CCH Tax & Accounting — ProSystem fx CPAClient Write-Up

From
the September 2006 Review of Client Write-Up Systems

Last year, we reported to you on CCH’s ProSystem fx Write-Up,
a brand-new write-up application that had just been brought to market. However,
late in 2005, CCH announced the acquisition of Sage Practice Solutions, which
had only just been renamed. This added the former Sage CPAClient Write-up product
to the ProSystem fx line of software. The staff of CPAClient Write-up
was retained, and CPAClient Write-up will be supported and regulatory updates
will be released through 2007. A seamless conversion from CPAClient Write-up
to ProSystem fx Write-up (including all the great features of CPAClient
Write-up) will be available mid-year 2007. CPAClient Write-Up consists of General
Ledger, After-the-Fact Payroll, Financial Reporting, Trial Balance and Bank
Reconciliation. CPAClient Write-Up is intuitive, fast and full-featured. ProSystem
fx CPAClient Write-Up starts at $1,850.

As usual, I put CPAClient Write-Up’s support team to the test. My request
for a product walkthrough was met with open arms. This “class” was
conducted in a web-enabled, state-of-the-art online classroom. The support staff
provided knowledgeable and program-enabled “I can” responses.

LEARNING CURVE & EASE OF USE: 4.5 Stars
CPAClient Write-Up features comprehensive, flexible and fast client setup. Conversion
of data files from many products is available. Data entry is logical, intuitive,
smart and “heads down.” The learning curve is fast, and the user
interface is quickly learned and easy on the eyes. This builds user confidence,
allowing users to quickly get things going.

REPORTING & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: 4 Stars
The financial report writer is flexible and definitely places the user in control.
An adequate supply of “canned” financial templates is included with
the system. Custom financial reports are created utilizing a “row-and-column”
methodology that supports a fast learning experience. Custom statements may
be shared between clients. CPAClient Write-Up supports financial statement consolidation,
as well as departmental and budgetary reporting. User drill-down support is
enabled all the way to source entry. Way cool!

INTEGRATION, IMPORT/EXPORT & PRODUCTION PROCESSING: 4.5 Stars
CPAClient Write-up integrates with CPAPayroll, CPAAccounts Payable, CPADepreciation,
CPAAccounts Receivable and CPADocument Manager. It can import data from CPAClient
Checkbook, Peachtree, QuickBooks (allowing the accountant to make correcting
journal entries and export them back to the client), Quicken, Sage MAS90, FAS,
ATB and an ASCII file specification import. The program exports tax data to
ProSystem fx Tax programs (including automatic support for ProSystem
fx Tax line assignments), Lacerte and ProSeries. CPAClient Write-Up
offers no support for batch printing of multiple clients.

SCALABILITY & PORTABILITY: 4.5 Stars
CPAClient Write-Up was designed to take advantage of advanced features of the
Microsoft Windows operating system. Network support requires the Windows 2000
(or higher) operating system. One workstation must be running Microsoft Access
2000 in support of the client database.

SUPPORT, TRAINING & HELP SYSTEM: 4.5 Stars
CPAClient Write-Up offers comprehensive context-sensitive Help, and product
demos are available online or via CD. One full year of support is included in
the price of the software. Support is included in a yearly maintenance fee following
the initial purchase, which includes all program updates. Hands-on training
is offered in physical or virtual (web) classrooms, and via traditional toll-free
telephone support.

2006 Overall Rating: 4.5 Stars