Running an accounting firm often feels like an endless juggling act—meeting client deadlines, ensuring compliance, and managing a team. Keeping everything under control can be overwhelming. For CPA firm owners, accounting project management software isn’t just a helpful tool; it’s a godsend solution, essential for optimizing workflows, enhancing collaboration, and driving growth.
As a CPA coaching business, we’ve seen how the right tools can transform accounting firms’ operations. In this guide, we’ll explore the benefits of project management software, how to choose the right platform, and which solutions are leading the market.
Project management software is a powerful tool for organizing tasks, tracking progress, and improving team collaboration. The right task management tool becomes essential for accountants where precision and efficiency are non-negotiable. It goes beyond basic task management, helping you automate repetitive work, stay on top of client deliverables, ensure compliance, and keep communication flowing smoothly within your team—all while meeting the industry’s unique demands.
These platforms centralize everything an accountant needs, offering a clear view of deadlines, responsibilities, and tasks—like sending client reminders, tracking monthly bookkeeping, or scheduling audits. Additionally, they create a shared space for teams to collaborate, share files, and stay updated in real-time.
The result? More efficient operations, happier clients, and peace of mind knowing nothing’s slipping through the cracks. With the right accounting project management software, your CPA firm can always deliver accurate, timely, and exceptional service.
Choosing the best accounting project management tool for your accounting firm is not as easy as it seems. Your accounting project management software will house all your firm’s tasks and clients’ sensitive data and can also affect your service delivery. With so many options available, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed.
However, by breaking the process into clear, actionable steps, you can confidently decide to align with your firm’s unique needs. Below, I’ll guide you through a strategic approach to help you select the best tool for your business.
Before exploring specific tools, analyze your team’s day-to-day challenges. The correct project management tools should address these pain points directly.
Create a list of must-have features versus those that are simply “nice to have.” This will help you evaluate tools more objectively later.
Project management tools can vary significantly in pricing and scalability, so your firm’s size and resources will heavily influence your choice.
Don’t forget to account for long-term costs, such as subscription fees and any add-ons required for additional features or integrations. Balance your budget with the potential efficiency gains the project management tool can offer.
No matter how powerful a project management tool is, it won’t be effective if your accounting team finds it confusing or time-consuming.
Request demos or trial accounts to test how quickly your accountants can adopt the software. Gather feedback to ensure it meets their needs.
These days, CPA firms require a robust accounting tech stack, and your project management tools should complement these systems, not disrupt them. Poor integration can result in a manual workaround, negating the software’s efficiency gains. Always confirm the compatibility of your current systems with the project management tool.
As your firm grows, your needs will evolve. Choosing a project management software that can adapt to these changes ensures your investments remain valuable long-term.
Reliable customer support can save your firm significant time and frustration.
Strong support and resources can save your firm time and ensure smooth adoption across your accounting team.
Now that you understand how to pick the right project management tool for your CPA firm, below is a detailed breakdown of some of the best project management software options for accounting firms, including their standout key features and ideal use cases.
1. Financial Cents
Financial Cents is a user-friendly project management software designed for smaller accounting and bookkeeping firms. Its core mission is to simplify task tracking, client communication, and workflow organization for CPA firms that may still rely on spreadsheets or basic tools. It offers essential, intuitive features that help firms transition to a more structured system without the steep learning curve often associated with enterprise-level project management software.
Key Features:
Ideal Accounting Firms for Financial Cents
Financial Cents is ideal for small to mid-sized accounting firms seeking cost-effective, user-friendly project management software. It’s especially suited for firms providing bookkeeping, payroll, or basic accounting services that prioritize task visibility and client communication. While it doesn’t include advanced features like large-scale reporting or complex integrations, it offers exactly what smaller firms need to stay organized and efficient.
Pricing
Per User/Month, Billed Annually |
Per User/Month, Billed Monthly |
|
---|---|---|
Solo Plan | $9 | $19 |
Team Plan | $39 | $49 |
Scale Plan | $59 | $69 |
Free Trial 14-day free trial. |
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2.Jetpack Workflow
Jetpack Workflow is a project management and workflow automation solution designed specifically for accounting firms. Built to address the unique challenges of managing multiple clients, deadlines, and team responsibilities, it serves as a one-stop platform to help CPA firms maintain efficiency and stay organized.
Key Features:
Ideal Accounting Firms for Jetpack Workflow
Jetpack Workflow is ideal for small to mid-sized CPA firms, especially those managing high volumes of recurring client work. It suits firms that want to standardize their processes, improve team collaboration, and reduce the stress of meeting tight deadlines.
Pricing
Per User/Month, Billed Annually |
Per User/Month, Billed Monthly |
|
---|---|---|
Jetpack Starter | $30 | $45 |
Jetpack Organize | $39 | $49 |
Jetpack Scale | $49 | $63 |
Free Trial 14-day free trial. |
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3. Karbon
Karbon is another robust project management platform made for accounting firms. It integrates collaboration, workflow automation, and communication tools to create a centralized workspace that helps firms streamline operations and boost productivity.
