a team working together for their benefit.

Want to hear more? Listen to the full discussion on the Earmark Podcast, where Kyle Walters delves deeper into his integrated approach, shares the motivation behind the red chair, and explains how proactive scheduling can transform the busy season from a burden to a strategic advantage.

Building a Successful International Tax Practice: Lessons from Japan

Blake Oliver · January 28, 2025 ·

Nearing his 30th birthday, California CPA and former English teacher Eric Azevedo found himself at a career crossroads. Having spent years in rural Japan teaching English, he longed for a profession with greater stability and higher earning potential. Rather than pursuing law school as he once planned—or even a career in software—Eric ultimately chose accounting. Little did he know that studying at California community colleges for the CPA Exam would pave the way for a thriving international tax practice serving American expatriates across Japan.

In a recent interview on the Earmark Podcast, Eric opened up about his unique journey from philosophy major to accounting professional, revealing the practical realities of working in a different culture and navigating complex dual-tax systems.

From Santa Monica College to Tokyo: A Career-Changer’s Leap

Eric’s decision to become a CPA began when he returned to California after several years in Japan. Enrolling at Santa Monica College and Irvine Valley College, he completed the accounting courses required to sit for the CPA Exam—often taking advantage of online classes to balance work and study. Within about four years of taking his very first accounting class, Eric earned his license.

Opportunity knocked almost immediately: a single Skype interview led to a job offer at a Tokyo-based firm. Eric moved back to Japan on short notice, eager to gain experience in both U.S. and Japanese tax systems.

Bridging Two Tax Systems—And Two Cultures

Once in Tokyo, Eric encountered very different tax structures.

The United States is one of only two countries in the world—alongside Eritrea—with a citizenship-based tax system. Americans living in Japan must still file U.S. tax returns, including complex forms like 5471 (for owners of foreign companies) and FBAR (for foreign bank accounts over $10,000). Meanwhile, most Japanese rarely file returns at all—employers handle year-end payroll adjustments.

Understanding these differences—and guiding clients through them—is now Eric’s specialty.

Cultivating Cultural Fluency

Eric says that in Japan, communication styles tend to be less direct. Understanding when and how to speak up can determine whether a meeting proceeds smoothly or grinds to a halt.

Audits tend to be less adversarial. Eric says, “If you push too hard, you risk prolonging the process. It’s about staying polite and finding a solution.” This contrasts with the more confrontational style some CPAs experience in U.S. audits.

“I’m basically the only American in the office,” Eric says. “We have staff from Korea, China, the Philippines—all with a focus on serving foreign residents. It’s important to adapt culturally to make clients comfortable.” (Since our interview, Eric’s firm has added another US accountant to the team.)

Regarding the work culture, Eric’s firm’s founder intentionally avoided “salaryman” traditions of endless overtime and obligatory after-work gatherings, making the environment more appealing to foreign hires.

Life in Rural Japan: Remote Work, Bullet Trains, and Big Windows

After eight years in Tokyo, Eric relocated to the countryside. He now works as a contract employee for his old firm while also handling his own U.S. tax clients. Living among forests and mountains, he’s built a home office full of natural light—complete with high-speed internet that makes remote work seamless.

Commute: Eric travels to Tokyo twice a month, taking a 70-minute ride on the bullet train.
Daily Routine: A self-described “not super early riser,” Eric starts his workday around 9 or 10 a.m., relying on video calls and remote access to firm software.
Nature & Wildlife: Bears and wild boars roam nearby—quite a change from Eric’s Tokyo apartment.
Cultural Hobbies: Weekends are reserved for hobbies and relaxation; onsens (hot springs) are among Eric’s favorite escapes.

Fees, Growth, and Training the Next Generation

Eric’s firm charges fixed fees aligned with client revenue, reflecting typical local practice. For his U.S. expat services, he charges per form but keeps fees moderate—aware that many expats must file only because of America’s unique rules.

