Telecommuting Idea – Bookkeeping

If you have experience in accounting or have worked as a bookkeeper before, bookkeeping can be a great way to work from home. Small businesses are continuously looking for ways to outsource some of their workload and most of them do not need a full-time in-house bookkeeper. You can approach several businesses in your area and offer to keep their books.

Of course there are some tools you need. You should have some of the basic accounting software like quicken and quick books. If the company you work for uses a different piece of software, they may purchase a copy for you to use at home, or make one of their current licenses available to you. In the beginning I suggest you focus on companies that use software you are already familiar with since you will be working from home and don’t have the opportunity to ask a colleague across your desk for help.

Read More Article...

Keeping Up With The Family Finances

Staying on top of the family finances does not have to be difficult. With a little planning, your finances can be kept up to date with ease. Believe me, having a handle on your family finances goes a long way in creating family harmony.

The first step is to set up a bookkeeping system. We’ve used Quicken software for years. It has helped to keep track of our expenses, and we have been very happy with the program. It takes a little bit of time to set up initially. The second part of your bookkeeping system involves setting up a place to save your receipts. We use a small cardboard divider file with a special slot devoted to “receipts that need to be posted”. The key idea here is to have a place where you store all receipts from expenses (including ATM withdrawals) so that they are readily available when you go to enter them into your bookkeeping software.

Once you have the system set up, then you simply enter your receipts, whether income or expenses. As you enter each item, you select a category for it to go into. Reconciling your account is done online. One of the greatest advantages in using an automated system like this is the ability to see your expenses by category. With the click of a button, you can find out what you spent on groceries, entertainment or any other category for any time period, like last week, last month, or the last quarter. Many other reports are available such as a cash flow report and an itemized categories report. Using this system has streamlined our ability to keep our account updated. Bills are easily paid on time.

Once you’ve established your bookkeeping system, then you must set aside time on a regular basis to update it. For our family, we’ve found that a weekly update works well. My husband and I alternate weekly turns on posting receipts and then reconciling our account. It never takes us more than 30 minutes at a time and our account is always balanced.

If you are behind in your finances, start by doing just 15 minutes at a time. You’ll catch up eventually. Then, be sure to make time on a regular basis to keep up with your account. Having your finances in order is a real stress reliever and can be attained by anyone!

About Author:
For money saving tips and money management ideas, be sure to visit http://www.NotMadeOfMoney.com

Article Source: http://www.BharatBhasha.com

Three things you should know about tax

Employer's Pension Contributions

The rules regarding tax relief on employer pension contributions in particular for owner/manager businesses have, since A-Day, been somewhat clouded by the Revenue’s interpretation of the wholly and exclusive rules. The tax planning industry concern has been in connection with the Revenue’s approach with regard to the commerciality of an individual’s total remuneration package.

Thankfully, a recent addition to Revenue & Customs’ Manual provides some extra clarity and states “where the controlling director is also the person whose work generates the company’s income then the level of the remuneration package is a commercial decision and it is unlikely that there will be a non-business purpose for the level of the remuneration package”.

So effectively, the commercial value of a controlling director, in remuneration terms, is deemed to be inextricably linked to the success/profitability of the company assuming that their input is pivotal to that success. Accordingly, full tax relief should be granted on pension contributions up to the annual allowance of £225,000.

Offshore Disclosure Facility
The Revenue’s deadline approaches for the so-called tax amnesty for those who have income arising from offshore accounts for which no UK tax has been declared or paid.

The Revenue’s aim has been to get the majority who have avoided paying UK tax to accept the inevitable with the carrot of a fixed 10% penalty.

The intention to disclose needs to be notified to the Revenue by the 22nd June 2007, a full disclosure and payment of taxes due, to include interest and the 10% penalty, must be made by the 26th November 2007.

With the Revenue having obtained details of offshore account holders, one can expect investigations to commence shortly after the 22nd June for those who have not fully disclosed. In particular, it is rumoured that the Revenue intends to name and shame high profile celebrities.

Offshore Investment Bonds
For those looking to defer or mitigate tax legitimately is through an investment in an offshore investment bond. This can include a wide ranging investment strategy from cash deposits, fixed deposits, guaranteed products or a full range of investment collectives to include exchange traded funds. This legitimate long-term deferral can add substantial benefits to an investor’s portfolio for a minimal cost.

By John Robson & Andrew Selsby at RH Asset Management Limited, as published in the Onassis Newsletter, a fortnightly newsletter that gives insight into the investment markets.

For more from RHAM, visit http://www.rhasset.co.uk/

The 3 Critical Financial Statements

There are three vital statements for understanding the condition of a business or entity: (1) the Profit and Loss Statement, (2) the Balance Sheet and (3) the Sources and Uses Statement. Each of them provides a different perspective of how an entity is operating. Combined, they show examiners the health of the business. Each statement reflects a different perspective on the business’ financial operations.

The first statement, the Profit and Loss, can also be called the Income Statement. It documents the amount of money coming into the entity (the income) and the money going out of the entity (the expenses). The difference between what comes in and what goes out is the Net Income, if there is more money coming in than going out. If not, there is a Net Loss. The statement covers a specific period, which is shown in the heading of the statement. Note that it tells us nothing about what has happened for any date that is not included by the statement dates. Think of it as a snapshot for the specific time period. Some common snapshot periods are monthly, quarterly and yearly ones.

The second statement, the Balance Sheet, covers the condition of the business from the time it began until the ending date on the statement. The Balance Sheet reveals three important business characteristics: (1) it summarizes the assets owned by the entity (e.g., buildings, bank accounts, inventory, etc.); (2) the entity liabilities (e.g., loans, outstanding bills, etc.); and (3) the business owners’ equity. The statement is arranged in what is called the ‘accounting equation’, which indicates total Assets will equal the sum of Liabilities and Equity. Balance Sheets are commonly issued at the same frequency as the Profit and Loss and usually reflect the business on the last day of the Profit and Loss period.

Finally, the Sources and Uses Statement reveals how the business received and used funds during the statement period. It shows how much money was provided by business operations and how much was provided by loans or capital received by the entity. The statement also summarizes how the funds were used by the entity. It demonstrates if the company is healthy, headed for trouble, or just bouncing along. Like the Profit and Loss, this statement covers only the period shown in the statement heading. It says nothing about any period not included in the statement. Again, the statement usually covers the same period as the Profit and Loss.

