Five Of The Best Tools To Help You Learn Accounting

Whether becoming an accountant is your dream job, you want to learn accountancy for your business or you are keen to develop your career; finding the best tools to help you learn accounting is the first step. 

Accounting is key to ensuring that businesses can stay on top of their finances with balance sheets, expense tracking and forecasting. Therefore it comes as no surprise that accounting is a future-proof career, with employers around the globe looking for employees who have an up to date understanding of modern accounting techniques.  But what digital tools are the best to help you develop your career and learn about modern accounting in real-time?

If you are new to accounting and using digital accounting systems, you probably want a basic overview of what it involves first. 

The best way to start is to explore online Accounting courses which are designed to teach the basics of managing accounts, financial data entry, invoice creation, cash flow management and creating financial reports. Gaining a Certificate in Accounting can be an excellent first step in your career in accounting.

You can choose from a range of courses from introductory courses to advanced courses, as well as those which go into digital skills such as using excel and paypal. There are also a variety of specialist courses which cover topics such as Bookkeeping and Payroll, so you can hone in on an area of accounting that you need to.

FreeAgent is a cloud-based accounting software which is focussed on helping small businesses to manage their taxes.

This small business accounting software is a great way to explore digital accounting features easily, as it allows you to manage your taxes, VAT and accounts all in one cloud-based space. If you want to learn accounting in practice, then their mobile app is a great user-friendly way to learn the ropes and practice digital cloud-based accounting yourself.

As any business owner will know, having good bookkeeping skills is an essential element to becoming a successful business owner. By learning about bookkeeping through online courses and practicing your skills through FreeAgent, you can manage your business successfully all from one easy place. You can also learn other skills within these courses such as project management which is vital to business ownership.

Crunch is a fantastic software for accountancy and tax management, offering free accounting software for starters and pro software for the more advanced accounting needs. 

Their software is ideal for sole traders and small companies, and offers a succinct way to keep your financial statements, workflow, sales tax and other business finances in order. They also offer additional bookkeeping, payroll and mortgage services, as well as a knowledge-base for advice and tips on account management. 

Crunch is a great way to manage your accounting no matter what level of skill you are at or the area of accounting you are interested in. Whether you want to begin a finance career, are a small business owner or dream of starting a career in payroll, the functionality of Crunch makes it super easy for you to find the accounting services you need.

Xero is dedicated to making small business accounting easy, offering everything all in one place. Xero is often noted as one of the best accounting software‘s available due to its diverse and straightforward services and ease of use. 

From your computer, mobile, tablet or any other device, you can access their easy-to-use software and manage your small business accounts in an instant. Xero is such a popular accounting tool that jobs such as Certified Xero Advisor exist, which are individuals who are on the Xero directory to assist clients in their finance management. 

If you want to know more about making the most of this platform, there are courses available for an in-depth understanding and a basic overview of using Xero, as well as Xero Certified Courses which are highly regarded qualifications in the industry.

• For beginners a Diploma in Xero, or a Certificate in Xero can be the best place to start. Courses like these can be completed in less than 40 hours, and can give learners an overview of the Xero
• An Advanced Certificate in Xero is a great option for those who want to take their learning to the next level. Courses like these can give learners a more in-depth overview of the software and how to apply it in a professional setting
• For those using Xero in a bookkeeping capacity, a Certificate in Accounts Administration & Payroll can give them the skills they need to use the software for accounts
• Lastly, if you’re running your own business through this software, Start Your Own Business With Xero can be an excellent course to help you achieve that goal

Their software helps you calculate VAT and run VAT returns, pay employees, send invoices, pay bills and claim expenses. If you are an accountant, then consider getting Xero certified as this can help you stay up-to-date with accounting procedures and is proof to employers that you are dedicated to the profession. Find out more about why every accountant should be Xero certified, and learn more about the perfect platform to manage all the ins and outs of a small business.

Sage is one of the best known accounting softwares around the world. Created back in 1981, it has been the main software that many accountancy firms and bookkeepers have used, so if you are in accountancy you likely know of it. 

However, since its origin it has gone through huge developments, now offering a huge range of digital services for businesses and accountants. Through Sage, you can practice expense management, inventory management, making online payments and taking charge of all of your business finances.

If you are an accountant wanting to update your knowledge, or you want to get into accounting, studying a Sage course would be recommended. Knowledge of this software will open many doors in the accounting world and is essential for any aspiring accountant.  Through their software, small and medium businesses as well as accountants can manage everything including payroll software, cloud accounting, HR services and international trade services.

Quickbooks is another accounting software which has been on the market for decades, and now offers innovative accounting software for small and medium businesses. Sole traders, freelancers, landlords and limited companies can manage their expenses, payroll and taxes quickly and easily. 

Quickbooks online accounting software allows you to connect your bank accounts and get a clear view of all of your business transactions. This is ideal for self employed freelancers, or those with a small amount of team members in their company as Quickbooks supports syncing accounts and easily payable invoicing.

By using these digital accounting software integrations to manage your taxes, business accounts and accounting projects, you can learn how to streamline your work into an easy and manageable cloud-computing platform. 

Through the short courses available, you can enjoy a simple start with straightforward introductions to account management software and develop your career or manage your business in an easy and straightforward way. To find out more about how to kick-start your career as an accountant, visit our How to Become an Accountant guide.