1. Process Improvement
The What, Why and How
(to Achieve It)
Joseph P. Manzelli Jr. CPA.CITP
Director, Fuoco Group LLP
www.fuoco.com
jmanzelli@fuoco.com

2. Agenda
 Elements of Process Improvement
 Digital Work Environment
 Workflow
 Process Improvement
 Standardization

3. Digital Work Environment
 Dual or Triple monitors
 Scanners (High speed & desktop models)
 Document management
 Engagement software
 Practice management
 Remote access
 Tax/Accounting software
 Workflow management

4. What is “Workflow”?
“The flow or progress of work done by a company,
industry, department or person”
Source: www.dictionary.com (American Heritage Dictionary)

5. What is “Workflow”?
“The movement of documents around an
organization for purposes including sign-off,
evaluation, performing activities in a process and
co-writing”
Source: www.dictionary.com (Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing)

6. What is “Workflow”?
“A workflow is a reliably repeatable pattern of activity
enabled by a systematic organization of resources,
defined roles and mass, energy and information flows, into
a work process that can be documented and learned.
Workflows are always designed to achieve processing intents
of some sort, such as physical transformation, service
provision, or information processing.”
Source: Wikipedia

7. The Workflow Problem
WORKFLOW PROBLEM

8. Process Improvement
 Document your current workflow
 Define Best Practices
 Flowcharts and procedural manuals
 Test the new process
 Train your staff
 Gather feedback
 Repeat

9. Case Study & Initiatives Fuoco Group
 Less paper environment since 2006
 Remote capabilities (Citrix, VPN, Video Conferencing)
 XCM, CCH Engagement, CCH Document (software integration)
 Multiple monitors (2 a must, 3, 4)
 Training
 Part of the culture
 Initiatives
 Continued technology investments
 Client Portals
 Project Balance
 Building a Better Place to Work
 Process Improvement

10. Document your
current workflows

11. Document your
current workflows

12. Determine Best Practices
 Talk with others in ENW on how they do things
 Read Accounting Today and Accounting
Technology among other publications on what
others are doing
 CPA Firm 1040 Workflow study done by Barry
MacQuarrie of KAF Group in Massachusetts

13. Determine
best practices

14. Determine
best practices

15. Determine
best practices

16. Determine
best practices

17. Process Improvement
 Define Specific Goals
 Make the Commitment
 Test the new process
 Train your staff
 Gather feedback
 Assess Success
 Repeat

18. Standardized Procedures
 Are you wasting time?
 McDonald’s Theory
 The audit process
 Preparing tax returns
 Other applications
 Are we standardized?
 Tools to enforce standardization

19. Standardized Procedures
The audit process
 Do all binders look the same?
 Are grouping codes standardized?
 Are tax groupings and linkings done?
 Is everyone using RJE’s and THE’s?
 What about the 45 day rule?

20. Standardized Procedures
Preparing tax returns
 Do you link all corporate tax returns?
 Do you scan source documents before or after the
process?
 Is everyone reviewing on-screen?
 Are you using dual/triple monitors?
 Are all returns stored in PDF format?
 How do clients receive their tax returns?
 Are you E*filing?
 Are you using standard names?

21. Standardized Procedures
Other Applications
 Time & Billing
 Reviewing WIP on-screen
 Billing on-screen
 Using standard formats
 Sending invoices electronically
 Email
 Standard signatures in emails
 Mailbox size limitations
 Archiving

22. Workflow Management
 Documents processes
 Understands roles
 Enforces quality compliance
 Reports progress
 Captures knowledge

23. 345 Seventh Avenue 212-947-2000
8th Floor
New York, NY 10001
200 Parkway Drive South 631-360-1700
Suite 302
Hauppauge, NY 11788
1224 US Highway One 561-625-6692
Suite H
North Palm Beach, FL 33402
www.fuoco.com
jmanzelli@fuoco.com