Best Accounting Software Solutions for Accountants in 2025

Is selecting the right accounting software confusing, especially when you have multiple great choices? Welcome to the dilemma faced by many accountants in the UK. Forget about doing away with payroll software; it has become necessary, and without it, no accounting task can be completed quickly and accurately. With so many choices, it is natural to get confused as to which one is the best, and that’s where many selection mistakes occur.

Getting the wrong accounting software will only multiply your problems and reduce your efficiency, thus creating problems for your clients. To fix this problem faced by countless accounting practices in the UK, we have elaborated on the pros and cons of accounting software and things to consider while choosing one.

Accounting Software for Accountants: A Must-Have Tool for Financial Efficiency

The UK accounting field has become complex, and client expectations have also risen, thus increasing the pressure on accountants. They will require tools for streamlining workflows, minimising errors, and increasing productivity. Accounting software is an asset that helps handle high volumes of financial tasks with accuracy and efficiency.

Accounting software is not a luxury but an absolute necessity for accountants; why?

• Streamlines bookkeeping and tax compliance
• Offers real-time financial insights
• Reduces error and increases accuracy
• Enhances collaboration and accessibility
• Time and cost savings
• Scalability
• Security of financial data
• Integrates well with other tools

Pros & Cons of Using Accounting Software

Pros of using accounting software

• Accurate Financial Processing

Accounting software will maintain complete accuracy and avoid the mistakes that occur during manual processing.

• Digital Record Keeping

All your client’s financial transactions will be automatically recorded in digital format. These records can be used to reference or prepare critical financial reports.

• Reports and Analysis

Accounting software will enable you to prepare insightful and eye-catching data visualisation in the reports.

• Flawless Integration

The best accounting software flawlessly integrates with international banking systems, allowing transactions to be processed easily.

• Boost Efficiency and Productivity

Automation allows accountants to focus on other commitments requiring more expertise and workforce.

Cons of Accounting Software

• High Cost

Buying the best software will be more expensive than doing it manually.

• Difficulties in Operating

Transitioning from manual operations to automated software can be difficult if you have not prepared adequately.

• Threats of Cyber Theft

Your client’s sensitive information will be stored in external servers, thus exposing it to threats of data thefts and breaches.

• Unsatisfactory Customer Service

When a malfunction happens, assistance might not be available to solve your issues in a timely manner.

You can counter all the above cons by choosing the right software after considering your requirements accurately. You can also use the outsourced accounting services offered by service providers.

Best Accounting Software UK: Top Picks for Businesses and Accountants

Sage

Being a cloud-based accounting software makes Sage unique making it popular among small businesses, freelancers, and sole traders managing their own finances. Since it is a cloud-based software, installing Sage on your system is not required. A few of the Sage features are:

• Creating invoices and sending them to customers along with tracking payments
• Managing and tracking inventory
• Getting real-time financial reports
• Automated bank reconciliation
• Data entry
• Sending estimates and quotes
• Submitting online tax returns

FreeAgent

FreeAgent is a cloud-based software that is best recommended for businesses that manage their finances independently. Accountants and bookkeepers widely use it. It has been awarded the Excellence Accounting Award for Small Business Software. The best features of FreeAgent Software are:

• Helps in monitoring cash flows, recording expenses, and sending invoices.
• Filing of SA Tax returns, VAT returns

Xero

Xero also offers cloud-based accounting software, which helps with management. It provides the leverage of choosing cash or accrual-based accounting.  

• Bookkeeping
• Invoicing
• Payroll
• Automating bank feed
• Recording expense claims
• Bank reconciliation

Xero also provides standard business and management reporting and helps users make end-of-year tax returns.

QuickBooks

QuickBooks is also a cloud-based accounting software and is specifically packaged for small businesses, and it has access to over currencies. It is also available in different languages and has over 200 banking and app integrations. QuickBooks helps with managing financial transactions such as:

• Invoicing customers
• Paying bills
• Generating reports

Some other features offered by QuickBooks are:

• Tracking income, expenses, GST, and VAT
• Bank transaction integration.
• Managing payments and budgets
• Capturing receipts and tracking projects
• Multi-currency support
• Automating accounting tasks such as bookkeeping, invoicing, time tracking, expense tracking, and inventory tracking

IRIS

IRIS is a global software group offering software and services for accounting firms, including practice management, document management, HR, and payroll management. This software is specially designed to help the accounting firms wherein the

• Practice management: They can manage clients, teams, engagements and reporting
• Document management: They can work, store and share documents with clients and teams.
• HR and payroll management help reduce administration work, simplify reporting, ensure compliance and guarantee accurate employee payments.

In addition, IRIS offers AI-based accounts payable automation software, which captures invoice information and integrates with other popular accounting systems.

