Dewar Meeks + Ekrem PC has relied on Wolters Kluwer tax preparation, practice management and research solutions for 30 years. Taking advantage of Wolters Kluwer’s continuous technological innovation, the firm completed their first “paperless” tax season in 2007 and moved to the cloud two years ago when they implemented CCH Axcess. To learn more visit CCHGroup.com/Axcess

1. Tax & Accounting US
Dewar Meeks + Ekrem
PC Solves Global
Tax Challenges for
International Clients
Using CCH Axcess™
Case Study:
Digital Tax
Workflow
When you have to be right

2. 2 Dewar Meeks + Ekrem PC Solves Global Tax Challenges for International Clients Using CCH Axcess™
Dewar Meeks + Ekrem PC is a firm with eyes firmly on the future — and it’s a
future-ready firm driven by technology. Shareholder Nancy Ekrem has been a
driving factor for many of the firm’s automation projects.
“We like new toys, and I’m always looking to make our
procedures smarter, better and faster. I was really excited
when Wolters Kluwer announced that they were going to the
cloud with their tax software.”
— Nancy Ekrem,
Shareholder, Dewar Meeks + Ekrem PC
The firm has relied on Wolters Kluwer tax preparation, practice management
and research solutions for 30 years. The firm has taken advantage of
Wolters Kluwer’s continuous technological innovation, completing their first
“paperless” tax season in 2007 and moving to the cloud two years ago when
they implemented CCH Axcess.
Dewar Meeks + Ekrem PC Key Data:
• Founded in 1984
• Headquartered in Edmonds, Washington
• Nine employees, with surge to 18 during
busy season
• Specializing in tax, accounting and business
consulting services

3. Dewar Meeks + Ekrem PC Solves Global Tax Challenges for International Clients Using CCH Axcess™
3
Productivity Improved throughout the Tax
Preparation Process
CCH Axcess is the tax and accounting
profession’s first modular, cloud-based
tax preparation, compliance and firm
management solution. Featuring secure access
from anywhere with an Internet connection,
its integrated central database offers a single
point of access to the entire tax process —
from return preparation and compliance to
file storage, project management, time entry,
billing and reporting.
“The transition to the cloud
was really a no brainer
for us. We could have
more flexibility; we would
save time in computer
maintenance and reduce our
need for server infrastructure.
I saw that as a win/win/win!
We save time, we save money
and we don’t have to deal
with administrative stuff.”
By design, the firm went live with CCH Axcess
in the fall, just three weeks before a major
tax deadline. Ekrem wanted to force her team
to “use it under fire” before the primary tax
season began. End users enjoyed an easy
transition, requiring only one hour of training
on each module.
From preparation and review to delivery of
client returns and subsequent billing, CCH
Axcess increased efficiency throughout the
firm’s tax processes.
“The preparers are
flying through their
work. [CCH Axcess™
]
Workstream has
really helped us keep
track of projects
in real time. Our
administrative staff
spends much less time
storing the finished
product and figuring out
where a project is in process.”
Ekrem and her partners each review hundreds
of returns during tax season, so even a few
minutes saved per return can add up to major
time savings. CCH Axcess features easier
navigation during review and single-click drill
down into detailed information, from inside
the return.
“I really felt like we got more
done before the April 15th
deadline with CCH Axcess. It
was easier for me to review
returns and I’m saving five or
six minutes per return.”
Nancy Ekrem
Shareholder
Dewar Meeks + Ekrem PC
Edmonds, Washington

4. Dewar Meeks + Ekrem PC Solves Global Tax Challenges for International Clients Using CCH Axcess™
4
The Cloud Eliminated Software Administration
Hassles and Saved Costs
Prior to implementing CCH Axcess, Dewar
Meeks + Ekrem PC hosted tax solutions in a
private cloud. That provided the freedom and
flexibility to access client files remotely, but
required constant work to keep the system
updated. CCH Axcess freed Ekrem from
system administration and lowered the firm’s
infrastructure costs.
“Before CCH Axcess, we did a
lot of administrative work to
keep our system strong, like
weekly updates to the tax
software. Something would
always go wrong, and that
slowed everybody down,
wasted my time and made
me crazy. I’m so thankful
we don’t have to deal with
that anymore.”
Access to Real-Time Information Improves
Client Service and Front Office Efficiency
The firm manages every project in CCH Axcess
Workstream, empowering everyone in the
office with real-time information about
where a return is in the process. Projects
are captured in Workstream at their outset,
and when a preparer or reviewer picks it up,
the project status updates automatically.
Managers use the information to balance
workloads and keep projects moving. It also
helps the front office answer the age-old
client question: ‘Where is my return?’
“With access to Workstream
status information, our
front office is more effective.
They’re not wasting their
time hunting for client files,
and they’re not bugging
the staff about the status of
a return.”

5. Dewar Meeks + Ekrem PC Solves Global Tax Challenges for International Clients Using CCH Axcess™
5
Employees capture their time daily in CCH
Axcess™
Practice, so that every minute is tied
to a client project in Workstream. When a
project has a completed status in Workstream,
it’s ready to bill.
“Billing is both easier and
faster. We can easily get
answers to the questions
we ask when we’re trying
to put out a bill with a tax
return, financial statement
or consulting job, so we
can make decisions faster.
Almost all bills go out when
the project is complete, so
the timing of the billing is
more effective.”
Dewar, Meeks + Ekrem PC is Ready for
the Future
Perhaps the most important benefit of
CCH Axcess is how it positions the firm
for greater future success, both in client
service and recruiting. Growing technological
sophistication of both clients and
employees means they expect to access
timely information in just a few clicks, from
anywhere, at any time.
“I really think that if we
didn’t go to CCH Axcess,
we’d be totally antiquated in
today’s instant gratification
world. We would have no
way of attracting staff in the
future. I couldn’t imagine
college interns coming in here
if we were still on a clunky
system. CCH Axcess provides
technology that allows us
to stay in this marketplace
and be prepared for the next
marketplace. Wolters Kluwer
has been a fantastic partner.”

6. When you have to be right
© 2016 CCH Incorporated and its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Please visit CCHGroup.com/Axcess
for more information.
Contact information:
Wolters Kluwer
2700 Lake Cook Road
Riverwoods, IL 60015
United States
800-739-9998
2/16 2016-0014-4