A CPA firm closes 1,840 individual returns, 320 business returns, and 92 extensions between January and April with the same team of 14 that handles advisory year-round.
CPA firms run two seasons: tax season (January to October depending on extensions) and advisory year-round. Returns move through document request, prep, review, partner signoff, and e-file. Advisory engagements run quarterly with budgeting, forecasting, and tax planning touchpoints. Strkr's public accounting configuration models the pieces natively so the staff accountant, the senior, the manager, and the partner each see their load without wrestling a sales CRM into shape.
Public accounting firms rarely land on a CRM that was shaped for their motion. Workflow tools (Karbon, Canopy, Firm360) handle the task flow but miss the client relationship layer. Sales CRMs ignore the tax season shape entirely. Here are the pains that come up.
Tax season surge is the whole year
January through April carries 70 percent of the workload for a 10-month shop.
A CPA firm runs tax season from mid-January through April 15 (plus the September 15 and October 15 extension deadlines), compressing 70 percent of annual billable hours into 12 weeks. Generic CRMs treat the year as flat; sales CRMs assume continuous outbound. Strkr's tax season dashboard shows capacity by preparer, review queue depth, and extension candidates well in advance so the firm paces the surge.
Document requests are a bottleneck
The firm cannot start the return until the client sends the K-1s and the 1099s.
Return preparation stalls on client document delivery: 1099s, K-1s, mortgage statements, charitable gift receipts, business P&Ls, depreciation schedules. Email-based document chase is the standard today and it eats time. Strkr's client portal and document request workflow routes requests, tracks delivery, and surfaces returns stalled on missing items so the preparer calls once rather than three times.
Advisory services need different tracking
Monthly bookkeeping and quarterly tax planning run through year-round cadence.
Advisory services (monthly bookkeeping, quarterly tax planning, controller services, CFO services, business valuations) run year-round with their own cadence rather than the tax season surge. Generic CRMs cannot shape the dual motion. Strkr's dual engagement model carries one-time return engagements and recurring advisory engagements with distinct pricing, cadence, and workflow per type.
Partner review bottleneck
Returns sit in partner queue for a week while the partner reviews 40 others.
Review flows (staff prep, senior review, manager review, partner signoff) typically bottleneck at the partner. During peak season a partner reviews 40 to 60 returns a week with each needing substantive attention. Strkr's review queue with partner workload visibility routes returns to the right reviewer with staffing-model aware distribution so no one partner carries double the queue.
Billing is time-and-attendance plus fixed fee
A 1040 bills fixed; a business return bills hourly; advisory bills recurring.
CPA firm billing mixes fixed fee (standard 1040s), hourly (business returns, special projects), recurring (advisory services), and value billing (complex tax planning, business valuations). Standard CRM billing modules do not model the mix. Strkr's billing module handles the four modes with time capture, WIP tracking, and progress billing per engagement type.
Public accounting carries compliance obligations: CPE hours per CPA per year, firm license renewals, PTIN maintenance for return preparers, peer review every three years, PCAOB registration for firms with public audit clients. Strkr's compliance module tracks the obligations with renewal reminders and attestation workflow so the firm admin does not reconstruct from memory before the state board inquiry.
The CPA firm data model
How Strkr models clients, returns, advisory, and the practice.
A public accounting CRM has to carry the client with their family or entity structure, the returns moving through the pipeline, the advisory engagements running year-round, the time and billing, and the firm compliance obligations. Strkr's public accounting configuration ships the pieces modeled natively.
Client record
Individual, family, or entity with relationship map.
Each client record carries individual (W-2 earner, retiree, high-net-worth individual) or entity (S-corp, C-corp, partnership, LLC, trust, nonprofit) classification, filing jurisdictions, dependent and relationship map (spouse, children, parents, business partners), prior preparer, retention status. Family relationships surface so the preparer sees the full client ecosystem.
1040 return pipeline
Individual returns from organizer send to e-file acceptance.
The 1040 pipeline runs through organizer sent, documents received, prep in progress, review in queue, partner signoff, e-file transmitted, e-file accepted, invoice sent, payment received. Each stage carries SLA targets and the preparer sees the queue age for the engagement.
