Accrual Automation: A Simple Guide for QuickBooks Online

Tom Zehentner
Growth & Product

Tired of manual accruals stressing you out? It's like juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle—risky and inefficient. Accrual automation in QuickBooks Online changes everything. Integrate Accruer by FinOptimal for accurate, automated accruals and a smooth month-end close. No more manual data entry or guesswork. Get real-time financial clarity and free up valuable time. A few best practices are all it takes to transform your financial management. Let's get started.

Key Takeaways

  • Use the Accruer by FinOptimal app to automate accruals seamlessly in QuickBooks Online.
  • Integrate QuickBooks with Accruer to minimize manual data entry and errors.
  • Set up automatic accrual rules for QuickBooks for consistent financial reporting.
  • Regularly review automated accruals for accuracy and compliance with accounting standards.
  • Perform periodic reconciliations to ensure the integrity of automated accruals.

Why Manual Accruals Are a Headache

Handling accruals manually can feel like trying to juggle flaming torches while riding a unicycle—inefficiencies, errors, and time constraints abound.

Here are the core challenges manually entering accruals presents:

  1. Time-consuming and labor-intensive: Manually tracking, recording, and reconciling accruals requires extensive effort from accounting teams. Accountants spend time re-reviewing bills and invoices already processed by Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable teams to determine if they should be accrued or amortized, then perform double-data entry between spreadsheets and QuickBooks to properly account for them.
  2. Prone to errors and inaccuracies: Manual processes increase the risk of human error in data entry, calculations, and reporting. This can lead to misstatements in financial reports and inaccurate cash flow statements. To prevent this, accountants often sacrifice on precision and avoid prorating activity purchased or sold mid-month.
  3. Timing mismatches: Reconciling accruals with actual cash transactions can be challenging due to timing differences between when an accrual is recognized and when the corresponding payment or receipt occurs. Also, circumstances may change, resulting in the reperformance of all manual steps to account for the accrual in the first place.
  4. Inconsistent approaches: Accountants may try to simplify their methodologies to save time, but in the process sacrifice on precision. Some businesses require precision, depending on their regulatory requirements or the materiality of the transactions. Couple that with different manual tracking systems and spreadsheet formats, and you create a difficult learning curve for newcomers, even if they come with prior accounting experience!Tight turnaround times: Accrual reporting often has short deadlines, leaving little time for thorough vetting and analysis of the collected data. Monthly close is vital to providing the business with trustworthy data to make critical decisions. Automated accruals happen immediately, so throughout the month accruals are already done for that month and all future months. No waiting until the second week of the following month for closure!
  5. Communication challenges: Explaining the concept of accrual accounting to others can be complex. Navigating whether the activity belongs in an asset or liability account, and how much to record in each account, is complicated. A simple process such as writing “for the period” and specifying the dates that the bill or invoice is for makes it easy for anyone to understand and execute. 

Understanding Accrual Accounting

Accrual vs. Cash Accounting

Accrual accounting records income when it's earned and expenses when they're incurred, regardless of when cash changes hands. This gives a more accurate picture of a company's financial health over time. Think of it like this: you’ve provided a service, so you record the revenue, even if the client hasn’t paid yet. Conversely, cash accounting records income when cash is received and expenses when cash is paid. While simpler, it’s less reflective of actual financial performance because it doesn’t show the full picture of what you owe and what others owe you. A good overview of accrual accounting is available on Stripe.

The Matching Principle

A core component of accrual accounting is the matching principle. This principle states that expenses are matched with the income they helped create within the same time period. So, if you spend money on advertising in June that leads to sales in July, the advertising expense is recorded in July, not June. This accurately reflects the cost of generating that revenue.

Examples of Accrued Expenses

Rent

Let’s say your company’s rent for office space is due at the end of the month. Even though you haven’t paid yet, you’ve used the space all month. Under accrual accounting, you record the rent expense as you use the space, not just when the cash leaves your account.

