Cloud Accounting Software | Your Frequently Asked Questions

As a business owner, have you ever held a meeting in your office, where you’ve had to apologies for the knee-high stack of documents on your table from your accountant?

Have you ever thought…

“Is all this paperwork necessary for my accounts? Isn’t there an easier way to manage the endless stream of receipts and invoices to comply with accounting standards?”

Continue reading to find out how Cloud Accounting can transform the way your company operates. I’ll also dive into your most frequently asked questions, and the best software currently available for making tax digital (MTD).

Cloud Accounting Benefits?

Cloud Accounting
Benefits to Cloud-Bases Accounting Software

Cloud accounting software allows you to digitalise your business by making all of your accounting activity available at the touch of a button.

It also allows you to project your current financial position, make payments, and future proof your success – by giving you the ability to scenario plan if anything were to change.

Furthermore, and potentially the main benefit to cloud accounting, is the way it allows you to operate from almost anywhere in the world.

This is, however, as long as you have a working computer and a stable internet connection.

All of this, in turn, allows for any business owner to access their current information day or night – which has transformed the way thousands of businesses operate.

Features and benefits when using Cloud Accounting:

  • Access anywhere in the world with an internet connection
  • Get real-time information
  • Make bulk payments
  • Schedule supplier payments, invoices and wages
  • Forcast your future finances
  • Scenario plan for possible changes in your market or business

Cloud Accounting Downsides?

Downsides to Cloud-Bases Accounting Software

Although your accounts can be managed from the anywhere in the world. Cloud Accounting software may not be fully utilised to its full potential.

This may be due to a lack of understanding of how the software operates. Or of an incorrect initial set-up of your cloud-based software, or even in the way that not all accounting software is created equal.

Therefore, here at Northern Accountants, we’ve specialised in software that’s tried and tested to work time-and-time again, giving you full control from start to finish – such as Xero.

By doing this, it has allowed the people we work with to concentrate on what they do best, which is to manage how their business operates, instead of chasing paperwork.

Long story short, the digital revolution is greatly impacting the tools at disposal for modern accountants. This includes giving the availability to access the overall financial health for your business – not just money-in vs money-out.

This means the traditional stereotype of an accountant sat in a dark corner of a room buried in receipts and invoices has almost become extinct.

How Does Cloud-Based Accounting Work?

Cloud accounting software is managed and stored through external servers or “The Cloud”. The software is used in a very similar way as you would use your emails. You can access it easily through a secure login on the web or via an application.

Cloud data is kept in real-time, ensuring that information remains constantly up-to-date.

As the software can be securely accessibly from anywhere in the world, this allows for the flexibility for multiple users. Such as you, the business owner, and the accountant to both access the same data at the same time.

An external server securely stores all data, so business owners can avoid replacing their mountain of paperwork with a room full of computer equipment.

As a result of this software, costs usually run on a subscription basis. Allowing business owners to keep the money where it belongs.

So, What’s the Best Cloud Accounting Software?
Cloud Accounting

As we are constantly moving towards a more digitalised world, it can become overwhelming the amount of choice we have as consumers of products and services.

Clouding Accounting software is no different.

The currently available software gives you full control over your accounts from anywhere in the world.

Five minutes with Ricky

First job, worst job, dream job?
First official job - working in Hull’s fruit market (Humber Street) in the morning and then selling the goods in the shop during the day (Superveg)
Worst job - I have not had a bad job, really, but working in Kwik Save stacking shelves in the PET aisle was grim - as I don’t like PETS
Dream job - Professional golfer, but only in the sunshine

What do you hate about your job?
Taking calls on the budget each year before the speech has even finished

How would you explain your job to a 10-year-old?
I help people in business sort their money out so they have enough to spend on their 10 year olds!

What do you order at the bar?
Anything alcoholic - normally a pint of premium lager or red wine - none of the weak stuff

Which person would you most like to meet and why?
Either Tiger Woods or Sir Alex Ferguson - two sporting legends

Dogs or cats?
Neither - I don’t like PETS - see worst job above (although I have started like some breed of dogs)

Coffee or tea?
Coffee in the mornings but I like both

What music do you like – artists or genre?
All genre’s but indie music is my go-to.
Artists - Oasis, Phonics, Gerry Cinnaman etc., and Rod Stewart and Freddie M

Favourite film or boxset?
A Few Good Men - FILM
Suits - Boxset

Who's your team? What's your sport?
To support - Man Utd - Football
Play - Golf

What’s a surprising skill or hobby you have that people wouldn’t expect?
Skill - I can make a bra from napkins or a large tea-towel

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?
Don’t eat yellow snow

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?
Do you, it’s fine - not what others want you to do or be

If you had to describe yourself in five words, what would they be?
Happy
Joker
Stubborn
Sarcastic
Annoying/nightmare (on social nights out - apparently)

Five minutes with Mark

First job, worst job, dream job?
First Job - Working as a pot wash in a pub
Worst Job - Never had a bad one
Dream Job -

What do you hate about your job?
The amount of time spent on hold with HMRC and how they often make changes without consulting on the actual impact on taxpayers

How would you explain your job to a 10-year-old?
I help people achieve their dreams

What do you order at the bar?
Pint of Guinness

Which person most like to meet and why?
Tiger Woods - great stories but to understand what it takes to be that much better than everyone else for such a sustained period of time

Dogs or cats?
Grew up with cats but would rather have a dog!

Coffee or tea?
Black Coffee

What music do you like – artists or genre?
Everything and Anything, from Taylor Swift to Foo Fighters to NWA and everything in between

Favourite film or boxset?
Fight Club

Who's your team? What's your sport?
Always been football and Newcastle United

What’s a surprising skill or hobby you have that people wouldn’t expect?
Really got into building Lego recently - running out of space to store/display it!

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?
Authenticity sells - be yourself.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?
Nothing ever matters as much as you convince yourself it does.

If you had to describe yourself in five words, what would they be?
Supportive, Sarcastic, Driven, Problem-Solver and Insane

Five minutes with Colin

First job, worst job, dream job?
Holiday work in my dad’s accountants - haven't escaped from the industry since
Still in the accountancy but had a horrible boss.
Ski/Snowboard instructor

What do you hate about your job?
Chasing clients for information which is needed to get the right solutions for them.

How would you explain your job to an 10-year-old?
Helping owners of businesses earn more money so they can spend it on the things they want to spend them on.

What do you order at the bar?
Beer (mostly a Guinness), Rum and Coke (got to be Kraken) or a cheeky Tequila if that's where the night's heading

Which person most like to meet and why?
Michael Jordan - Find out what its like/take to be the GOAT of a sport.

Dogs or cats?
Have both but got to say definitely Dogs

Coffee or tea?
Coffee in the morning & tea in the afternoon

What music do you like – artists or genre?
Listen to pretty much everything - one minute Luke Combs, next Elton John, then some Five
Favourite song - Dancing in the Moonlight - Toploader

Favourite film or boxset?
Wolf of Wall Street - nuts its based on a true story

Who's your team? What's your sport?
Sports to watch rugby (favourite team - Glasgow) or F1 (favourite team - McLaren)
Sport to play golf

What’s a surprising skill or hobby you have that people wouldn’t expect?
Can still pull of an impressive handstand and/or cartwheel.

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?
Don't accept criticism from someone you wouldn't take advice from.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?
Don't be afraid to speak out more and be confident in yourself.

If you had to describe yourself in five words, what would they be?
Calm
Thoughtful
Inquisitive
Consistent
Light-hearted