MAKING THE TRANSITION FROM CS PROFESSIONAL SUITE ACCOUNTING TO ACCOUNTING CS TM

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1 MAKING THE TRANSITION FROM CS PROFESSIONAL SUITE ACCOUNTING TO ACCOUNTING CS TM This guide presents helpful information for transitioning from CS Professional Suite Accounting (CSA) to Accounting CS. When you re ready to make the move, we ll be standing by to assist you with easy conversion services, a variety of help and training options, and top-quality U.S.-based support. To get started, call us at or [email protected]. ACCOUNTING CS OFFERS MORE Accounting CS is an entirely new generation of professional accounting software not an upgrade to CSA. With Accounting CS, you get a totally new platform that combines write-up, trial balance, payroll, financial reporting, and client accounting into a single, powerful accounting application. Created in the 1990s by Creative Solutions, CSA was designed for excellence in accounting and continues to provide trusted service for many users. In the spring of 2010, after years of development from the ground up, Accounting CS was released to offer users a more advanced and up-to-date accounting solution with state-of-the-art technology for improving overall firm efficiency. By combining powerful functionality and unprecedented collaboration capabilities into a single, integrated package, Accounting CS moves far beyond basic accounting software. REVOLUTIONARY DESIGN REDEFINES PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE As the next generation in professional accounting software, Accounting CS offers the key to redefining workflow and client-accountant collaboration. Following are just some of the advancements you ll come to appreciate with Accounting CS. Unparalleled Collaboration Between Accountants and Clients Accounting CS Client Access redefines collaboration with one common database and user interface that spans all tasks and all clients. Once you choose the data to share, you and your clients can see and work with it in real time, making imports, uploads, and other client software hurdles a thing of the past. New and Easy Setup Options A smart, templated interface helps you set up new clients faster, create firmwide standards, and more, with much of the information provided automatically. Powerful grouping features let you arrange the Chart of Accounts exactly as you choose. More Flexible Processing and Reporting Capabilities A task-based structure allows multiple users to process data for multiple clients simultaneously, enabling you to divide workloads in new ways and let staff specialize by task rather than by client. And new report options make it easy to analyze data and add value to your services. Powerful Payroll Capabilities Advanced technologies, such as the ability to automatically determine applicable payroll tax forms based on employee work location and resident address, make payroll processing faster. Versatile Expansion Options You can ensure that your investment continues to pay off well into the future by adding new features as needed. Digital Dashboards You can consolidate, organize, and access up-to-date information and helpful resources from a single location. SQL Database Accounting CS uses a Microsoft SQL database to provide a robust and scalable database. System Flexibility Designed to be flexible with dozens of easy-to-use setup, navigation, and customization features, Accounting CS lets you modify the program to meet the needs of your firm rather than having to adapt your firm to fit the program. Streamlined Workflow Advanced workflow tools in combination with integration, the Internet, and paperless capabilities help you serve clients more effectively and achieve maximum productivity and profitability. Accounting CS Offers the Ultimate in Flexibility and Efficiency Using the transaction data-entry features, staff can quickly and easily record all journal entries, checks, deposits, and payroll data into one central location with the ability to display entries on a second screen or monitor.

