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Don't look any further than Sage Accounting
Updated January 23, 2024

Don't look any further than Sage Accounting

Anonymous | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Software Version

Sage Accounting

Overall Satisfaction with Sage Accounting

Sage Accounting cloud software managed the company's financial books and records. The software suited very well a small business whom needed to keep accurate records of its finances to maintain compliance with the Companies Act. It also served to maintain accurate records to support asset, liability, equity, income and expense record which supported the company's financial performance. The software had facility for multiple users with different levels of access, and also provided useful reports and dashboards which could be scrutinised by management.
  • Customer and supplier ledger data review is easily done in comparison in particular to Xero. Ledger types are separated rather than combined as 'contacts'.
  • The format of the data presented is clear, both on screen and reporting in multiple formats
  • MTD facility to operate VAT reporting in line with HMRC requirements
  • Bank reconciliation is easily performed, using the 'bank feed' function
  • Automated processes are brilliant, such as uploading purchase invoices or expenses
  • Menu structure is straightforward, and easy for users to navigate
  • Adding notes to customer and supplier ledgers with regards communications
  • Making it easier to change from one VAT scheme to another, when company's grow and need to move away from cash accounting
  • Users creating their own reports
Sage Accounting is well suited to small business who do not have high volumes of data, and chart of accounts are fairly simplistic in their structure. Different versions of Sage Accounting products should be considered when these criteria become relevant. Sage Accounting is also well suited for businesses who operate solely in the cloud.

Overall Satisfaction Continued

  • Positive impact on understanding of company financial position
  • Positive impact on record keeping and compliance
  • Positive impact on communications with external finance provider
  • Positive impact on development of user experience
  • Positive impact of tracking trade debtor balances
Sage 50 is more flexible than Sage Accounting, but both serve the needs of the user very well. Sage 50 allows for more detailed analysis of ledgers and reporting functionality. Whereas Sage Accounting is probably more suited to small business on balance, it just depends on which sector you are working in and what your needs as users are.

Do you think Sage Accounting delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Sage Accounting's feature set?

Yes

Did Sage Accounting live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Sage Accounting go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Sage Accounting again?

Yes

Sage Accounting Feature Ratings

8.2
Accounts payable
9
Accounts receivable
9
Cash management
9
Bank reconciliation
10
Expense management
9
Fixed asset management
6
Multi-currency support
4
Multi-division support
4
Regulations compliance
9
Electronic tax filing
10
Self-service portal
10
Global Financial Support
10
Journals and Reconciliations
10
Enterprise Accounting
8
Standardized Processes
6
2.0
Inventory tracking
2
2.2
Pricing
Not Rated
Order entry
Not Rated
Credit card processing
3
Cost of goods sold
1
Order Orchestration
1
End-to-end order visibility
3
Order exception Resolution
3
Payroll Management ()
Not Rated
4.7
Dashboards
3
Standard reports
8
Custom reports
3
3.0
API for custom integration
3
Plug-ins
3
8.5
Role-based user permissions
8
Single sign-on capability
9

Using Sage Accounting

2 - Functionality in the team spans both financial and management accounting knowledge and experience, and also data processing and reconciliation support. Both roles work in lock-step complimenting each other. The accountant cannot perform his/her role without a supporting role to complete analysis and reconciliation of data and supply of information.
1 - I am a conscientious worker who has a sound knowledge of accounting principles and expectations on software functionality. I have used Sage products for over 20 years, and qualified with the ACCA. My experience is in industry and have had experience being audited by various external bodies, both private sector and government. This experience lays the foundations for the skillset needed to oversee Sage Accounting.
  • Legal compliance
  • Financial record keeping
  • Data integrity
  • Internal audit
  • External compliance checks
  • Data analysis for legal claim
  • Performance review of individuals
  • A learning tool for new starters
  • This depends on how the product is developed
Sage Accounting is a sound product suited to small business. It provides all the functionality required to blend with a small finance team, tasked with maintaining financial records for their employer. Sage's support functionality is equally important when selecting a software provided, as everyone requires support at some point. Well done Sage for providing such a great array of accounting products.

Evaluating Sage Accounting and Competitors

  • Cloud Solutions
  • Ease of Use
Having a cloud-based solution is a must today, providing flexibility for use fitting in with lifestyles and working patterns. Ease of use was also equally important, implementing software which did not overly complicate data and information for a small business. This was also important from a training and development perspective, allowing business owners and other users to understand basic functionality.
It's difficult to say how I would change the E&S process, as I always veer towards Sage products due to the value I have placed on them over the years of my career. Sage Accounting suits small business, but for a larger business I would certainly look at Sage's other accounting products, rather than Sage Accounting.

