on Day of Action

bill,” said Shepherd. “They provide hospital beds. nurses make home visits, they do it all - a one stop shop, for people in that situation.”

According to both Shepherd and Milling, this project is very well-worth the time for volunteers. “Our volunteer work keeps them from having to pay someone to do it,” said Shepherd. “And that means there’s more money to go to help those families in need.”

Milling also knows first-hand how hospice can impact the life of a family. Much like Shepherd, Milling’s father was also a patient in hospice care. She shared her heartwarming testimony with the volunteers that day before the gardening began:

“One day we can look back at our tough days and know that there was someone who took the time to be there for us,” Milling said, “and we can return that valuable favor of the love of humanism to pay back for what we as individuals needed in our times of troubles.”

She reminded the CPA volunteers many times how their day of service would serve so many people who get assistance from their organization.

“In my opinion, this is what we are here to do - to help one another and make a significant difference in someone else’s life,” said Milling. “You’re doing that today through the United Way Day of Action.”

The group worked hard that day so someone in the community could have a respite opportunity to breathe, think and relax in a beautiful place.

“These moments are critical in a journey where we are assisting someone, we love to walk a difficult path,” said Milling.

“They have done tremendous work for my family,” said Shepherd. “All sides of my family.”

“Anytime I am able to help them, in any way, I do,” said Shepherd. “Even my friends try to help, because they know how important the work is that Hospice of West Alabama does for families in our community.”

What Is HR Technology? What Is HR Technology?

HR technology encompasses the use of hardware and software to support a wide range of human resource tasks and responsibilities. Payroll, employee benefits, and candidate recruitment typically fall within the realm of HR technology. The latest HR technology addresses a wider range of HR-related challenges — everything from remote and hybrid work environments to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and deep-dive data analytics. And a new generation of employees is fueling a surge in HR technology use for HR leaders, motivated by the valued benefits it offers like self-service capabilities and continued learning tools.

As a result, HR technology benefit business leaders and employees alike. Technology trends in HR promise to dramatically enhance business operations and meet the challenges in the future of work.

HR Technology Boosts Efficiency

New HR technology can generate measurable results by enhancing the pace and efficiency of both managers and the teams they lead.

For example, distributing information to a remote workforce is made easier when the proper digital communication channels are in place. About 66% of HR leaders say their top technology goal in the next year is making it easy for employees to communicate questions and concerns to management whether in the office or for hybrid and remote workers.1

In the next 12 months, technology investments are expected to boost employee productivity (43%) as well as improve the overall employee experience, training and skills building (39%), and retention (38%).1

Trends in HR Technology for 2023

A variety of HR technologies are assisting HR professionals to manage new conditions in the post-pandemic business world.

Self-service technology can help employees access and manage their personal information. HR technology may also allow leadership to communicate news about changes in health plan coverage, company holidays, and other information in a timely manner. Technology may also assist employees expand their range of skills and knowledge through an online learning management system.

The expansion of HR capabilities remains a significant focus of growth. Pay discussions, conflict mediation, and strategy-setting are ongoing areas of concern for HR professionals. Ramping up the use of HR technology can also help automate much of the work involved with newhire training, time tracking, and benefits administration.

Future HR technology trends will likely focus on:

• HR strategic initiatives

• The hybrid work environment

• Employee wellness, safety, and support

• Cloud-based systems

• Data integration

• Hiring and retaining workers

• Enhanced decision-making

• Learning management

• Improving diversity in the workplace

About 36% of HR leaders plan to use technology to boost their own productivity in the next year.1 Since HR teams are continually expected to do more, HR technology can help bridge potential labor gaps and enable HR professionals to have more time for strategic work, which is essential to success in 2023 and beyond.

Using HR Technology To Fuel Success

Having effective HR solutions software is the foundation for any sound HR strategy. An integrated HR technology solution may enable use of a single employee record across multiple areas of the business and allow employers to customize how they use the system based on their specific needs. This includes choosing the modules that make sense for the company, such as recruiting, benefits administration, and time and attendance.