Trusted by accounting firms in 40+ countries, including major players like Baker Tilly and Armanino. Karbon is designed to enhance efficiency and provide visibility into all aspects of practice management.
Key Features:
Ideal Accounting Firms for Karbon
Karbon works best for mid-sized to large accounting firms managing complex workflows requiring extensive collaboration. It’s ideal for firms that scale operations, boost team efficiency, and handle high client volumes. With powerful automation features, Karbon reduces manual tasks, while its robust communication tools support teams that value accountability and transparency.
Pricing
Per User/Month, Billed Annually |
Per User/Month, Billed Monthly |
|
---|---|---|
Karbon Team | $59 | $79 |
Karbon Business | $89 | $99 |
Karbon Enterprise | Custom |
Free Trial 14-day free trial. |
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4. Canopy
Canopy is a cloud-based practice management solution built for accounting and tax firms. It centralizes client management, document sharing, and workflow tracking in one intuitive platform. Known for its tax resolution tools and secure client portal, Canopy streamlines operations and enhances client collaboration, making it a versatile choice for firms seeking efficiency and better client experience.
Key Features:
Ideal Accounting Firms for Canopy
Canopy is particularly beneficial for mid-sized tax and accounting firms seeking an all-in-one solution to manage client relationships, documents, workflows, and billing processes. Its tax resolution tools and IRS transcript retrieval features make it especially value for firms handling complex tax matters. However, firms should be aware of the pricing model, which charges by feature, client, and user, potentially leading to higher costs as additional functionalities are added.
Pricing
Per User/Month, Billed Annually |
Per User/Month, Billed Monthly |
|
---|---|---|
Canopy Starter | $45 | $60 |
Canopy Essentials | $66 | $88 |
The pricing table above outlines options for small accounting firms. For growing firms, Canopy provides flexibility with its modular structure. It starts with the Client Engagement Platform at $150 per month, offering essential tools like a client portal, email integration, and CRM features. From there, you can tailor your plan by adding modules like Document Management, Workflow, and Time & Billing, each priced separately to suit your needs.
Free Trial 14-day free trial. |
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5. TaxDome
TaxDome is a comprehensive practice management platform designed for accounting, tax, and bookkeeping firms, offering a suite of features to streamline operations and enhance client interactions.
Key Features:
Ideal Accounting Firms for TaxDome
TaxDome suits small to mid-sized accounting and tax firms looking for an all-in-one solution to streamline client relationships, documents, workflows, and billing. Its intuitive interface and robust features help firms automate tasks, enhance collaboration, and deliver a seamless client experience.
Pricing
Per User/Month, Billed Annually |
Per User/Month, Billed Monthly |
|
---|---|---|
1-year subscription | $800 | $66 |
2-year subscription | $750 | $63 |
3-year subscription | $700 | $58 |
Free Trial 14-day free trial. |
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If you’re looking for more options, here are other project management software for accountants worth exploring for their unique features and versatility:
Trello – Trello is a simple, visually intuitive tool for organizing tasks using Kanban boards. It is ideal for smaller teams or firms new to project management software.
Asana – Known for its flexibility and ease of use, Asana is great for accounting practices, managing multiple projects, and collaborating across teams.
Wrike – Wrike is a scalable solution with advanced reporting and time-tracking features for mid-sized to large firms handling complex workflows.
Monday.com – Monday.com is a highly customizable platform that provides visual workflows, making it easy to track tasks, deadlines, and team accountability.
ClickUp – ClickUp is a feature-rich, all-in-one platform that combines task management, time tracking, and team collaboration in a single interface.
FYI – FYI is a document and practice management platform for accountants, automating filing, task management, and email storage to keep client interactions securely organized.
Firm360 – Also built specifically for CPA firms, Firm360 provides project tracking, time management, and client communication tools at one pace.
Keeper – Keeper is a modern client and task management platform focused on bookkeeping firms, offering tools to track deliverables and communicate efficiently.
Choosing the right project management software is crucial for accounting practices. The right tool can transform your operations by organizing workflows, boosting collaboration, and enhancing client service. Selecting a project management software that aligns with your firm’s needs, supports your growth, and integrates seamlessly with your current systems is essential to unlock these benefits.
At TopFirm, we help CPA firms make strategic technology and operational decisions. Whether you’re selecting task management software, optimizing team performance, or planning for sustainable growth, we provide customized coaching and resources to support your success. Let’s explore working together. Schedule a Free Growth Session with us!
About the Author:
Content Writer
Alec is a versatile content writer with years of experience in the accounting and financial services sector. His Psychology degree and strong content marketing, SEO, and blog writing background allow him to create engaging content that resonates with his target audience. Outside of work, Alec enjoys watching movies, TV shows, and anime and playing strategy-based RPG video games.