Accounting Software

What is Accounting Software?

Accounting software provides the tools that companies and accountants alike need to successfully track invoices, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll and general ledger activity - all in a centralized system. Tax management is also a core component for numerous leading accounting software vendors, offering capabilities for navigating tax compliance, deductions, and filing each year.

Efficient, accurate accounting practices are very important for a profitably run business. In recent years, accounting software vendors have been working to improve their systems with functionalities and automations to streamline all the work that goes into business accounting practices, primarily with AI and machine learning.

Today, many top accounting software platforms do more than just reconcile transactions and generate invoices, as a result; it's now a unified, go-to system that can deliver intelligent recommendations as well as predictions based on historical data, so teams can make data-driven decisions to keep operations running as optimally as possible.

Key Features and Capabilities of Accounting Software

Some of the key features and capabilities of accounting software include (but aren't limited to) the following:

  • Invoicing and Billing: Accounting software's invoicing and billing features help companies automate the process of creating, sending, and tracking invoices and bills to ensure timely payments, reduce errors, and streamline cash flow management.
  • Accounts Payable and Receivable: The Accounts Payable (AP) and Accounts Receivable (AR) features in accounting software help organizations efficiently and accurately manage incoming and outgoing payments, improve cash flow management, and enhance financial planning.
  • Income & Expense Reports: Accounting software offers income and expense reporting tools to track revenue, manage expenses, and provide insights that help businesses understand their financial performance, to make informed decisions.
  • Payroll Management: Payroll management features help organizations make timely employee payments, adhere to legal payroll requirements, and manage employee compensation, including salary calculations, deductions, bonuses, and tax withholdings.
  • Tax Calculation, Compliance, & Filing: Accounting software provides tax calculation, compliance, and filing features to help businesses calculate taxes, ensure compliance with tax laws, and file tax returns while reducing the chance of errors and subsequent penalties.
  • Stock and Inventory Management: Many accounting software systems provide stock and inventory management tools to help companies track inventory levels, manage stock reorders, and monitor stock usage to optimize inventory levels and avoid overstocked or out-of-stock products.
  • Sales and Purchase Orders: Sales and purchase order features in accounting software help organizations streamline creating, tracking, and managing orders from customers and suppliers to improve order accuracy, enhance customer satisfaction, and optimize procurement processes.
  • General Ledger: The general ledger in accounting software is a centralized repository for all financial transactions that provides a comprehensive view of a company's financial status, while facilitating accurate reporting and financial analysis.
  • Budget Allocations and Planning: Accounting software provides budget allocations and planning tools to help organizations set financial goals, allocate resources, and monitor business performance against budgets.

Common Accounting Software Integrations

  • Payroll Software: Integrating payroll software with accounting systems helps organizations ensure accurate and automated payroll calculations, tax withholdings, and reporting.
  • Payment Processing/Fintech Platforms: Integrating payment processing/fintech platforms with accounting software helps organizations streamline financial transactions and reconciliation, as well as improve cash flow management.
  • Expense Management Software: Integrating expense management software with accounting systems helps businesses simplify tracking, categorizing, and approving expenses to improve financial accuracy and control.
  • Project Management Software: Integrating project management software with accounting systems provides companies with real-time financial insights into project budgets, costs, and profitability.
  • Inventory Management Software: Integrating inventory management software with accounting systems optimizes inventory levels to help organizations reduce costs and improve financial reporting accuracy.
  • Point of Sale Software: Integrating point of sale software with accounting systems helps companies achieve seamless sales data synchronization, improving revenue tracking and financial reporting.
  • ERP Software: Integrating ERP software with accounting systems gives organizations a comprehensive view of business operations, enhances financial planning, and supports data-driven decision-making.
  • Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Tools: Integrating RPA tools with accounting systems helps companies work more efficiently by automating repetitive tasks, reducing errors, and increasing accuracy in financial processes.
  • Business Intelligence (BI) Software: Integrating BI software with accounting systems helps companies make informed decisions and plan strategically with advanced data analyses and visualizations.

Top 10 Accounting Software

SYSPRO / Sage Intacct / FreeAgent / Phonexa / NetSuite / SutiProcure / SAP S/4HANA / Patriot Accounting / Oracle ERP / Aquilon Software

WH Score
7.8
Deltek ComputerEase
12reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Deltek ComputerEase is an ERP solution developed specifically for construction firms and contractors and addresses the unique challenges of the construction industry.
WH Score
7.7
Wave
11reviews
Starting Price:$0 per user / per month
Wave Accounting is a powerful, user-friendly accounting software for small businesses and freelancers. With Wave Accounting, you can easily manage your finances and stay on top of your business operations.
WH Score
7.6
QAD
8reviews
Starting Price:N/A
QAD Enterprise Resource Planning system has maintained its position as one of the leading business software solutions in an extremely competitive industry. It targets various process and manufacturing industries such as the Automotive, Food and Beverage and Consumer Products. Among its key features ...
WH Score
7.6
Visual EstiTrack
10reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Visual EstiTrack Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) offers a total solution for small and medium-sized businesses. It has a robust manufacturing execution, customer management, and Material Requirements Planning (MRP). There is also Product-Life Cycle Management (PLM), and Supply-Chain Management (S...
WH Score
7.6
BILL AP & AR
0reviews
Starting Price:$79 per user / per month
BILL AP and AR offers businesses of all sizes the ability to streamline accounts receivables and collections, across a centralized platform. Further integration with its very own BILL Spend and Expense solution further assists to streamline cash inflows and outflows, so businesses have a one-stop so...
WH Score
7.6
Foundation
8reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Foundation ERP is an accounting-focused software solution for the construction industry, presented by Foundation Soft. It handles the end-to- end operations of constructions projects, including job posting, scheduling and project management. Foundation ERP is available both as on-premise and cloud-b...
WH Score
7.4
CFO Plans
0reviews
Starting Price:$1000 per user / per month
CFO Plans is a solution for businesses seeking a financial partner combining expertise and flexibility. Led by an experienced Lead Accountant and supported by a minimum 4-person team, clients benefit from a dedicated, responsive team that ensures efficient financial management. With a commitment to ...
WH Score
7.4
ECOUNT ERP
6reviews
Starting Price:$600 per user / per year
ECOUNT is a cloud-based integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution suitable for small and midsize businesses. This ERP provides tools and features designed to help manage inventory, production, logistics, sales, accounting and payroll.
WH Score
7.3
Jonas
15reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Jonas ERP is a comprehensive ERP, serving the construction industry for over two decades. Jonas ERP solution has won many prestigious awards for its automation, paperless service and business management applications. 
WH Score
7.3
Kashoo
9reviews
Starting Price:$216 per user / per year
Kashoo is a cloud accounting solution that is ideal for small business owners or solopreneurs who need a simple, reliable way to manage accounting functions such as taxes, audits, invoicing, and more. Kashoo is mobile-friendly, and has apps that help you manage your business on the go, with effortle...
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