Accounting software is a valuable tool for managing your company’s financial data. Accounting software allows your company to manage customers, create financial reports, and reconcile bank accounts. However, before you invest your time and money in accounting software, you must understand the accounting software definition, its types, features, and benefits.
What is Accounting Software?
Accounting software is a program that assists accountants in recording and reporting a company’s financial health. It records a firm’s daily activities and maintains track of its assets, liabilities, expenses, and income. Accounting software also makes it simpler for businesses to evaluate and calculate data. Accounting software is required differently by each company. Accounting software functions differently depending on the product.
For example, FirstBit’s VAT accounting software is mainly created in Dubai, UAE, for companies that need to keep VAT compliant.
Let’s take a look at the many types of accounting software.
Accounting Software Types Commercially Off-the-Shelf Software
Accounting software that is available commercially off-the-shelf (COTS) is widely used around the software. COTS may be customized to meet your specific business requirements. It generates standard reports and includes error detection to avoid improper data entry. Installing COTS software takes time and requires the assistance of COTS specialists. On-site software maintenance is also required.
Spreadsheets
Another sort of accounting software is spreadsheets. Small businesses may use computerized spreadsheets to keep track of their financial activities. The spreadsheet software is affordable, and you may customize it to your liking. However, while using spreadsheets, you run the danger of making errors.
For example, incorrect data entry might result in erroneous financial results. Firms often use spreadsheets with modest transaction volumes.
Software for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
The enterprise resource planning software stores information from all elements of the business in a database. The ERP software eliminates the problems associated with department-specific software in which data is unavailable to everybody. However, adopting ERP software is costly and might take up to a year. As a result, ERP software is only used by big firms and complex organizations.
Accounting Software Made to Order
Custom accounting software is designed specifically for businesses. Firms employ bespoke accounting software when their business requirements are unique and cannot be satisfied by an ERP or COTS program. However, firms seldom utilize this package since it is problematic and needs even more upkeep than COTS.
Accounting Software Features
Accounting software features differ depending on the demands of each business. However, certain accounting software features are required.
The General Ledger
A general ledger is a critical component of accounting software. It is the foundation that holds information that contributes to a company’s financial transactions. It is also the cornerstone of a company’s double-entry accounting system.
A general ledger can categorize transactional data as revenues, obligations, expenses, assets, and owner’s equity. It handles everything from initial bank statements and balances through cash flow management, accounts payable and receivable, and tax computations. Chief financial officers and controllers may get a real-time view of their financial data using a general ledger.
Accounts Receivable (AP)
Accounts payable is a liability and short-term debt on a balance sheet when a company owes money to suppliers who have delivered goods and services on credit to the company. Accounting software’s accounts payable function allows you to track what you owe to any business. To make the payable side of your business run smoothly, your accounting software should have features such as vendor credits, purchase orders, invoices, and expenses.
Analytics and Reporting
A comprehensive accounting software system must include reporting and analytics features. Finance managers may access particular information and understand their company’s financial performance with the use of prebuilt dashboards. The prebuilt dashboards track key financial KPIs in real-time. Examples are inventory turnover, net working capital, current ratio, and other KPIs.
Asset management
Accounting software that includes asset management is full. You may manage the complete financial cycle of assets using asset management. You may manage assets such as depreciation, retirement, purchase, and capitalization. Firms may make correct financial accounts for appreciation and depreciation while maintaining total transparency.
Accounts Payable (AR)
Accounts receivable are the unpaid balances owed by a firm for goods or services used or provided but not paid for by customers. Accounting software must be capable of handling billing, keeping track of what clients owe, invoice processing, and automatic invoicing. Accounts payable and receivable allow your business to conduct accurate audits and retain thorough records of assets and obligations.
Money Management
Businesses may link cash transactions to bank statements using a cash management function. It will aid in the production of correct cash situations. Companies may also use automated cash forecasting to invest, borrow, and make other financial choices based on payables, receivables, external transactions, and payroll sub-ledgers.
Collections management
Accounting software must provide collection management features. Firms may use complete collections management to rate customers, define collection plans, and handle collection payments. Businesses may also initiate late-stage collections for bankrupt clients.
Compliance and Risk Management
Accounting software must provide risk management and compliance capabilities. It is an organization’s greatest defense against unauthorized user access and fraud. Accounting software must provide standard features such as built-in security, audit control, and risk management. Using such internal controls, you may provide your company with a secure, safe, and single source of truth.
Accounting Software’s benefits
There are several benefits to installing accounting software in your company.
Let’s go through the most crucial benefits.
Improved Billing
Creating an invoice is a need for any company. While invoice types fluctuate depending on the sales type, creating an invoice is identical. Invoicing has always been a complex process. However, you may quickly pick a pre-made design with cloud-based accounting software.
Business owners may also make their invoice templates, edit them, and use them on subsequent invoices. You can even convert a past invoice into a recurring one with a single click!
After creating an invoice, you may use the accounting software to send it to the client’s email address. You may also send a late payment reminder to your consumers!
Tracking and reporting in real-time
One of the most significant benefits of accounting software is real-time reporting and monitoring. Integrating online accounting software with your business accounts lets you track sales, inventory, and expenses in real-time. And you adhere to all the data and metrics you deem necessary.
Automated Processes
Accounting software automates laborious and unnecessary operations performed by bookkeepers or accountants. You may automate the generation of journal entries. Every time you make or receive a payment, the software maps it and makes a journal entry to the appropriate accounts.
You may also automate procedures such as:
- Credit card payments are invoiced
- Reminders for payments
- Data Importing
- Accounting Data Is Simple to Find
With cloud accounting software, you may effortlessly access data anytime and from any location. All you want is a stable internet connection and a browser. Companies benefit greatly from readily available accounting software since creating and sending invoices may be done from a mobile phone. You may also see, produce, and download financial statements with a few mouse clicks.
Economical and time-saving
Every business owner values time and money. Accounting software allows you to save time and money. Accounting software allows you to streamline all accounting operations, reducing time and increasing staff productivity. Furthermore, invoice payment reminders help automate processes and free up your staff’s time for other crucial responsibilities. Accounting software is one of the most cost-effective methods of accounting.
Tax Filing Simplified
Tax time is stressful!
Compiling data and creating financial reports is an additional load. However, you may streamline tax filing by employing accounting software. Accounting software allows you to keep invoices, income statements, and receipts in one place. Accounting software may help you manage all of your records, including invoices, receipts, and accounts.
Increased Precision
Mistakes are sure to happen when dealing with a lot of statistics!
Accounting software may help your business achieve better levels of accuracy. Common accounting errors include reversing entries, omission errors, transposition errors, not reconciling records, and so on. Accounting software eliminates these errors, allowing you to maintain your records structured and correct.
Last Words
You’re ready to buy accounting software now that you’ve learned the fundamentals. Contact the finest service provider for your business’s requirements to get an immediate competitive edge. Accounting software streamlines your company’s accounting procedure. You no longer have to wrack your brains over incorrect data, unpaid dues, and messed-up accounting! You may streamline your company’s ROI by streamlining its financial procedures with the correct accounting software.