TECH-FIRST BY DESIGN
Custom software so nothing falls through the cracks
Most audit firms run on whatever software happens to exist. We did not want to wait for someone else to build the tools a high-volume audit practice needs, so we partnered with Atlura to build our own. Six years and 1,200 audits a year later, it's still how the firm runs.
Approximately 1,200
audits managed annually
Built by
practicing CPAs
In production
for six years
The problem
A firm this size can't run on spreadsheets and good intentions
A morning meant for reviewing client work turns into re-sorting who's working on what. None of it shows up as a line item, but it shows up everywhere else.
Time and billing, scheduling, and client email all live in different systems
Managers manually re-prioritize the day instead of working from a system that already knows what's urgent
Clients call or email to ask where their engagement stands, because there's nowhere else to look
Standardized process exists on paper, not in the actual workflow
The solution
One system, built from inside a high-volume audit practice
Rather than force the practice to bend around software built for a different kind of firm, our partners designed the system: one place for time and billing, workflow, scheduling, and client collaboration.
“As a firm leader, you need good data
to make good decisions.”
John Bletzer ~ Managing Partner, Caron Bletzer
Audits managed every year, on Atlura
PROOF, NOT PROMISES
Caron Bletzer performs employee benefit plan audits, including 401(k), 403(b), defined benefit, ESOP, and health and welfare plan audits, for clients across the country. Running that volume without slipping on quality or deadlines meant the firm’s own internal systems had to be as disciplined as its audit methodology.
“This new platform is designed to be proactive.”
Jeff Polchlopek ~ Senior Partner, Caron Bletzer
Before and after
What changes when the system stops fighting you
| How mornings used to start at Caron Bletzer | How they work now |
|---|---|
| Billing, scheduling, and client email live in separate systems | One connected system for billing, workflow, scheduling, and communication |
| Managers manually re-sort the day's priorities every morning | A scheduling engine auto-prioritizes by deadline, complexity, and availability |
| Clients call or email to ask where their audit stands | Clients see live status in a secure portal, without a phone call |
| Standardization exists on paper, not in the actual workflow | Review checkpoints are built into the workflow itself |
FAQs
Did Caron Bletzer build Atlura?
Atlura started as an internal tool the Caron Bletzer partners built alongside a with a team of developers, to run their own audit practice. It’s since been developed into an independent platform available to other firms, with Caron Bletzer as its first and highest-volume user.
Why did Caron Bletzer build its own platform instead of buying one?
At 1,200 audits a year, the firm needed a system built around the real demands of high-volume, deadline-driven audit work. Nothing on the market was built for that, so the partners built it themselves.
Do Caron Bletzer's clients use this system too?
Yes. Clients use a secure portal to upload documents and track engagement status, instead of relying on email back-and-forth.
Where can I learn more about Atlura?
Atlura is available to other firms at atlura.com
This is just how the firm runs
Technology isn't a pitch at Caron Bletzer, it's part of how the firm operates every day, on every engagement.