Utilities

Utilities like electricity or water might be used in one month but billed in the next. With accrual accounting, you record the expense for the month you used the utilities, ensuring your financial statements reflect the costs when they were actually incurred.

Salaries

Similarly, employee salaries might be earned in one month but paid in the next. Using accrual accounting, you record the salary expense in the month the work was performed, providing a more accurate view of your labor costs.

Accrued Expenses vs. Accounts Payable vs. Prepaid Expenses

It’s easy to get these terms mixed up, so let’s clarify. Accrued expenses are costs for goods or services received but not yet invoiced or paid. Accounts payable, on the other hand, are costs for goods or services you've received an invoice for but haven't paid. Finally, prepaid expenses are costs for goods or services you paid for *before* receiving them. For example, if you pay for a year of insurance upfront, that’s a prepaid expense.

Types of Accruals: Revenues and Expenses

There are two main types of accruals in accounting: accrued revenues and accrued expenses. Accrued revenues represent income earned but not yet received, while accrued expenses represent costs incurred but not yet paid. Both are essential for accurate financial reporting under accrual accounting. For help with accrual accounting in Quickbooks, check out FinOptimal's resources.

Benefits of Tracking Accrued Expenses

Improved Financial Planning

Tracking accrued expenses helps businesses monitor spending and plan for future expenses. By understanding what costs have been incurred but not yet paid, you can create more accurate budgets and forecasts. This allows for better resource allocation and more informed financial decisions.

Better Expense Management

By tracking accrued expenses, you gain a clearer picture of your spending patterns. This allows you to identify trends, anticipate potential cost overruns, and make proactive adjustments to your spending habits. Predicting profits also becomes more reliable with a complete view of your expenses. For assistance with expense management, consider FinOptimal's managed accounting services.

Enhanced Negotiation Power

Believe it or not, tracking accrued expenses can even strengthen your negotiating position with suppliers. When you have a detailed understanding of your spending with a particular supplier, you’re in a better position to negotiate favorable payment terms and potentially even discounts. Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to managing your finances.

Automate Accruals in QuickBooks Online: A How-To Guide

Imagine having a personal assistant who loves handling accruals more than you love your morning coffee.

Enter Accruer by FinOptimal, the superhero of QuickBooks Online that swoops in to automate your accruals with precision and ease.

Let's uncover how this nifty tool can transform your accounting tasks from a chore to a breeze.

Accruer by FinOptimal: Streamlining Your Accruals

Managing the intricacies of month-end can be as delightful as herding cats, but with Accruer by FinOptimal, automating accruals in QuickBooks Online has never been easier. This innovative accrual solution streamlines your financial reporting by leveraging advanced accrual accounting methods.

Say goodbye to the tedious month-end accrual process; Accruer guarantees automatic accruals, providing a seamless accrual automation experience. It enhances your financial controls and offers a real-time view of your financial health, allowing you to focus on strategic decisions rather than drowning in spreadsheets.

With Accruer by FinOptimal, you can finally bring order to chaos and ensure that your month-end closes are both efficient and accurate.

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How Accruer Simplifies Accrual Automation

Accruer by FinOptimal transforms the often chaotic process of managing accruals into a streamlined and efficient experience. Instead of juggling spreadsheets and manually tracking expenses and revenues, Accruer automates these tasks, freeing up your time and reducing the risk of errors. As FinOptimal notes, with Accruer, "accruals are already done for that month and all future months." This real-time automation eliminates the need to wait until the following month for closure, providing immediate financial insights.

This automation not only simplifies the accrual process but also empowers businesses to maintain accurate financial records with less effort, ultimately leading to improved financial planning and management. It's like having a tireless virtual assistant dedicated to keeping your accruals in perfect order.