Sage Accounting Implementation

The clients' business owner worked with Sage on implementation before I began working for them. After consultation with them it is clear the process was quickly performed and without complication. The key takeaway was that Sage is seen as a partner to the business. That said, it was always necessary to engage with an accountant such as myself to extract the best out of the software.
  • Implemented in-house
  • There were no significant issues during implementation

Sage Accounting Training

  • No Training
Yes, most of the functionality is easy to learn on the job without any formal training. The greatest learning curve is to know how to extract the best out of the software and understand the numbers the software produces from a financial and management accounting perspective, as well as compliance.

Configuring Sage Accounting

I think the product configurability is about right for the customer it will attract. I would say Sage Accounting is the most suited to small business. That said, Sage do enhance certain functionalities if required by popularity or level of risk to the data itself. Sage have other products to offer for larger-scale business.
Don't hesitate to make amendments to the Chart of Accounts to suit the specific business in question. Engage with an accountant to help make these decisions, which also serves to help them. Try to keep coding as simple as possible, and where necessary add more detailed structures to suit reporting and analysis needs.
No - we have not done any customization to the interface
No - the product does not support adding custom code
Not applicable.

Sage Accounting Support

I've always had great service from Sage. Support in particular for accounting products has always been responsive and knowledgeable. It is also very important to speak to someone who can put themselves in your shoes if you have a difficulty, which Sage consistently delivers on every time I need them. Support also comes in different form, such as Q&A platforms and online guidance for user experiences. Top marks to Sage for all its support!
ProsCons
Quick Resolution
Good followup
Knowledgeable team
Problems get solved
No escalation required
Immediate help available
Support understands my problem
Support cares about my success
None
Premium support provides the assurance you need when in crisis mode operating a finance team. There's nothing worse than instructing your team to log out for an indefinite period, due to, for example, data corruption problems.
Yes - Yes, I had a bug with double entry bookkeeping being incomplete in the audit trail. This was resolved swiftly.
I find the notes Sage provide online to assist with understanding exceptional. When I first used Sage Accounting my client was operating the cash accounting scheme for VAT. Initially I did not understand the mechanics of Sage's operation when dealing with transactions. But in this circumstance, which was a problematic area for this client, I found Sage's notes to be clear and concise advising me in the right direction.

Using Sage Accounting

I have always been an advocate for Sage products and will continue to be, even with the competition in the market. Sage Accounting's presentation of data is very important to me as a user and an accountant. I would love to see Sage release a replacement to Sage Winforecast, which forecast and consolidated forecasts for multiple departments/cost or profit centres/legal entities.
ProsCons
Like to use
Relatively simple
Easy to use
Technical support not required
Well integrated
Consistent
Quick to learn
Convenient
None
  • Data input
  • Bank reconciliation
  • Chart of Accounts maintenance
  • Financial reporting
  • Setting up customers and suppliers
  • Changing VAT scheme
  • Tracing ledger payments to invoices
Yes, but I don't use it

Sage Accounting Reliability

I do not consider Sage Accounting to be Sage's best product for scaling up business as its functionality for doing so is limited. Sage 50 Accounts or Sage Intaact are far more suited for this. I would evaluate very carefully the possible need in the future for scalability in the first instance before selecting software.
Sage Accounting availability is generally very good. They post messages which appear on users screen time to time, highlighting where functionality in a particular area is undergoing maintenance. More often than not, maintenance is completed in a timescale quicker than initially estimated by Sage. Where significant maintenance is required, Sage usually perform it overnight.
Pages always load quickly, but of course can be hampered by individuals own broadband speed. I haven't had much experience of integration with other software, so cannot comment constructively.

Integrating Sage Accounting

None
I cannot comment owing to not having experience of integration.

Relationship with Sage

They were very friendly and answered all the questions at the time the business owner in question had. The sales process as slick and once the right product was established there were no difficulties in ascertaining the purchase was right for the business. Where subsequent questions arose, the business owner raised them and they were answered swiftly.
Post sale the vender was easy to work with. There were friendly interactions and the sense that Sage were a partner for the client and were there to support where needed. In the most part the business owner client was looking for assurance the purchase was the right product for them.
Not known to me.
Not sure
Not applicable

Upgrading Sage Accounting