With Version 17, Sage Master Builder includes new enhancements that companies need to take service management, reporting, and business analysis to the next level. For construction companies and service/specialty contractors outgrowing off-the-shelf accounting software, it’s the ideal solution to get the information you need, when you need it, and in the right format.

Improve your service operations and customer service:

• Service dispatch board enhancements: Take control of your service operations like never before. Email work order details to your field technicians to improve performance. Multi-day views, dispatch board personalization, and other features make scheduling and dispatching more efficient so you can operate leaner and more effectively.

Gain easier access to information you need to make better decisions and improve your bottom line:

• Customizable user dashboards: You’ll be able to monitor your company’s key metrics at a glance. Tailor your view of the real-time information you need most to achieve your goals, and drill down to view the underlying detail.
• Custom alerts: Want to be informed when a project goes over budget? How about receiving an over/under billing report that goes right to your email every month? With the new custom alerts feature, you’ll be able to create, edit, or modify pre-configured custom alerts that will appear on your dashboard or get emailed. Have the vital information sent to you when you need it.

Make administrative and accounting tasks more efficient and less risky:

• Human Resources Forms: Avoid costly claims and other employee related liabilities with proper documentation. Over 70 customizable forms are included to handle a variety of common HR tasks, including evaluations, applicants and new hires, time and pay, and disciplinary.
• Year-end wizard: An intuitive tool guides you through the year-end closing process, making it easier and more organized.

For more information on this topic contact Ledgerwood Associates, the #1 Sage Timberline Business Partner in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and the Southwest.

Sage Timberline Office is gearing up for its Version 9.8 Release (scheduled availability, Fall 2011). This release is important since it affects such a broad range of Timberline users.

Here’s a brief preview of just some of the improvements to expect:

• Enhancements supporting:
  • Credit card management (Provides ability to enter and distribute credit card receipts as well as reconcile credit card statements)
  • Workforce management (Over 70 customizable HR forms, prefilled from Payroll, to help new hire, probation, and termination documentation requirements)
• Performance improvements so you can save time and be more efficient. Some of the areas improved will be:
  • Application and Task startup (across the suite)
  • Closing Report and Inquiry Manager
  • Field Reporting in Project Management
  • Security administration and workstation installation

For more regarding this topic contact Ledgerwood Associates

Click here to see how Sage Timberline Office rated in the latest issue of CPA Practice Advisor.

Using the Desktop Reconciliation Tool in Sage Timberline Office 9.7 for Accounts Receivable Reconciliation

By Gary Jacobson, Sage Timberline Certified Consultant

(This is the outline of an April, 2011 seminar presentation by Gary to a group of 23 Timberline Office users in Scottsdale, AZ. I hope you find this useful, Kent)

Common Reasons Why Accounts Receivable and General Ledger Do Not Balance

    1.  Un-posted Entries – Post the Following Modules in this order:

• Service Management (Not Listed on the Reconciliation Tool!)

• Billing

• Accounts Receivable

• General Ledger

    Look for any rejecting entries and fix as needed.

    2.  Entries in General Ledger that originated in applications other than:

• Accounts Receivable

• Billings

• Service Management

     3.  Unapplied Cash Receipts – Most AR Aging Reports include unapplied cash receipts in the totals, but unapplied cash receipts may not be included in the Accounts Receivable balance in the General Ledger. Check your AR Settings to determine your default accounts.

    4.  Default Account Numbers overridden during entry or missing due to changes in interface settings

    5.  Overbilled retainage (see Timberline Knowledgebase Article KB82349 for instructions).

Using the Reconciliation Tools in Sage Desktop:

    Go to: Sage Desktop – Tasks – Sage Timberline Office – Additional Tools – Reconciliation

Reconciliation Steps in the Reconciliation Tool:

    1.  Ensure All Entries Are Posted – Post the Following Modules in this order:

• Service Management (Not Listed on the Reconciliation Tool!)

• Billing

• Accounts Receivable

• General Ledger

    Look for any rejecting entries and fix as needed.

    2.  AR Summary Reconciliation Report

• This report shows Accounts Receivable and Retainage accounts with General Ledger activity compared to the Accounts Receivable activity for the reporting period specified. An out of balance situation is indicated when there are differences between the two activity amounts.

• NOTE: Ignore the Cash account(s) shown on this report, as they will not balance to Accounts Receivable transactions.

    3. Totals by Batch Report

• This step allows you to perform a more detailed analysis of your transactions by reviewing batches to see if any do not balance to GL.

• This report offers drill-down capability into each batch to see the transaction detail.

    4. Unexplained Entries – Accounts Receivable Entries Report

• Use this report to identify entries made to receivable accounts that did not originate in Accounts Receivable, Service Management or Billing.

• How to correct: Reverse the original transaction and enter the correction in AR.

    5. Un-posted Transactions – Un-posted AR Transactions in GL Report

• When AR transactions are not posted or rejected in GL, an out-of-balance situation results. This can happen, for example, when you post to a closed month. This report will help determine if these transactions are the cause of the out-of-balance situation

• You should not have any unposted transactions if you performed step 1 in these instructions properly.

• NOTE: This report is conditioned to show only entries with an application of origin of “AR”. If you use Billing or Service Management, you must change the condition to see entries from “BL” or “SM”.

    6. Wrong Account Override – Account Entry Review Report

• This report helps you identify transactions that posted to the wrong AR account because the account was manually overridden during entry.

    7. Unapplied Cash Receipts – Unapplied Cash Receipts Report

• This report helps you identify unapplied cash receipts that may cause an out-of-balance situation.

Period End Reports

After you reconcile the accounts, run the AR Aging – Detail By Customer, or Period End Report to show the detail of entries that balance with the General Ledger account balances.

For Further Information:

See Timberline Knowledgebase Articles: KB319 and KB320

Gary Jacobson