Software is crucial to the essential role that bookkeepers play in supporting their clients and running their own businesses. The digital tools available to bookkeepers can streamline processes, improve productivity and increase capacity. Bookkeepers have always been at the forefront of exploring new technology. And at ICB, we aim to support our members' exploration of the best tools available.
As part of our commitment to supporting students and members, ICB runs an accreditation scheme offering a trusted benchmark for accounting software, add-ons and other relevant products. The full accreditation procedure ensures the product is up to standard, robust and useful to ICB members who are working both in practice and employment.
After appropriate due diligence has been carried out by ICB, each product is rigorously evaluated by an ICB member. A comprehensive report is produced against a set of evaluation criteria including technical aspects, value for money and customer service.
A full report is available to download for each product using the relevant links below
GoProposal by Sage is a software solution specifically designed to help accountants and bookkeepers streamline their pricing and quotation processes. It allows firms to create professional, tailored proposals and letters of engagement quickly and efficiently.
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Zoho Books is designed as a full accounting suite, offering inventory, sales and purchase orders, prepayments and payment portals as part of the core offering. It is fully MTD for VAT-compliant and allows businesses of all sizes to find a solution right for them.
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Buddy Payroll Software is a cloud-based solution that offers the flexibility to manage your payroll from anywhere, at any time. This adaptability makes it a highly convenient and accessible solution for businesses of all sizes.
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IRIS Elements is a platform of end-to-end, fully integrated and cloud-based, applications for
accountants and bookkeepers. MTD-ready and HMRC-recognised, IRIS Elements Tax is a
solution designed with both small and medium businesses in mind, simplifying and automating
processes for companies, partnerships and individuals.
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Fergus is a job management software that gives tradies everything they need to manage their jobs, communicate with teams, track progress, and run their business efficiently. It's run via a visual status board, which means everyone can clearly see where each job is at and what needs to be done. And it includes the ability to quote for work and store customer information.
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TaxCalc provides a comprehensive suite of tools tailored to meet the needs of individual and corporate taxpayers. TaxCalc manages the most basic of tax returns to more complex returns involving multiple income streams, investments, CGT, foreign income etc.
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Xenon Connect is a powerful toolkit for Xero and QBO users which identifies bookkeeping errors and helps you fix them.
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XBert is an AI driven practice management software that also checks and alerts you to the quality of your clients data all in one place.
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Mettle was launched in 2018 and is part of the NatWest Group. Mettle provides a free business bank account. The application for the Mettle bank account takes very little time, and once set up, the business finances can be easily managed, including customisable invoices created and sent, and photographing and uploading receipts.
MyT is designed to help businesses, bookkeepers and accountants easily manage accounting, tax, and bookkeeping work.
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Bookkeepers can use Pulse as a financial tool to provide a comprehensive understanding of their clients’ finances, seamlessly providing their clients with monthly management account reports and thanks to this, can enhance the service provided to limited company clients.
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Futrli is “real-time cash flow forecasting and reporting” software. They have been going since 2014 and were acquired by Sage in 2022. Their mission is to “empower every business with the tools they need to take control of their financial future and make the best decisions possible.”
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Apron is a payment platform not just a piece of software. Flip payments from a barrier to a booster. Sort, pay and reconcile your invoices in seconds.
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Armalytix is a revolutionary system for securely sharing financial information. It makes retrieving financial information for our clients simple, secure quick and efficient. Complicated forms and processes are a thing of the past.
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ApprovalMax is the #1 tool to get your bills and expenses approved and paid on time. It integrates seamlessly with Xero and Quickbooks Online and replaces the need for paper and email approvals. Bookkeepers use ApprovalMax to save time, manual labour, and to enhance data quality.
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NextMinute is an easy to use application that extends a trade business’s operations, automating and streamlining key processes.
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Capsule is an online CRM designed for small businesses. Today, Capsule is used by thousands of businesses of all sizes all over the world.
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Fathom combines insightful reporting, fast cash flow forecasting and actionable financial insights into one refreshingly easy business management solution.
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Xero's cloud-based accounting software connects people with the right numbers anytime, anywhere, on any device. For accountants and bookkeepers, Xero helps build a trusted relationship with small business clients through online collaboration.
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FreeAgent founders, Ed, Olly and Roan had all been working as freelance designers or developers, and were getting tired of the mess and stress of bookkeeping. They put their heads together and decided that there must be a better way to deal with their mounting piles of invoices, spreadsheets and receipts. And so, FreeAgent was born.
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Sage is the market leader for integrated accounting, payroll, and payment systems, supporting the ambition of the world’s entrepreneurs.
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Get ahead of the deadlines. QuickBooks' simple, smart accounting software has got Self Assessment for sole traders and MTD covered. From invoicing to expenses to taxes (VAT & payroll) – discover QuickBooks today.
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Automate your admin with award-winning, time-saving practice management software.
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BrightPay is a payroll software that makes managing payroll quick and easy. BrightPay is fully HMRC recognised, supports all RTI submission types and includes full auto-enrolment functionality.
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AutoEntry captures invoice, receipt and bank statement data automatically and publishes it to your accounting software.
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