Taking these three statements together, there is a present picture of the business. From the Profit and Loss, comes how well it did during the period, a short-term perspective. From the Balance Sheet it is seen how the entity is accumulating assets or liabilities, from a long-term perspective. Finally, the Sources and Uses statement demonstrates where and how efficiently the entity resources were used during the period. All three perspectives are important to the entity overview.

To an investor or owner the statements answer three questions about the entity. Did the entity make a profit? Did the entity increase the owners’ equity? And finally, were entity assets used efficiently? From the overviews in these three statements, further questions might be formulated in specific areas.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Accounting

The 3 Critical Financial Statements

There are three vital statements for understanding the condition of a business or entity: (1) the Profit and Loss Statement, (2) the Balance Sheet and (3) the Sources and Uses Statement. Each of them provides a different perspective of how an entity is operating. Combined, they show examiners the health of the business. Each statement reflects a different perspective on the business’ financial operations.

The first statement, the Profit and Loss, can also be called the Income Statement. It documents the amount of money coming into the entity (the income) and the money going out of the entity (the expenses). The difference between what comes in and what goes out is the Net Income, if there is more money coming in than going out. If not, there is a Net Loss. The statement covers a specific period, which is shown in the heading of the statement. Note that it tells us nothing about what has happened for any date that is not included by the statement dates. Think of it as a snapshot for the specific time period. Some common snapshot periods are monthly, quarterly and yearly ones.

The second statement, the Balance Sheet, covers the condition of the business from the time it began until the ending date on the statement. The Balance Sheet reveals three important business characteristics: (1) it summarizes the assets owned by the entity (e.g., buildings, bank accounts, inventory, etc.); (2) the entity liabilities (e.g., loans, outstanding bills, etc.); and (3) the business owners’ equity. The statement is arranged in what is called the ‘accounting equation’, which indicates total Assets will equal the sum of Liabilities and Equity. Balance Sheets are commonly issued at the same frequency as the Profit and Loss and usually reflect the business on the last day of the Profit and Loss period.

Finally, the Sources and Uses Statement reveals how the business received and used funds during the statement period. It shows how much money was provided by business operations and how much was provided by loans or capital received by the entity. The statement also summarizes how the funds were used by the entity. It demonstrates if the company is healthy, headed for trouble, or just bouncing along. Like the Profit and Loss, this statement covers only the period shown in the statement heading. It says nothing about any period not included in the statement. Again, the statement usually covers the same period as the Profit and Loss.

Taking these three statements together, there is a present picture of the business. From the Profit and Loss, comes how well it did during the period, a short-term perspective. From the Balance Sheet it is seen how the entity is accumulating assets or liabilities, from a long-term perspective. Finally, the Sources and Uses statement demonstrates where and how efficiently the entity resources were used during the period. All three perspectives are important to the entity overview.

To an investor or owner the statements answer three questions about the entity. Did the entity make a profit? Did the entity increase the owners’ equity? And finally, were entity assets used efficiently? From the overviews in these three statements, further questions might be formulated in specific areas.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Accounting

Understanding Account Reconciliation

When you confirm that the balance in your checkbook is in sync with your corresponding bank statement, it is known as account reconciliation.

Any record that you keep regarding your financial transactions with banks, credit card companies, or retail stores is known as an account. It is an arrangement between buyers and sellers in which payments are to be made in the future. The different forms of payment are checks, bills of exchange, and promissory notes. These are transferable, signed documents, which guarantee to pay the bearer a sum of money at a later date.

Purposes of Account Reconciliation
Account reconciliation makes available a suitable method for reconciling the accounts to the monthly financial reports produced by the Financial Records System (FRS). Account reconciliation helps you evaluate departmental account records in regards to the reports, which have been generated by the FRS. This helps you to better verify the accuracy of each account statement. The person in charge of each account should verify the account every month. Account reconciliation helps ensure accurate reports on the account. It helps to identify errors and inconsistencies in your accounting.

In order to perform the reconciliation most efficiently, you should be certain that the person in charge of an account maintains full and accurate records. It is your choice to maintain the records in a manual filing system or on a computer program. You can develop your own filing and record keeping system. It should be capable of providing an effective means of reconciling your accounts on a monthly basis. You can make use of the following files to make the reconciliation process easier.

Open Transaction Files: These files hold all source documents that you may have started for the account, but have not yet processed. Some common types of source documents are Distribution of Deposit forms (for cash receipts), Check Requests, Purchase Orders, Prepaid Purchase Orders, Interdepartmental Billing Forms, Merchandise Orders, and Travel Authorizations.

Pending Files: These files hold source documents that had some activities posted on the FRS report, but await further activities before they can be completed. These include Purchase Orders, Inter-departmental Billing Forms, Travel Authorizations and Travel Expense Reports.

Closed Transaction Files: These files hold the source documents that are fully processed in the FRS. You can always refer to the Records Retention Policy to establish how long documents must be maintained on file.

Monthly Reports: You receive these after the end of each month. The accounts must be reconciled to the monthly reports. The FBM090, Account Statement, and the FBM091 and Report of Transactions can be handed over to the person handling each account. You then compare the open transaction and pending files to the FBM091 and the Report of Transactions, which has a detailed list of transactions posted in a particular month. Make a comparison of the source documents with the report to find out if the encumbrance was properly established, adjusted, or canceled in the correct account and the correct object code.

Additional Help
Software is available to help you in reconciling your accounts in an automated fashion. Apart from providing you with all the help, they are reasonably priced as well.

About David Gass
David Gass is President of Business Credit Services, Inc. His company publishes afree weekly e-newsletter on Small Business Consulting at their web site http://www.smallbusinessconsulting.com/

Twenty-five Steps for Evaluating & Selecting the Right Accounting Software Package

Selecting the wrong accounting software can be a complete disaster. You could even lose your job or your business by making a poor choice – it has certainly happened many times before. Exactly where can you go to get the information you need to make the right decision? There are trade shows, seminars, and magazine articles on selecting accounting software, but they typically just tell you the good stuff. The accounting software publishers at conferences and other similar shows will provide you with a fancy brochure and show you what they have to offer, but the truth is that it is almost impossible to tell what’s missing or what’s wrong with the product. The Value-Added Resellers (VARs) will come to your office to demonstrate the product, but they usually skip over the negative points and weaknesses as well. The magazine articles all seem to gloss over the bad stuff in fear of chasing away advertising dollars.