Key Features and Benefits of Accruer

Accruer offers a suite of features designed to simplify and streamline accrual accounting. Let's take a closer look at some of the key benefits:

  1. Seamless Integration: Accruer integrates effortlessly with QuickBooks Online, minimizing manual data entry and the potential for errors. This integration is crucial for maintaining accurate financial records and ensuring compliance with accounting standards. Similar to other leading accounting software solutions like BlackLine, Accruer automates key tasks, ensuring data accuracy and consistency.
  2. Real-Time Financial Clarity: Accruer provides businesses with a real-time view of their financial health. This up-to-the-minute perspective enhances financial controls and allows for better strategic decision-making. By accurately reflecting revenue and expenses as they are earned or incurred (the core principle of accrual accounting), Accruer offers a clear and current snapshot of your financial standing. For more insights on financial clarity and best practices, explore FinOptimal's managed accounting services.
  3. Enhanced Efficiency: Automating accruals with Accruer significantly reduces the time and labor involved in manual tracking and reconciliation. This increased efficiency allows accounting teams to focus on more strategic tasks, such as analysis and forecasting, rather than getting bogged down in repetitive data entry. This focus on automation addresses the core problem of time-consuming manual processes highlighted by industry experts like Alteryx.

These features not only simplify the accrual process but also empower businesses to maintain accurate financial records with less effort, ultimately leading to improved financial planning and management. If you're ready to experience the benefits of automated accruals, contact FinOptimal to learn more about how Accruer can transform your accounting workflow.

Benefits of Automated Accruals for Business Owners and Accountants

  1. Improved accuracy: Automation reduces human error in recording accruals, leading to more precise financial statements and reporting. It calculates and books every entry for you, rounding it to the penny.
  2. Real-time financial visibility: Automated accruals provide an up-to-date view of a company's financial position, allowing for better decision-making and financial planning. They are booked immediately, so up-to-date accrual financials are always available.
  3. Time savings: By automating the accrual process, accountants can save significant time that would otherwise be spent on manual data entry and calculations. Doing accruals takes as long as you can write “for the period.” Seconds.
  4. Enhanced compliance: Automated accruals help ensure adherence to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and other regulatory requirements. Accruer prorates calculations for mid-month activity and uses the appropriate asset and liability accounts automatically.
  5. Better financial forecasting: With more accurate and timely financial data, businesses can make more informed projections and budgets. See pro forma financials in real-time by allowing Accruer to fully account for multi-month accruals immediately. 
  6. Simplified period-end closing: Automation streamlines the process of closing books at the end of accounting periods, reducing stress and potential errors. A schedule is automatically maintained so your process is simply tying the total balance between Accruer and QuickBooks (with all of the details also available if needed!).
  7. Scalability: As businesses grow, automated accruals can easily handle increased transaction volumes without requiring additional staff. You’re just writing “for the period” a little more, that’s it!
  8. Integration with other systems: Many automated accrual systems can integrate with other financial software, creating a more cohesive and efficient accounting ecosystem. Any system that integrates with QuickBooks Online will also work with Accruer, Bill.com, Ramp, Expensify, Dexy, and so many more, plus any of your favorite invoicing platforms! 

Increased Efficiency and Accuracy

Let’s be honest, manually dealing with accruals is about as fun as watching paint dry. It’s tedious, time-consuming, and prone to errors. Think about all those spreadsheets, the manual calculations, the double-checking (and triple-checking!). It’s a recipe for headaches and inaccuracies. Automating your accruals with a tool like Accruer by FinOptimal changes all of that. Suddenly, those hours spent hunched over spreadsheets are freed up, and you can focus on more strategic tasks. Plus, because the calculations are automated, you drastically reduce the risk of human error, leading to more accurate financial statements. It’s a win-win.

Accruer calculates and books every entry for you, rounding it to the penny, so you can trust the numbers. This level of precision not only saves you time but also gives you greater confidence in your financial reporting. Knowing your financials are accurate frees you up to focus on what really matters—growing your business. For more insights on streamlining your financial processes, explore FinOptimal's managed accounting services.

