"Even when using "secure" paper such as manual checks, amounts can be
changed, signatures forged, etc. If there's a will there's a way holds
true regardless of the media."
I would personally agree that a document may be forged regardless of
whether it is on paper or on a computer.
Perhaps, a wise strategy would be to keep contracts on paper filed and
stored eventually in a good storage place location (outside the office
to save place) and to keep everything else on the computer. As a CPA
firm you must be careful that the data is secure as confidentiality is
a large part of any accounting practice (I am an accountant myself and
own a business consulting firm which gives strategic direction on
growth and expansion mainly). Financials are normally confidential in
nature, which certainly would differentiate how you set up your systems
and processes. A handyman may not need to worry about confidentiality
as much as a lawyer or a psychologist does. Be sure to secure your
computers and only to give access to the appropriate parties within
your firm that are allowed to see the financials.
I am not sure about how large your company is... You may want to
consider hiring a firm that specializes in systems design. The E-Myth
Revisited is a great book about how to create a business rather than
being self employed. Many accounting companies are small and are pretty
much self employed rather than businesses that function on their own
thanks to great systems and processes in place.
Someone in the post recommended that you perhaps try to create your own
filing system rather than using a software for it. Maybe try this with
a portion of your business to see how efficiently this will work for
you. The great benefit to paperless is the ability to access
information quickly and easily - just be sure to allow ample time for
setting up/planning your system so that once it is up and running, it's
highly efficient.
I am happy to help you further with your implementation of this new
filing system as well as the security part of it. I work with a great
IT consultant that does work for the public and private sector; I'm
sure he could be a wonderful resource for you.
Best of luck with your business!
Anna Kubit
www.konsultar.com