FinancialForce Accounting is a cloud-based financial management solution that is created to incorporate seamlessly with Salesforce leads to a customer relationship management (CRM) platform. It is also known as certinia.

FinancialForce accounting provides businesses with a complete set of accounting functions such as general ledger management, accounts receivable and payable, revenue recognition, and expense management.

It enables organizations to merge their financial data with customer and operational information by utilizing the Salesforce platform, which enhances visibility and facilitates real-time decision-making.

FinancialForce accounting has a user-friendly interface and powerful analytics capabilities which let businesses make the accounting processes easy, automate routine tasks and improve overall efficiency.

Reasons to Switch from Accounting to FinancialForce Accounting

There are numerous reasons why making a shift from traditional accounting methods to financial finance Accounting businesses can be beneficial for businesses along with enhancing their financial management capabilities. 

Integration with Salesforce

FinancialForce Accounting helps the sales and service team with the complete visibility of financial transactions, account balances, and other important data. It is built on the Salesforce platform, which allows for seamless integration with Salesforce CRM.

This integration enables a unified view of customer interactions and financial data, facilitating better decision-making and streamlined operations. 

Cloud-Based Solution

FinancialForce Accounting offers a cloud-based solution that provides flexibility and accessibility. It allows users to access their financial data from anywhere, which is particularly beneficial for remote teams or organizations with multiple locations.

The cloud-based solution ensures that the software is always updated with the latest features and maintains security measures, relieving the maintenance burden associated with on-premise solutions and providing peace of mind. 

Real-Time Analytics and Reporting

FinancialForce Accounting software provides real-time analytics and reporting capabilities that are essential for decision-making.

This feature allows businesses to quickly generate financial information, monitor their financial health constantly, and respond to changes in the business environment. It also customizes reports to enhance further the relevance of the data presented to stakeholders. 

Simplified Processes

This application helps businesses to simplify complex accounting processes. For instance, users can raise invoices directly from Salesforce activities, it helps to set up frequent invoices, and automate bank reconciliations.

This automation lowers the time spent on routine tasks and minimizes the risk of human error, which leads to more efficient operations.

Enhanced Collaboration

FinancialForce Accounting promotes social collaboration among teams. This integration allows for real-time communication and collaboration on financial matters that enhances transparency and teamwork across departments.

All the users are working with the same data with this shared infrastructure which promotes better alignment between finance and other business units. 

Multi-Dimensional Accounting Features

The application has advanced accounting features such as multi-currency support, global tax compliance, and multi-company accounting capabilities.

These features create FinancialForce Accounting suitable for businesses that are operating in diverse markets and regions which allows businesses to manage complex financial strategies more effectively.

User-Friendly Interface

FinancialForce Accounting has a user-friendly design that promotes easy adoption by users with varying levels of technical expertise. The straightforward learning curve lets businesses implement the system quickly with minimal disruption to their operations.

Continuous Improvement and Support

FinancialForce always updates its software to include new features and enhancements which ensures that users are benefited from the latest advancements in accounting technology.

The support provided by FinancialForce and its partners also helps organizations pass through any challenges during the transition and implementation phases.

Products of FinancialForce

FinancialForce Professional Services Cloud

FinancialForce Professional Services Cloud (PSC) is a cloud-based professional services automation (PSA) solution built on the Salesforce platform. It helps services organizations optimize resource utilization by managing customers, teams, and projects in a single application.

Key features of FinancialForce PSC include:

  • Resource management
  • Project management
  • Time and expense tracking
  • Billing and invoicing
  • Analytics and Reporting

FinancialForce ERP Cloud

FinancialForce ERP Cloud is a customer-centric, end-to-end enterprise resource planning solution built on Salesforce. It provides powerful tools for managing projects, finances, and operations.

Key features of FinancialForce ERP include:

  • Accounting and financial management
  • Subscription and usage billing
  • Revenue management
  • Financial planning and analysis
  • Procurement
  • Order and inventory management
  • Analytics and Reporting

FinancialForce Customer Success Cloud

The Customer Success Cloud aims to improve customer satisfaction and retention by providing tools for orchestrating customer success initiatives. This cloud solution helps organizations to deliver a more personalized and responsive customer experience by centralizing customer data and interactions.

Key features of FinancialForce Customer Success Cloud include:

  • Enhanced communication and interaction with customers
  • Monitoring customer health and engagement metrics to proactively address issues
  • Solutions that grow with the business ensures ongoing alignment with customer needs

AI Capabilities

FinancialForce combines AI to enhance its cloud solutions by providing businesses with advanced analytics and information. These AI capabilities are embedded across the various clouds which improve the overall functionality and provide users with a deeper understanding of their operations and customer interactions.

Key features of FinancialForce AI Capabilities include:

  • Predictive Analytics of trends and customer behaviors
  • AI-driven reports and dashboards that help in making data-informed decisions quickly
  • Enhanced User Experience

How Financial Accounting Software Operates

Operation of Cloud-based financial accounting software takes place through:

1. Automated Invoicing

    Financial accounting software simplifies the invoicing process by automating the generation and sending of professional invoices to clients. This feature of financial force accounting software eliminates manual effort and decreases the risk of errors by making the entire invoicing workflow easier.