Word of mouth has fueled steady growth. He’s now training a colleague—a Chinese national finishing her U.S. CPA credentials—to handle returns for more straightforward clients. This arrangement frees Eric for higher-complexity cases while positioning the practice for further expansion.

“I don’t advertise,” Eric explains. “Clients tend to find me through referrals. My challenge is managing time and figuring out how to scale.”

Advice for Prospective Expat CPAs

For aspiring accountants who are interested in working abroad, Eric’s journey serves as a valuable guide:

Focus on Fundamentals First: Attaining a U.S. CPA license can be done flexibly through community college coursework and exam prep—even if you’re overseas.
Leverage Your Language Skills: Fluency in the local language is invaluable. Eric’s Japanese helped him land work in Tokyo more easily.
Adapt to Local Norms: Understand that professional etiquette, social expectations, and communication styles vary greatly. Listen first, then speak.
Stay Open to Opportunity: Eric’s entire career launched from one Skype call and a willingness to move back to Japan on short notice.

Making the Most of Japan: Travel Tips

Whether you plan to work in Japan or just visit, Eric recommends:

Tokyo: An endless array of districts, restaurants, and cultural sites.
Historic Towns: Kurashiki in Okayama Prefecture offers a glimpse into samurai-era architecture.
Onsen Retreats: For a restorative experience, explore hot spring destinations off the beaten path.
Autumn Visits: Fall foliage in rural Japan rivals any scenic backdrop, and cooler weather makes the onsen even more inviting.

Conclusion: Merging Cultures, Mastering Tax

Eric Azevedo’s journey proves that building a successful international tax practice requires more than technical knowledge. Cultural competence, flexible communication, and a willingness to adapt to new ways of doing business are critical. In navigating both U.S. expat tax complexities and Japan’s distinct work culture, Eric shows how melding two worlds can create a uniquely rewarding career path.

To hear Eric’s full story listen to his interview on the Earmark Podcast.

The Future of Financial Reporting Is Already Here – And It’s Automated

Blake Oliver · January 27, 2025 ·

If you’re like most accountants, you spend countless hours updating spreadsheets, reconciling data between systems, and generating financial statements. Month-end close often involves manual data entry, copying and pasting, and time-consuming validation checks. However, recent advancements in automation tools mean those days may be numbered.

During a recent Earmark Expo webinar, G-Accon showcased how its Google Sheets add-on integrates seamlessly with cloud accounting platforms like QuickBooks Online, Xero, FreshBooks, and Sage. The demo highlighted a new era of accounting workflows—one in which real-time synchronization, automated data processing, and detailed reporting can dramatically reduce manual effort and give accountants more time for higher-value advisory work.

Below are the biggest insights from the live demonstration—and how they could reshape your month-end process.

Automated Reporting & Dynamic Templates

One of the standout features is how G-Accon handles financial reporting without storing any data on its own servers. Each time you refresh a report, G-Accon reaches directly into your accounting platform to pull in current numbers. By relying on live data, accountants always see the most up-to-date figures.

But the real magic lies in the template-based system. Rather than manually reconfiguring date ranges or reapplying custom formulas each time, you can define a structure once and let G-Accon handle the rest. Need to show net profit margin or custom KPIs on the P&L? No problem. Create the formula once, and it stays anchored even when new rows (like newly created accounts) appear.

“You don’t have to open each and every template,” explained G-Accon Chief Operating Officer Yelena Tretyakova. “You come here, change your formula in one place, and it updates everywhere.”

This means you can manage multiple sets of financial statements—like P&Ls, balance sheets, and cash flow statements—in a fraction of the time. Dynamic date ranges, color-coded negatives, and company logos can be baked right into your templates, giving clients professional-looking reports with zero repetitive effort.

Bulk Data Upload & Validation

Another common pain point is manual transaction entry. Whether you’re reclassifying expenses, correcting chart-of-accounts mappings, or posting large journal entries, uploading changes line by line is error-prone and labor-intensive.

