Accounting in the cloud
Joel Leclerc shares what it means to run a cloud-based accounting firm
As more and more of what we do becomes cloud-based, it should come as no surprise that the accounting profession is following suit. Although cloud-based accounting is still in its infancy, people like Joel Leclerc CPA, CGA, founder of Accounting for Humans, are paving a path for it to take off.
Joel’s practice wasn’t always cloud-based, however. He only made the transition in early 2020. “I think I’ve been trying to get there for a long time but never really saw a clear path into it,” he says. “I wanted to be sure I could make it work before diving in.”
After chatting with someone who already had an established cloud-based practice and bouncing ideas around with them, Joel decided to take the plunge himself. Moving to cloud accounting has opened the door for Joel to work with small businesses and young entrepreneurs who prefer a more modern and tech-forward approach, which are the kinds of clients he always wanted to work with.
“I think cloud accounting really empowers us to become small business specialists,” says Joel. “It can have the greatest impact for small businesses and can augment their finance capabilities in a budget-friendly way.”
Cloud accounting has made it easier for Joel to serve his clients, since current software and technology have automated many of the mechanical and time-consuming tasks associated with traditional accounting. “I have more time to focus on how I’m supporting the business journey of my clients,” he says.
And, of course, Joel’s clients benefit, too. Instead of worrying about getting everything to their CPA at the end of each month, quarter, or year, cloud-based accounting makes it easy for clients to submit their documents as they have them. It can be as simple as forwarding emailed invoices and bills or capturing receipts with a dedicated phone app.
“What I’m hoping is that the client doesn’t have to spend as much time chasing paperwork,” says Joel. “I think you can reduce the mental tax many business owners experience by introducing the right technology. You collaborate with them to create a system that works with their schedule.”
For anyone looking to get into cloud accounting, Joel has some advice: “Find someone who’s already doing it. There are a lot of technology choices to make, and it helps to tap into the knowledge of someone a little further down the path.”
In the future, Joel hopes to be that “someone who’s already doing it” for others, and he’d like to take it a step further.
“I would like to create a resource hub for upcoming cloud-based accountants. I think that’s the thing that stands out in the programming world. There’s a lot of open source and open sharing,” says Joel. “There are a lot of people that want to contribute to that. I think more than anything, it’s just that there isn’t a place for it.”