Improved Financial Reporting and Compliance

Accurate financial reporting is the cornerstone of any successful business. It’s not just about knowing where your money is going; it’s about making informed decisions based on reliable data. When you automate your accruals, you’re not just saving time; you’re ensuring that your financial statements adhere to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and other regulatory requirements. This is especially important for businesses that need to demonstrate compliance to investors, lenders, or regulatory bodies. If you're looking for expert guidance on financial automation and compliance, consider reaching out to FinOptimal's team through their contact page.

Accruer prorates calculations for mid-month activity and automatically uses the appropriate asset and liability accounts. This eliminates the guesswork and ensures consistent, compliant reporting. It’s like having a built-in compliance officer for your accruals, giving you peace of mind and ensuring you’re always audit-ready. For those interested in partnering with a company specializing in financial automation, FinOptimal offers a partnership program.

Reduced Risk and Better Decision-Making

In the fast-paced business world, having access to real-time financial data is a necessity. Automated accruals give you an up-to-the-minute view of your company’s financial position, empowering you to make informed decisions and plan for the future. No more waiting until the end of the month (or later!) to get a clear picture of your finances. With automated accruals, you have the insights you need, when you need them. FinOptimal provides various resources, including articles, podcasts, and videos, covering essential topics in financial management and automation.

Because accruals are booked immediately with Accruer, up-to-date financial information is always available. This allows for better financial planning, more accurate forecasting, and ultimately, reduced risk. You’re able to identify potential issues early on, adjust your strategy as needed, and make proactive decisions that drive your business forward. It’s about having your finger on the pulse of your finances, so you can steer your business towards success. If you're passionate about finance and technology and seeking career opportunities, check out FinOptimal's careers page.

Getting Started with Accrual Automation

The magic of automated accruals in QuickBooks can revolutionize your accounting practices. There are a few simple steps you should take to guarantee smooth implementation.

Implementing an accrual automation tool can significantly streamline financial processes, reduce errors, and improve compliance. Here are some key tips for successful implementation:

1. Select the Right Automation Tool

Selecting the appropriate software is crucial. Look for a platform that offers robust automation features tailored to your business needs. Tools like Accruer provide comprehensive solutions for legal and spend management, respectively, ensuring real-time data collection and processing. Be wary of tools that claim they automate things, but cannot show or explain exactly how the automation works. Some software companies rely on outsourced workers to supplement the shortcomings of their products.

2. Simplify Your Data Collection

Accrual automation tools will ensure the accounting is performed correctly, but humans will still be required to share information timely. This means vendors sending you bills on time, or stakeholders in the company sharing activity with you so that it can be accounted for properly. Accounts Payable and Invoicing platforms can help streamline these upfront processes. 

3. Integrate with Your Current Systems

Your accrual automation tool should seamlessly integrate with your current accounting and IT systems. This integration is often facilitated through robust APIs, which allow for smooth data transfer and communication between different platforms. Importing and exporting is not the same as an integration and presents additional layers of issues. Additionally, consider systems with two-way integrations. A system that only sends data to QuickBooks will result in discrepancies if things are changed in QuickBooks directly.

4. Keep Accurate Records

Accurate and complete records are essential for effective accrual accounting. Automated platforms can help by attaching all relevant documentation to the correct transaction records, ensuring a comprehensive audit trail. Instead of relying on data entry to maintain records, you can rely on systems, and perform reviews and analysis of the data to ensure higher quality records are maintained.

5. Continuously Improve Your Process

Regularly audit and review your accrual processes to identify areas for improvement. This can involve comparing estimated accruals to actual amounts and making necessary adjustments to enhance accuracy and efficiency. Always review the books!

Maintaining and Monitoring Your Automated Accruals

When relying on automation for accruals, you are not giving up control, but rather shifting where your internal controls will be.

For example, a manual process relies on preparer and reviewer duties to double check data entry, calculations, and journal entry accuracy in QuickBooks. There are both preventative and detective controls required from multiple parties to ensure an effective monthly close.