Too often it takes a complete installation of the system and at least a month of operations to tell if the product will meet your needs – and by then, it is too late. There seems to be no independent place to go to get good help with avoiding the wrong package. This is a problem that everyone faces when selecting accounting software. The good news is that almost all accounting software packages have gotten better over the past decade, and it is now easier to end up with a fairly good product than it used to be. But still, here are some important steps you should follow when selecting accounting software:

Read More Article...

Why Outsource Your Bookkeeping to a Part-Time Bookkeeper?

There are many good reasons to hire a part-time bookkeeper. A good bookkeeper will:

Save You Money:

Efficient bookkeeping. A knowledgeable bookkeeper will get your bookkeeping done quickly and efficiently, meaning less time spent on bookkeeping.

Decreased employee costs. You only pay a part-time bookkeeper when they are actually doing bookkeeping. You don't pay benefits to your part-time bookkeeper and you don't incur payroll taxes or the costs of training and turnover.

Decreased accounting costs. By increasing the accuracy of your books, an experienced bookkeeper will save you money at tax time.

Allow you to Focus on Your Business:

By turning over your bookkeeping to a qualified bookkeeper, you can focus on your expertise: running your business.

Provide Useful Feedback:

A skilled bookkeeper will know how to structure your books in such a way as to provide the maximum feedback on your business results.

Need a Bookkeeper? Search Samarak's Directory of Bookkeepers and/or list the position on Samarak's Bookkeeping Jobs page.

Source: http://www.samarak.com/bookkeepingservices.htm/

10 Bookkeeping Mistakes Made by Small Businesses

I ran across this article at AllBusiness.com and thought it was interesting. It highlights some of the top bookkeeping mistakes made by Small Businesses.

From one-person entities to major corporations, bookkeeping is a significant part of any business endeavor. While it is typically not one of the more glamorous jobs, bookkeeping is at the heart of a company’s success, and errors can cost the company significantly. Below are 10 of the most common errors that you want to avoid.

Read More Article...

Cost Benefit Analysis-Whether you should outsource your Bookkeeping to Professional Book Keeper.

What is a role of a bookkeeper in your organisation :
BOOKKEEPERS keep complete, up-to-date, and accurate records of accounts and financial arrangements. Bookkeepers verify and enter information into journals and ledgers or into a computer. They periodically balance the books and compile reports and financial statements. Bookkeepers also receive, record, bank and pay out cash. They balance checkbooks with monthly bank statements. They may calculate employee wages from plant records or time cards and issue payroll checks. Some of the other work they may do includes posting accounts receivable and payable, prepare and make bank deposits, record payrolls, maintain inventory records, purchase supplies, prepare purchase orders and do expense reports. Bookkeepers may also make schedules, sort documents, and file bills. These type of jobs are found in every industry and may have various job titles, such as accounts payable clerk, accounts receivable clerk or assistant bookkeeper.

Cost of a Bookkeeper :
The pay for these jobs depends upon experience, clerical skills, the level of responsibility and the job location. Beginning salaries go from minimum wage to $ 15 per hour. Experienced Bookkeeper can make $ 20 an hour. After having worked for three years with the same firm, a Bookkeeper can earn at $ 25 per hour. A Bookkeepers usually work 40 hours a week; sometimes it may be necessary to work overtime. Some employers have fringe benefits such as paid vacations and sick leave, life and health insurance, and bonuses. Other benefits that the employer may include are participation in a credit union, or retirement and profit sharing plans.

Advantage of outsourcing Bookkeeping work to a professional bookkeeper :
There are several distinct advantages to outsourcing your bookkeeping functions. First and foremost is saving money. You get what you pay for and if you don't pay for quality than you won't have quality service. However, you can save money by outsourcing because you won't be paying for employer payroll tax expense, workman's compensation and general liability insurances, vacation time, sick time, health insurance and other benefits a good full time bookkeeper will expect from his/her employer. Just remember, however, that these costs will be built into the consultant's hourly rate and their fee will reflect these costs. Any bookkeeping consultant who has not taken these costs into consideration is not a bookkeeper you want - if they don't know enough to include these costs into their fees, then they don't know enough to be a help to your business. You should expect to pay at least three times what you would pay an experienced full charge bookkeeper.

And just how do you save money by paying three times the amount you would pay an employee? Well, let's see. There will be no recruiting, interviewing and training costs for start. And if you should find yourself unhappy with the services there will be no additional recruiting, interviewing and training to replace your bookkeeper. Also, you will not have to be concerned about law suits such as sexual harassment, unlawful firing, age discrimination, sexist, etc. Or an increase in your unemployment rates because you laid off an employee that you really wanted to fire but had no lawful cause to do so. So right away we have less time and money spent and potentially less hassle if things don't go well.

And of course you will not be paying workman's compensation and general liability insurance premiums. Also any worthy bookkeeper will expect at least two weeks vacation, coverage for sick time, health and dental insurance and even perhaps more benefits.

Most professional bookkeepers will have their own offices saving you space within your office. So you will not be buying that extra desk, calculator, computer and computer software. Your bookkeeper will be providing all of that as part of his/her fee. No software updates, computer maintenance, training costs, etc. Of course should you prefer to have your computerized bookkeeping records available to you at your office, a small investment in software installed on your computer makes this possible. Also no office supplies to be paid for. You will be amazed at just how much pens, pencils, and paper can be used by a bookkeeper. Your consultant bookkeeper will either ask you to drop off the work at their office, will pick it up at your office or some may even offer remote bookkeeping service. And by having your bookkeeping done off site, your bookkeeper will be able to work more efficiently and accurately because her/his office will most likely offer less distractions than your busy office. All of this is saving you money.

And the best reason for outsourcing is that you control the amount of money spent on bookkeeping. What I mean by this is that the person you hire to do your bookkeeping will be doing just that - not answering the phone, dealing with drop-bys, chatting to other employees, etc. Also you can start with just a few hours a month and add on when you need to and then adjust downward again should it be necessary. Can you imagine finding an employee to start with only four hours a month, then asking them to put in 20 hours a week for awhile and then back down to four hours a month again. I don't think you would keep them for very long, but a free lance bookkeeper is able to work around these variables and even more importantly expects to work with flexible schedules.

