Thursday, June 26, 2008

The Necessity of Implementing Accounting KPI

It is inevitable for all businesses to have a systemized way of keeping track of your financial records, or bookkeeping, so to speak. Bookkeeping is something that businesses should never be without because this is an organized method of keeping track of finances, to determine whether the business is indeed earning. For decades now, companies have used accounting sheets for efficient bookkeeping. However, the advent of technology has paved the way for accounting to become techie, so to speak, as well. Still, no matter how techie a company’s accounting system may be, it would still be important to keep track of this very system’s progress, to check if it is indeed aligned with corporate goals and objectives. One way to do this is to employ accounting KPI or accounting key performance indicators. This way, there would be smaller room for marginal errors here.

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Tuesday, June 3, 2008

2008 Review of Small Business Accounting Systems

Helping SMBs Achieve Success: Programs Enhance Accountant Controls & Data Integrity Features
Accountants who provide services to small businesses frequently find themselves in the role of diagnostician, trying to find out why a particular client is hemorrhaging cash and what the short- and long-term chances of survival are for the company. They also assist in determining what strategies will best brace the entity and help develop financial processes that are sound and grounded in solid accounting practices. This is a critical role because when challenges are recognized early enough, problems can be averted or minimized.But still, a 2007 study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics cites that more than half of small businesses (56 percent) fail before lasting four years. Among the most failure-likely industries are hospitality (particularly restaurants and bars), transportation and apparel. While these sectors may stand out as the most vulnerable, all small businesses are at risk since they face a myriad of challenges such as cash flow, budgeting and strategic planning. And they frequently rely upon individuals with limited financial and business management experience.