Fractional Technology Advisor for CPA Firms
Technology has become too important to manage with ad hoc decisions, but a full-time CIO or CTO is hard to justify.
- Former practicing CPA
- Top 100 firm experience
- Independent, no vendor fees
What I Do
A Seat at the Table, Hands in the Systems
I'm a fractional technology advisor for CPA firms. I sit at the leadership table, and I can also get into the systems and do the work. I turn firm goals into clear, realistic technology priorities, then work alongside your in-house IT team or MSP to deliver them.
Technology Strategy & Roadmap
Turn firm goals into clear, realistic technology priorities: what to do first, what can wait, and what it takes to get there.
Vendor & Application Selection
Choose the right software, from practice management to engagement letters to scheduling, based on how your firm works, not the vendor's demo.
Practical AI Adoption
Find where AI solves a real problem, implement it with §7216 and data-handling risk in mind, and hear it plainly when AI isn't the answer.
Process Improvement
Remove the workarounds that slow your team down, and improve data quality and accountability along the way.
Integrations & Automation
Connect the systems you already own so data moves between them without rekeying, exports, or spreadsheets in the middle.
Data & Reporting
Reporting leadership can trust, built on clean, connected data, which is also the foundation AI depends on.
Why Me
Accounting Roots, Technology Expertise
I've Been on Every Side
Seven years as a practicing CPA, then data analytics at a CPA firm, time and billing implementations at professional services firms, and business transformation at a top 100 CPA firm. I can talk realization and utilization with partners, then turn around and talk APIs and data pipelines with IT.
Alongside Your IT or MSP
I don't replace your in-house IT team or managed service provider. They keep the infrastructure running; I help set the priorities, choose the applications, and deliver the projects that move the firm forward.
Independent
No vendor sponsorships or referral fees, and you work directly with me. The recommendation is the one I'd make if it were my firm.
How It Works
From First Call to a Seat at the Table
Conversation
It starts with a conversation about your firm's goals and what's getting in the way, and as many more as it takes for you to feel comfortable. There's no cost and no obligation.
Assessment
I dig into your systems, workflows, and data, and talk with your people, to see how work actually gets done, not how it's supposed to.
Roadmap
Firm goals become clear, realistic technology priorities: what to do first, what can wait, and what each step takes, so leadership can decide with confidence.
Ongoing Advisory
I stay at the leadership table to keep the roadmap moving, and work with your IT team or MSP to deliver it, hands-on in the systems where it helps.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fractional technology advisor?
A senior technology advisor your firm shares rather than hires full time. I sit at the leadership table to set technology priorities and make decisions with your partners, and I can also get into the systems and do the work. You get experienced technology guidance on an ongoing basis without adding a full-time executive.
What does 7Sixty Consulting do?
7Sixty Consulting provides fractional technology advisory for CPA firms: technology strategy and roadmaps, vendor and application selection, practical AI adoption, process improvement, integrations and automation, and data and reporting.
Do you replace our IT team or MSP?
No. I work alongside your in-house IT team or managed service provider. They keep running your infrastructure and support; I help set the priorities, choose the applications, and deliver the projects that move the firm forward.
Who will I be working with?
You work directly with Chris Birchall, a former practicing CPA with 15 years of experience across public accounting, data analytics at a CPA firm, time and billing implementation, and business transformation at a top 100 CPA firm. There's no junior staff and no handoffs.
Are you paid by software vendors?
No. I'm independent, with no vendor sponsorships or referral fees. The recommendation is the one I'd make if it were my firm.
How do you keep client data safe when a firm adopts AI?
AI adoption starts with where it solves a real problem, then accounts for §7216 and data-handling risk: an acceptable use policy, rules for which client data can go into which tools, and review standards for AI-assisted work. Then we prove the value with a pilot on one team before rolling out firm-wide. And when AI isn't the answer, I'll say so.
How much does it cost?
It depends on scope. After an initial conversation, you'll get a proposal outlining scope, deliverables, and cost, with no obligation.
Do you work with firms outside San Diego?
Yes. 7Sixty Consulting is based in San Diego, California, and serves CPA firms nationwide.
Which software do you work with?
Practice Management: Practice Engine, CCH Axcess, Thomson Reuters Practice CS. Tax Software: CCH Axcess Tax, Thomson Reuters UltraTax CS, SurePrep, Lacerte, SafeSend. Analytics & Data: Power BI, Python/Pandas, Azure Data Factory. Integration & Automation: Zapier, Azure Logic Apps/Functions, Custom API development. Cloud Platforms: Microsoft Azure, AWS.
What happens when we first talk?
We talk through your firm's goals, your current technology, and what's getting in the way. I'll share initial thoughts on where to focus. There's no cost, and there's no rush: we can talk as many times as you need before deciding whether to work together. I typically respond to inquiries within 24 hours on business days.
Get Started
Let's Talk About What
Comes Next for Your Firm
If you're not sure what to prioritize, what to buy next, or how AI fits in your firm, let's talk.