Sage said the program gives members free access to a "peer-led community of Accountant Partners with access to the full suite of Sage products." It is immediately available in English. Other languages will be supported in the full Fall roll out.

There are also consulting services and funds for marketing and accountants and their staffs can be earn accreditation in Sage products.

In a prepared statement, Alan Laing, EVP of partnerships and alliances, said, "This program is designed by and for Accountants to both bring real value to all of our partners, and to help them deliver inspiring services to their clients."

The official announcement did not spell out the tiers, nor did it clarify the roles accountants would have in supporting or referring clients to products or describe who the program is open to. There was no discussion of the transition for members of the current program. 

Bob Scott

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Bob Scott has provided information to the tax and accounting community since 1991, first as technology editor of Accounting Today, and from 1997 through 2009 as editor of its sister publication, Accounting Technology. He is known throughout the industry for his depth of knowledge and for his high journalistic standards.  Scott has made frequent appearances as a speaker, moderator and panelist and events serving tax and accounting professionals. He  has a strong background in computer journalism as an editor with two former trade publications, Computer+Software News and MIS Week and spent several years with weekly and daily newspapers in Morris County New Jersey prior to that.  A graduate of Indiana University with a degree in journalism, Bob is a native of Madison, Ind