ACCT326 Course Project (Technology Project)
Assume you are the owner of a small CPA practice in a major metropolitan area. You have six
professional employees, of which 2 are relatively new CPAs (recent graduates from UMUC), and an
experienced office manager. In the past, your practice consists primarily of tax and advisory services,
but you want to expand the practice. Based upon your desires to expand the practice, you have found a
potential new client.
The client has a growing homeowners' association consisting of 1000 homeowners, who is in the
process of acquiring with four other homeowner associations within the next 90 days. This acquisition
will increase the number of homeowners to 3000. The new client is interested in using a single
automated accounting information system that will be able to perform the following functions: Billing (Invoicing): Each month, the system will generate an itemized bill for each homeowner.
The fees will vary from $100 to $200 per month, based upon the location of each home, and the
type of home (townhouse or single family homes). Late fees are 20 percent per month of the
unpaid balance. The bills are mailed the 25th of each month and payment is due by the 10th of
the following month.
Collections (Receipts): Payments can be made in person (at the HOA main office); via mail
(via a PO Box); or electronically. Payments will be deposited to the client’s account.
Payments (Checks): It is expected that the system will generate a minimum of 100 checks /
payments each month. These payments will cover a variety of services, such as expenses for
office supplies; rent; utilities; landscaping; and trash/snow removal.
Payroll: It is expecting that the client will have roughly 20 full-time employees and 30 part-time
employees. Employees will be paid on a bi-weekly basis. Payment will be made from the
client’s payroll checking account, which is separate from the client’s primary account. Currently two of the four HOAs (including the client) are using an automated accounting system (Sage
and QuickBooks), while the others are using Microsoft Excel to perform its accounting functions. Per
this, you can see why the client will want to move to a single system. The client is using QuickBooks,
but is open to using another system.
As the owner of the CPA firm, you are excited by this opportunity because it is a way to expand your
practice, but this is an opportunity that is very new to you. As the result of this opportunity, you have
asked your lead CPA to develop a document that will help you to determine if you should proceed with
this opportunity. You have given your resources four weeks to complete this assignment.
Required: Using the methodology developed in this course, document and illustrate the system from an
automated function viewpoint. As part of your documentation, you will need to identify the specific
system requirements in the areas of inputs, outputs, and controls for each of the service areas. Your
finish product will be a paper based upon the following outline:
Section 1.
Section 2.
Section 3.
Section 4.
Section 5.
Section 6. Executive Summary
Introduction
System Requirements
Outsourcing Functions
System Selection
Challenges to Automation Listed below is a summary of each section, including projected page lengths.
Section I – Executive Summary: In this section, you will provide an executive summary of the paper.
The summary should be limited to 2 pages double-spaced or 1 page single-spaced. NOTE: Develop
the summary after you have completed Section II – VI.
Section II – Introduction: In this section, you will provide narrative regarding the current business
problem and how automation may or may not address the problem. The introduction should be limited
to 2 pages double-spaced or 1 page single-spaced.
Section III – System Requirements: In this section, you will document the specific requirements
(input, output, & control) as required for each of the respective functions (billing, collections, payments,
& payroll). In order to complete this, you will need to identify the following: A general description of the process and the necessary data you would need to collect in order to
process transactions for the function in question (INPUT) A description of the information, including data that will need to generated when processing
transactions (OUTPUT) A listing of key controls that needs to be implemented to support & secure the function.
NOTE: This will be your longest section. You can expect to spend at least 2 – 3 pages for each
system requirement (e.g., billing, collections). Do not tread lightly in this area.
Section IV – Outsourcing Considerations: In this section, you will identify functions that may be
prime candidates for outsourcing. For those functions that are selected for outsourcing, you will need
to explain why they are; the possible benefits; and potential concerns. This section should be at least 2
pages double-spaced or 1 page single-spaced.
Section V – System Selection: In this section, you will recommend a PC-based accounting system to
support your new system. In developing your recommendation, you should discuss the system’s
relative strengths & weaknesses, and why you are recommending it. Also, you will recommend a
migration plan (parallel, phase, etc.) for implementing the solution. This section will exceed 2 pages
double-spaced or 1 page single-spaced. NOTE: Information from Assignment #2 will be helpful
to you as you complete this section. You will not be able to simply “cut & paste” information
from Assignment 2, but information from Assignment #2 will help you in determining your
system’s relative strengths and weaknesses.
Section VI –Challenges to Automation: In this section, you will identify and discuss the challenges to
migrating to a new automated system. This section should be at least 2 pages double-spaced or 1
page single-spaced.
While here is no recommended page length for the assignment, you can use the recommendations
proposed in each section to determine how long your response will be. Your page count does not
include such items as cover page and reference page. You will need to include sufficient references to
support your analysis, including references from your reading.

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