These four self-study courses offer CAS leaders a way to think more deeply about the foundational decisions firms make to build a successful CAS practice. Included in your 12-month subscription are the following titles:
- Defining CAS: an introduction to understanding client advisory services
- Staffing and technology for CAS: creating capacity to deliver services
- Selecting CAS clients: identifying the right niches, services, and clients
- Business planning for CAS: planning for long term success and growth
After working through the four courses, you’ll have a better understanding of what CAS is (and isn’t), and how you can move your existing service line past compliance work to higher-value advisory work. You’ll think about who you are serving, and how to align your services to your clients’ needs, and ultimately, how you’ll create the capacity with your staff and the technology you select.
If you don’t have a business plan, or haven’t updated your plan recently, planning for long-term success and growth is not just an exercise – it’s a necessity.
These self-study courses will guide you through questions that will lead to a better understanding of what client advisory services is now, and can be for the future of your practice.
Who Should View These Courses
CPAs or other accounting professionals seeking to learn more or considering starting a CAS practice within their firm.
Defining CAS: an introduction to understanding client advisory services
Course description
Client Advisory Services (CAS), Client Accounting and Advisory Services (CAAS), Client Accounting Services (CAS)—these terms tend to be used interchangeably in our profession, but what does CAS really mean? This course is designed to help learners understand the definition and role of client advisory services for clients and staff and begin to create a vision for CAS in their own firms. This course is ideal for learners new to CAS or those who would like to re-envision CAS within their firms, and it serves as the foundation for additional training opportunities.
Learning objectives
- By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Identify the difference between CAS and bookkeeping or consulting services that are not CAS
- Understand the importance of an established framework when creating a CAS business strategy
- Demonstrate the basic benefits of CAS for both clients and the firm
- Recognize the value of standardized services as part of a successful CAS practice
Selecting CAS clients: Identifying the right niches, services, and clients
Course description
Who will your CAS practice serve? The answer to this fundamental question will guide many of the choices you make as you build your CAS practice, including the services you will offer and the staffing and technology that will create your capacity.
This course offers a broad overview of identifying your client niches and ideal client persona (ICP) and how those choices will support your intentional CAS practice build. This course is ideal for learners who are new to CAS or for those who are looking to more clearly define their client niche(s) and ideal client personas.
Learning objectives
- By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Know the importance of developing a practice vision that includes both services offered and target clients
- Understand that CAS is more efficient and typically more profitable when built for specific industry verticals
- Build an ideal client profile (ICP) to help guide other CAS decisions
Staffing and technology for CAS: Creating capacity to deliver services
Course description
You may know that CAS requires a unique approach to staffing, but how can your firm most effectively approach staffing and technology? This course is designed to help learners understand how to expand the capacity of their CAS practice through the strategic use of staffing and technology. This course is ideal for learners at all points on the CAS journey who want to think deliberately about their approach to staffing and technology.
Learning objectives
- By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Demonstrate the need for staff dedicated to CAS, including a CAS leader
- Understand the relationship between staffing, technology, and capacity
- Identify staffing needs against planned service offerings
- Consider the selection process for technology to support CAS specific needs
Business planning for CAS: Planning for long term success and growth
Course description
Creating a business plan for your CAS practice can feel daunting, but done well, defining a strategic plan is the best path to long-term success. This course is designed to help learners understand how an intentional approach to building their CAS practice will lead to increased efficiency and ultimately, profitability. This course is ideal for learners who are looking to either build or re-envision their CAS practice.
Learning objectives
By the end of this course, learners should be able to:
- Demonstrate the need for a practice vision that is built on a foundation of the services offered and target clients
- Recognize that CAS must be evaluated with different metrics than traditional service lines
- Understand the need for a separate CAS business plan
- Articulate the value of advisory services and the benefits of CAS for both clients and firms
CPE Credit
Requirements: None
Advanced Preparation: None
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization
Number of CPE credits: 4 (1.0 CPE credit awarded per course)
Program Level: Basic
Instructional Method : QAS Self Study
Location: Online
CPA.com (Registration # 108347) is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org
REFUND POLICY
No refunds will be issued for online CPE subscription products.
For more information regarding administrative policies such as complaints, cancellations, and refunds, please contact workshops@hq.cpa.com.