ERP Software

Financial Accounting Software

Implementing a fully implemented enterprise resource planning business solution can revolutionize your front and back office business functionality, and if you haven’t taken a close look at what an ERP system can do for each of your departments, now is the time. When all of your departments are running applications from a central server architecture, your employees an share database access, update data in real time, and make use of systems interfaces that offer the same look and feel. Data conversions are no longer necessary between departments and you can leave legacy systems and their concurrent problems behind and focus fully on growing your business. You can also run software programs from the backbone of your central ERP system that control customer relationship management and accounting.

Financial accounting software product suites that can run from your ERP infrastructure and integrate fully with your existing software landscape are widely available, offering a range of simple and comprehensive services scaled to fit your budget. Research financial accounting software providers before you commit to expensive product suite, and bear in mind that financial accounting software programs can also be found in freeware and open source versions that can be downloaded from the internet at little to no cost if your budget prevents you from adopting an advanced and expensive system.

The simplest financial accounting software, paid or free, should offer some basic functionalities including cost and expense balance sheets, simple reporting functions and the ability to reconcile balance statements for multiple bank accounts. Basic financial accounting software should also offer the ability to print invoices, collection letters, track bills and payments, and set up charts that you can use to compare and contrast different business, loan and financial opportunities.

More complex mid-level financial accounting software should offer these basic services plus some upgrades and additions, including some basic business management tools. At this level you may find financial accounting software programs that will allow you to build your inventory and help you with inventory costing methods. Some programs that offer inventory management will also automatically complete purchase orders for needed inventory items. If your business involves monitoring the depreciation of fixed assets, some financial accounting software programs can offer fixed asset management and may be able to manage the depreciation of hundreds of assets. You also may be able to find financial accounting software products suites at this level that allow electronic bill paying and other ways to monitor separate vendor, provider and partner accounts.

At the most expensive and comprehensive end of the financial accounting software spectrum, you may find options that manage language, currency, tax and regulations for multinational transactions. If you operate internationally, your business may benefit from these options.

Erin Sweeney