Blackbaud has opened a new Accountant Referral program that is designed to reward members for referring client to use the company's Financial Edge fund accounting software. The program is currently aimed at CPAs although the Charleston, S.C.-based firm might consider opening it to all accountants.
"We want to offer something for CPAs and to help them and encourage them to work with nonprofits." says Scott Bechler, Blackbaud's vice president of parnterships.
The program offers free training and some advance looks at future products. CPAs can join by registering online. If they refer a client who buys The Financial Edge, they can receive a 10- percent discount on the product. Since many CPAs often do not wish to accept referrals fees, the discount can be given to clients.
If the program proves successful, Blackbaud would probably consider opening the program to nonCPA accounting professionals, Bechler says.
Bob Scott has provided information to the tax and accounting community since 1991, first as technology editor of Accounting Today, and from 1997 through 2009 as editor of its sister publication, Accounting Technology. He is known throughout the industry for his depth of knowledge and for his high journalistic standards. Scott has made frequent appearances as a speaker, moderator and panelist and events serving tax and accounting professionals. He has a strong background in computer journalism as an editor with two former trade publications, Computer+Software News and MIS Week and spent several years with weekly and daily newspapers in Morris County New Jersey prior to that. A graduate of Indiana University with a degree in journalism, Bob is a native of Madison, Ind