Accounting Analysis
We perform overviews and analyses of your current accounting and bookkeeping system.
Quite often clients need assistance to ensure proper compliance of audit and security
controls, as well as proper handling of all accounting and bookkeeping transactions.
One of our services is to review an existing accounting system in order to upgrade
or switch entirely to a new system. Based on our analysis, we will advise you on
the strengths and weaknesses of your current system (accounting and accounting department
processes) and assist you in determining the most cost effective course of action.
Below is a list of common types of analysis we engage in on a daily basis:
- Accounting / bookkeeping staff review, training, & oversight
- Bookkeeping processes
- Company growth analysis and software options
- Internal controls (Accounting / financial controls)
- Chart of Accounts setup & maintenance
- Month End and Year End processes
- Security
- Paperwork / filing structure set up
- Payroll set up and processing guidance
- Fixed Asset system and asset identification processes
- Client / customer Invoicing (Billing) process
- Collections process
- Job costing set up
- Reimbursable expense set up and monitoring
- Vendor terms set up and maintenance
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Accounting / bookkeeping staff review, training, & oversight
DMC will train new staff as well as existing staff on software or accounting related
tasks. We also provide monthly, quarterly, and yearly oversight of accounting and
bookkeeping staff (controller services). Outsourcing this role to us gives clients
the satisfaction of knowing their accounting data is accurate and up to date without
having to incur additional employee-related expenses.
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Bookkeeping processes
Bookkeeping tasks vary among different industries. For example, customer invoicing
(billing) for architects and engineers is not the same as customer invoicing (sales
receipts) for retail. Understanding the tasks involved in setting up the bookkeeping
process is critical for a company’s success.
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Company growth analysis and software options
Smart companies looking to expand their interests will consider their Accounting
/ Project Management software needs. Two key factors for determining the correct
software are revenue targets and employee count. Some software, such as
QuickBooks, may not handle revenues much higher than 2 million per year. In general,
over time the amount of list space (such as items, jobs, customers, and vendors)
and day-to-day transactions grows too large. Also, smaller software packages may
not handle concurrent users above 20 or so.
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Internal controls (Accounting / financial controls)
Larger accounting departments often have a distinct separation of duties among its
staff. One person may process vendor and payroll checks, while another does the
bank reconciliation. Smaller accounting departments may not have the staff to separate
those duties. At a minimum, a company’s bank reconciliation (and bank statements)
should be reviewed by an owner of the company on a regular basis, and checks should
be locked up. The object of internal controls is to catch inadvertent as well as
accounting errors and malfeasance.
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Chart of Accounts set up & maintenance
DMC helps clients with their chart of accounts usually for three main reasons:
- new company;
- existing company riddled with errors;
- company about to upgrade or convert their software.
We will help you spot inconsistencies or make changes by merging, deleting, or rearranging
accounts in their proper order or grouping.
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Month End and Year End processes
Many companies don’t do monthly or yearly closing procedures. These companies could
end up in some sort of scramble or emergency. Proper accounting requires yearly,
if not monthly, accounting closing processes to ensure accurate financial statements.
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Security
Program and function access depends on the number of users, roles, and software
being used. Deltek Vision, for example, is much more complex in the use of roles
and access rights than QuickBooks. Larger accounting departments usually split duties
(roles) and are more conscientious about limiting program access. On the other hand,
smaller accounting departments may have overlapping roles but, as with larger departments,
must also limit the rest of the employees to timesheet entry only.
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Paperwork / filing structure set up
In addition to being required by federal taxing agencies, proper filing, data retention
and storage is part of proper accounting controls. This filing system is commonly
referred to as an audit trail. Aside from a successful audit, companies benefit
from proper organization by generating fewer mistakes and providing customers and
vendors with detailed and accurate records of sales and purchases.
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Payroll set up and processing guidance
Running in-house payroll can be a challenge. DMC frequently assists clients in troubleshooting,
monitoring, and setting up in-house payroll on a number of accounting packages.
Often we are asked to locate and fix discrepancies in the set up and processing
of the payroll system and/or tax filings. Also, we can review (reconcile, too) your
current payroll entries made each pay period using outside payroll service reports.
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Fixed Asset system and asset identification processes
Most accounting packages do not deal directly with fixed asset tracking. We are
often asked to install Sage FAS (fixed asset tracking software) and train clients
to properly list and report on all fixed asset purchases and disposals.
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Client / customer Invoicing (Billing) process
Although we work with many industries, our primary focus is to train architects
and engineers in the proper way to bill (and record revenue) for their industry.
We configure your billing templates (invoice formats) in addition to reviewing current
billing methods and make necessary changes on your behalf.
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Collections process
DMC assists clients with their collection processes. If your accounts receivables
are high and you need to assess your situation, we can help.
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Job costing set up
We are often called upon to set up or troubleshoot job costing issues for our clients.
Not all software performs job-costing accurately. We will determine your needs and
match them to the proper software.
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Reimbursable expense set up and monitoring
As a part of job costing, reimbursable expense set up is crucial in order to recoup
(invoice) costs associated with projects or jobs. Whether on QuickBooks or Deltek
Vision, we can analyze your current setup and implement changes to your accounting
processes if necessary.
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Vendor terms set up and maintenance
Proper vendor maintenance is vital for cash flow and 1099 processing, among other
reasons. Monitoring vendor terms is important when planning monthly expense payments
(and revenue in-flows for pay-when-paid consultants). Also, it is important to note
which vendor is a consultant (1099) and how much that vendor has been paid throughout
the year in order to properly file 1099 and 1096 forms for the government.