2 ACCOUNTING CS DIGITAL DASHBOARDS Accounting CS offers the single-location convenience of digital dashboards, where current information and helpful resources are easily accessible from customizable, user-friendly, interactive portlets. Home Dashboard The Payroll Form and Filing Information portlet provides you and your staff with immediate access to payroll compliance information such as form status, filing addresses, tax payments, agency contacts, and more. To choose the federal, state, or local information you want to view, simply select the filter in the top right corner or click the applicable state on the U.S. map. Other portlets provide quick access to resources needed to deliver your services such as favorite websites, product alerts, and technical support resources. Client Dashboard The Client Dashboard provides you and your staff with quick access to each client s real-time account balances and financial information. The display is customizable and can be adjusted to show the most important information relative to each client. 2 CS.ThomsonReuters.com

3 MANY OPTIONAL SERVICES AND FEATURES IN CSA MODULES ARE BUNDLED INTO ACCOUNTING CS The CSA pricing model has been to offer many services and features within add-on modules at an additional cost. Accounting CS offers the advantage of bundling many of these services and features into the software at no additional charge eliminating the need for you to purchase additional modules. These are some of the services and features that are bundled into Accounting CS and Accounting CS Payroll: Included with Accounting CS Accounts Payable* Accounts Receivable* Bank Reconciliation Client Data Import (such as from QuickBooks ) Cross-Client Processing (global processing) Financial Analysis Features* (RMA Annual Statement Studies optional) Financial Statements / Custom Report Designer Handwritten Check Recording Multi-user Functionality Payroll and Checkwriting (for your own firm) Payroll Compliance (process W-2, W-2C, 940, 941, 941X, 943, 943-X, 944, 944-X, 945, 945-X, 1099, all state payroll tax forms, and certain local payroll tax forms) Tax Software Integration Trial Balance Features Vendor Check Printing and Direct Deposit Included with Accounting CS Payroll Batch Data Entry Custom Report Designer Direct Deposit Employee Check Printing Impounding Tax Agent Check Printing Also available as options are add-on features such as Employee Self-Service, Remote Data Entry, and Remote Check Printing, add-on services such as pay-as-you-go workers compensation insurance for your clients through XactPAY (The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.) or InsurePay (Cennairus Insurance), and ACH processing through InterceptEFT. ACCOUNTING CS ADVANCEMENTS ARE BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM CSA USERS Accounting CS was designed by the same professionals who developed CSA and offers many of the same services and features plus many more in a single, integrated package. We have also relied upon suggestions received from CSA users to help in the design of Accounting CS. Feedback from our customers is collected in several ways, including: CSA user surveys Focus group discussions Product partners Trade shows User comments to our Support and Sales departments CSA is a highly capable and respected accounting system. That s why we ve leveraged the best qualities from CSA and added new technology, powerful functionality, and unprecedented collaboration capabilities to build our next-generation accounting platform in Accounting CS. The end result is a single application that has been completely redesigned from the ground up to deliver a truly revolutionary accounting system while keeping the needs of CSA users in mind. BACKED BY THOMSON REUTERS Accounting CS is part of Thomson Reuters CS Professional Suite and Enterprise Suite the most technologically advanced and comprehensive line of integrated products and services available to the accounting profession. First introduced to the market in the spring of 2010, Accounting CS is currently being successfully deployed in accounting firms across the nation. FOR MORE INFORMATION... If you would like additional information about Accounting CS, please call us at or [email protected]. * As is typical for our next-generation products, some of the Accounting CS features and functionality will be available in the additional releases planned throughout 2010, 2011, and beyond. Transition Guide 3

