This post is part of the paperless stories feature at DocumentSnap. Some stories are from readers that have successfully gone paperless, some are still going through it. Would you like to share your story too?
Today’s featured DocumentSnap reader is Eileen Reppenhagen, CGA from Delta BC, Canada. She can be found at http://www.taxdetective.ca.
What problems were you trying to solve by going paperless?
How to create binders with information, for example, creation of a working paper file. As an accountant, you start a file, and then find transactions that require different categorization either as capital or income, and additional information appears that requires processing. Sometimes the working paper file gets completely revamped four or five times.
What were the biggest stumbling blocks?
Figuring out a way to find everything again.
Tell us about your paperless workflow
I use Microsoft OneNote to create working paper files and in fact, showed the Institute of Professional Bookkeepers how to use OneNote in a recent series of online workshops which were recorded and are for sale on my website shopping cart.
I also use Evernote for recording my Tasks and To Do’s and Notes. What’s cool about Evernote is that I can move an email straight into Evernote to create a note and sort it into folders right from the Outlook email.
Is this for a business? Tell us about it
Yes, I’m an accountant who prepares personal tax returns. I used to prepare business returns too, but have decided to narrow my focus to only personal work. This can sometimes still involve a self-employed person, and for every person or family, I prepare a working paper file to keep pertinent information about the work and a record of the work. It’s referred to as ‘work product’.
Is There Anything Else We Should Know?
I use Outlook for email and Calendar, GoToMeeting to meet online, Evernote for Tasks and OneNote for creation of working papers and project files. For example, I’m writing a story, which is will be published as an e-Book about organizing your personal papers. I have 24 checklists for sale on my website in the Store to help you organize paperlessly, by entering your data into the Microsoft Word fillable forms, and storing those forms to edit when your financial situation changes, plus creating a Quicken data file with your financial records, you can be very organized, all paperlessly.
All of this paperless organization, combined with the use of a Fujitsu ScanSnap S1500 means that I’m using so much less paper than before. I used to stock up at tax time with multiple boxes of paper, but this year, I’m thinking that I might not even use one box.
Thanks Eileen that’s an awesome combination of tools to get your work done efficiently.
If you have questions for Eileen, leave a comment and I will try to get them answered, or head on over to her site.
(Photo by Alan Cleaver)