With automation, you are relying on the system controls (or “automated controls’) and detective controls. Applications are responsible for properly syncing data, so your responsibilities are simply to perform a thorough monthly close. 

By performing quality control checks such as monthly reconciliations, flux analysis, and BvA comparisons, you can guarantee accurate accruals with a tiny fraction of the work. 

Tools like Accruer offer custom reports that provide a snapshot of your financial performance, highlighting discrepancies and areas needing attention. By diligently managing accruals and maintaining financial management practices, you'll establish that your accrual method remains robust.

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Regular Review and Reconciliation

Think of automated accruals as a well-oiled machine—it needs regular checkups to keep running smoothly. Don’t just set it and forget it! Regular review and reconciliation are key to maintaining accuracy and catching any potential hiccups. This isn’t about micromanaging, but about smart oversight. By performing quality control checks such as monthly reconciliations, flux analysis, and balance versus activity (BvA) comparisons, you can guarantee accurate accruals with a fraction of the work.

A good practice is to reconcile your automated accruals against your actual results monthly. This helps ensure that your automated system aligns with your real-world financials. Think of it like calibrating your instruments—it keeps everything in sync. Plus, regular review helps you identify any trends or anomalies that might need further investigation. This proactive approach can prevent larger issues later.

Troubleshooting and Adjustments

Even with the best automation, occasional adjustments might be necessary. This is totally normal! It’s like fine-tuning an engine—small tweaks can make a big difference. The key is to have the right tools and processes in place to make these adjustments efficiently and effectively. Accurate and complete records are essential for effective accrual accounting.

Automated platforms can help by attaching all relevant documentation to the correct transaction records, ensuring a comprehensive audit trail. This makes troubleshooting easier. If you spot a discrepancy, you can easily trace it back to the source and make the necessary corrections. Tools like Accruer offer custom reports that provide a snapshot of your financial performance, highlighting discrepancies and areas needing attention. This empowers you to address issues proactively and maintain accurate financials.

What Else Can You Automate in QuickBooks Online?

Ever wished you could sip your morning coffee while QuickBooks did the heavy lifting? Meet Booker, your new best friend for automating journal entries.

And Wrangler, the superstar that handles month-end close reporting with finesse. These tools might just give you the free time to finally start that office ping-pong tournament!

Automate Journal Entries with Booker

Imagine having a diligent, tireless assistant that never takes a coffee break—Booker can automate your journal entries in QuickBooks, so you can finally say goodbye to tedious manual data entry.

Envision this: Accruer has your accruals on autopilot. No more spreadsheets for accruals! But what about everything else? You can convert your backup files for loans, leases, allocations, payroll, and so much more into spreadsheets that sync directly to QuickBooks. Using Booker, you’ll have every entry accounted for in perpetuity. Imagine the most flexible recurring transactions tool ever created! 

This nifty tool seamlessly integrates with QuickBooks, taking over repetitive tasks and freeing you to focus on what truly matters. So, why slog through hours of manual entries when you can automate tasks effortlessly?

With Booker, you're not just upgrading your accounting game; you're transforming it.

Automate Month-End Reporting with Wrangler

When it comes to month-end close reporting, Wrangler steps in like a seasoned maestro, orchestrating your QuickBooks data into harmonious financial statements with effortless precision. Accruer and Booker do the heavy lifting to get your books up-to-date in real-time, and Wrangler gives you that data in real-time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can QuickBooks do accrual accounting?

QuickBooks offers a toggle to switch between Cash and Accrual, but this does not automatically put your books on an accrual basis! Proper accrual accounting in QuickBooks can only be achieved through automation tools like Accruer, or manual processes. QuickBooks Online Advanced offers some modules to assist with certain aspects of accrual accounting, but there are still processes that will be done manually if you are using that version

How do I automate transactions in QuickBooks?