4 PRODUCT COMPARISON COMPARING ACCOUNTING CS TO CSA Accounting CS was built as a next-generation system and therefore differs from CSA. The latest development tools and technology have enabled us to build many new enhancements into Accounting CS that are not available in CSA. Accounting CS offers a large majority of the CSA functionality while further extending features that are not available in CSA. ACCOUNTING CS The following Accounting CS features are not available in CSA. They include the ability to: Utilize client collaboration tools in Accounting CS Client Access that enable you and your clients to see the same data in real time. You can make data updates available to clients instantly, and they see updates immediately. Store accounting and payroll data for an unlimited number of prior years. Modify any report format and create custom report formats tailored to your firm s specific reporting needs. Post transactions to recent general ledger periods without leaving the current data-entry screen. Allow multiple staff members to work in the same client database simultaneously, enabling staff to specialize by task or by specialty area. Choose from an expanded variety of global printing options (e.g., define range of clients, specify printer tray per type of output, and automatically insert separator pages). Set up a Chart of Accounts mask that can handle up to 20 segments in any order with optional color codes and up to 60 alphanumeric characters. Use a dual-monitor setup with functionality that lets you see more data at once. Secure access to sensitive information by entire data-entry screens or by specific tabs. Configure multiple data-entry views, including a general ledger (journal-based) view and a checkbook register (bank account-based) view. Make setup items inactive (GL accounts, employees, clients, and more) in various screens. Unfinalize bank account reconciliations to more easily make corrections. Search reports and financial statements for specific text or amounts from the print preview screen. View separate firm, client, and staff dashboards, each with a fresh look and feel. ACCOUNTING CS PAYROLL Automatically determine applicable tax jurisdictions. View and use workers compensation descriptions and codes for each state. Automatically calculate fees, including applicable sales taxes on a per-check, per-direct deposit, per payroll, or per-tax-form basis. Expedite basic payroll entry using the spreadsheet-style Rapid tab for quick payroll check entry. Create new hire files electronically for ALL states. Automatically determine applicable payroll tax forms based on employee work location and resident address information. Create adjustment liability transactions for discrepancies between liabilities calculated for tax forms and liabilities created for payroll checks. Automatically print corresponding payment forms when printing tax liability checks. View critical and informational diagnostic messages when processing payroll tax forms. Process certain local payroll tax forms (CO, KY, MI, MO, NJ, OH, PA). Automatically print filing instructions with corresponding payroll tax forms. CSA The following CSA features are not currently available in Accounting CS but are planned for future releases in 2010, 2011, and beyond. They include: Accounts receivable/accounts payable Backup/restore of data for individual clients Certified payroll and daily hour entry Charts and graphs Client consolidation features Datasharing for W-2s and 1099s Data transfer between clients Drilldown in reports Spreadsheet import of employee data Engagement CS features Export of bookkeeping edits to QuickBooks Financial Analysis CS features Integration with Fixed Assets CS, Practice CS, GoFileRoom, and GoSystem Tax RS Integration with Peachtree Complete Accounting Mass transfer changes to employee records Tax exports for Lacerte, ProSystem fx, and ProSeries Trial balance reports (Adjusting Journal Entry, Grouping Schedule, Tax Reconciliation, and Trial Balance Grid Report) 4 CS.ThomsonReuters.com

5 ACCOUNTING CS PRICING SPECIAL PRICING FOR CSA USERS As a CSA user, you are eligible to receive special pricing for Accounting CS. And to help ease the transition process, CSA users will have their current CSA licensing extended for one year upon the purchase of Accounting CS. 60% Off Perpetual License CSA users with a current perpetual license can purchase Accounting CS at a savings of 60% off the retail price. 50% Off Annual Renewable License CSA users with a current annual renewable license can purchase Accounting CS at a savings of 50% off the retail price. To review the actual savings you ll receive with our special pricing discounts on Accounting CS, please consult the table below. ACCOUNTING CS PRICING STRUCTURE Standard License CSA User Price CSA User Price Retail Price with 60% Off with 50% Off Accounting CS $2,900 $1,160 $1,450 (Includes ACS Payroll Compliance) Accounting CS Payroll (20 clients) 1, ( ACS Payroll Compliance required if not already licensed with Accounting CS) Additional clients (5-client bundles) Accounting CS Payroll includes the capability to process payroll for 20 clients. Additional clients are available in groups of 5. ACS Payroll Compliance ( Automatically included with Accounting CS; required for standalone Accounting CS Payroll) 4-user Local Area Network Modules 1, (Additional bundles of 4 users) user Server-Based 2, ,050 (Additional bundles of 4 users) /941 Unlimited Electronic Filing Module 1, (Purchased annually) ANNUAL FEES The standard license for Accounting