2013 Review of Intuit - QuickBooks Accountant 2013

Intuit, Inc. – QuickBooks Accountant 2013
800-267-8379
www.accountant.intuit.com

Best Fit: Accounting practices providing write-up features for clients that use QuickBooks.

Strengths

• Accountant version includes all industry-specific versions of QuickBooks
• Streamlined navigation and interface
• Batch and pasting of thousands of transactions at once
• Output to PDF, Excel and other formats
• Built-in client invoicing and electronic payment options
• Mobile apps
• Electronically receive and send data to clients

Potential Limitations

• No client portals, although Accountant Copy allows data file sharing
• Live tech support is only free for 30 days unless user is a QuickBooks ProAdvisor

From the February 2013 review of Client Write-Up systems.

QuickBooks is the most widely-used small business accounting system, and that makes it even more likely for small businesses to use it, since it is generally easy to find experienced users and training options. For accounting firms providing periodic account oversight, reconciliations, financials management and compliance, the Accountant version also is a common solution, since many of their clients are using the program, which makes data transition and management processes more comfortable.

QuickBooks Accountant 2013 is the latest professional version, and has undergone a significant redesign from previous versions. This includes new interface and navigation, as well as multiple new features geared toward write-up and multi-client management. Also in the program are several tools for finding and fixing client errors, one-step pasting of more than 1,000 transactions from Excel, emailing of journal entries, tools for troubleshooting inventory issues, and other functions.

Basic System Functions: 4.75 Stars

During initial setup of QuickBooks Accountant, the system provides wizards and other tools to help with the transfer of client files. New clients can also be quickly added using hundreds of chart of accounts templates for various industries, or users can copy existing settings from another similar client, or create a completely custom account setup. After installation, the system also provides a variety of wizards and tools for functions such as reporting, invoicing and banking functions.

When working within client accounts, QuickBooks Accountant’s home screen opens into a streamlined workflow view that displays general activities related to the client’s customers, vendors and employees, along with default client company settings. The system’s new menu ribbon, which is similar to the one in Microsoft Office, that groups functions such as invoices, estimates, sales orders and other forms.

A new optional icon menu on the left side of the screen offers additional quick navigation, allowing user to create custom shortcuts, links to common tasks, Snapshot dashboard overviews, and quick access to reports, client balances and the user’s to-do list. Users can also create automated alerts to notify them of items needing attention, such as client AR balances, credit limits or vendor issues. All of the client, vendor and employee selection screens offer multiple search, sort and filter options and users can easily move between summary and detail views.

The program’s data entry screens have also been enhanced, offering simpler, streamlined access to key fields, as well as additional customization options, smart selection lists and search functions. One of the most applauded new features in recent versions is that accountants can now open and work in two client company files at the same time.

As the master QuickBooks program, QuickBooks Accountant includes all of the client versions of the program, which allows users to view client data and transactions in the same view that the client sees it. The program also immediately recognizes the version of the program that clients are using, so that it automatically opens and saves data into the correct format for each client. QuickBooks Accountant 2013 can be used by up to five staff users at the same time, and has security and system settings that let management limit user access rights to specific clients, features, data and reports. It can be used to manage any number of client entities.