Berger, Elliott & Pritchard CPAs, LLC, headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is a full-service certified public accounting firm renowned for its commitment to professionalism and integrity. With a rich history dating back to its founding, the firm has grown through strategic mergers and partnerships, bringing together a team of experienced and knowledgeable certified public accountants. They offer a comprehensive range of financial services, including tax preparation and planning, audit and assurance services, business consulting, and more. Their dedication to helping clients achieve their financial goals has made them a trusted partner for individuals and businesses alike.
Tax & AccountingDecember 06, 2024
Case study: Berger, Elliott & Pritchard's journey with CCH® ProSystem fx® Tax and the CCH Axcess™ suite
Moving past the manual era
Ten years ago, the firm faced significant challenges in managing their tax practice. Robert Berger recalls, “Walking into my office ten years ago and seeing files strewn all over the floor, paper copies with the name of the person listed small on each one. So you had to pick each one up to look at it, figure out who it was and what order that it came in.” The manual process was not only tedious but also inefficient, leading to a cluttered and chaotic work environment.
Embracing technology and automation
The firm has since transformed its operations by adopting a mix of CCH solutions. This shift has revolutionized their workflow. As Robert Berger explains, “Before we used to do this manually and it was tedious and it was boring and it wasn’t fun. And now all of a sudden, we’ve got a product that not only makes it faster and more efficient, but it also is fun to do and neat to see everybody grow with the technology.”
Office Manager Sara Foran highlights the streamlined process: “We have a start and finish and it goes through every single step. And it just works. And everybody knows that process in the office. Everybody’s aware of how the information comes in. It’s scanned in. We AutoFlow, the preparer reviews it, it goes through the tax work paper, it goes through a reviewer, and then the admin staff prints the return final and it’s ready to go and we can do our billing.”
Focusing on what matters
One of the most significant benefits of adopting the CCH solutions is the ability to focus on more than just data entry. Robert Berger emphasizes, “As accountants, we put ourselves in a box and we say ‘we’re only going to do tax,’ ‘we’re only going to do audit.’ And I think we have to be beyond that. I think we have to be… life planners. We have to talk about insurance. We have to talk about investments. We have to talk about retirement more than just putting numbers in boxes.”
Berger further illustrates the personal connection they have with their clients: “I think we have a much closer personal relationship with those people because we’re dealing with their tax numbers or their financial statement or their business numbers every day. We see their first dependent on their 1040 who shows up as their deduction. I mean, those are the things that we bring.” This approach allows the firm to provide more comprehensive and personalized services, enhancing their role as trusted advisors.
Additionally, Berger explains how the firm’s personal approach influences its growth strategy. He says, “I think growth is a huge challenge. Because you don't want growth for growth’s sake. You really want controlled growth, and you want the right growth, and you want to grow in the areas that you have expertise and that you have knowledge that you can meet client needs. Because growth out of control creates havoc and chaos not only in your firm and with your clients, but also with your staff. And I think that if we can identify the areas that we’re good at and the things that we can bring value to our clients, then that’s our biggest advantage. And technology helps us do that.”
Planning for growth and innovation
Looking ahead, Berger, Elliott & Pritchard are focused on leveraging new technologies to stay ahead in the industry. Sara Foran notes, “I feel like they (Wolters Kluwer) are always coming out with the newest technology to assist in the accounting industry.” This commitment to innovation ensures that the firm can continue to provide cutting-edge solutions and maintain their competitive edge.
Speaking about how Gen AI will affect firms in the future, Foran explains, “I think that it’s a great tool to use inside the firm, a great tool for our staff. And as long as you’re getting that information from a trusted source like CCH or whatever platform you choose to use that on, then yeah, I think I would trust that information.”
Berger adds, “We just started playing with Copilot a little bit and found on our correspondence and some of the other things we’re sending out - like newsletters or broad-based letters to our clients - that it made it cleaner or it made it more understandable.”
Setting the stage for future success
Berger, Elliott & Pritchard’s journey from a manual, paper-based system to a fully integrated digital workflow with CCH software solutions showcases the transformative power of technology in the accounting industry. By embracing innovation and focusing on strategic growth, the firm is well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of their clients and continue their success into the future.
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