Business return pipeline
Entity returns with K-1 and partner distribution handling.
The business return pipeline (1120, 1120-S, 1065, 1041) runs through the structured stages with K-1 generation for partnership and S-corp returns, partner distribution notification, and amended return handling. Business returns typically require preparer, senior, manager, and partner review with structured handoffs between.
Extension tracker
4868, 7004, 1138 tracked with deadline countdown.
Extensions on 1040, business returns, and estate returns track with the extension deadline (October 15 for 1040, September 15 for business returns typically, varies by entity). The tracker shows which extensions are in and which clients need the extension filed before the April 15 or March 15 deadlines. Capacity planning for September and October surfaces from the extension pool.
Advisory engagement
Recurring monthly, quarterly, annual service agreements.
Advisory engagements carry service scope (monthly bookkeeping, quarterly tax planning, annual tax projection, controller services, CFO services, business valuation), pricing (recurring or project-based), assigned team, cadence (monthly, quarterly, annually), SLA targets. The engagement tracks separately from return engagements so advisory capacity is visible year-round.
Document request
Organizer, missing docs, follow-up reminders.
Document requests capture the organizer sent to the client, documents expected, documents received, documents still outstanding. Follow-up reminders fire at configurable intervals (3 days, 7 days, 14 days). The client portal surfaces the outstanding list so the client sees what the firm needs without calling. Strkr AI drafts the follow-up email with specific missing items referenced.
Time entry
Billable hours captured per engagement per staff member.
Time entries capture per-engagement, per-staff billable hours with task description, bill rate at the staff member level, overridable per engagement. The time rolls up to the engagement WIP and the firm realization reporting. Strkr integrates with the common time trackers (Harvest, Toggl, Replicon) for firms running existing time capture platforms.
Billing and realization
Fixed fee, hourly, recurring, value billing in one view.
Billing captures the engagement billing mode (fixed, hourly, recurring, value), the current WIP, the realization rate (percent of WIP collected), and the progress billing status. Partner-level realization reporting surfaces write-offs and write-ups per partner per quarter for the compensation discussion.
Compliance records track CPE hours per CPA (jurisdictional requirements vary; typically 40 hours annually with specific ethics and tax categories), PTIN maintenance for return preparers, state license renewals, firm license renewals, peer review cycle (every 3 years for AICPA members), PCAOB registration for firms with public audit clients.
The CPA firm practice motion
What runs weekly, monthly, through tax season.
A CPA firm runs cadences that shift through the year with tax season dominating January through April. Here is the typical rhythm for a 10 to 60 CPA firm running 1040s, business returns, and advisory services on Strkr.
Pre-season: organizer send
December through mid-January organizer campaign.
The pre-season organizer campaign runs December through mid-January: organizers sent to all 1040 clients, prior-year data pulled, document request list generated, client portal access reactivated. Strkr's pre-season workflow runs the campaign in one batch with the client-specific prior year context pre-populated.
Weekly during season: capacity review
Prep queue, review queue, partner queue checked.
Weekly capacity review during tax season covers prep queue depth per preparer, review queue depth per reviewer, partner signoff queue, extensions trending. Overflow routes to additional staffing (loaned staff from other offices, contractors) or shifts to extension. Strkr's tax season dashboard runs the review on screen.
Weekly during season: stuck return triage
Returns stalled on documents escalated to client contact.
Returns stalled on missing documents more than 7 days trigger escalation: senior calls the client (rather than preparer email loop), specific document requests sent via client portal, extension decision triggered if documents will not land by April 1. Strkr surfaces the stuck returns on the triage queue with document age by request.
Mid-month: billing cycle
Progress billing on business returns and advisory.
Mid-month billing covers completed returns (fixed fee invoices), WIP progress billing on business returns and advisory, recurring billing on monthly advisory engagements. The partner reviews the realization report before invoices release to catch write-off candidates before billing. Strkr's billing module runs the cycle with the realization reporting on screen.
Post-season: extension planning
April 16 extension cohort scheduled for May through October.
