This article really hit home with me because it is just so true! The amount of accounting experience needed to fill an accounting position is absolutely diminishing. I see it all around me and it is very frustrating at times when someone can't figure out the back end of a transaction in order to enter into GP correctly. The software doesn't do EVERYTHING!

Thumbs up Mr. Polino (the guy that looks nicer in person than in the pictures according to Doug Picher) Today's post is so true, even knowing that I am not an accountant, it took me a while to get past beyond the basics to understand the true value behind technology. I always try to find ways to learn more now, that I work with Dynamics GP. I found so exciting the experiences a CFE can get and the stories wow!!!!!. Thruth is as well if you are an accountant and don't know how Dynamics GP works in the background (stored procs, SQL, environment, etc) systems wise, you could end wasting precious time trying to fix things when they are not in good shape. I believe its time for us the Hybrids that will prevail at the end (by Hybrids I meant Financial Systems Analyst, the systems guys with accounting understanding or those intrepid Accountants with SQL skills :-)) Hace a great Day Mr. Polino

I implement Dynamics GP for a living as well. I am an engineer, but through the years have understood the importance of accounting in organizations to provide the right information to make the best decisions. For me the best consultants are those who have technical skills (SQL, etc), but who are capable of understanding the business problems they are solving. From that perspective accounting knowledge plays a definite role. Also, through my 20+ years of experience with implementation of different software solutions, I have found that consultants with a good accounting background learn the technical skills easier, than people good at technology but with no business knowledge. Thanks for the article Mr. Polino, very illustrative.

I agree with the vanishing importance of the accounting role in the eyes of MS for the Dynamics product line. I have been implementing GP for 20+ years and am concerned about the trend toward more technology and less emphasis on providing accounting functionality. Management Reporter is a prime example of how a technology solution is replacing a proven accouting solution (FRx). As most of you know MR is not as feature rich and forces a bigger investment in the MS stack. It feels like MS has walked away from the sweet spot of the old GP. A 1-3 man GP shop selling to a 5 user accounting shop was the bread and butter of the old GP. The push is to get rid of the smaller reseller and focus less on the smaller end user site. Of course, this is a business decision on the part of MS and it is their decision to make. All that small resellers and small end users can do is react. It is my opinion that some other software publisher will recognize this and step in to fill the void.

I'm a CMA and I implement Microsoft Dynamics GP for a living. We seem to be in a similar 12-step program, Mark. I like that the accountants are becoming rare in our industry. I love what I do; how else could I explain over 35 years implementing accounting systems? I could go back to the days of 14 modules on GPA. But, hold it, I had to learn how to stack GPA into 640K memory. Or what about working out the compatibility with FRx on a Windows 3.0 desktop? Now we're dealing with SQL, a financial series with as many modules as GPA formerly had, plus distribution, manufacturing, Management Reporter with 3 major installation components, Citrix, Cisco, 64-bit or 32-bit.... Accountants may becoming rare in the complexity, but more than technical people overwhelming us, it's the entire technical stack and the need for a cohesive, communicating team that's the need. The technical guys need the accountants and we sure as heck need the technical guys. I appreciate your article. Caught my eye. Gloria J. Braunschweig, CMA President, Computeration, Inc.