CS includes all normal software updates and access to chargeable product support during the first twelve (12) months. Thereafter, you will need to renew your software to ensure continued usage and to take advantage of the seamless integration among CS Professional Suite products. SUPPORT CONTRACTS Support contracts offer a cost-effective way to manage your product support needs. They are available for $54 per month for the first product and $27 per month for each subsequent product. The monthly network rate is $1 per user for Local Area Network users or $2 per user for Server-based Computing Module Network users. Purchase of a support contract requires a minimum commitment of twelve (12) consecutive months. PLEASE NOTE: Discounted pricing is available only for firms that have a current license for CSA. Additional Accounting CS products (beyond your present CSA installation) can be purchased at 20% off the listed retail price. FOR MORE PRICING INFORMATION... To discuss pricing options and available discounts or for more information on licensing and support contracts, please call us at or [email protected]. Transition Guide 5

6 ACCOUNTING CS CLIENT ACCESS UNPARALLELED COLLABORATION BETWEEN ACCOUNTANTS AND CLIENTS Client Access is a feature within Accounting CS that enables you to offer your clients customized, controlled, 24/7 access to Accounting CS from a secure, passwordprotected NetClient CS portal on your website. With Client Access, you can provide an innovative, high-tech, ultra-modern way of working with your business clients that can help you take your relationship to a whole new level. SHARE THE SAME DATABASE, INTERFACE, AND REAL-TIME DATA WITH YOUR CLIENTS Client Access enables you and your clients to work on the same platform. By sharing a common database, the same user interface, and the same real-time data, both you and your clients stand to benefit: The Accountant You gain greater control over the financial activity of your clients businesses, allowing you more time to provide financial advice and deliver valued-added services. The Client Your clients gain the benefits of using a next-generation small-business solution for completing their day-to-day tasks. REQUIREMENTS FOR CLIENT ACCESS Client Access is available only to Accounting CS users. Accounting CS is delivered to your clients via Client Access on a NetClient CS portal, as the cloud provides a common meeting place to house data and collaborate with your clients. For this reason, a local installation of Client Access is not available. In order to take advantage of Client Access, you must: 1. Be licensed for Accounting CS. 2. Receive delivery of Accounting CS in the cloud via Virtual Office CS or SaaS for CS Professional Suite. 3. Be licensed for NetFirm CS and NetClient CS so your clients can access Accounting CS via portals on your website. HOW TO MAKE CLIENT ACCESS AVAILABLE TO YOUR CLIENTS For step-by-step directions on how to make Client Access available to clients, select Help > Help Topics > in Accounting CS, search on Client Access from the index in the help browser, and review the Client Access Setup Overview. ENJOY THE WIN-WIN BENEFITS Your clients will love using Accounting CS as their online client business software. And by making it possible with Client Access, you gain the advantages of leveraging real-time data along with these additional time- and cost-saving benefits: Eliminate Non-Billables to Make Your Practice More Profitable Once you establish the functionality and data to share with your clients, you can focus more on generating revenue as you eliminate problems such as: Bookkeeping errors by clients Conflicting software versions resulting in computer errors Time-consuming imports and exports Installing, supporting, updating, and maintaining client software Travel time and off-site bookkeeping visits Document handling, storage, and delivery Save Time and Streamline Your Workflow By using a common platform that spans all clients, staff, tasks, and processes, you can: Host a shared environment with a common look and feel Customize your clients software experience and responsibilities Control the data your clients can access and manipulate Provide a QuickBooks alternative Enable staff to work concurrently on the same data Collaborate with your clients in real time Offer the Most Advanced Technology to Your Clients By using high-tech, modern technology and sharing it with your clients, you can: Stay in control of your clients books Experience increased client retention Ensure high-level data security Maximize efficiency for faster client service Present the most up-to-date financial information Offer the true advisory services of a CFO 6 CS.ThomsonReuters.com

