We’ve compiled a quick access reference list to commonly used phrases within our cloud computing systems. This guide will help you understand the words you don’t.

Back-Office Processes — Supporting business functions such as accounting, finance, payroll, employee benefits, and IT that provide infrastructure for an organization’s vision and create a platform for growth. Back-office processes are also referred to as “non-core” processes.

Billing Software — A software that streamlines invoice creation for a multitude of services or products. Subscription billing permits an easier and more accurate way for companies to bill customers paying for services regularly.

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) — A process of delegating the back-office processes or non-core business functions to a third-party service provider.

Cash Flow Statement — We call this the Third Financial Statement. This statement will provide you with a per period report of changes in cash and cash equivalents. 

Client Accounting Services — Services offered by CPA firms to their clients to help them manage their finance and accounting functions. While the services offered within a Client Accounting Services practice vary, they generally fall into three categories: 1) After-the-fact financial statement preparation, 2) Transaction processing, and 3) CFO/Controller services.

Client Assessment — A thorough review of a client’s current operating environment to gain insight into their current business operations. This includes reviewing and documenting operational workflow and business practices, understanding and documenting business structure and control activity information. This information enables the CPA firm to understand areas of the client’s operation that can be improved, and how your firm’s services and systems can address those areas for improvement.

Client Service Delivery Model — This describes the methodology a CPA firm uses to share software and data when performing client accounting services. There are generally three service delivery models: 1) Where the software resides at the client’s location and at the firm’s location; the software may or may not be the same. The firm and client exchange data files. Soft copies of the file may be exchanged in various ways. 2) Where the software and data reside on third-party Software as a Service (SaaS) cloud-based (or web-based) servers. Both the client and the firm share this common cloud-based business platform. Client and firm access the software and data via an internet browser. 3) A combination of both options.

Cloud-Computing / Cloud-Based Computing — The term cloud is used as a metaphor for the Internet. Typical cloud-computing service providers deliver common business applications/software online which are accessed from a web browser, while the software and data are stored on third-party servers. Clients can typically purchase access as-needed and can increase or reduce services as their needs change. The cloud computing service delivery vendor develops and supports the solution and runs all operations.

Core Business Processes — These are the business processes that move an organization’s vision forward such as sales, marketing, business development, and customer service. Core business processes are also referred to as “front-office” processes.

Expense Management Software — Expense management software enables a business to process and reimburse employee-initiated expenses such as those incurred for travel and entertainment.

Field Examination and Discovery — A part of the client assessment process that involves being on-site at the client’s operations, meeting with business process owners and studying the current operations and workflow.

Finance and Accounting Outsourcing (FAO) — A specific type of outsourcing known as “FAO” for finance and accounting outsourcing or the outsourcing of an organization’s finance and accounting (F & A) functions. This is a term used by companies to describe the outsourcing of their F & A function. It is also used by accounting firms to describe the services they provide.

Fixed Costs — These include costs like depreciation, salaries, interest, and rent. They do not change whether there is a production of units increase or decrease..

Front-Office Processes — These are the business functions that move an organization’s vision forward such as sales, marketing, business development, and customer service. Front-office processes are also referred to as “core business” processes.

GAAP Financial Reporting — When preparing financial statements and handling specific accounting issues, companies use GAAP financial reporting. GAPP consists of a general set of accounting rules, practices, standards, and procedures. For acceptance of financial statements by investors, lenders and tax authorities, an auditor will generally certify the following of GAPP provisions.

Hosting — This is a software deployment where the customer acquires the software and a service provider delivers IT infrastructure and “hosts” by creating a single operating environment (virtual or physical) to allow a single customer to access and utilize dedicated computing resources for a software vendor’s product.

A few points to consider: These applications are traditional single-tenant applications but hosted by a third party. They are client-server applications with HTML front ends added to allow remote access to the application. The applications are not written as net-native applications. As a result, the performance and application updates may be no better than self-managed premise-base applications.

By comparison, Cloud-Based SaaS applications are multi-tenant applications, hosted by a vendor that has been designed as net-native applications that automatically get updated on an on-going basis.

On-Demand Service — Services delivered where a client can purchase access to software delivered via the internet. Clients can purchase access as-needed and can increase or reduce services as their needs change. Also known as “Software as a Service.”

Real-Time Accounting — Allows users access to live financial data anytime, from anywhere with via the internet.

Scalability — The measure of a service’s ability to increase or decrease in performance and cost in response to changes in needs or volume. It is important that a service be scalable if an organization anticipates growth and increased needs.

Service Delivery Platform — The software solutions and technology components that will be used in a firm’s client accounting service delivery.

Service Organization or Provider -– Within the context of cloud computing, the service organization or provider is the business that delivers a cloud computing application “as a service” for a monthly fee.

Service Level Agreement (SLA) — A contractual agreement where a service provider defines the level of service, responsibilities, priorities, and guarantees regarding timing, availability, performance, and other aspects of the service.

Service Level Requirements (SLR) — A document recording the business requirements for outsourced services. The SLR provides a basis for negotiations linked to the formulation of SLAs.

Software as a Service (SaaS) — Cloud application services, where applications are delivered over the Internet by the software provider, typically for a monthly fixed fee. The applications are not installed nor do they run on the client’s computers. Instead, they are accessed by a web browser. Two important characteristics of SaaS are Network and Web-based access to commercial software computing services where the processing is done on a third-party server, rather than at each customer’s location. A tenant-based pricing model for hardware, software, administration and consulting services.

Tax Compliance Software — This software provides tax compliance done right for your business. It offers tax automation with real-time tax calculation and automatic filing of returns.

Third Financial Statement — This is one of the primary financial statements including sections of operating, investing and financing. It’s also known as the cash flow report.