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.