Post-April 15 the firm plans the extension workload: September 15 business return extensions, October 15 1040 extensions, specific client-level priorities. The planning distributes the workload across the summer months to avoid the September crunch. Strkr's extension planning view surfaces the cohort with the completion-by date targets.
Year-round: advisory cadence
Monthly bookkeeping and quarterly planning run separately.
Advisory engagements run their cadence separately from the return pipeline: monthly bookkeeping with month-end close workflows, quarterly tax planning touchpoints, annual tax projection in Q4 for high-net-worth individuals and business owners, business valuation projects on project cycle. Strkr's advisory view surfaces the cadence with each client's engagement scope visible.
Integration with the public accounting stack
ProConnect, Lacerte, Drake, UltraTax, QuickBooks.
CPA firms run tax prep software, workflow tools, document portals, accounting software, and e-signature platforms. Strkr integrates with the common pieces so the firm does not swivel chair between windows.
Tax prep software integration
ProConnect, Lacerte, Drake, UltraTax, ATX.
Integrations for Intuit ProConnect Tax Online, Lacerte, Drake Tax, Thomson Reuters UltraTax CS, Wolters Kluwer ATX. Client data syncs bidirectionally with return status (prep, review, e-file acceptance) flowing back to Strkr for pipeline visibility. The preparer works in the tax software; the practice management lives in Strkr.
Workflow tool integration
Karbon, Canopy, TaxDome, Firm360 handoffs.
Firms running existing workflow tools (Karbon, Canopy, TaxDome, Firm360) can bridge the Strkr client relationship data with the workflow task management. For firms replacing the workflow tool, Strkr's workflow module handles the task flow natively. The integration pattern depends on the firm's existing stack and migration preference.
QuickBooks and Xero
Bookkeeping advisory engagements tied to the ledger.
For firms running monthly bookkeeping advisory engagements, the QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, and Xero integrations tie the client ledger to the Strkr engagement. Month-end close status, reconciliation progress, and advisory touchpoints surface on the engagement view.
Client portal and document exchange
Secure document exchange with the client.
The client portal surfaces document requests, outstanding items, return drafts for client review, e-signature requests, and billing. Clients upload K-1s, 1099s, and supporting documents directly to the portal with the preparer notified of new uploads. The portal replaces the email-based document chase that eats preparer time.
E-signature and 8879 flow
Form 8879 and engagement letters routed electronically.
DocuSign, PandaDoc, Dropbox Sign integrations route Form 8879 (IRS e-file authorization), engagement letters, consent forms, and 7216 disclosures through electronic signature. Executed documents attach to the return record automatically. The e-file transmission waits for 8879 execution so the firm cannot accidentally transmit without authorization.
Email and calendar integration
Outlook or Gmail with meeting scheduling.
Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace integrations pull email into the client view, sync calendar bidirectionally for appointment scheduling, and let Strkr AI draft follow-up emails on document requests, return review, and advisory engagement scheduling. The preparer works in Outlook or Gmail; Strkr captures without a manual log step.
CPE tracking integrations pull completed courses from Checkpoint Learning (Thomson Reuters), CPAacademy, Becker, and Western CPE into the staff compliance record. Jurisdictional CPE requirements (annual hour totals, ethics specific, tax specific, state-specific) flag completion status for each CPA.
Invoice payment runs through Stripe, QuickBooks Payments, or CPACharge (the AffiniPay payment processor specific to accounting). The payment captures update the engagement realization automatically. For firms running ACH collection on recurring advisory engagements, the payment schedule attaches to the recurring billing.
Audit trail and 7216 compliance
Client data access, consent, and disclosure logged.
IRS Section 7216 regulates disclosure of taxpayer information. The audit log captures every client data access, every consent form execution, every third-party disclosure (if any). State board inquiries and peer review cycles reference the audit trail for compliance verification. The audit depth satisfies the review workload.
Head-to-head
Strkr versus a workflow tool plus a separate CRM.
Many CPA firms run a workflow tool (Karbon, Canopy, TaxDome) for task management plus a separate CRM or spreadsheet for client relationship data. The split creates sync friction. Here is how Strkr's combined approach compares.
