Briggs & Veselka Announces Partnership with IntrapriseTechKnowlogies for Co-Sourced IT Services

July 6, 2017 - Briggs & Veselka (B&V) entered into a joint agreement with IntrapriseTechKnowlogies (ITK) and accounting innovation thought leader, Donny Shimamoto to provide IT consulting and innovation services to middle market companies in the Texas Gulf Coast and South Texas.

John Flatowicz, Managing Partner of Briggs & Veselka, remarked on the unique opportunity, "The team at Briggs & Veselka is thrilled about the collaboration with ITK to deliver IT advisory services that help protect clients' data during these turbulent digital security times." He continued, "Our firm is dedicated to being progressive and this partnership will keep us and our clients ahead of the curve."

Additionally, B&V has licensed the Intraprise Architecture® methodology and use of the Intraprise Blueprints® intellectual property with clients. Mr. Shimamoto will train the B&V staff on how to use these proprietary tools to support work in audit, tax, internal audit, and other advisory services. He will also be helping to develop the B&V team through a variety of engagements.

The partnership began with ITK and B&V co-publishing the results of a 2017 Briggs & Veselka Cyber Security Survey. The interactive survey showed that 65% of respondents conveyed a perception of a high or moderate risk of a cyber security incident while more than half were not confident, neutral, or didn't know if their company was properly secured from internal cyber threats, and an equal amount were not confident, neutral, or didn't know if their company was protected from external threats. The study also found that IT governance and IT risk management are very different from IT execution, which can present a false sense of security for middle market companies. This being the target candidate for the new co-sourced IT advisory services delivered by ITK and Briggs & Veselka.

Mr. Shimamoto explained the importance of firms like B&V staying ahead of the technology curve, "I am proud to help progressive accounting firms like Briggs & Veselka better leverage technology to improve their ability to provide superior client service, and to develop a strong IT advisory services team." He continued, "The increasingly targeted digital space makes firms and their clients a greater target than before. It is important each strive to capitalize on innovations in the marketplace and learn from highly-trained professionals. The programs we will jointly deliver to Houston area corporations will not only educate, but protect assets for years to come and provide Houston organizations with improved agility and competitive advantage."

Shimamoto is the immediate past chairman of the AICPA's Information Management & Technology Assurance Executive Committee, and former member of its Governing Council and Assurance Services Executive Committee, and an honoree of multiple industry awards. He has worked on several international collaborations between the AICPA and CIMA related to business intelligence and is also a frequent speaker on how management accountants can help add-value to their organizations.

Donny has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People by Accounting Today in 2013 and 2014, a Top Thought Leader in Public Accounting by CPA Practice Advisor from 2012 to 2017, he received the 2009-2010 President's Award from the Hawaii Society of CPAs, was named to CPA Technology Advisor's 40 Under 40 list in 2007, 2009 and 2014, a Hawaii Top High Tech Leader in 2004, and was recently awarded the AICPA Standing Ovation Award.

About Briggs & Veselka Co.
Briggs & Veselka Co. has served emerging middle-market businesses and individuals in the greater Houston area since 1973, and has grown to be the largest independent CPA firm in Houston. We provide comprehensive business and personal tax, audit and attestation services, and business advisory services. Our mission is to provide our clients with the ultimate in trust and confidence in our work as we continue to foster a legacy of loyalty. To learn more about Briggs & Veselka Co., please visit our website.

About IntrapriseTechKnowlogies
IntrapriseTechKnowlogies LLC (ITK) is an advisory-focused CPA firm, focused on organizational development and business process transformation for accounting firms, nonprofits, and other businesses that are innovative and think BIG. ITK formulated the Intraprise Blueprints® methodology and Intraprise Architecture® consulting methodology that optimizes an IT strategy to support an organization's business strategy. ITK is a combined management consulting firm and systems integrator which results in expertise to right-size enterprise processes and leverage cost-effective technologies that enable organizations to gain a competitive advantage. ITK is focused on providing executive-level technology management, enterprise architecture, business performance management, information architecture and management, technology risk management, and operations optimization consulting services. Visit http://www.intraprise.us for more information. ###