Intuit — QuickBooks Premier Accountant Edition 2005

From
the September 2006 Review of Client Write-Up Systems

QuickBooks Premier Accountant Edition (QBAE) is one of two write-up packages
offered by Intuit (the other is EasyAcct, the former TaascFORCE product). Clearly,
Intuit has made its product strategy clear — to position itself as a major
player in the accountant’s write-up marketplace.Most will agree that QuickBooks
(QB) is the most popular accounting product in today’s marketplace. QBAE
takes clear advantage of the supported, native connectivity with various client
versions of QB.

QBAE is a full-featured write-up program designed and offered in support of
professionals who wish to serve their clients efficiently. It includes traditional
write-up features like chart of accounts, general ledger, journals, financial
statements and accountant’s reports, in addition to advanced financial
reporting tools, an interactive trial balance, a built-in depreciation module,
and superior connectivity to other versions of QB. QBAE costs $399.95. QBAE’s
interactive trial balance allows the user to drill down — all the way
down — to source details. Users can also enter workpaper references, a
feature normally found in high-end, more specialized trial balance applications.
This is nice

Practitioners can access their clients’ files from anywhere using the
Remote Access feature. QBAE’s Financial Statement Designer supports easy
and fast modification of custom financial statements. Users can quickly create
professional financial statements, complete with compilation reports and supporting
schedules/documents. With QBAE, accountants can manage all of their clients’
QB files including Basic, Pro and other industry-specific editions. Plus, it
works with all prior-year versions of QB. (The company noted that accountants
can open and read all versions of QB, including prior versions, but if they
make changes to a prior year version and send it back to the client, the client
will not be able to accept the changes. For example, if an accountant using
QBAE 2006 receives a QB 2004 file from a client, the accountant can open and
read the file, but when the accountant opens the QB 2004 file, it’s automatically
converted to 2006.)

The 2006 release of QBAE includes major changes to the graphical user interface,
including the addition of the new Home Page, Customer Center, Vendor Center
and Payroll Center. The Home Page provides a clickable, graphical/visual “flow-chart
design” overview of key program tasks, all on one screen. The user is
transported to a program screen when he clicks on a task. Similar technology
is programmed and employed on (each of) the “Centers” — Customer
Center, Vendor Center and Payroll Center. The 2006 QBAE release supports an
improved user learning experience while simplifying overall program execution.

LEARNING CURVE & EASE OF USE: 4.5 Stars
Supplied wizards and an EasyStep Interview routine supports the QBAE users in
initial setup of a company’s charts of accounts. QBAE utilizes an interface
called the Customer Navigator, which utilizes traditional pull-down and icon
menu bars. Intuitive in its design, QBAE users will experience a fast learning
experience that supports the ability to quickly utilize the provided write-up
tools. Step-by-step Help and guidance is available throughout the program.

REPORTING & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: 4.5 Stars
QBAE includes customizable pre-designed reports plus the ability to create a
variety of financial statements and other reports using the included Financial
Statement Designer. Through the Reports Navigator, QBAE users have access to
summary and detail income statements and balance sheets; Y-T-D and previous
year comparisons; and other statements that can focus on specific transactions,
accounts, activities, customers and vendors. Reports can be exported to Excel
or word processing documents.

INTEGRATION, IMPORT/EXPORT & PRODUCTION PROCESSING: 4 Stars
QBAE’s integration with other QB programs is very powerful, offering built-in
solutions and flexibility in meeting individual client needs. Import is available
from tab- or comma-delimited text files and from QB. Export is available to
Lacerte, ProSeries and to spreadsheets. Connectivity with Quicken is not supported.
Production processing is advanced, allowing the user to batch process multiple
jobs.

SCALABILITY & PORTABILITY: 4.5 Stars
Built using the Microsoft .NET framework, QBAE is highly portable. This is demonstrated
by the related online version of QB. QBAE is compatible up and down related
product lines, clearly demonstrating advanced scalability.

SUPPORT, TRAINING & HELP SYSTEM: 4 Stars
QBAE provides separate Accountant Help, an Online tutorial, a CD-based Tutorial,
context-sensitive QB Help, Startup Checklists, and additional online support
assistance, including a knowledgebase with FAQs, links to various QB support
locations, and a variety of live support plans. Additionally, web-based; CD-based;
and live, in-person instructor-led seminars are available.

2006 Overall Rating: 4.5 Stars

Technology