So have I convinced you yet? If so, then just remember "you will get what you pay for". Go for top quality because your financial records are the core of your business and without great bookkeeping you cannot expect to succeed no matter what type of business you have. After all don't you think you are worth it ?


About Bhaskar Thakkar

Mr.Bhaskar Thakkar is a qualified Chartered Accountant and professional bookkeeper from India. He is a president of M/s. BT Associates, Chartered Accountants. The said firm provides Book keeping, Accounting, Auditing and Tax preparation services to various Chartered Accountants in UK, US and Canada. The firm is also specialized in preparation of VAT returns, Payroll Processing. Visit btassociate.com,. A division of said firm provides various outsourcing solutions please visit jobs2india.com., to get more details.

Source: http://www.theleadingarticles.com/

When Choosing Bookkeeping Programs

My organization recently decided to update its bookkeeping programs. Though it will probably improve efficiency in the long term, but presently, it puts me, as the office manager in an uncomfortable position.

Over the years, the firm have tried several bookkeeping programs, but finally settled on Quickbooks, which frankly speaking, I am very indifferent to, but have gotten so used to it in the last few years. We probably won't know the fellow that took the decision to adopt a new bookkeeping program; nevertheless it was a wrong decision.

There was nothing wrong in the existing bookkeeping program, and setting up a new one was created new problems, that has was never envisaged. First, everything had to be recorded to the new bookkeeping programs, and for this task, the boss hired a computer expert, who also happened to be his son.

The task involved writing a macro that will convert all of the files from the old bookkeeping programs into the new one, and unfortunately, the project failed- just like everything the boss and his family do, on top of this is the problem of lack of compatibility between the QuickBooks and the new bookkeeping programs, which was a kind of general public access thing that was obviously produced by Linux nerds in their spare time. Though it is very stable and well coded, it is just not a user friendly interface.

Of course I bore the brunt of the whole thing, so I had to learn how to operate this graphics free, all text interface, before entering the old bookkeeping program data. Of course the new program is more stable, and perhaps faster, but the point is it is boring and takes a longer period to learn.

Even now that I have a full grasp of it, I still prefer one of the bookkeeping programs where I can click on a few icons and not bother about keyboard shortcuts.

I resent this new program because I will have to use it all day, so I think I deserve something pleasant to work and interact with.

But it seems no one is interested in that, as long as it is free, fast, and occupies less hard disk space, then it will do just fine.

About the Author: Kyle Greatbatch Bookkeeping Programs .

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Common BAS Errors

Preparing your quarterly BAS should be relatively straightforward if you adhere to a few simple rules.

1. Understand which accounting method your business is registered for (cash accounting method or accrual accounting method)
2. Ensure your business has proper record keeping in place
3. Understand how your accounting software works and all transactions are entered accurately with correct tax allocations

Read More Article...

Accounting Software aids smaller manufacturers/distributors

Peachtree by Sage Premium Accounting for Manufacturing/Distribution 2008 deliver accurate, real-time data pertaining to inventory levels as well as access to that data in order to manage cash flow, success, and growth. In addition to all necessary business management tools, software offers document management, forms design, reporting, and invoicing capabilities. It also lets businesses select number of decimal points, up to 5, for quantity and unit price fields.

Read More Article...

Understanding Bank Reconciliation

Bookkeeping is fundamental in running your business in an informed way. It is important that you have an organized, transparent and updated bookkeeping system in place. One of the ways to keep track of your company's books is bank reconciliation.

What is bank reconciliation?
The procedure of comparing the account balance given by the bank with that of the company's book of accounts and explaining any discrepancy is bank reconciliation. The discrepancy in the balances may be due to the different timing of registering the data in the bank's books and in your company's books. This discrepancy is normal and is rectified automatically within small time. However, sometimes the discrepancy is due to an error, which has to be rectified manually and to catch this error you need bank reconciliation. Companies generally do bank reconciliation at the end of each month.

Reasons for maintaining bank reconciliation
Regular monthly bank reconciliation keeps your company's financial records clear and updated. You never build up an erroneous backlog. Also, you can understand your accounting status all the time. It is important that you have a prompt and reliable communication system with the bank so that you keep your records accurate.

Bank Reconciliation Statement
It is better to prepare a bank reconciliation statement by yourself so that you are able to figure out the causes of discrepancy.

Structure: The statement is divided into two sections. The right section reflects your bookkeeping for bank transactions and the left side reflects the bank's records for your account with them.

Heading: The heading of the statement will have the bank's complete name with the date of reconciliation.

Items: The first item of the statement is your opening balance just before the reconciliation. Check each item of the statement further for the following. If the transaction is missing from you our company's account and it is on the bank's record then you need to enter it in your books. If the bank section has missed it then enter it under their section. If the missing transaction belongs to the bank such as any fees deductions or interest credits, then it is an error at the bank's end and it will rectify the error.

Adjustments: Once the reasons for the discrepancy have been figured out then you should include the missing information in journal entries.

Items of Bank's Statement
Credit: Banks may credit some interest periodically into your account as applicable on the account balance.

Debit: These will be any of the bank charges on your account as applicable.

Erroneous credit: Any incorrectly placed credit in your account is booked under this head. Sometimes, the bank makes a deposit in the wrong account.

Items on Your Account Books
Unpresented check: Your Company's books should record any checks issue immediately at the time of issue. The bank will, however, record it when the check is presented to it.

Software for bank reconciliation
There is a lot of bank reconciliation software readily available in the market. This software is compatible with all the latest accounting packages. The data is automatically imported, checked and reported through the software making your job easier.

David Gass is President of Business Credit Services, Inc. His company publishes afree weekly e-newsletter on Small Business Consulting at their web site http://www.smallbusinessconsulting.com

Article Source: http://www.1ArticleWorld.com

Institute of Certified Bookkeepers and Pastel Accounting extend bookkeeping career path

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by Pastel Accounting and the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) will help to professionalise bookkeeping in South Africa, by enabling automatic membership of the ICB for bookkeepers who achieve certain qualifications in Pastel Accounting training.

