The CPA Journal

The development of CPA2Biz.com has progressed substantially since its launch last year, reaching the point where it has a lot to offer CPAs and appears ready for constructive feedback from users. CPA2Biz provides an important link to the AICPA and has the potential to make a major contribution to the CPA profession, so readers should consider trying out the website and sending their comments to the webmaster.

The website has so much material available that it can be difficult to find a quick answer. On the positive side, some resources are accessible by multiple approaches, and the keyword search on the home page works well if the subject is well defined. On the negative side, some resources can be accessed only one way, and some item names are confusing or similar to other terms. A busy professional will probably not devote extensive time to trying to find resources on this website. A better- organized and more extensive listing of what is actually available, with direct links on the home page, would be extremely helpful.

In some respects, CPA2Biz is really “Biz2CPA,” because many resources must be purchased. The website offers access to:

Some resources are available only to AICPA members, who can find their registration number on the mailing label of their Journal of Accountancy. The website’s problems with registration and access noted by Paul Warner in “An Assessment of Accounting Portals” (December 2001) have been corrected.

Publications. Selected publications can be accessed from three major locations on the website. The Journal of Accountancy and Viewpoint are located by clicking “more” under the “news” section on the home page. Publications such as the AICPA Professional Standards and the Audit and Accounting Guides are found by clicking on “Store” at the top of the home page. A few articles and publications can also be reached by clicking “Resource Centers” at the top of the home page, then selecting from the topics on the next page.

Continuing professional education. On the home page, “CPE & Conferences” will take the user to a subsidiary screen that lists nine technical categories, as well as links to AICPA InfoBytes (one- and two-hour courses) and the Learn2 Microsoft applications training courses. In addition to conference information and registration, information about online and self-study courses is available through “CPE & Conferences.” A third way to access CPE information is to go to “Store” from the home page, then choose a category on the next page. The registration process is very easy; however, special pricing offers may not be available.

Practice-related products and services. Software and online services to assist CPAs with payroll processing, personnel management, and marketing can be accessed through “Business Solutions” from the home page. Some practice tools are available under “Resource Centers,” by specific topic. Practice tools for a variety of areas can also be found by choosing a category in the “Store.” The online practice management resource, e-MAP, can be accessed via the home page’s “Quick Links” or through the “Store.”

Job placement information. Job search and posting services can be accessed under “Career Resources.” Job seekers can click on “Search Jobs” to search for the jobs that meet their specified criteria. Job seekers can apply for positions online if they’ve created an online resume under “post your resume.” Both functions are very easy to use, but the resume creation process is quite extensive and the user should work from an already completed resume. As with other career websites, employers have several pricing options for posting position notices and reviewing resumes.

CPA2Biz has extensive resources, but accessing specific content can be difficult. Rather than providing a straightforward introduction to materials, the website looks more like a newsletter. If it were reorganized in a more user-friendly manner, it has the potential to become a professional lifeline from the AICPA to practicing CPAs.

The CPA Journal is broadly recognized as an outstanding, technical-refereed publication aimed at public practitioners, management, educators, and other accounting professionals. It is edited by CPAs for CPAs. Our goal is to provide CPAs and other accounting professionals with the information and news to enable them to be successful accountants, managers, and executives in today's practice environments.

Visit the new cpajournal.com.