"Bookkeepers are taking the lead as true technology advisors with clients, and delivering high value in the process with big results for their firms," Bob Lewis, the company's director of channels and
alliances, said in a prepared statement.

The survey based its finding on responses from 459 accounting and bookkeeping professionals, conducted from January through March.

The survey found a great deal of confidence from respondents in the future of their businesses. Sixty-seven percent said there firms will grow significantly over the next two years.

Respondents, who expect growth, "share a proclivity for cloud technology, value-based pricing and adding new services," the survey concluded. Seventy-eight percent use one or more cloud-based solutions, and 47 percent said their clients are open to their technology recommendations.

Many of the firms operate remotely with 32 percent reporting they spend no time at client offices. Fifty-eight percent provide client bill pay and 39 percent offer value-based pricing.

Moreover, a significant number of these professionals have moved to the cloud. Fifty percent use multiple cloud solutions in their firms and another 21 percent use at least one cloud solution. The respondents also indicated their clients were technologically adept with 62 percent stating "their clients are proficient enough to get by when it comes to technology." Another 12 percent categorize their clients as tech savvy.