Accountability Services: Modern Excellence in Accounting with Canopy

Profile

Accountability Services is a forward-thinking accounting firm located in Seattle, Washington and Boulder Valley, Colorado. The firm, co-owned by Lera Kooper, Dave Fischer and Ernie Villany, emphasizes a modern approach to accounting that prioritizes work-life balance, scalability, and a client-centric focus. The firm provides tax, accounting, and advisory services, primarily catering to business owners with an entrepreneurial mindset. Accountability Services has clients across the United States and globally, with a significant presence in Washington and Colorado.

"We wanted to build a business with a scalable model that not only brought value to clients but also to the employees because in the past clients received value, but it was always at the expense of employees, their schedules, their health." - Lera Kooper, Chief Business Development Officer

Integration with Canopy 

Accountability Services initially used a variety of software solutions from industry-specific products. However, the need for a more integrated and efficient tech stack led them to explore Canopy. After a thorough evaluation, the firm decided to implement Canopy's solutions, including workflow automation and client portals, to streamline their operations. The implementation was completed rapidly, with the firm going live within a few months, demonstrating the team's commitment to leveraging technology for enhanced efficiency.

"We made some really large investments in technology, which ended up culminating in us finding Canopy…seeing Canopy's functions really changed how we looked at the rest of our tech stack." - Lera Kooper, Chief Business Development Officer

Obstacle

Before integrating with Canopy, Accountability Services faced significant challenges with their tech stack. The firm used multiple disconnected applications, which required manual data entry across different platforms. This lack of integration led to inefficiencies, such as duplicate client records, time-consuming data verification, and challenges in maintaining consistency across systems. Communication with clients also suffered, especially during critical periods like tax season, when delays and manual processes led to client dissatisfaction.

"If we continued to use those products that didn't speak to each other in the way that we needed to, we would just end up wasting so much time on data verification and making sure things matched across every platform." - Lera Kooper, Chief Business Development Officer

Solution

Canopy provided a comprehensive solution to the firm's challenges. The firm was able to reduce its tech stack from 14 key pieces of technology to just five, including Canopy, which became the central hub for all their operations. Canopy's workflow automation was particularly transformative, allowing the firm to set up automated communications that kept clients informed throughout the tax preparation process. The firm also benefited from Canopy's open APIs, which allowed for seamless integration with other essential tools.

"With Canopy, we changed our tech stack from 14 key pieces of technology to five... That blew the whole team away. Everyone in our peer group is just, what are you doing? How did you change it?" - Lera Kooper, Chief Business Development Officer

Outcome

Since integrating Canopy, Accountability Services has seen significant improvements in efficiency and client satisfaction. The automation of workflows and client communications has saved countless hours of manual work, allowing the firm to focus more on providing value to clients. The firm's visibility over its operations has also improved, with real-time dashboards and reporting features that offer insights into the firm's performance. The streamlined tech stack and enhanced communication capabilities have positioned Accountability Services as a leader in the accounting industry, capable of rapid growth and adaptation to the evolving needs of their clients and staff.

​​"This is definitely the product of the future... It's the first one to really successfully address all avenues of requirements of an accounting firm." - Sandi Hart, IT Accounting Systems Consultant and Senior Staff Accountant.