This ability to customize enables companies to invest in their priorities, make the most important HR processes more efficient, control costs, and help to scale technology (and build on new HR technology trends) when business needs change.

Access this full article online: www.paychex.com/articles/hcm/technology-trends-in-hr

Paychex is proud to be the preferred payroll provider for the Alabama Society of CPAs.

University Spotlight

KPMG’s first-of-its-kind Master of Accounting with Data and Analytics (MADA) program prepares students to hit the ground running post-graduation. It provides specialized skills in the practical use of the latest analytics technology needed to succeed in today’s data-driven accounting environment.

In fall 2022, Alabama State University (ASU), one of the 15 universities in the program, updated its curriculum, introducing two new courses: CIS 550 – Data Cleansing, Integration, and Visualization and MGT 580 – Business Analytics/Quantitative Analysis. ASU also revamped another course: ACT 516 – Advanced Accounting Information Systems.

These three courses focus on the use of advanced Excel, Access, Alteryx, AWS Cloud Practitioner, SQL Server, Power BI, Python, R, SAP and the award-winning KPMG Clara. KPMG Clara is a smart audit platform that is designed to facilitate seamless and transparent interactions between the client, the engagement team and KPMG’s audit team. The secure platform offers a centralized portal that serves as a single source for the exchange of important information.

All faculty and students in the MADA program have access to the MADA Cloud, a virtual desktop designed to provide students easy access to various data and analytics tools and resources. The platform includes Power BI, Microsoft 365, DataSnipper, Alteryx and Tableau.

As a participating university, ASU has access to a KPMG team of professionals helping to implement the program. Through this collaboration, students master Alteryx and Power BI in CIS 550, solve forensics case studies using Alteryx, Power BI and SQL in ACT 516 and complete additional case studies on KPMG Clara.

The MADA program at ASU offers 10 scholarships per year that cover tuition and fees. Students receive a highend laptop and can earn a stipend of $5,000 for earning certifications in several data and analytics tools and programs. The four students in ASU’s first MADA cohort started in fall 2022 and will be graduating in July 2023. Three of them will be joining KPMG: one in its Birmingham office and two in its Atlanta office. The fourth student will be working for corporate America .

AsaKPMGscholarofASU,theMADAprogram provides invaluable skills needed for the current workforce.Notonlywillstudentsleavetheprogram withdeepknowledgeinaccountingmaterial,butthey willalsohaveuniqueexperienceusingproprietary auditingtoolssuchasKPMGClara.

Dataandanalyticsarebecomingincreasingly importantintoday’sjobmarket.Asaresult,CPAfirms mustspendconsiderabletimetrainingtheirstaffto usedatabasesthatwillsoonmaketheaccounting function more efficient and effective. The MADA programatASUgivesstudentsthiscompetitive advantage.

Intheprogram,studentsutilizeadvancedforms ofExcel,Access,Alteryx,AWSCloudPractitioner, SQLServer,PowerBI,Python,RandSAP.Andthe learningdoesnotstopthere.Thecoursesfurther encouragestudentstomastertheseapplications with certification exams. ASU aims to create not just graduates,butcompetentprofessionals.

Finally, with the massive amount of information and educationavailableinthisprogram,Ifeelprepared toentertheworkforce.Coursesindataandanalytics areunliketypicalaccountingcourses.Theyencourage students to think like accountants and IT professionals inobtaining,organizingandanalyzingdata.The MADAprogramatASUchallengesmetoimprovemy performanceconstantly.AndmyexperienceatASU willpreparemeformyfutureinaccounting.

Theworldofaccountingischangingrapidly.Luckily, studentscanpursueaneducationpathintheKPMG MADAprogramatASUthatwillequipthemtothrive in today’s data-driven environment. Accountants can leaveASUfeelingpreparedandwillingtotackleany task.