“Accounting is one of the fastest industries to adopt new technology to provide better client outcomes.”
Empower your accounting firm with straightforward modern IT solutions tailored to elevate your financial practice to new heights. At Qamba, we specialise in providing comprehensive technology support for accounting professionals.
Our expert team understands accounting firms’ unique challenges and objectives, delivering customised solutions seamlessly integrating with your workflow.
From optimising security protocols to streamlining data management, we are dedicated to enhancing your firm’s efficiency and success. Partner with us to unlock the full potential of your accounting practice and stay ahead in today’s dynamic business landscape.
IT Empowers Accounting Firms for Efficiency
Accounting firms are at the forefront of adopting cloud computing, actively addressing various powerful business applications. Cloud computing is continuously reshaping the workflow and efficiency of the accounting industry, becoming a key optimisation factor in recent years. However, the evolving technological landscape has left them in a dilemma with mismatched IT support structures and strategies, still relying on approaches from traditional IT service providers.
This gap hinders many modern accountants from achieving an overall increase in productivity. Traditional IT partners must meet the requirements and provide lean and modernised platforms.
Accounting firms urgently need industry-focused support to navigate this complexity, enhance efficiency, and leverage technology for a competitive edge.
Challenges in Accounting Firms Before Cloud Solutions
Before the widespread adoption of cloud technology in accounting firms, the industry primarily relied on local servers in the office to store and manage data. Accounting software and applications were installed on individual computers, requiring manual updates and installations whenever new versions or upgrades were released (often at least annually!).
The server-based model also introduced vulnerabilities such as single points of failure. If a server encountered an issue or failed, it could disrupt the entire workflow of the accounting firm, causing downtime and potential data loss—the need for IT experts to manage infrastructure to address technical issues added to the complexity and cost.
Accounting firms faced the cumbersome task of dealing with many standalone applications for different functions. The lack of integration between applications often resulted in inefficiencies, increased chances of errors, and difficulties in collaboration among team members.
Embracing IT Support for Superior Service
Safeguarding your data is crucial in an era of offshoring and remote work.
While offshoring offers access to high-level talent and cost efficiencies, it introduces security risks due to varying legal frameworks. To mitigate these risks, your firm must take control, setting and enforcing standards globally.
In the age of remote work, securing networks and devices is paramount. Forbes highlights the risks of unsecured connections, including MITM attacks and privacy breaches. Encrypting all communication, especially in secure areas, is essential.
The emergence of Microsoft 365 and Xero signifies a shift in the model for accounting firms, offering real-time financial interactions for clients. Our Zero Trust Windows 365 solution enhances data security by providing an Australian workspace connected to Microsoft 365 for offshore staff. With geo-blocking, secure network access from any device is ensured to minimise the attack surface.
The Imperative of Cybersecurity and AI & Automation
AI Automation is a Strong tool for improving productivity.
AI automation is a formidable catalyst for productivity enhancement in the accounting industry by efficiently tackling routine tasks like data entry and reconciliation, minimising errors, and freeing time for accountants to focus on strategic analyses. Its ability to swiftly process large datasets, provide valuable insights, and detect anomalies improves accuracy and equips firms to scale operations effectively.
Moreover, AI’s contribution to customer interaction through chatbots, adaptability to industry changes and proactive approach to fraud detection make it a vital tool for navigating the changing accounting environment while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
Protecting clients’ financial data from unauthorised access, manipulation, or theft is crucial to maintaining trust and integrity. Accounting firms store vast amounts of personally identifiable information and financial records, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals seeking to exploit such data for financial gain or engage in identity theft.
Compliance with data protection regulations is another critical factor, as failure to secure client information can result in legal consequences and financial penalties. Establishing robust cybersecurity measures ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of economic data, safeguarding the accounting firm and its clients from the potentially devastating consequences of cyber threats.
What does Qamba offer for accountants?
Integrated Cybersecurity Solutions
- Qamba Secure E8 (Essential Eight): Aligned with the stringent Australian government standard, Qamba ensures compliance and security in handling customer information, mainly Personally Identifiable Information (PII).
- Qamba Secure IG1 (CIS Controls v8): Our offerings include advanced controls based on CIS Controls v8, meticulously designed to fortify your business’s reputation and shield customer data from evolving cyber threats.
- Backup for Xero: Recognising the critical importance of financial data, Qamba provides a secure backup solution for Xero. Additionally, this allows accountants to assist clients in achieving Essential Eight compliance while ensuring the robust backup of Xero data.
- Zero Trust Windows 365: Qamba’s Zero Trust Windows 365 solution offers a secure framework, enabling businesses to engage offshore employees confidently and securely. This approach emphasizes continuous verification, minimising security risks and establishing a safe working environment.
- Go Passwordless! Say goodbye to the hassle of traditional passwords. While passwords have long been a staple for identity verification in IT systems, the advent of modern hardware tokens renders them obsolete. This revolutionary approach eliminates the need for passwords and delivers a substantial advantage in fortifying your defences against malicious actors, particularly by mitigating the prevalent threat of credential farming.
AI & Automation Solution
- Prepare for Copilot: Microsoft’s Revolutionary AI Solution, Copilot, is on the horizon. Unlocking its full potential necessitates strategic preparation for robust security controls, meticulous data classification, and comprehensive staff enablement. Senior leaders must recognise that implementing cutting-edge technology like Copilot requires more than just a technical setup—it demands thorough training and guidance to harness its immense benefits fully. Elevate your organisation’s readiness for Copilot and capitalise on its transformative capabilities.
- Business Technology Alignment Assessment (BTAA): A fixed-price, one-off assessment provides accounting firms with a comprehensive evaluation of their productivity landscape, identifying key opportunities for improvement. This strategic analysis ensures a tailored approach to enhance overall efficiency. The total cost of the BTAA is guaranteed to be recovered within 12 months from the action items provided.
- Function Automation with Microsoft Power Platform: Leverage the power of Microsoft’s Power Platform to facilitate function automation, including streamlining form and data capture processes, providing accountants with a more efficient and error-resistant workflow.
- Telephony with Reporting: Utilise a full-featured cloud-based phone solution with robust reporting capabilities by enhancing communication and facilitating the efficient capture of client billables, optimising the billing process for increased accuracy and transparency.