Feature
Strkr
Workflow tool plus separate CRM
Client relationship and workflow combined
Native single tenant model
Two tools with bridge sync
1040 pipeline with capacity view
Tax season dashboard with queue depth per preparer
Task list without capacity rollup
Business return pipeline
1120, 1120-S, 1065, 1041 with K-1 handling
Generic task template per entity type
Advisory engagement with recurring billing
Monthly, quarterly, annual cadence native
Separate billing tool or manual entry
Document request with portal and reminders
Portal plus automated follow-up on aging requests
Email-based chase
Partner review queue with workload balance
Routing by partner capacity and specialization
Manual assignment
Time, billing, and realization reporting
Fixed, hourly, recurring, value billing in one view
Billing tool separate from workflow
CPE and compliance tracking
Native with renewal reminders
Spreadsheet or separate compliance tool
Fully loaded monthly cost
Roughly $60-80 per seat with CPA pack
$100-150 per seat combined workflow + CRM + billing
How teams use Strkr
How CPA firms run Strkr.
CPA firms moving onto Strkr collapse the workflow-plus-CRM-plus-billing-plus-spreadsheet stack into one tenant with native tax season support. Here are specific motions from CPA firms on the platform.
Boutique tax firm, 11 CPAs, high-net-worth focus
Tax season extensions dropped from 32 percent to 18 percent.
A boutique tax firm serving high-net-worth individuals had been extending roughly 32 percent of returns because document chase stalled preparation. Audra, the managing partner, moved the document request workflow into Strkr with the client portal, automated reminders at 3/7/14 day intervals, and stuck-return escalation to senior-level calls. Extensions dropped to 18 percent the following season, which the firm attributed primarily to earlier document delivery driven by the portal visibility.
Full-service firm, 34 CPAs, mixed 1040 and business
Partner review queue balanced after capacity-aware routing.
A full-service firm with 34 CPAs had two partners carrying double the review queue because routing was based on who got the engagement originally rather than current capacity. Pradeep, the managing partner, moved review routing into Strkr with capacity-aware assignment based on queue depth and partner specialization. Review cycle time dropped from 9 days to 4 days firm-wide and the two overloaded partners finally had time for client-facing advisory conversations rather than just signing returns.
Advisory engagement realization rose from 72 percent to 89 percent.
An advisory-first firm doing monthly bookkeeping and fractional CFO services had been running at 72 percent realization because scope creep was not captured in billing. Donatella, the firm owner, moved advisory engagement scoping into Strkr with structured service agreements, hour budgets per month, and realization tracking per engagement per month. Scope-creep conversations happened monthly with the client rather than at year-end billing, and realization rose to 89 percent over two quarters.
Multi-office firm, 68 CPAs across 4 cities
Cross-office staffing loaned 1,100 hours during peak season.
A multi-office firm running peak season surge separately in each location had capacity imbalances where one office was underwater while another had slack. Marco, the firm director of operations, moved firm-wide capacity visibility into Strkr with the preparer availability and queue depth visible across all offices. Cross-office staffing loaned roughly 1,100 hours of preparer capacity to the most-stressed office during peak season, which eliminated the extension spike that had hit that office annually.
Specialty tax firm, 5 CPAs, trust and estate focus
Trust return pipeline visibility surfaced $240K in missed billing.
A specialty firm doing trust and estate returns (1041, 706, 709) had been losing billing on complex trust returns because partner time was captured informally and did not make it to the invoice. Soraya, the partner, moved time capture into Strkr with the engagement WIP visible to the partner before billing and realization reporting per trust engagement. The firm surfaced roughly $240K in previously missed billing over the first year on the platform, which paid for the platform cost many times over.
Run a CPA practice on a CRM that knows tax season and advisory.
Start a 14-day Strkr trial with the public accounting configuration enabled. 1040 and business return pipelines, extension tracker, client portal with document requests, advisory engagement management, time and billing, CPE tracking, tax prep software integration. See what one tenant feels like for the full practice motion.
How is Strkr different from Karbon, Canopy, TaxDome, or Firm360?
