Why Weak Accounting Leadership Stymies Great Accounting Software

[Editor's Note: You can join Mark at Decisions Spring 2012 live on June 19, 2012.]

First, a disclaimer. I see and talk to a lot of people. Some are clients, some are prospects, some are people who reach out to me with questions. This post is amalgamation of something that has been nagging at me for months. It's not a reflection on any one company.  For example, I touched on some of this in a couple of previous MSDynamicsWorld.com articles including August of 2011 and  April 2012.

The simplest way to screw up accounting software is with the accounting part, not the software.  Software can only take us so far. Even though the upcoming release of GP 2013 looks like it will be the best version of Microsoft Dynamics GP yet, it is still not an accountant, nor should it be. When accounting software can do accounting without help, there will no need for us. 

Out here in the real world, I'm seeing that software isn't getting enough help from CFOs, Controllers, or accountants. Less than a year after I wondered where all the accountants have gone, they are still missing and I'm seeing the impact.  Last year was a record year for me personally when it came to people asking me about fixing depreciated land. Land shouldn't be depreciated in the first place. This is accounting 101. It is really easy to setup class to make sure that this is setup right every time, but you have to know that land isn't depreciated. ...