    Automated invoicing helps users by:

    • Customizing invoice templates according to brand and preferences
    • Setting regular invoices for regular clients or subscriptions
    • Track the payment status of each invoice for efficient follow-ups

    2. Expense Tracking

      This feature of Financialforce accounting software gives businesses a clear overview of their expenses, which helps them identify cost-saving opportunities and simplifies expense reporting for tax purposes or internal analysis. 

      It provides a wide expense tracking system that allows businesses to:

      • Record and categorize expenses based on predefined categories or custom tags
      • Attach receipts to each expense for documentation and auditing purposes
      • Track refunds and manage employee expense claims

      3. Bank Reconciliation

        FinancialForce accounting software saves time, ensures accuracy in financial records, and helps businesses reconcile accounts efficiently by lowering the risk of errors or fraud.

        Users can automate the bank reconciliation process by:

        • Importing bank transactions from connected bank accounts or financial institutions
        • Matching imported transactions with corresponding entries in the accounting system
        • Identifying any discrepancies or unmatched transactions for further investigation

        4. General Ledger

          General ledger functionality serves as the central storage for all financial transactions. This feature delivers the integrity of financial records by providing accurate financial reporting and supporting the analysis of financial performance.

          It allows businesses to:

          • Record, classify, and summarize financial data in a structured manner
          • Create and manage accounts based on their chart of accounts
          • Post journal entries to record transactions and make adjustments
          • Maintain accurate balance sheets, income statements, and other financial statements

          5. Financial Reporting

            The financial reporting feature of the accounting software helps businesses in decision-making, strategic planning, and fulfilling regulatory requirements, such as tax filings, GST, and audits.

            Financial reporting helps businesses to:

            • Generate income, expenses, cash flow, and profitability reports
            • Reports are customized based on specific criteria, such as date range, department, or project
            • Analyze key financial metrics and performance indicators
            • Gain valuable insights into the company’s financial health and trends

            6. Multi-Currency Support

              Multi-currency support is a key feature of FinancialForce accounting software which helps users to simplify financial management for global businesses.

              It provides accurate currency conversions and facilitates international transactions by making this software essential for businesses operating in international markets.

              It helps users by:

              • Automatically converting transactions into the chosen currency based on predefined exchange rates
              • Maintaining financial records in multiple currencies for each transaction or account
              • Providing a clear overview of financial performance across different currencies

              7. Audit Trail and Compliance

                Audit trails and compliance are crucial features that help users maintain the integrity of financial data and demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements.

                It maintains a complete audit trail that:

                • Tracks and records all financial transactions along with changes made within the software
                • Ensures transparency and accountability in financial reporting
                • Helps businesses stick to internal controls and external auditing requirements
                • Mitigates compliance risks by maintaining accurate financial records

                8. Mobile Accessibility

                  The efficiency of mobile accessibility features in accounting software significantly enhances the flexibility, productivity, and responsiveness of businesses and their finance teams.

                  This feature allows users to:

                  • Access financial data and reports from anywhere
                  • Perform essential tasks such as sending invoices, tracking expenses, and managing financial processes on the go
                  • Stay connected and responsive to financial matters from anywhere

                  9. Data Security

                    It prioritizes data security by implementing strong measures to protect sensitive financial data. These measures give businesses peace of mind by ensuring the protection of their financial information.

                    Data security of financial information includes:

                    • Encryption to safeguard data during transmission and storage
                    • Access controls to restrict unauthorized access to financial data
                    • Regular backups to prevent data loss and ensure business continuity
                    • Compliance with data protection regulations to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of financial data

                    FinancialForce Accounting Key Features

                    Billing and Invoicing

                    FinancialForce Accounting allows businesses to simplify their financial processes by providing powerful billing and invoicing capabilities. Users are able to create invoices manually, or automate the process by using invoice schedulers.

                    Billing and invoicing feature enables the creation of recurring invoices based on predefined schedules such as daily, weekly, or monthly. Invoices can be generated from the purchase orders or directly within the billing central module.

                    FinancialForce’s invoicing software supports multiple billing models, including time and materials, fixed price, and usage-based billing.

                    Recurring/Subscription Billing

                    Another key feature of FinancialForce Accounting software is its ability to manage recurring and subscription-based billing. This feature is useful for businesses who offer subscription services, memberships, or installment plans.

                    Users can form pricing and contract terms with the help of this software for various billing types, such as products, subscriptions, and usage-based models. FinancialForce software help users to set recurring/subscription billing up to automatically generate invoices at specific intervals, such as monthly or annually by simplifying the invoicing process.

                    Online Payments

                    FinancialForce Accounting software includes various payment gateways through which customers can make online payments. This feature helps users to securely make payments directly from their invoices by improving the overall customer experience.

                    Businesses can lower the manual payment process by offering online payment methods and accelerate their accounts receivables processes. 