G-Accon tackles this by allowing bulk uploads from Google Sheets to be directly uploaded to QuickBooks or other platforms. With one click, you can push thousands of lines—bills, invoices, journal entries, time activities—while G-Accon enforces validation rules. If the system detects an unbalanced journal entry, for instance, it flags the row and prevents erroneous data from ever reaching your GL.

You can also automate modifications in bulk. For example, if multiple transactions need a new class or department code, simply download them to a sheet, change the class code, and push them back. Each row’s status is tracked in real-time so you can see exactly which transactions were posted successfully.

“If you have errors because your debits and credits don’t balance, you’ll see that directly from QuickBooks,” Yelena noted. “You can go back, fix the row, and re-upload.”

Multi-Entity Consolidation & Intercompany Eliminations

For firms managing multiple clients—or businesses with multiple subsidiaries—the ability to consolidate is critical. G-Accon supports multi-entity consolidation by pulling data from all connected organizations, unifying it in Google Sheets, and even converting foreign currency amounts where needed.

Crucially, it also supports intercompany eliminations and grouping of accounts. If entities use different account names or numbering conventions, G-Accon lets you create elimination rules and group accounts under a shared heading (e.g., “Operating Expenses”). You can then generate consolidated P&Ls, balance sheets, and cash flow statements that neatly combine or exclude specific line items across multiple organizations.

“If you create new account codes in your chart of accounts, G-Accon picks that up automatically,” Yelena explained. “For multi-entity consolidation, you can map or group different accounts and then eliminate intercompany transactions.”

This streamlined approach removes a huge source of manual reconciliation and ensures you always have an accurate, real-time view of your organization as a whole.

Pre-Built KPI Dashboards

G-Accon also comes bundled with a set of pre-built KPI dashboards. With just a few clicks, you can stand up a visual snapshot of a company’s financial health, showing revenue, expenses, margins, and more. The underlying data is continuously refreshed from QuickBooks or other accounting systems, so these dashboards always display the latest numbers.

Best of all, these templates are fully customizable. You can add or edit charts, incorporate industry-specific metrics, or layer in additional Google Sheets formulas. Because everything lives in Sheets, you have the flexibility to adapt each dashboard to perfectly match client needs.

Workflow Automation & Detailed Logs

While automated reporting and bulk data uploads are huge time-savers, the workflow automation component ties it all together:

Scheduling: Set daily or hourly refresh intervals for reports.
Alerts: Configure custom triggers (e.g., email stakeholders if monthly expenses surpass $10,000).
Report Distribution: Automatically email dashboards or PDF statements to management or clients.
Backups: Generate snapshot backups of your Google Sheets file to preserve historical data.
Webhooks: If you want to connect with other applications or processes, G-Accon supports inbound/outbound hooks.

What’s more, G-Accon provides a detailed operations log showing every automated action taken. This means you can skip the frantic spreadsheet checks—simply look for “Success” or “Error” in the log to verify your tasks completed correctly.

“If you have 200 different reports, you’re not going to check each tab,” said Yelena. “You come here and see all actions in the log file.”

Real-World Use Cases & Pricing

Accountants use G-Accon for a wide variety of tasks, from month-end close to budgeting and forecasting. Franchise owners leverage multi-entity consolidation to handle dozens of stores; nonprofits integrate with QuickBooks to create advanced dashboards for board members; and businesses that run large volumes of transactions can bulk upload journal entries for year-end cleanups.

All features are included at every plan level. Pricing scales based on how many companies (entities) and users you need, so smaller firms can start affordably and expand without losing any functionality as they grow.

Move Beyond Manual Processes

Interested in exploring these automation capabilities further? Watch the entire Earmark Expo for a deep dive into G-Accon. You’ll see how easily you can move past traditional spreadsheet drudgery and deliver truly value-added advisory services to your clients.