Learners who have completed Pastel Accounting's four-day Pastel Partner 2007 training with a minimum pass mark of 75% will be granted affiliate ICB membership - afICB(SA).

Read More Article...

SEC Approves New Auditing Standards

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has unanimously approved new auditing standards. The changes are designed to reduce costs and increase accuracy. The changes are also supposed to reduced costs for smaller public companies.

"In approving Auditing Standard No. 5, the Commission has strengthened investor protection by refocusing resources on what truly matters to the integrity of financial statements. This is an exceptionally positive step for both investors and for America's capital markets," said SEC Chairman Christopher Cox.

This new auditing standard no. 5 replaces the auditing standard no. 2 currently in place. It is half the length and generally regarded as easier to read.

Source: www.accountingaisle.com

Policies and Procedures Used as Management Key

Managers know the difficulty of getting people to do the right things the right way. And
employees need their expertise and understanding of the way things should be done. But how do
you get it across so it actually sticks? The answer is well-defined policies and procedures.

Quickly Convey What’s Right

Managers can convey the exact way things should be done with policies and procedures, and they can do it faster than ever with pre-written documents. This speeds an organization’s standard operating procedures project effectiveness to get results.

Create Strong Operating Procedures

Departmentally-focused manuals provide an excellent opportunity to create strong, consistent
Standard Operating Procedures across multiple functions. This includes added savings of time
and resources. Departments that benefit with improved results include:

• CEO Management - Build an effective management procedures system based on best practices
for the entire organization

• CFO Controller - Simplify the job as a CFO or Controller, and speed the development of
comprehensive Accounting and HR manuals

• ISO 9001 Quality Manager - Create ISO 9001 quality policies and procedures manual with
prewritten policies, procedures and forms

• Human Resources Manager - Create HR policies and procedures manual with prewritten
policies, procedures and forms

• Security Manager - Create complete facility security procedures and disaster recovery plans

Customize to any Business

When researching effective solutions, the content should be well-researched and follow industrystandard formats. Moreover, the applications such as MS Word-based standard operating procedures documents should be easy to edit and simple to customize for any business or organization.

Utilize Essential Procedures

Management should have a solution to implement their entire policy system with essential
procedures in one concise, consistent format. And they can do it effectively and efficiently
because pre-written documents:

• Saves research time
• Improves procedure writing
• Speeds policy development
• Eases document editing
• Enhances policy knowledge
• Simplifies implementation

The Right Documents

Business owners and executives should select a pre-written policies and procedures package
specifically created for a particular management scope. And choose the one that identifies their
role and needs.

Source: www.thecertifiedsolutions.com

Effective Account Receivable Practices

For any business owner or accounts receivable clerk, the knack for collections is almost as important to master as the ability to market your business. While we would all be on top of the game if our clients were to pay up front, that’s about as likely as Elvis singing Rap! In today’s economy, businesses extend credit without so much as a blink of an eye.

Keeping accurate records is essential in account receivables. Be certain that all information reflected in your bookkeeping records is backed up with a paper trail. It is imperative that there be a paper file for each of your accounts in the event your computer should fail. All communications (both verbal and written) should be reflected in your accounts files.

All contact information should be updated regularly. Each time you contact an account, verify the contact information is still accurate. If you are contacting a new account inquire if the person you are discussing payments with is the decision maker. Avoid dealing with the gate keeper, go straight to the source. If payments need to be approved with the CFO (predominately in larger businesses) then ask to speak with the CFO. Be sure to get the first and last name of the contact person along with their extension number to avoid the need to be transferred (or announced) the next time you call. It’s not unheard of that the person transferring your call will be instructed to “take a message”. Lastly, if you have always contacted Jack Frost in A/R and Jill Banks is now answering your call, inquire if Jack is still with the company.

In addition to compiling business information on each of your accounts, it is important to obtain as much personal information as well. If accounts become delinquent, a home phone number, cell number and home address may become useful. If a debtor is evading their financial obligations at work, an alternate form of contact will assist you in contacting them when they’ve let their guard down.

A home phone number may be screened for a number of reasons, however a cell phone is often answered promptly. Collection letters for a business that fails to respond to correspondences sent to the business may be sent to a home address. In the event it becomes necessary to pursue collections in court, a home address will assist a Process Server in having the debtor served.

Persistence is the key to successful collection efforts. Nobody wants constant reminders they’re behind in their financial obligations. Be consistent but polite, we’ve all had our share of ups and downs where our finances are concerned. Treat debtors with respect as opposed to second class citizens. The old adage holds true, “you get more with sugar than you do with vinegar”. If you prod and harass a debtor they may become spiteful and determined to make your life miserable. There are laws and regulations collectors must adhere to that are mandated by the FDCPA. While the FDCPA predominately pertains to third party collectors, and not to businesses collecting on their own accounts, you don’t want to risk your businesses reputation. The bottom line is you want your invoice on top of the priority list as opposed to being buried never to be seen again.

If you have a client that is experiencing cash flow issues it is in your best interest to work with them. Often times a debtor that doesn’t have the cash flow to pay the note when it becomes due will set it aside to pay later. Offer to arrange a payment schedule to assist them in bringing their account current. While we would all like to be paid in full every time, things happen and receiving consistent payments is better than not receiving any payments at all. Maintain records of when your accounts become due. Contact the account immediately once the account becomes delinquent. The longer you allow an account to get behind, the harder it will be for you to recover your money. http://www.southcoastrevenue.com/

Source : http://www.articlewise.com/

Corporate Credit Cards: Convenient Bookkeeping

The issuing of a corporate credit card is a great idea, not only from a convenience standpoint, but also from a bookkeeping standpoint. A corporate credit card given to an employee lets that employee use the card whenever it is necessary as a business expense. By issuing a corporate credit card, and having employees use it, allows the company to know how their money is being spent, it allows for extremely easy bookkeeping and you can also most of the time get a lower interest rate because of the corporate credit card status.

Choose Your Company

The first thing you have to figure out when it comes to corporate credit cards is what kind of interest rate you want to pay and that correlates to which company you go with. There are many credit card companies out there and they all offer different rates, different benefits and some are accepted where others aren't. This is all research that must be done before you decide on ordering your corporate credit cards for your employees.

