Abstract: An apparatus has a processor and a memory connected to the processor. The memory stores instructions executed by the processor to host an email service module operative to exchange email over a public network. A work management module is executed within a private network. The work management module includes instructions executed by the processor to pull email instances from the email service module, push processed email instances to the email service module, and associate email instances with project management tasks. Each project management task has project parameters accessible by users of the private network.

Abstract: An accounting professional database is created that includes, but is not limited to, accounting professional profile data for one or more accounting professionals representing detailed information associated with the accounting professionals. A user of one or more financial management systems who may need the assistance of an accounting professional is identified and user need data indicating the detailed and specific accounting professional needs of the user is obtained. One or more matching criteria for the user are then determined/identified using the user need data and the one or more matching criteria for the user is used to search the accounting professional profile data in the accounting professional database to find one or more accounting professionals that match, or most closely match, the one or more matching criteria for the user.