Digita

Digita provides the software and services in the form of Digita Professional Suite. This suite has an integrated tax and accounting solution that helps in automating simple compliance tasks. Some of the products provided by Digita are:

• Digita Company Secretarial software that allows UK accountants to detect potential fraud and generate annual returns.
• Digita Accounts Productions helps with the two-way data sync with Xero software, saving time and boosting efficiency with the integrated financial reporting and bookkeeping workflow.
• Hosted virtual office for accountants helps you and your staff with the freedom to access the software from any location.

CCH

Commerce Clearing House (CCH) provides the accounting, audit and tax software. The variety of the products provided by CCH includes:

• CCH Accounts Production, through which you can automate the entire accounts process right from data entry to online filing. This software integrates with CCH central, QBO, Xero, CSV, FreeAgent, Sage, Sage Cloud, Exact, CCH OneClick, and Twinfield.
• CCH Audit Automation software covers the entire audit process from engagement to sing-off. It displays the summaries of all the tests, checklist questions, and the list of documents to review.
• CCH ProSystem fx Suite is their award-winning software, which includes tax, accounting, audit, and workflow tools.
• CCH also provides payroll resources, which helps in managing payroll details and complies with the laws.

Taxcalc

TaxCalc software application is designed to simplify the calculation and tax filing process of individuals and businesses. This software is completely user-friendly with comprehensive features and is easily adaptable to different tax systems, particularly in the UK.

BrightPay

BrightPay is cloud-based payroll software that helps accountants, bookkeepers, and payroll bureaus in managing their clients. This software helps automate various tasks and reduce processing time.  Some of the features of the BrightPay software are:

• Accounting integration
• Batch payroll processing
• Online client portal
• Migration Assistance.

Cashflow

Cashflow management software will help you monitor and forecast cashflow. Some of the cash flow accounting software are:

• ABM Cashflow that helps in managing purchase orders, cash receipts, calendar creation, and cash flow analysis.
• Cashflow Manager that helps with unlimited income and expenses, quotes and invoices, customer management, and bank account reconciliation
• ABSA Cashflow Manager is a free accounting system that helps with generating quotes and invoices, managing contacts and payroll, recording income and expenses, adding new users, and unlimited data storage.
• Cashflow is a cloud accounting software that helps streamline invoicing and expense tracking.
• CashFlowTool that helps with cash flow management and forecasting services for businesses and accountants.
• Fathom is a cash flow forecasting software that uses trends from the latest financials and includes rolling live forecasts that update as often as the financials.
• Xero Cash Flow Forecast Software is one of the popular software that helps with real-time visibility of cash status and flow.

What to Consider When Choosing Accounting Software?

It is important to avoid making rash decisions and select the best accounting software by considering certain points. These points are as follows:

See Whether It Can Meet Your Requirements

First and foremost, see whether the accounting software can perform general accounting functions such as recording orders, transactions and generating reports. Always select software that is suited for your client’s industry and can fulfil your requirements.

Data Security

Check the accounting software’s data security protocols before selecting; after all, you will be giving access to your client’s sensitive information. Nowadays, software has backups to save sensitive data and reduce physical hazards. Also, certain professional software has started investing in multiple authorisations for data access to prevent data leakage.

Bank Compatibility

You must choose software that integrates well with your bank or your clients. Otherwise, you will have to change the bank according to the software requirement.

Ease of Use

Always select software that is easy to understand and quick to train on. This will make your accounting task much easier. If you are still finding it difficult to choose software then you can choose to use the accounting outsourcing services offered by service providers, go through their case studies to understand their experience in handling multiple accounting software and to make informed decisions.

Cloud-Accounting

Cloud-based accounting software allows you to access the ledger from anywhere and automatically save the information you enter. With a cloud-based system, you can easily share access to such documents and data with others.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

In today’s technology-centric world, discovering the right accounting software is straightforward. Most of the software mentioned caters to enterprises, providing accountants with effortless access. This seamless integration significantly simplifies the process of engaging an online bookkeeping firm, enhancing both ease and security. Multiple layers of encryption safeguard financial records, and the system instantly updates any minor modifications. This transparency allows business owners to monitor their financial affairs effortlessly.

If you are still confused about which software will best suit you or if your clients work on different software, Don’t hesitate to contact us. We at Corient UK are a trustworthy outsourcing accounting firm for your bookkeeping and accounting needs. Our wide range of services includes complete bookkeeping and account services, accounts payable outsourcing services, audit services, tax outsourcing services, business tax support services, and advisory and consulting services. We commit to delivering a valuable experience to all our clients with our highest standards, allowing you to focus primarily on growing your business.

If you want to explore our services and discuss how we can help your business, contact us today!