7 PRODUCT COMPARISON COMPARING CLIENT ACCESS TO CLIENT BOOKKEEPING SOLUTION (CBS) Client Access and CBS differ in a number of ways. The most significant is that Client Access enables your clients to work online in Accounting CS to perform their day-to-day bookkeeping operations. And since Client Access is a feature of Accounting CS, it also uses the same development tools and technology and contains many new enhancements that are not available in CBS. Client Access offers a large majority of CBS functionality, while further extending features that are not available in CBS. For example, with Client Access you can: Create ACH files for processing employee direct deposit (processing services with InterceptEFT will be available in a future release). Allow multiple staff members and clients to work concurrently on data entry, processing, and reporting. Enjoy streamlined new-client setup, which does not require submitting client information to Thomson Reuters. This means no waiting to enable Client Access. Allow clients with extended entities to quickly process data among multiple companies. Use dashboards for a quick glance at important financial information. CLIENT SERVICES Client Access lets you customize the business services you make available to your clients and let s you block certain functionality and data to maintain tight security control. Currently, Check Writing and Payroll are available for Client Access. Client Check Writing Automate check writing and daily bookkeeping functions for your clients to help them keep track of their bank account balances and quickly process their checkbook transactions. Print checks individually or in batches Save report output in other formats (e.g., Word, Excel, HTML, PDF) Record bank deposits, ATM activity, bank debits, credits, and transfers Retrieve online bank transactions for automatic bank account reconciliation Send vendor payments via direct deposit Use dashboards for a quick, real-time glance at relevant financial information And more Client Payroll Automate payroll functions for your clients to help them with processing payroll, check writing, and direct deposit, while you focus on your clients tax compliance needs such as preparing quarterly payroll tax returns and year-end W-2s. Automate calculations for state and local tax withholding based on the company and employee addresses Process and report for employees who work in multi-departments and/or locations Import time from an Excel spreadsheet or supported time clock vendors Automatically track and pay payroll liabilities Automatically calculate payroll for tipped employees Handle pre-tax deductions such as for 401(k) contributions Handle courtesy withholding of employees income tax for all states and locals in OH and MI And more Additional Services Coming Soon As is typical for our next-generation products, additional Accounting CS Client Access features will be available in releases planned throughout 2010, 2011, and beyond. Accounts Payable Scheduled for release in Spring 2011 Accounts Receivable Scheduled for release in late 2011 Client Security Groups Speed New Client Setup Client Access keeps the accountant in control of the tasks they make available to each client as well as their data entry. And by setting up security groups, the accountant also controls the level of permissions each client has to the features and functions in Accounting CS. Transition Guide 7

8 HELP, SUPPORT, TRAINING, AND DATA CONVERSION HELP AND SUPPORT OPTIONS A variety of options are available to provide assistance on all CS Professional Suite products. For Accounting CS, you can use any of the following: Comprehensive Help The built-in Help, your primary source for Accounting CS assistance, includes intuitive search and index features, detailed step-by-step procedures, and printable PDFs. To print a Help topic, right-click in the Help screen or press CTRL+P. Installation and Program Essentials Guide Detailed instructions for installing Accounting CS, a brief introduction about its features, and information on setting up the program to suit your firm s needs are available from the Accounting CS Help topics. Full Conversion Guides Full conversion guides, showing comprehensive instructions for converting to Accounting CS from CSA, are available from Help for Write-Up CS, Trial Balance CS, Payroll CS, and financial statement files. Report Comparison Guides Details on how to obtain reports in Accounting CS and Accounting CS Payroll that are equivalent to the reporting information in Write-Up CS, Trial Balance CS, and Payroll CS are available from Help. Online Knowledgebase Free to all our users and available 24/7 via CS.ThomsonReuters.com or through the Help menu, our Knowledgebase enables you to search the FAQs or enter your own questions. See-It-In-Action Videos View short, informative sequences designed to give you first-hand experience with Accounting CS at CS.ThomsonReuters.com/Demos. Support Contracts Enjoy the convenience of consistent monthly fees with no calling restrictions. For details and pricing, contact us at Telephone Support Link directly to professionally trained specialists with tax and accounting software expertise. For prompt, courteous, and knowledgeable Accounting CS support, call TRAINING OPTIONS To help