Why get QuickBooks Accountant instead of QuickBooks Pro?

Why get QuickBooks Accountant instead of QuickBooks Pro?

Do you wonder if you should get QuickBooks Accountant instead of QuickBooks Pro?  After all, QuickBooks Pro is cheaper.   Is QuickBooks Accountant really better than QuickBooks Pro?  Would QuickBooks Pro be sufficient?   If you are an accountant, bookkeeper, tax professional or QuickBooks consultant, then you really should get QuickBooks Accountant.  QuickBooks Accountant has the following unique features and functionality to help accounting professionals be more efficient and productive. 

  1. New in 2011 — Multi-Instance — Work in two different QuickBooks files at the same time.
  2. New in 2011 — File Manager — Open and manage QuickBooks files quickly and easily.  Also, batch upgrade files and store passwords in the password vault.
  3. Client Data Review — Here’s a blog post with details about Client Data Review.  Client Data Review allows you to find and fix problems in QuickBooks files quickly and efficiently with these tools:
    • Troubleshoot Prior Account Balances
    • Reclassify Transactions (and assign a class)QuickBooks Accountant and ISW
    • Review List Changes – Chart of Accounts, Items, Fixed Asset Items and Payroll Items
    • Fix Unapplied Customer Payments and Credits
    • Clear Up Undeposited Funds account
    • Write off Invoices
    • Fix Unapplied Vendor Payments and Credits
    • Fix Incorrectly Recorded Sales Tax
    • Compare Balance Sheet and Inventory Valuation
    • Troubleshoot Inventory
    • Find Incorrectly Paid Payroll Liabilities
  4. Accountant’s Copy — Work with an Accountant’s Copy from your client and export changes for them to import into their file.  This allows the client to keep working in their QuickBooks file.  There is one year of backwards compatibility with an Accountant’s Copy.
  5. Toggle — Toggle into QuickBooks Pro, Contractor, Non-Profit, Retail, Manufacturing & Wholesale, Professional Services and Premier as needed).
  6. Intuit Statement Writer — Create financial statements and reports with a live link to the QuickBooks data file.  Customize a template once and reuse it in the future or with other QuickBooks files.  Intuit Statement Writer is sold separately and requires Microsoft Word and Excel. Here’s a blog post with details about Intuit Statement Writer 2011 along with a link to a free webinar to learn how to use it.
  7. Working Trial Balance — Tied to the QuickBooks data so changes or adjustments are updated automatically. Great at year end and includes a field to enter workpaper references.
  8. Fixed Asset Manager — Maintain details for fixed assets, calculate deprecation and post the entries to QuickBooks.
  9. Adjusting Journal Entries / Reversing Journal Entries (plus totals on the journal entry window) — Using Adjusting journal entries show in the adjustments column of the working trial balance and differentiates your entries from other general journal entries.  Plus, click reverse to enter a reversing journal entry.
  10. Sample Data Files for Industries — Jo Ellen Peters of Top Notch Bookkeeping states  “What I really like are all the different sample files that are available….the Accountant Edition has several: product, service based, non-profit, contractor, manufacturing, wholesale/distributing, consulting, engineering or architecture, graphic design or advertising, law firm and retail.”   QuickBooks Pro includes the sample product and service based business files only.

You may want to consider joining the ProAdvisor Program which includes QuickBooks Accountant plus many other benefits.  Here’s a post about why I recommend joining the ProAdvisor Program.

Also, Intuit Academy offers free webinars (which include free CPE and PDFs that are a great reference to have available).  Some of the courses include:

  • Learn What’s New in 2011 from QuickBooks (including a section with more details on QuickBooks Accountant Edition features mentioned above)
  • Save More Time with Client Data Review 2011
  • Intuit Statement Writer  2011:  Your Financial Statement Solution
  • Common Mistakes Clients Make and How to Fix Them
  • Maximize Your Reach as a ProAdvisor
  • plus many more!

16 thoughts on “Why get QuickBooks Accountant instead of QuickBooks Pro?

  1. Carol Irving

    We are making this decision now in 2017. We currently have Quickbooks Accountant and wonder if we could get along with Pro. Can you point me to a Table that shows the difference in the 2017 versions?

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  3. Sue

    I use QuickBooks Pro 2015. I’m helping a friend with their company’s accounting. I had them send me an accountant’s copy, so that I could make changes and they could import those changes back to their file. I can’t figure out how to convert the .QBX file to a .QBA file, so that I can review it and make changes. Is it even possible to do this in QuickBooks Pro 2015? Do I have to have an “Accountant” version of QuickBooks to do this?

  4. LC

    I am helping a business owner to record account payables and account receivables in QuickBooks. The owner has been using an accountant for sometime, if I update everything in QuickBooks Pro, will be necessary to continue using the accountant services.

    Thank you,

    1. Michelle Long Post author

      I think you should maintain a relationship with an accountant but they may not be needed for the normal monthly transactions. You can use them on an as needed basis throughout the year and at year end.

  5. Frank Samuel

    Hello Michelle,
    With the 2014 Accontants version, can a batch enter Sales Receipts?

    Thanks

    Frank Samuel
    512-569-3538

  6. annes4him

    Is there any way i can
    1. search/find transaction by tran# instead of supplier/customer etc? Sometimes i need to print only 1 particular transaction. When i open the transaction list, and click on the transaction and from there i need to click on journal 🙁 so many steps and my alignment is all out and have to realign again
    The problem is when im printing a payment voucher journal i need to change the header from transaction journal to “xxx”
    everytime i have to do it manually. shouldnt it be an easy way to work around the journal 🙁
    2. is there a report that shows the deleted transaction? its not void but totally removed from the entry. I realised when i deleted the transaction, the tran# also missing. To have a complete picture of the whole transaction keyed mayit be deleted/void/etc at least i can have the overview picture of all transaction rather than missing tran# which cannot be found anywhere!
    3. Sad to see that the QB doesnt have account code which most accounting software does.

    1. Michelle Long Post author

      1. There are several ways to find a transaction by # — F3 to search or Control+F for Find and click on Advanced to search by Transaction #.
      2. Reports > Accountant & Taxes > Voided & Deleted Transactions.
      3. QB can use account numbers, you just need to turn them on: Edit > Preferences > Accounting > Company Preferences > Use Account numbers.

  7. annes4him

    Im using quickbook accountant, but i cant doe cashflow forecast by month/year.
    Im stuck with 6 weeks period.

    Please help

    1. Michelle Long Post author

      You can create a monthly or annual cash flow statement using Statement Writer. If you want more cash flow forecasting capabilities, you need a 3rd party program or app.

  8. Dy Wakefield

    Would it be easy to transfer your information from Quickbook Pro to Quickbook Accountant? I believe I got the Quickbook Pro because it came with the Payroll.

    1. Michelle Long Post author

      Pro, Premier and Accountant Editions all have the same data base just different features and functionality. So, yes, you can open your Pro file in QuickBooks Accountant of the same year or newer than your QB Pro.

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