Accountancy Software

[Hatty001]

Good Morning all,

I am the General Manager at a company that has 20 employees.

We currently use Sage Accounts package 2009 but the charges are starting to increase significantly considering we have used them for so many years.

I am looking for suggestions on a new software package, for accounts, payroll and support if possible.

Last financial year we had 30 thousand transactions so it would need to cope with this amount.

We also have 5 computers on a server allowing these employees to work on live data.

All suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Ben Starford

 

[FusionAccounts]

Hi Ben,

Have a look at Fusion Accounts.

Support is included in the monthly subscription.

As Fusion is web-based all employees can access live data.

We also offer a free sage import.

Any questions send us an email: [email protected]

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

For this type of purchase I would draw up a short list of suppliers )the usual suspects will be mentioned here) then draw up your must have functionality.

I am sure that there will be a whole bunch of nice to have functionality as well.

It may be that you might want to look at what and how you store data in the financial systems - e.g. can you summarise postings and keep detail in the source systems?

Look at total cost of ownership, today's needs and future needs

Not much info here on what you do to help more.

I used to do this type of thing in a formal life

 

[Tom McClelland]

Do you actually like Sage for your bookkeeping and accounts?

If you do, and the only reason that you're switching is the annual cost of Sage, then one option would be to kill the Sage support contract (depending on how much you use it) because you can still just carry on using Sage in that situation essentially for free, and then you're only looking at switching payroll systems (obviously you need the Sage Cover if you're running their payroll because of the moving legislative target). Getting payroll entries into the management accounts is pretty easy, and some 3rd party systems can even generate a file that you can import into Sage.

 

[Wild Goose]

Take a look at Liberty Accounts - cloud computing software that might fit all your "must have" features Elaine mentioned.

Their prices are online - out of interest what does Sage cost you?

 

[GillespieBS]

I'd be thinking about online accounting systems, due to the security of the data, easy support from your accountant and can be accessed from anywhere. As above, consider speaking to several providers and get suggestions from your accountant.

 

[Carsie]

Hatty001 -I'd be delighted to offer you some help here and I'd like to earn your business, just drop me an e-mail; its what I do.

A few years ago it was defacto that everyone bought Sage but the software market has moved on considerably and now there are now a wide array of products with functionality that is more suited to the business environment in which they are running. Its no longer a case of pushing and squeezing the software to fit the business.

Secondly the primary needs of accounting can now be readily and easily accommodated and therefore the MD/FD's needs can be elevated to use the management information available to run the business at a more strategic level.

Business/accounting software needs to fit and support the strategic objectives of the company not looked at in isolation.

Given the above two factors my approach would be to firstly analyse the organisation strategy and then the operational business requirements in terms of workflow etc; this is against a backdrop of considering how the systems can be leveraged to drive efficiency and profitability.

Following the analysis, attention should be focussed upon the Management Reporting and how the Directors "Dashboard" is presented. I believe I have posted other thoughts on this topic before so I won't cover the same ground again but I do have several White Papers and supplier briefs that I believe you would find of value.

As I said at the outset, this is the business that I'm in and I be only too pleased to assist. Regards.