you make the most of your investment in Accounting CS, a variety of training options are available throughout the year for users at various levels of proficiency. We highly recommend that you and your staff take advantage of these opportunities to make maximum use of your software s many capabilities. Classroom Live, group training taught by our professional instructors in conference facilities at our offices in Ann Arbor, MI. Custom Taught by our professional instructors and delivered onsite at your office or via the web. We ll help you define the topics, level of proficiency, number of participants, and timeline that s right for your firm. Web-Based Group courses taught live by our professional instructors via the web, offering the convenience of training at any location you choose, or at several locations at once. On-Demand Affordable, pre-recorded, self-paced training available to your entire staff from our website. Users Conference At this annual event, training formats include hands-on, lecture-style, and roundtable discussions. For more details, visit CS.ThomsonReuters.com/UC. Professional accreditation is available for most courses. To access the most up-to-date courses and schedules for Accounting CS and other CS Professional Suite products, visit CS.ThomsonReuters.com/Training or call us at DATA CONVERSION OPTIONS With data conversion options that are comprehensive, accurate, secure, and fast, we ve helped thousands of firms make the move to CS Professional Suite software. Conversion options for Accounting CS include: Electronic Conversions Accounting CS currently includes data conversions for Write-Up CS, Trial Balance CS, Payroll CS, and CSA financial statement files. And with Accounting CS, you can convert your data at your own pace, in your own office, and without additional fees. Custom Conversion A custom conversion enables you to convert one client at a time but for more detail than is available with a batch conversion. We recommend custom conversions because they require minimal effort after the conversion is complete. Batch Conversion Accounting CS is also equipped with a batch conversion process that lets you convert multiple clients at a time with only a few options available; some additional setup is required following the conversion. Financial Statement Conversion With more than 30 firm-wide financial statements available, the financial statement library is comprehensive and may meet all of your needs. If you have special statements that you would like to convert, see the detailed instructions accessible from the Accounting CS Help topics. 8 CS.ThomsonReuters.com

9 CUSTOM SERVICES With Custom Services, you put the expertise of our software application consultants and IT experts to work for your firm. Our team can customize applications and data to do exactly what you need, create customized reports, migrate and convert data, and even build utilities and tools to assist your firm with application integration and other technology needs. With the help of subject matter experts, we ll identify the right solution for your needs, coordinate your entire project from start to finish, and work with you to meet all your goals and objectives. Additional fees are required for this service. The following lists identify the conversion items available for Accounting CS. Because these conversions are not all-inclusive, we urge you to read these conversion guides available within Accounting CS Help topics: Write-Up CS and Trial Balance CS to Accounting CS; Financial Statement Files from CSA to Accounting CS, and Payroll CS to Accounting CS Payroll. ITEMS THAT ARE CONVERTED The Accounting CS data conversion will transfer setup information and transactions from CSA as noted below. Accounting CS and Accounting CS Payroll Account Groups Additional Amounts Balance Definitions Balances Banks Chart of Accounts Checkbooks Departments and Locations Earnings* Employees Financial Statements Grouping Schedules Independent Contractors** Journals M-3 Codes Payroll Items Processing Notes Tax Codes Tickmarks Transactions Vendors Workers Compensation Data* Workpaper References** 1099 Transactions* Accruable Benefits Impound Checkbooks* Payroll Schedules ITEMS THAT ARE NOT CONVERTED The following items are not converted due to differences in data structures between CSA and Accounting CS. After your conversion, enter the applicable data before you begin using Accounting CS. For details, refer to the Data not transferred section in the full conversion guides accessible through Help. Accounting CS and Accounting CS Payroll Border Selections within Financial Statements (All CSA borders convert into the standard single-line border.) Check and Form Printing Fees Client Utilities Client notes/comments/reminder fields (The Processing Notes feature in Accounting CS replaces the Client Notes feature in CSA.) Charts and Graphs Conditional Expressions within Financial Statements (All equations convert with the condition selection to print if the values do not equal zero.) Payroll Checks (All employee earnings information in Accounting CS is check-based. Employee earnings from Payroll CS will be converted to monthly payroll checks in Accounting CS.) Payroll Set Up Set up of payroll items is not required in Accounting CS (including accruable benefit pay items, allocated tips, dollars-per-hours worked, federal EIC, percent of conditional pay, percent of pay, conditional hourly amount, and direct deposit items) Transmittal Letters/Filing Instructions Vendor and Payroll Check Layouts *Will convert only when a custom conversion is selected. ** Available in Fall Transition Guide 9

