Faced with time-consuming manual processes, Madsen, O'Meara and Company turned to SurePrep to streamline their tax workflow. The result: faster turnaround, reduced headcount, and elevated client service through smarter automation.
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| The challenge: Time-consuming tax preparation |
| The solution: Best-in-class CPA automation with SurePrep |
| Faster tax prep processes, better results |
| A more empowered tax team |
See what CPA firm automation can do for your team
Tax practices are forced to become leaner, meaner, and more efficient in today’s hypercompetitive market. That’s why CPA firm automation was a must-have for Edgar Madsen of Madsen, O’Meara and Company P.C., a full-service tax, accounting, payroll, and consulting firm serving Bloomington, Minnesota.
What began as a test drive during the off-season evolved into SurePrep becoming a staple of their 1040 workflow and a catalyst for smarter, more scalable operations. Here’s how
The challenge: Time-consuming tax preparation
Like many accounting firms, Madsen, O’Meara and Company spent endless hours on manual tax preparation. During busy season, the high volume of work combined with limited staff handicapped their ability to take on strategic engagements.
“We were so pressed for time to try to get the work out the door at any price. There just was not enough hours in the day,” says Edgar Madsen.
These bottlenecks revealed a clear need for CPA firm automation. So, they integrated SurePrep as an extension of Thomson Reuters UltraTax CS to test the waters before busy season hit. The team adopted 1040SCAN and SPbinder to scan and index workpapers for easy organization and streamline review.
1040SCAN: Automates data entry, workpaper indexing and OCR verification on an industry-leading selection of form types, including Federal Organizer pages, grantor letters, and Schedule K-1.
SPbinder: Workpaper management software designed with annotations, cross-referencing, and sign-off levels that enable thorough documentation and easy review.
The solution: Best-in-class CPA automation with SurePrep
Within two months, the firm saw what SurePrep could accomplish and expanded it to their entire 1040 workload. The result: Less manual preparation, faster review, and seamless data sharing with UltraTax CS.
“SurePrep has really changed the volume we can produce and the ease with which we can process tax returns,” says Edgar.
The implementation didn’t just eliminate tax prep struggles, but elevated their entire operation. They were able to accomplish more work in less time and quickly realized the potential of:
- Centralized scanning that ensured consistency and eliminated filing mixups.
- Automated document recognition and bookmarking (which makes importing to UltraTax faster and cleaner).
- Standardization that reduced error rates and improved review efficiency.
Together, these enhancements showcased how CPA firm automation streamlines tax prep from start to finish.
Faster tax prep processes, better results
By streamlining the tax return preparation process and improving overall workflow efficiency, SurePrep has significantly increased Madsen, O’Meara and Company’s overall productivity. Automated data entry and source document organization enable staff members to complete tax returns in nearly half the time, thus freeing up capacity without sacrificing quality.
“Previously, the whole process for an average client might take an hour and a half. That process now takes about 35 to 40 minutes and we don’t charge any less than we did for our tax returns,“ says Edgar.
The impact of SurePrep at Madsen, O’Meara and Company:
- Cut tax return prep time by 50%
- Reduced headcount, increased volume of tax returns
- Faster, more insightful reviews
- Improved client experience
This dramatic efficiency boost meant the firm could take on more clients without having to expand headcount. Even after multiple employees accepted new positions elsewhere, the team still managed to increase capacity — proof of how CPA firm automation strengthens resilience during staffing changes. And with fewer hours spent on repetitive manual tasks, their preparers were more energized and available to tackle meaningful, strategic engagements with clients.
“We have taken on more clients as we’ve had staff leave. We have not replaced them. We’ve gone from a staff of eight or nine to four and we’re doing more volume than we ever did and providing better quality service to our clients as well.”
A more empowered tax team
With standardized processes and improved quality control, the firm can consistently deliver a comprehensive, organized PDF tax package that includes all supporting source documents which are both bookmarked and organized. This transparency improves communication and helps clients better understand their tax returns.
“The review process has gotten faster for us as it recognizes more and more data as it comes in. For example, a brokerage statement, that’s pretty much a guarantee now that it’s going to be accurate. We don’t even really have to think much about that. We just notice that our job is easier.”
Most importantly, SurePrep’s consistent structure and reliable data imports empower staff to shift their focus from routine compliance tasks to higher-value services such as tax planning and advisory engagements, helping the firm elevate their service model while supporting professional growth and job satisfaction.
“Now we can spend time actually saying, ‘What does this mean? Are there tax strategies that we can use to try to save the client some tax dollars?”
See what CPA firm automation can do for your team
Today, Edgar can’t imagine running his firm without the 1040 automation and workpaper tools provided by SurePrep. 1040SCAN and SPbinder have become a staple of his team’s day-to-day processes and essential for surviving busy season.
“I think, again, anything beyond just a part-time practitioner, SurePrep is going to save you time and it’s going to save you quality. We’ve used it for over 10 years and it continues to get better,” Edgar noted.
Want to see the SurePrep difference for yourself? Check out our information hub and see how CPA firm automation can save your team over 90 minutes per tax return!
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