2011 Review of Sage North America — Sage Fund Accounting

Sage North America - Sage Fund Accounting
800-811-0961
www.sagefundaccounting.com

From the November 2011 Review of Not-for-Profit Accounting Systems

Best Fit
Sage Fund Accounting (formerly Sage MIP Fund Accounting) is optimally designed for mid-sized nonprofit organizations and government entities that require flexibility as well as detailed budgeting and grants management capabilities.

Strengths

• Extensive list of modules
• Contains fundraising & grant management add-on options
• Excellent budgeting capability
• Available as an on-premise or hosted product
• Available in single-user & multi-user editions

Potential Limitations

• Cost may be prohibitive for small organizations
• Initial setup can be time-consuming if not well-planned to help ensure long-term success

Sage Fund Accounting is a financial software product designed specifically for nonprofit organizations and government entities. Formerly known as Sage MIP Fund Accounting, Sage Fund Accounting is modular and extremely scalable and flexible. The addition of a single-user system, and its availability in a hosted environment, opens the market significantly and makes it attractive to smaller nonprofits, as well.

Basic System Functions - 4.75 Stars

Sage Fund Accounting can be installed on a desktop or laptop computer, or users may prefer to access the product in a hosted environment for added flexibility. The user interface is easily navigated, with a drop-down menu bar at the top of the screen that allows access to system functions. The in-product workflow navigation provides module access, and the main screen contains a workflow diagram that contains all of the related functions found within each system module. Users can customize data-entry screens to display frequently used functions and reports for easy access. Data-entry screens are uncluttered and easily navigated, with the requisite lookup options included. Entry screens also contain numerous function tabs, where additional information can be easily entered.

Sage Fund Accounting offers more than 25 modules that can be easily added as needed. Core modules included in the single-user version include System Manager, GL, AP, AR Reporting, Budget, Bank Reconciliation, Data Import/Export and Forms Designer. Additional modules available include the following: AR, Advanced Security, Allocation Management, Data Consolidation, Direct Deposit, Electronic Funds Transfer, Electronic Requisitions, Employee Web Services, Encumbrances, Fixed Assets, GASB, Grant Management, HR Management, Inventory Control, Multicurrency, Payroll, Purchase Order, Sales Order, Scheduler, and Visual Analyzer. This product is extremely scalable and offers a high level of flexibility.

Core NFP/Fund Accounting Capabilities - 5 Stars

Sage Fund Accounting utilizes a table-driven chart of accounts, allowing users to easily create account structures with which they are most comfortable. Sage Fund Accounting also allows for an unlimited number of account segments. The system can handle a wide variety of transaction types including memorized transactions, recurring transactions and automatic reversals, as well as general journal entries such as cash receipts and standard budget entries. The Budget module allows for creation of budgets for all grants, programs or accounts, with budgets for multiple fiscal years and cross-year reporting. Encumbrances can also be added to the budget reserve. Users can choose to view the original budget while entering revisions for easy comparison. Sage Fund Accounting allows for an unlimited number of budgets, and drill-down capability allows users to view originating documents for each budget item. Budget can also be set up by account segment.