Karbon, Canopy, TaxDome, and Firm360 are purpose-built workflow tools for public accounting with strong depth on task management, document portals, and e-signature. The depth is a strength. The weakness is the client relationship layer (CRM) and the advisory engagement management which these tools treat as secondary. Strkr is a general-purpose modern CRM with a CPA configuration pack covering 1040 and business return pipelines, extension tracking, document requests, advisory engagements, time and billing, and compliance tracking. Many firms run both tools (Strkr as the CRM and client-facing layer, Karbon as the internal workflow) with native integration between. Firms replacing the workflow tool entirely find Strkr's workflow depth sufficient for most practice shapes under 60 CPAs. Larger firms running heavy audit practices often keep the specialty tool for the audit-specific workflow.
What tax prep software integrations ship?
Native integrations for Intuit ProConnect Tax Online, Intuit Lacerte, Drake Tax, Thomson Reuters UltraTax CS, Wolters Kluwer ATX, and CCH Axcess Tax. Client data syncs bidirectionally with return status (prep, review, e-file transmitted, e-file accepted) flowing back to Strkr for pipeline visibility. The preparer works in the tax software; the practice management, client relationship, and billing live in Strkr. For firms running older software or less-common platforms (Drake Enterprise, specific CCH configurations), the REST API with webhook support handles the integration pattern. KMS-encrypted credential storage with the integration debugger surfacing every sync event. We never route the integration through Zapier because every integration ships as first-class native code.
How does the client portal handle document requests?
The client portal surfaces document requests per return engagement with the organizer, outstanding items, uploaded documents, and estimated completion. Clients upload K-1s, 1099s, mortgage statements, charitable gift receipts, and other supporting documents directly to the portal. The preparer sees new uploads immediately and the outstanding list updates as items land. Automated reminders fire at configurable intervals (3 days, 7 days, 14 days by default) with escalation to senior-level calls on items aging past 14 days. The portal replaces the email-based document chase that typically eats 15 to 25 percent of preparer time during peak season. For firms with existing client portals (SmartVault, ShareFile, Sharepoint), the portal integrates with the existing tool so clients work in one place.
How does Strkr handle the tax season surge?
The tax season dashboard surfaces capacity by preparer, review queue depth per reviewer, partner signoff queue, and extension candidates well in advance of April 15. Weekly capacity review flags preparers approaching their hour cap and reviewers facing queue overload for workload rebalance (reassign engagements, loan staff from other offices, convert candidate returns to extensions). The partner-level realization reporting surfaces write-off candidates before they consume additional billable time. For firms running cross-office staffing during peak season, firm-wide capacity visibility surfaces where loaned capacity has the most impact. Post-April 15 the extension planning view distributes the September and October extension workload across the summer months to avoid the pre-deadline crunch.
Can Strkr handle advisory services billing separately from return billing?
Yes. Advisory engagements carry recurring billing (monthly bookkeeping, quarterly tax planning, controller services, CFO services) separate from the one-time return engagements. Each advisory engagement specifies service scope, pricing (recurring or project-based), assigned team, cadence, and SLA targets. The billing module runs the recurring cycle automatically with WIP tracking and realization reporting per engagement. Scope-creep tracking per engagement surfaces when hours exceed the budget so the account manager can raise the scope conversation with the client proactively rather than at year-end billing. For firms running value billing on complex projects (business valuations, transaction advisory, complex tax planning), the value billing mode captures the fixed fee with milestone-based progress billing.
How does CPE and compliance tracking work for the firm?
The compliance module tracks per CPA: CPE hours per year with jurisdiction-specific requirements (typically 40 hours annually with specific ethics and tax categories, some states requiring additional categories), PTIN maintenance for return preparers, state license renewal with per-state renewal windows, firm license renewal, peer review cycle (every 3 years for AICPA members), and PCAOB registration status for firms with public audit clients. CPE tracking integrates with Checkpoint Learning, CPAacademy, Becker, and Western CPE to pull completed courses automatically. Renewal reminders surface before due dates. For state board inquiries or peer review cycles, the compliance history exports in the required format with the full audit trail of CPE completion, consent executions, and license renewals.
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