FinancialForce has hired Chris Lee as VP of strategic sales. In that role, he is responsible for the company's Enterprise and General Business sales groups He was VP and GM for North America for DocuSign's financial services organization from July 2014 through September 2016. Before that, he was strategic account manager for Salesforce.com from April 2003 through July 2010 and VP of enterprise sales from July 2010 through July 2014.

Intuit is envisioning QuickBooks Online Accountant as a platform to unify the software operations of tax and accounting firms. The view the future was outlined this week by EVP CeCe Morken at Intuit's investor day last week. Morken noted accountants utilize separate applications for tax preparation, accounting and practice management.

FreshBooks, which makes cloud-based accounting software, has launched a new version that is targeted at the self-employed. The Ontario-based company says the product has a new interface and new features, which include redesigned mobile apps for iOS and Android and reimagined invoices.

Sales tax vendor Avalara has raised $96 million in new capital. Fifty million of that will be used to fund growth and acquisitions while the remainder was used to repurchase shares from early investors. The latest round of financing brings the total raised by the Seattle, Wash.-based company to $300 million.