Shop The Various Companies

Research the various credit card companies and find out what they are willing to offer. In fact, call up every corporate credit card candidate that you can find and ask them all the questions that you want answered. Make sure that the interest rate is as low as possible and make sure that it is fixed, or that it won't go up in a few months.

By using corporate credit cards, you can keep better tabs on how your company's money is being spent and it also ensures that there aren't any expenses being reported that aren't company related. Previously, people would turn in receipts for company expenses. Now, that practice is very outdated because the corporate credit cards are itemized on the bill so that you know exactly when and where the company's money was spent.

The Smart Move

With the ease of bookkeeping, and the convenience of being able to use them anywhere, anytime, corporate credit cards are the smart move. Plus, they make it harder to report expenses that aren't corporate related. This makes corporate credit cards the best choice for any corporation doing business today. Call today to shop the various interest rates, find who has the best benefits and make sure that you are getting the best deal possible, for you and your employees.


About the Author
Roland Parris Jefferson III is an online researcher based out of Los Angeles, California. Need more details and expert advice on Credit Cards? Then please visit our Corporate Credit Cards Resource.

Source : http://www.goarticles.com

Accounting help adds to your organizational growth

can make a difference in the ledger books of a business. It is therefore crucial to maintain accurate accounts of the daily transactions of a business to ensure maximum optimization of resources. An organization often employs well qualified accountants to maintain the daily transactions record. This results in the firm blocking a good amount of human and financial resources in accounting regular business transactions. In these circumstances it would make practical sense for the business to employ outsourced accounting help to maintain the regular accounts. This not only helps in better utilizing the available resources but also ensures accurate maintenance of accounts.

A firm offering accounting help to various organizations must employ professionally qualified accountants who can competently handle the latest accounting software to maintain the financial data of the client. The team of accountants must also be reliable enough to handle sensitive data of the client that includes critical information about the company finances. The accounting help professionals must also be efficient enough to provide a day to day account of the transactions of the organization so that an accurate record of the financial status can be given to the firm at a short notice. The financial analysis and consultancy provided to the client by the firm offering accounting help can prove to be of invaluable assistance while developing business strategies for growth and expansion.

The accounting help firms provide customized services to each and every client that they cater to. So the business house can rest assured that its accounts will be maintained using the same software and processes that the in-house finance division was using earlier. The easily available accounting records at the time of audits and taxation ensures the firm achieves a financial credibility in the market. Even when the firm wants to apply for a loan it is easily sanctioned as the accounting help vendor ensures that each and every transaction is accurately maintained throughout the financial year. Any scrutiny of the financial data can be carried out by the lending house at a short notice.

Day journals, trial balances, profit and loss statements, balance sheet and financial reports formulated on the basis of the accounts statements can seem a daunting task for a firm that has just started out. Even for these small organizations employing accounting help from outsourced vendors might be a good move. The accounting help firm can help any business manage its financial data in many ways starting from the very set – up, getting the processes in place and using the apt software that is compatible with the records that need to be maintained. Also outsourcing accounting help will enable a corporate to cut down on their expenditure as the firm would not need to pay employee salary including house and medical allowances and bonus, etc. to the accounting help vendor.

A work overload could result in some discrepancies in the daily accounts as a result of mistake or malice. A business cannot afford to have such mistakes, no matter how minute in their financial records. Hence, employing accounting help would take off the additional burden from the corporate to maintain accounts accurately. A business can therefore concentrate on other areas such as profit generation; growth and expansion when it has outsourced accounting help to give it the competitive edge.

Article Source: http://www.articlenetworks.com

Alvis Brazma gives advice to business owners about how to manage their business efficiently without any hassles. To know more about Accounting outsourcing services,Small business accounting,Real estate accounting,Ratail accounting,Accounting help visit this leading internet source: www.impacctusa.com

Bookkeeping Scares Me!

Does the thought of bookkeeping scare you? Do you dread sitting down at your computer and entering all your receipts, deposits, and making sure everything is documented right for taxes? Never fear, there is a new, more affordable solution to having your bookkeeping done. Two words-Virtual Assistant. The industry of virtual assistance is relatively new, though the concept has been around for some time. With the age of computers, it has made the opportunity for small business owners to outsource their bookkeeping (and administrative tasks-but that is another article) to a qualified individual. This saves time, headache, and the possibility of error. How does this work? Below are some of your questions answered by several experienced Virtual Assistants (VAs).

Is a Virtual Assistant the same as a CPA?

No. Usually a Virtual Assistant will work along side of your CPA. Depending on your Virtual Assistant and their experience, they will handle the daily accounting needs all the way to filing your taxes. Many Virtual Assistants will work with your CPA to be sure your books are in correct order. A Virtual Assistant who is just your bookkeeper will make sure the company is set up correctly (working with your CPA) and entries are posted correctly. A CPA will do the sales, unemployment taxes, and payroll IF the Virtual Assistant is not qualified. Cheryl Almstrom of Effective Office Services once calculated with one client she had cut his bookkeeping costs by 75% over his previous accountant. By finding the right Virtual Assistant, to meet your needs, there can be a tremendous amount of money saved.

Education

The Virtual Assistants who donated their time and information to this article had a vast amount of experience and training. Some had learned “on the job” bookkeeping, while others had courses and degrees. Some had been doing bookkeeping from a couple years to twenty years. All are dedicated to making sure your books are kept up to date.

Sharing Information with your Virtual Assistant

The wonderful thing about the technology today, is that you don’t ever have to leave your office to get your bookkeeping done. You can choose to enter your information into a spreadsheet set up by your Virtual Assistant (and then email a copy), fax over all the information needed, send everything postal mail, or have your Virtual Assistant pick up and drop off your reports. You can even have the Virtual Assistant work on your computer without having to be in your office with secure online software. Some clients give the Virtual Assistant access to their accounts online to check and balance. It is what you feel comfortable doing and what works best for you and your Virtual Assistant.

You can have your Virtual Assistant print out reports and fax or email them to you. You can keep a copy of the updated file on your desktop by having them send you the file. Depending on how you and your Virtual Assistant set up your relationship, there a multitude of ways to keep you up to date on your books.

Software

The wonderful news is that you, as the client, wouldn’t even need bookkeeping software. Many of the vas I spoke with use QuickBooks, Quicken, and Excel (to name a few). Virtual Assistants have the software on their own computer, and can do your bookkeeping using that software.

