2013 Review of CYMA 13: Financial Management System

Best Fit: Accounting firms that offer write-up, payroll compliance and reconciliation services to mid-sized and larger business clients, particularly consolidated entities and those with multiple locations or subsidiaries. Businesses can also use the system in-house.

Strengths

• Good customization options
• Support for consolidations of multi-division/location entities
• Good reporting, customization, batch options and financials generation
• Comprehensive modules with direct integration
• Export to many file formats

Potential Limitations

• Module-based system
• Live support not included in pricing
• No online file sharing or portals

From the February 2012 review of Client Write-Up systems.

The CYMA Financial Management System, on the market for 17 years and having gone through 13 major versions in that time, provides a comprehensive accounting and business management program with modules, utilities and tools focused on managing small and mid-sized enterprises. Modules include GL, AP, AR, live and after-the-fact payroll, bank reconciliation, job costing, grant tracking, inventory, HR tools with employee self service functions, project tracking, as well as sales and purchase order management. This review focuses on the system’s write-up centric modules. A version of CYMA is also available for non-profits.

Basic System Functions: 4.5 Stars

The eDesk is CYMAs primary interface, providing a home page with multiple customization options. Built on an HTML platform and with a very web browser-like feel, it can also be used as firm or business’ intranet, with options for custom branding the interface, and the ability to show company news and information, display a user’s pending tasks and alerts, or show their calendar. Users can also add “favorites” to external websites or to program functions.

Initial setup of clients and data importing is guided by wizards, and users can select from chart of accounts templates for common industries, can create custom charts, or copy from existing clients.

Work screens in CYMA use a more traditional interface, with primary system areas like the Workflow and Control center screens giving users access to modules and client data. The program has selection screens for clients, vendors and employees that are displayed in spreadsheet views with search, filter and sorting options. Data entry screens also include smart entry fields and selection lists. The program stores client data in a Pervasive database, and a run-time version of that database system is included with CYMA licenses.

Core Write-Up Features: 4.75 Stars

CYMA’s GL module includes options for consolidating GLs of companies with unlimited levels, and options for combining selected accounts in summary or detail. Account structures for a parent entity can vary from its original sub-entities, and multiple child entities can be mapped to a parent company account.