Robert Speller: Providing top accounting and systems services to his clients via remote support

By Lynn Yoffee

When Robert Speller got his start in accounting and systems operations in 1980, he was quickly charged with finding a new accounting package for his employer. "We got the Walker Accounting System and went through all of the craziness of migrating and converting data over, and we actually downsized ourselves out of our own jobs," Speller says. "That's when I started picking up clients on my own."

In doing so, he has helped numerous small businesses generate accurate financial reports and learn to interpret those reports to better manage their organizations.

For the last 10 years, Speller has worked with small- to medium-size companies, primarily in the areas of software consulting and training, via his company, Speller Consulting. He now assists clients in the San Francisco area in assessing their accounting software needs, and works with them to implement and educate their accounting staff.

Speller is unique in that his company leverages the power of remote technologies to cost-effectively work with and support his clients. "It's more convenient and affordable than if we had to drive to their office every time they need our help," he says.

To date, Speller counts 28 installations of Microsoft Office Accounting. And a number of those have switched from QuickBooks. "QuickBooks is pretty good, but can get messy fast. It's a much easier transition to convert to Microsoft Office Accounting," he says.

While there are myriad companies that install and set up accounting packages for clients, they typically elect not to provide post-implementation services. "I can customize ports, work remotely and set up their network," he says. "Then I can dial right in to my clients' systems. In some cases, I maintain their books, and other times I train somebody to do it. We like to partner with our client companies to set up training, to do updates and so on."

Speller specializes in working with smaller companies with 10-12 employees because he likes to provide hands-on attention and services. If a company is larger,  he starts to lose that direct contact.

 

The best choice for accounting

Speller chooses Microsoft Office Accounting software for clients because they can truly work seamlessly with Office Outlook with Business Contact Manager (BCM).

"BCM is invaluable," Speller says. "My clients can do their marketing with BCM. A lot of them have strong Excel backgrounds, and it makes more sense to work with their lists through Outlook."

Office Outlook with Business Contact Manager and Office Accounting integration enables clients to:

* View past and present quotes, sales orders, and invoices

* See customer financial history at a glance

* View outstanding balances

* Track billable time on your calendar

* Send completed transactions, such as billable time, to  Office Accounting

* Update customer records in Outlook and  Office Accounting simultaneously

* Create new customers in  Office Accounting from within Outlook

* Provide co-workers with access to accounting information without giving them direct access to  Office Accounting

* Link e-mails, tasks, and other Outlook items to customer accounts

 

Speller says clients who make and commercialize products seem to make best use of the Office Accounting/BCM integration.

"A lot of companies which have products want to stay on top of their clients to order again," he says. "It's very good for those types of clients to build in some smarts to remind them to follow up with their customers, and to check and see where their orders are."

Speller adds that product manufacturers aren't his only clients who benefit from Office Accounting. He also works with a number of independent attorneys. "They like it because they can use Outlook to do their billing from the calendar and to be able to click on the billable button and absorb their time."

And like most other Microsoft Office Accounting users, he appreciates the seamless integration, ease of use, and value.

"I had a client who was considering QuickBooks Enterprise solutions [which costs $3,000]. I showed it to them. I also showed Office Accounting and demonstrated it, and they said there's no reason to buy the more expensive program," Speller said.

He predicts that his expertise in Microsoft Office Accounting will help Speller Consulting continue to grow.

"QuickBooks is a good program, but when I got introduced to Office Accounting, I realized that I haven't even begun to tap the number of clients for whom this would be a perfect solution," he said.

Contact Robert Speller at (415) 848-3022, robert2006@att.blackberry.net or visit his website at www.spellerconsulting.net.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Microsoft.