10 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS) If I m already experienced with CSA navigation, do I need Accounting CS training? Yes. Because Accounting CS is a completely new platform much more than an upgrade to CSA the data processing and workflow options are quite different. Training is highly recommended to assist you not only with implementation but also to help you get your staff up and running quickly. To maximize the time-saving capabilities in Accounting CS, it s also recommended that you reevaluate your firm s internal processes and procedures with the help of our professional training and consulting staff. Does Accounting CS offer cloud computing or web-based delivery? Yes. For ultra-convenient, 24/7, anytime-anywhere access to your software, Accounting CS offers online delivery via SaaS for CS Professional Suite (Software as a Service) or Virtual Office CS. To take full advantage of the unique and advanced client collaboration tools in Accounting CS, web-based delivery is highly recommended. Accounting CS is also available via CD (or download), allowing in-practice installation on desktop, terminal server, or Local Area Networks. What client bookkeeping product is offered with Accounting CS? Accounting CS offers Accounting CS Client Access, which employs a single interface and common database to achieve more efficiency than ever possible before with client bookkeeping software. Using state-of-the-art technology, this one-platform approach eliminates the import/export headaches of client software and replaces them with the ability to work seamlessly in real time with your clients. Accounting CS Client Access replaces Client Bookkeeping Solution (CBS). Are there conversions available for CBS desktop or CBS ASP? Conversions are not needed because Accounting CS and Accounting CS Client Access utilize the same database. For example, once you have imported all your CBS data into CSA and then converted your CSA data into Accounting CS, all your data will then be accessible to clients. Clients who are transitioning from CBS to Accounting CS will simply discontinue using CBS at period end, and they can start using Accounting CS after the accountant converts their data from CSA to Accounting CS. What reports and financial statements are available in Accounting CS? Like CSA, Accounting CS offers a built-in set of standard reports and customizable financial statements. However, in Accounting CS you can fully customize and modify any reports or financial statements within the Report Designer to meet your specific needs, or you can create entirely new reports and financial statements. The Report Designer enables you to format accounting, payroll, and managerial firm reports, as well as client letters and financial statements to be used for multiple clients. Many of the reports generated in CSA can be duplicated in Accounting CS using report options without formatting changes in the Report Designer. For details on how to obtain reports in Accounting CS and Accounting CS Payroll that are equivalent to the reporting information in CSA, refer to these report comparison guides available from the Accounting CS Help topics. Accounting CS Report Options Comparison with Write-Up CS and Trial Balance CS Accounting CS Payroll Report Options Comparison with Payroll CS What are my options for converting financial statements from CSA to Accounting CS? With more than 30 firm-wide financial statements available, the financial statement library in Accounting CS is comprehensive and may meet all of your needs. If you have special statements that you would like to convert, you can export selected financials to Accounting CS from the Utilities menu within the CSA Financial Statement Editor to later be converted. For more detailed instructions, please refer to the conversion guide accessible from the Accounting CS Help topics. Can my account groups and/or grouping schedules be converted? With a custom conversion, you ll be able to define exactly how you want account groups to convert within the mapping screen. In Accounting CS, account groups functionality is replaced by the Account Classification Codes and Subcodes in the Accounting CS Chart of Accounts. These codes are used in a fashion similar to account groups and allow faster setup and more comprehensive financial reporting. Does Accounting CS run on the same hardware/ operating system as CSA? Accounting CS includes the Express edition of Microsoft SQL Server. Depending on your firm s data needs, you may need to purchase a licensed (full) version of SQL Server. To learn more, please review our System Requirements page at CS.ThomsonReuters.com/Support. Be sure to read the product-specific requirements as well as the general requirements. 10 CS.ThomsonReuters.com