                    Overpayment Processing

                    This software provides functionality which helps users to handle overpayments. The system automatically processes the overpayment when a customer makes a payment that exceeds the invoice amount and the amount will be applied as a credit to the customer’s account. This feature helps users to simplify the reconciliation process and ensures accurate financial records.

                    Partial Payments

                    FinancialForce Accounting supports partial payments that allows customers to make payments for half portion of the invoice amount. This flexibility is useful for the customers who are unable to pay the whole amount at once.

                    The system helps users to track partial payments and apply them to the outstanding balance by ensuring accurate accounting and reducing the risk of late payments.

                    Payment Collection

                    It provides a feature which helps users to manage the payment collection process. Users can set automated payment reminders and notifications to proactively communicate with customers about upcoming or overdue payments.

                    The system also provides visibility into the payment status of invoices by allowing users to monitor the accounts receivable process and take appropriate actions to collect payments in a timely manner.

                    Who are the Main User Group of FinancialForce Accounting?

                    User GroupDescription
                    StartupsFinancialForce Accounting is appropriate for startups that require a powerful yet easy-to-use cloud accounting solution to manage their finances efficiently from the start. Its interface and automated workflows help startups to save their time on routine tasks while providing real-time financial understandings to make informed decisions.
                    SMEsFinancialForce Accounting’s scalability and powerful features can benefit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by customizing according to their evolving needs. It helps SMEs to simplify accounting processes, ensure compliance, and generate accurate financial reports to support growth.
                    AgenciesProfessional services agencies, such as consulting firms, marketing agencies, and IT services providers use FinancialForce Accounting to manage their project-based finances. It integrates easily with FinancialForce PSA that allows agencies to track information such as project costs, invoice clients, and analyze profitability all at one place.
                    Large EnterprisesLarge enterprises choose FinancialForce Accounting for its enterprise-grade security, multi-company capabilities, and advanced reporting features. This software supports complex accounting requirements, multiple currencies, and global compliance by making it suitable for multinational organizations.

                    Alternatives of FinancialForce Accounting

                    There are several alternatives to FinancialForce Accounting that businesses can consider according to their specific needs and circumstances.

                    1. QuickBooks Online

                      QuickBooks Online is one of the alternative cloud-based accounting solutions that users can use instead of the FinancialForce Accounting software that serves small and medium-sized businesses.

                      Benefits:

                      • Provides user-friendly interface
                      • Offers more affordable pricing plans for smaller businesses
                      • Consist multiple features

                      2. Xero

                        Xero is another cloud-based accounting software that is particularly favored by small businesses.

                        Benefits:

                        • It allows multiple users to access the software simultaneously
                        • Combines with a wide range of third-party applications by enhancing its functionality
                        • It has a strong customer customer service and support resources

                        3. Sage Intacct

                        Sage Intacct is a cloud financial management solution designed for larger organizations.

                        Benefits:

                        • It offers more sophisticated financial management features such as multi-entity and multi-currency capabilities
                        • It is grows with the business, accommodating more complex financial needs as they arise
                        • Provides strong compliance features and advanced reporting tools, which can be crucial for larger enterprises.

                        4. NetSuite

                          NetSuite is a comprehensive ERP solution that includes accounting as part of its broader suite of business management tools. It can also be an alternative option of FinancialForce accounting software that can be used by the users.

                          Benefits:

                          • NetSuite combines accounting with CRM, inventory management, and e-commerce by making it a good fit for businesses looking for an integrated solution.
                          • It offers real-time financial visibility and reporting, which is essential for informed decision-making.
                          • NetSuite provides extensive customization options to modify the software to specific business processes.

                          5. Zoho Books

                            Zoho Books is also a cloud-based accounting software that is part of the larger Zoho ecosystem that helps businesses to look after the accounting processes efficiently.

                            Benefits:

                            • Zoho Books is often more budget-friendly than FinancialForce that makes appealing for startups and small businesses
                            • It includes automation for recurring invoices, payment reminders, and bank reconciliation that saves time
                            • Businesses already using other Zoho applications offers seamlessly integrate of Zoho Books  

                            Pros and Cons of FinancialForce Accounting

                            Pros of FinancialForce AccountingCons of FinancialForce Accounting
                            1.FinancialForce Accounting is natively integrated with Salesforce that allows seamless data flow between CRM and accounting functions, which enhances operational efficiency.Users often find the system complex and not user-friendly. The setup process can be complex which requires significant time and training to fully utilize its features.
                            2.Software helps users to automate various accounting tasks, such as invoice generation, which reduces manual effort and speeds up financial processes.FinancialForce mainly relies on historical financial data, which may not always be relevant for current decision-making and can lead to outdated insights.
                            3.Users can create detailed and customized financial reports by providing information related to specific business needs.The pricing may be considered high, especially for small businesses, which could limit accessibility for some organizations.
                            4.It allows access from anywhere as it is a cloud-based solution that can provide remote work and collaboration.The focus on monetary transactions may overlook important non-financial factors that affect business performance, such as market conditions and competition.
                            5.The platform includes features for communication and collaboration, such as Chatter, which helps teams work together more effectively.Its full functionality is tied to the Salesforce ecosystem, which may not be ideal for organizations not using Salesforce.