Based on the popular Iris Exchequer software, Accounts Office is aimed at the smaller business (between five and 50 employees) and, like its main rival, Sage Line 50, can be deployed in-house or by accountancy firms on their clients’ behalf.

Although it can be run on a single PC if required, Accounts Office is a true multi-company, multi-user solution, so you’ll need a Windows server or dedicated PC to host the central shared database.

However, SQL Server 2005 Express is included as part of the package and can be installed along with everything else when the setup program is first run.

The same PC can then be used to host the Windows-based client software, or it can be run remotely. Either way it’s very quick and easy to install, the only slight bugbear being a lack of support for Windows Vista.

We found the user interface straightforward, with a mix of customisable dropdown menus, quick-access buttons and keyboard shortcuts providing access to the familiar purchase, sales and nominal ledgers. A set of 13 templates makes it easy to configure, enabling it to handle a range of different company types, including service-oriented businesses.

Support and updates are included in all the prices quoted, and there’s an optional stock management module (£180 ex Vat per year), a multi-currency module (again, £180 ex Vat per year) and support for additional companies and users beyond the single-user licence included in the base package. Payroll isn’t an option, but Iris Payroll Professional (£700 ex Vat per year) can be integrated with Accounts Office, if required.

It didn’t take us long to get to grips with the way Accounts Office works, with plenty of wizards on hand to help with day-to-day transactions. Open period daybooks are used, making it easy to amend and reverse transactions, even after posting. Historical data is also maintained throughout, and there are lots of reporting facilities, including a custom report writer and the ability to generate HTML reports for intranet and email distribution.

Support for preprinted stationery comes as standard, and you can design and print your own, and automatically generate PDF documents for email distribution. Bank reconciliation procedures are pretty straightforward and it’s possible to import statements from most online services.

As with any accounts package, you’ll need to set aside a fair amount of time to enter all your company, customer, Vat and product data into Accounts Office. It’s not a huge task, but the package is aimed at professional bookkeepers so an understanding of accountancy terms and procedures is assumed ñ something newcomers could find offputting. For the smaller company with little or no in-house expertise, Iris Bookkeeping (£160 ex Vat) is a probably a better choice.

On the positive side, a comprehensive user manual is included and you can sign up for both online and traditional training courses. Another key feature is the ability for customers to synchronise data with their accountant. That makes it possible for professional advisers to help set up the package and remotely monitor day-to-day use. Data can be audited and adjustments made without having to shut down or post backups.
An online implementation is another option, while compatibility with the larger Exchequer solution should make for a simple transition, should you ever outgrow what Accounts Office has to offer.