11 How do I back up and restore a firm database in Accounting CS? Accounting CS uses Microsoft SQL Server for storing data, which requires a different backup and restore process than CSA. Microsoft s SQL Management Studio Express application will allow you to back up and restore the entire firm database. For detailed information, please refer to the Accounting CS Help topics, and search on Backup and Restore. Which versions of QuickBooks files are supported in Accounting CS? Imports from QuickBooks Pro, Premier, or and Enterprise editions are supported in Accounting CS. The version of QuickBooks you are importing from must be currently supported by Intuit, and the QuickBooks company file must be a QBW file format. For detailed instructions on the import process and the CS QuickBooks Data Utility, please refer to the Accounting CS Help topics. Are there tools to help set up clients quickly in Accounting CS? Yes. There are several tools available in Accounting CS to help speed client setup. Spreadsheet import enables you to quickly import your Chart of Accounts and balances. Client templates can be used to save time and set standards by providing default information for various client setup items. Create industry-specific templates for your clients and fill in only the fields that should be automatically included in the setup for each new client. Templates will copy or mirror the account mask, entity type, pay schedules, and payroll tax items, etc., to maintain consistency. Firm standard account mappings and firm account groupings enable you to quickly build your Chart of Accounts, account classifications, and tax codes in a uniform fashion. Any account groupings created at the firm level will automatically be included for all new clients. The QuickBooks import allows you to easily retrieve new client data into Accounting CS, if a client already exists in QuickBooks. Is there integration with UltraTax CS currently available in Accounting CS? Yes. Integration was made possible with UltraTax CS version In UltraTax CS, open the client and choose Utilities > Accounting CS (Import) to retrieve general ledger balances from Accounting CS. Are there firm security options in Accounting CS, and how are they activated? Accounting CS allows firm management to grant privileges to security groups, which are created during the setup process. You can grant access to specific areas of the program while excluding other security groups from specific areas. Staff members are then assigned to a security group and can access only those features and functions in the program for which their group security settings have been defined. To turn on the security features, mark the Enable Firm Security checkbox in the Preferences tab of the Setup > Firm Information > Firm screen. Enabling the security features will also allow you to control staff access to specific clients. What is the FIRM client ID that already exists in Accounting CS? This client should be used for your own firm s records and bookkeeping needs. This client ID will have full access to vendor and payroll check printing even if the Accounting CS Payroll module is not licensed. Conversion from CSA into an existing Accounting CS client is not currently available. Therefore, you will not be able to convert your Firm client from CSA into the FIRM client in Accounting CS. We recommend that you enter this information into the FIRM client within Accounting CS. Is it possible to remove past client, vendor, and employee information so that it does not display in lists? Setup screens in Accounting CS allow you to enter inactive dates for various items. This will remove the inactive items from drop-down lists to provide for faster data entry. If you prefer to access this information at a later time, mark the option to Include inactive and then edit the setup to remove the inactive date. Can I do a conversion using a trial version of Accounting CS? Yes. You may convert up to five clients from CSA into Accounting CS using a trial version of the software. After evaluating the software and if you choose to purchase, you can download your licenses via CS Connect and continue to use the client data previously converted. Transition Guide 11

12 WE RE HERE FOR YOU CONTACT US TODAY We hope this guide answers all your questions and explains how Accounting CS can help you improve workflow processes and serve clients more efficiently. When you re ready to transition from CSA to Accounting CS, we re ready to help. To get started, call us at or Newman Boulevard Dexter, MI Phone Fax CS.ThomsonReuters.com TL22952