2018 Review of Serenic Navigator Nonprofit Accounting

From the 2018 reviews of nonprofit accounting systems.

Serenic Navigator from Serenic Software is a robust financial software application designed for mid-sized to large nonprofit organizations, NGO’s, and government entities. Serenic Navigator features a core financial application along with numerous add-on applications that expand the functionality of the product immensely. Serenic offers three deployment options; On-premise, Hosted via a subscription, or through Microsoft Cloud Services.    

Serenic Navigator offers a completely customizable chart of accounts, utilizing up to 110 alphanumeric characters and up to 10 segments or dimensions. In addition to the chart of accounts dimensions, users can create an unlimited number of dimensions to create sub-ledger reports.

Serenic Navigator easily handles multiple types of transactions including estimates, subawards, intercompany transactions, expense and reimbursement entries, regular and recurring journal entries, automated bill payment, and budget entries, as well as standard AR and AP entries.  

Serenic BudgetVision offers extensive budgeting options including the ability to create multiple versions of a single budget, multi-year budgets, as well as stand-alone budgets for projects and grants. Users can also view an original budget as well as any subsequent changes made. The product offers a spread method which allows users to easily distribute a specified amount across multiple budget periods. The Subplan option offers a decentralized budgeting process, allowing department managers to create a budget for their area or fund, which can later be rolled into one comprehensive budget. The product also offers a built in “what-if” scenario, which provides access to budget implications prior to posting transactions.    

For organizations managing grants, Serenic Awardvision offers complete grant management capability, including the ability to manage multiple versions of a proposal and the ability to create multiple budgets around the final award received, as well as the ability to track and manage all restricted funding and subsequent program activity related to the grant.

Serenic Navigator also offers an Advanced Allocations module that features a flexible allocation table that allows allocation distribution to any account, fund, or department. Users can enter line allocations based on percentages, fixed amounts, or a combination of the two items. Both direct and indirect allocations can be processed, and the batch allocation option allows users to enter allocations for defined groups. The product also includes automatic fund balancing, so all funds are in balance at all times.

Serenic Navigator uses Role Centers, with each user having access only to features they need. Roles are fully customizable, with administrators able to define each role based on individual user needs.

Serenic Navigator offers excellent reporting options, including nonprofit specific reports such as Statement of Cash Flows, Statement of Activities, and Statement of Financial Position. FASB 117 and 990 reporting is available in the application as well. All reports contain drill-down capability, and users can also run custom reports by dimension. Charts and graphs can easily be created utilizing report data, and the availability of Jet Reports adds increased reporting options, with Jet Essentials offering advanced reporting and Jet Enterprise offering business intelligence and reporting capabilities. Ad-hoc reporting is also available in Serenic Navigator as well. All reports can be exported to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, saved as an HTML file or as a PDF. Users also have the option to email reports directly to recipients when created.

The Serenic Navigator Suite offers Core Financials, including GL, AP, AR, and Cash Management. Also available is AwardVision; a grant management solution, BudgetVision, Analytics, which offers financial, management, and statistical dashboards, PayrollVision, and Field Connect, which provides remote users with the ability to enter transactions and run reports with an internet connection. The product also offers both multi-currency and multi-language capability throughout. All Serenic Navigator modules are designed to integrate seamlessly, and as an embedded Microsoft Dynamics NAV solution, seamless integration with Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, as well as Microsoft 365 and One Note is available as well.

Serenic Navigator offers a variety of help and support resources for product users. Users can access Serenic support options as well as the latest product releases and downloads through Serenic Source, the customer support portal, which is password protected. The Resources section offers users quick access to case studies, videos, whitepapers, and fact sheets. A user forum is also available and Serenic Ed offers a variety of training options for both beginning and experienced system users.

Serenic Navigator is best suited for mid-sized to large nonprofit organizations that require extensive budgeting, reporting, and grant management capability. Users can contact Serenic Navigator directly for a custom quote, with pricing based on deployment option and number of system users.

2018 Rating – 4.75 Stars