The beauty of having a Virtual Assistant is exactly what it says-they are virtual. You don’t have to hire an in-house bookkeeper and provide the space or equipment. Additionally, Virtual Assistants only charge for the time they work. There are no breaks or having to find work for them to fill their hours. A Virtual Assistant can take away the stress and time of doing the books, and allow you to focus on your business.

If you feel you would like to explore the possibility of having a Virtual Assistant work with you on your bookkeeping (or other administrative tasks), you will find a list of all the Virtual Assistants who contributed to this article at this link http://www.jerpat.org/moretime4u/articles/bookkeepers.htm.

An additional article with more information on bookkeeping can be found at http://www.jerpat.org/moretime4u/doyouresist.htm.

About The Author

Patty Benton is the owner of JERPAT Virtual Assistants and JERPAT Web Designs, www.moretime4u.org, which provides affordable administrative and web design support to coaches, small businesses, religious organizations, and realtors. Additionally, Patty is a coach for new entreprenauers interested in venturing into the virtual assistance industry. She has developed a program that is affordable for all. Visit her coaching site at www.jerpat.org/CHome.html for program details and great business resources.

Source : http://www.articlecity.com/

Small Business Bookkeeping: One Strategy That Needs to be Followed

It is a known fact that running a successful business requires a lot of planning and strategizing. Managing a successful business is not a child’s play and requires a lot of expertise in various fields related to the business. In addition, the fact remains that one has to strategize things first and then follow those plans and strategies regularly to make the business come out as a winner. Bookkeeping is one such strategy that is adopted by each and every business, whether large scale or a small scaled one. Bookkeeping is a process wherein all the business transactions of the firm are recorded in a systematic manner to make things easier and more regular in the firm. Small business bookkeeping includes the tracking of the total revenue, profit, loss and expenses incurred by the company, the dates of the transactions and various other minute financial details. Small business bookkeeping is in fact, one of the most vital aspects of a business and requires highly experienced people who can give the best to the business. In fact, small business bookkeeping has to be more accurately maintained because for a small business it is important to keep a track of even the smallest financial transaction to know the financial stand of the business.

Keeping a track of small business bookkeeping has many advantages. These advantages can be highly beneficial to a small business. As bookkeeping helps the business to know the accurate financial status, small business bookkeeping also helps these small businesses to know their accurate financial position, which further helps them to understand the position of their business and to understand the initial profit and loss that the business is incurring. Maintaining small business bookkeeping helps the small business owners make their business financially and legally precise and accurate.

A small business needs to strategize things even more because they have a huge scope of growth. Traditional small business bookkeeping that has the details like the daily transactions, turn over, loss, if any and other such details can help these small businesses get loans for their business easily. Generally, small businesses tend to apply for loans to expand the business and securing a loan is not an easy job. To secure a loan one has to be very specific with the details like the various financial transactions that the business had incurred for a certain period of time.

Keeping a track of the small business bookkeeping is also a great task like maintaining bookkeeping for any big business. Therefore, it is always advisable to get professionals who are thorough with their work even if the work is being done for small business book keeping. Hiring accounting professionals to do small business bookkeeping helps the business to understand their financial position and then helps the business to grow and they can keep a good track of the book keeping of the business.

Small business bookkeeping should be done on a regular basis because it helps to maintain the financial records of the business. Moreover, the transaction books should be updated daily and maintained on a regular basis and even the smallest of transactions should be included in the records.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/

About the Author:

Alvis Brazma gives advice to business owners about how to manage their business efficiently without any hassles. To know more about Accounting outsourcing,bookkeeping help,small business bookkeeping,retail accounting visit this leading internet source: www.impacctusa.com

Bookkeeping help: your trusted partner in lightening bookkeeping burden

There is no need to describe the importance of managing the financial aspect of every business as it gives any business the stride to climb the corporate ladder. On the contrary, it is also true that doing this work can be actually tiresome and time consuming as well. If you have got tired of managing financial and accounting records, bookkeeping help is the solution for all your accounting hassles. The bookkeeping help you get gives your business ample scope to grow faster as it saves your hard earned money and human resource. Bookkeeping help from hired bookkeeping service providers definitely come with a bunch of advantages for your business as it helps you in managing your financial and accounting records efficiently. It not only makes your accounting hassle free but also monitors all day-to-day, monthly and annual monetary transactions.

The moment you hire a bookkeeping help provider you are free from tensions of bookkeeping as they are better in taking care of your accounting records. They cannot even afford to miss a single entry as it can affect the growth of your organization. It is simply a sensible decision to hire bookkeeping help as after that you will be able to pay more attention to those issues that are ignored due to your busy schedule. Answerability of making accurate transactions will be on them so there are few chances of making mistakes so it is sure that statements that they make will be correct. Selecting a firm that provides bookkeeping help is as important a decision as maintaining financial records, as accounting data is one of the most confidential records.

The first thing that one should keep in mind while hiring a bookkeeping outsourcing service is the authenticity and accountability of that firm. Every company likes to hire a firm which has a good track record and professionals with genuine qualification. Firm which you are hiring must have professionals with genuine qualification. Hire a bookkeeping help only if you are satisfied with its authenticity any reliability once you are satisfied then only the task of handling sensitive financial data can be handed over to firm. Bookkeeping outsourcing is giving wonderful results and that is why it has been included in the key strategy of a company. Bookkeeping outsourcing can be your trusted partner in maintaining and expanding profits. Bookkeeping outsourcing has become a vital part of many businesses due to its accountability and efficiency.

You can maintain, update and change transactions and can also retrieve them as and whenever you need. Bookkeeping help covers a wide range of financial activities right from data entry, single entry commercial bookkeeping and tax filing. Financial records and statements portray the position of any business. A well-managed profit and loss statement helps you in deciding what is beneficial for the company and what is non-beneficial. Bookkeeping help is therefore, a big help for organizations, as they not help in making properly maintained and processed accounting data in a short notice but also helps in making businesses able to find new resources and scopes of growth.

