Chris Leach has a global vision when it comes to the CPA firm and technology. Managing Partner of Leach Consulting & Accounting in San Diego, most of Chris' clients are looking for new market channels to reach their customers locally and for new overseas markets, and Chris uses technology to help them achieve their goals. Chris says, "The CPA profession is in the process of dramatically changing the way we are looking at applying technology to our own practices and that of our clients. Typically, clients don't think of CPAs as technology advisors, when in reality we should be involved - we know their business processes and what they need, and we can apply that knowledge to help them save money and be successful. CPAs really are in a great position to help our clients select the right types of technologies to take them into the year 2000 and beyond."

Thanks to a technology plan created by Chris and his firm, one of his clients was able to reduce not only communications costs, but inventory carrying costs as well. This client's US office is located in the San Diego area, with headquarters in Helsinki, Finland, a Canadian operation based in Montreal, and Germany and France offices as well. In working with the US operations and integrating inventory for the Canadian operation, Chris learned of the large overhead in communications (principally telephone and fax), as well as the travel between all of the various offices. He proposed to the President of North American Operations some technology applications that would reduce communications costs, as well as provide more current inventory information. The office in Finland then retained Leach Consulting to implement the technology plan for the entire company. Currently, Chris' firm is working with customs authorities in both the US and Canada to fast track arriving inventory from Finland, Germany and France and further reduce lag times and costs.

A pioneer of new electronic services and an early supporter of the CPA WebTrust service -- playing a very influential part in its launch, Chris recently applied his knowledge of security and authentication protocols in working with the US Department of Justice on a case involving Internet technology as it relates to the On Line Child Protection Act. And although the DOJ was hesitant in using Chris at first because of the distance between locations (they in Washington and he in San Diego), he was able to provide them the information quickly, often in one day or less. Chris applied the technology he uses on a daily basis to set up an ad-hoc extranet, so they could communicate without problems.

Increasingly, Chris' tax clients are asking for ways to electronically transmit their tax information. To meet their needs, Leach Consulting has up a secure URL at their Web site, enabling their clients to download information in a secure environment. And although Chris says that he doesn't have a lot of clients requesting this capability, he believes it is only a matter of time before this will become common practice. His goal is to be a leader in this area. Chris says, "I want clients to think CPA when they think technology. We have been shooting ourselves in the foot much too long - cooperation among professionals within the profession is the key. CPAs who do not look at utilizing technology within their practices will not have a practice in the 21st century. The wave of technology is here today. We can choose to either ride that wave or be buried by it."

Chris says he is often asked about his company logo - the abacus. "People say, if we are so technology oriented, why do we use the abacus? The answer to that is easy. The very first computer was the abacus. It represents tradition and continuity - these are attributes that we must not forget. So while moving forward using technology, we must not forget that which has made the profession great - independence, objectivity and integrity."

Leach Consulting & Accounting recently formed an alliance with a firm in Germany, giving them their first European presence. The firm is also in the process of forming a similar alliance with a firm in Australia. These alliances are not to be confused with the various CPA associations (like TAG, etc) that exist. The concept is to create a true virtual firm that allows them to meet the needs of clients anywhere in the world. When pressed for more information about this program, Chris says, "It's like the old television program, Mission Impossible. At the start of each episode, Jim Phelps always went through his collection of photographs and selected the team he needed for a particular mission. It was odd that it was always the same team - but that's show business. When we take on a particular engagement, I want to be able to provide the best team to the client anywhere on the globe."

Chris' activeness in his profession demonstrates his enthusiasm to make a difference. Currently, he is the Chair for the AICPA's Information Technology Practices Subcommittee and a member of the Institute's Electronic Commerce Task Force. He has also authored numerous publications, conducted many seminars, and recently was a keynote speaker for the Microsoft Partners' Conference. In 1998, Chris was named among Accounting Today's "Top 100 Most Influential People in the Profession."

In addition, Chris is active in his church and community, serving as the Audit Chairman of the Desert Pacific Council, BSA. He is also a recipient of the Silver Beaver (the highest award given by a local council to an adult Scouter in recognition of service to youth), an avid backpacker and scuba diver, father of three active boys - all Scouts, and has been married for 17 years. Those wishing to communicate with Chris can e-mail him at c_leach@ix.netcom.com.