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• # 72257
• Thu 16 Jun 2011 12:21 PM

Dear all, I have to share these thoughts with you. Feel free to comment!

I have worked on computerised accounts in employment for just over 11 years now. I have worked on a number of different packages, from the one-man-band Sage Instant right up through to the big corporate Oracle and AS400.

I have also had the advantage of learning and absorbing the background of manual bookkeeping, which as we all know, gives you a definite advantage in computerised accounting.

I have a client who INSISTS on me doing his bookkeeping manually. Literally. I have a big old cash book, pen, pencil, ruler, rubber and a pot of tippex. There is a computer, but it is used to type letters, receive emails, internet for HMRC submissions, and not much else! It is single entry cash accounting.

When I first started working for this client it seemed a real draw, very tiresome for it not to be automated. I was frustrated by the system's limitations. Year end was a nightmare - going through the book, ensuring that the previous bookkeeper had been consistent in her postings, using tippex where she hadn't, making sure the columns added up (oh the joy of pressing the wrong button on the calculator)...you get the picture.

However, now I have settled in to the job I think I actually prefer manual bookkeeping! No system crashes, no waiting for the programme to load up, no back-ups. And my personal favourite - having real "hands-on" contact with the accounting.

It's raw, it's pure, and it is proper bookkeeping in is very truest sense. 

Helen x 

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• # 72258
• Thu 16 Jun 2011 12:40 PM

Hi Helen

quite agree - around twenty years ago I worked for a large hotel group.  Their main computer system went down (one of the big discs cracked and there was problems with the other one) we had to go manual for 10 days and had lost over 15 days records. 

We were working in shifts (including night shift) to try and get the records sorted.  I loved it, seeing how the figures actually fitted in to everthing, and so started my love affair with the good old receipt type calculator and manual bookkeeping.

A few years ago I was lucky to be asked to be Treausurer of a community group whereby the ledger was used, thank goodness I had it, I had put everything on to excel but thinking that I wouldn't stay that long volunteering to do it and others who took over may not be computer literate, I kept the ledger up to date.  And needless to say, my computer died on me.

I do like using sage, but recognise that it's uses are better suited to a larger accounts dept scenario.  Ive come across VT+ which I must admit is near as damn it to a manual system and intend using that in the future.

Great topic btw

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• # 72262
• Thu 16 Jun 2011 01:57 PM

Thanks for the assurance Liz that it's not me going mad!!

I do sometimes feel a bit like Bob Scratchet, beavering away with my pencil and paper (we've taken up step up from quill and ink, and have lightbulbs instead of candles), but the satisfaction when all the figures pull in together is quite enjoyable.

The Accountant who originally asked me to work with the client desperately wants him on Sage, if only for year end purposes but the client is adamant that he keeps the book.

For the current financial year, I shall be running both the cash book and an almost identical Excel spreadsheet, set up to look like his beloved cashbook but using automated totals, and filtering into VAT returns and bank reconcilations.

I think perhaps next year I'll try and convince him to just have the Excel spreadsheet, but secretly i think i'll miss the physical act of writing (writing is such a rare treat these days).

Thanks for the support!
Helen x

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• # 72276
• Thu 16 Jun 2011 06:44 PM

I'm glad I'm not the only one who prefers the hand on approach to bookkeeping.  Although I went and bought various accounting softaware packages they just sits of the computer unused.

Most of the accounts I do are on Excel.  It means that I actually understand how the finances of each company works, and can easily explain anything a client asks.  It also makes it easy to change how things are listed, and find any piece of information as and when it is needed.

I prefer to actually see how the accounts work.  I have a client who uses accounting software, it means that my work is basically just data entry, and so is very boring.  I much prefer the work that I do on Excel - somehow it feels more real.  

 Lucy

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• # 72380
• Tue 21 Jun 2011 06:55 AM

I agree with most of the opinions expressed here with regards 'proper' bookkeeping with pencil and hefty old ledger - with one exception - the time factor.

Seems to me all these modern conveniences are tools or our trade, fancy calculators,computer programs doing the donkey work for us and it makes total sense to use them.  The time taken to balance the ledger manually .... phew, adding up all the accounts ...... give me the computer any day.

HOWEVER - no amount of automation makes up for knowledge and understanding of what you're doing and I still see employers telling staff they don't need to have 'bookkeeping knowledge' because the program does it all for them ....

• Fay
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