Source : http://www.goarticles.com/

About the Author
Alvis Brazma gives advice to business owners about how to manage their business efficiently without any hassles. To know more about Accounting outsourcing services,Small business accounting,Real estate accounting,Bookkeeping help visit this leading internet source: http://www.impacctusa.com/

Bookkeeping For Realtors - Top Accounting Programs For Real Estate Agents

Accounting for realtors is an enormously overwhelming and and important phase of becoming a real estate agent or broker. If you want to take benefit of all the income tax laws, you are going to have to keep track of your all records and documents.

Real Estate Brokers want to be able to generate broad reports with instantaneous access to their bottom line. Keeping better records of your operating cost will yield more income tax deductions at the end of the latest tax year.

If you utilize an accountant / bookkeeper to maintain and track your business records, it could be very costly. If you are just opening your business, you may want to apply your income dollars toward advertising and promotion instead of accounting / bookkeeping bills. By not paying or employing an expensive and costly accountant / bookkepper to sort and seperate through a shoebox full of expense receipts. It all boils down to extra wealth in your pocketbook at the end of the tax year.

You will put aside more money by using accounting / bookkeeping software that is designed for the real estate sales professional.

Bookkeeping / Accounting software for REALTORS and real estate agents is available for those busy real estate sales professionals who cannot manage to pay for to spend valuable hours away from their clients and customers learning a intricate accounting program.

Bookkeeping / Accounting software for Realtors and real estate sale people, can be intuitive and requires practically no learning curve. Accounting software for real estate agents will permit you to record, sort out and organize all your income records and expenses.

Features found in Software for Realtors

• Income Reports – Track all your income sources.
• Expenses Reports – Track current expenses
• Flexible Set Up Options
• Comprehensive Reports

We recognize that for the real estate sales agent professional, time is cash. You can not manage to pay for and spend costly hours away from your customers and clients learning an overly complicated accounting and bookkeeping program, and can you cannot afford to provide your hard earned commission dollars to a costy bookkeeper accountant.

Bookkeeping / Accounting Software for Real Estate Brokers can be both simple and easy to use and includes all the accounting features needed by real estate agents running as an independent contractor agreement.

Top 3 Bookkeeping Software Programs

Bookkeeping / accounting for Realtors

Quicken

Quickbooks

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Richard Seng tells it like it is. Richard is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer with an informational website where you can find the top rated Business Software programs to protect your computer. In many cases you can find discounts that range from 10% to 25% Off at Business Software Reviews.

More to a Specialized Accounting Degree Than Mere Bookkeeping

Bookkeeping is a term that is thrown about carelessly in business circles, though the primary responsibility of a bookkeeper is balance the company ledger. In the modern business world, doing so can require a lot more than simply deciding between single entry and double entry accounting methods. For example, tax liabilities for even the smallest of retail and wholesale companies can be substantially reduced or offset to provide maximum cash flow depending on how inventory is recorded and managed.

Some educational institutions have, in recent years, recognized the need for more finite and niche oriented accounting programs at the bachelor level. Where once accounting majors had to enroll in a postgraduate degree program in order to specialize, many are now able to do so in the first for years of postsecondary education. The positives of this shift lie in the ability to prepare for industry specific accounting jobs, while the consequent negatives are in reduced employment opportunities across the broad spectrum of business. Still, it is the graduates from these types of degree programs that are highly sought by businesses in many different industries, and for good reason.

Bookkeeping is an essential function of any business’ accounting department, which is why bookkeepers will always be in demand. No matter what type of business one is involved in, there are protocol commonalities that are shared with every other company in existence, from the smallest family owned local company to the largest corporations in the world. For those businesses who require specialized accounting knowledge to maintain their daily operations at maximum efficiency and limit their tax liability in the process, accounting degree holders with an understanding of the processes unique to the industry in question are required as well.

Regulation of industries in terms of accounting methods isn’t universal across the board. What is considered best practices in the manufacturing industry may be unsuitable for service based companies. When it comes to an accounting education, students who take the time to consider the possibilities of specializing are more likely to be rewarded, provided they can find employment in their area of interest. For students who choose a generalized account degree, there is always the option of specializing through a master’s level program or postgraduate certification.

For more information about online and campus based degree programs and educational resources, visit 866MyMajor.com. For more on online bookkeeping courses,, visit our bookkeeping diploma section. For more information on online accounting courses and programs, visit our accounting degree section.

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_149290_36.html

Telecommuting Idea – Bookkeeping

If you have experience in accounting or have worked as a bookkeeper before, bookkeeping can be a great way to work from home. Small businesses are continuously looking for ways to outsource some of their workload and most of them do not need a full-time in-house bookkeeper. You can approach several businesses in your area and offer to keep their books.

Of course there are some tools you need. You should have some of the basic accounting software like quicken and quick books. If the company you work for uses a different piece of software, they may purchase a copy for you to use at home, or make one of their current licenses available to you. In the beginning I suggest you focus on companies that use software you are already familiar with since you will be working from home and don’t have the opportunity to ask a colleague across your desk for help.

You will also need basic tools such as a 10 key calculator and some sort of spreadsheet software such as excel and of course a reliable computer to run the software on.

Handing over the book keeping or accounting is a big step for any business owner. Trusting a stranger with important company data and relying on them to return the books with accurate numbers and calculations isn’t something they will do lightly. You will have to earn any prospective employer’s trust first. Start by creating a professional resume that showcases your experiences and skills. Include several references directly related to previous accounting positions you have had.

On that note- it is sometimes easier to turn and existing or previous job into a telecommuting position, since the employer already knows you and your skills. Sit down and draw up a simple little proposal showing the employer what he would save in having you move your office to your house, as well as how you could overcome any possible obstacles, such as needing to get the current accounting date (daily / weekly), how your employer can get in touch with you on a daily basis etc.

If you are approaching a new business owner, offer to work in house for a few weeks to train and get acquainted with everyone in the office.

Once you start working for two or three small business in the area (and of course are doing an excellent job), it will become easier to gain additional clients / employers. As long as you are not maxed out and are turning in assignments in time, your current employers will recommend you to other business owners in the area. You can also use current employers as references when approaching other small business owners.

If you enjoy crunching numbers, and are good at it, give telecommuting bookkeeping a try.

About the Author:

Nell Taliercio is the owner and founder of http://www.TelecommutingMoms.com – which is a leading resource website with work at home jobs and everything a telecommuting mom would need. Come visit us today!

Article Source: www.iSnare.com