QuickBooks offers automation-assisted processes to help streamline transactions, such asp recurring transactions and bank feed rules, which can to automatically import and categorize transactions. These features save time and reduce manual data entry, streamlining your bookkeeping process, but are not fully-automated.

What can I automate in QuickBooks?

QuickBooks offers some automation options to streamline your accounting tasks. You can use recurring transactions, invoice reminders, and bank feed rules, to partially-automate some aspects of your workflow. 

Can a small business use accrual accounting?

Businesses of any size can use accrual accounting, and if you are selling or buying goods or services that will provide benefit to you or your customers before or after the cash is exchanged, you should consider using accrual accounting to ensure an accurate representation of your books.

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Accrual Automation Best Practices

Successfully automating accruals involves more than just picking software and hoping for the best. It requires a strategic approach. Think of it like setting up a perfectly organized kitchen—you need the right tools and a clear system to keep everything running smoothly. Here’s how to get started:

Choose the Right Software

Choosing the right software is like selecting the perfect chef’s knife—it needs to be sharp, reliable, and fit your specific needs. Look for a platform with robust automation features tailored to your business. Accruer, for example, offers a comprehensive solution, ensuring real-time data collection and processing. Be wary of tools that overpromise automation without a clear explanation of how it works. Some companies rely on outsourced workers to make up for their product’s shortcomings, which can lead to unexpected costs and delays.

Establish Clear Processes

Even with the best software, clear processes are essential. Think of it like a recipe—without clear instructions, even the best ingredients won’t create a delicious dish. While automation handles the accounting correctly, timely information sharing is still crucial. Vendors need to send bills promptly, and internal stakeholders need to communicate activity efficiently. Streamlining these upfront processes, perhaps with accounts payable and invoicing platforms, sets the stage for seamless automation.

Regularly Review and Update Your System

Just like a well-oiled machine needs regular maintenance, your automated accrual system requires ongoing review. Regularly audit your processes to identify areas for improvement. This might involve comparing estimated accruals to actual amounts and making necessary adjustments. Think of it as fine-tuning your recipe—small tweaks can make a big difference in the final outcome. If you need help, consider reaching out to a financial professional for guidance. You can contact us for support.

Exploring Different Accrual Automation Solutions

Just like choosing the right kitchen appliances, selecting the right accrual automation solution depends on your specific needs and setup. Here’s a look at different options available:

Cloud-Based Solutions

Cloud-based solutions offer flexibility and accessibility, allowing you to access your financial data from anywhere with an internet connection. Many of these systems integrate seamlessly with other financial software, creating a cohesive accounting ecosystem. For instance, if your system integrates with QuickBooks Online, it’s likely compatible with a range of other tools like Accruer, Bill.com, Ramp, Expensify, and many more. This interconnectedness simplifies data flow and streamlines your entire financial workflow. For companies looking to scale quickly, cloud-based solutions often provide the most adaptable and cost-effective option.

On-Premise Solutions

For businesses with specific security or IT infrastructure requirements, on-premise solutions might be a better fit. These systems reside within your own network, offering greater control over data access and security. However, ensure your chosen tool integrates seamlessly with your existing accounting and IT systems. Robust APIs are key for smooth data transfer and communication between platforms. Avoid solutions that rely on importing and exporting data, as this can create extra steps and potential errors. On-premise solutions typically require a larger upfront investment and ongoing IT maintenance.

Industry-Specific Solutions

Some industries have unique accounting needs. If your business operates in a specialized field, consider industry-specific solutions. These tools often come pre-configured with features and functionalities tailored to your sector’s specific requirements, ensuring compliance and simplifying complex accounting tasks. However, always thoroughly vet any solution to ensure it genuinely automates processes and isn’t just repackaging manual tasks. Look for transparent demonstrations and clear explanations of how the automation works. If you're unsure where to start, consider exploring our partnership program for tailored solutions.

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Tom Zehentner
Growth & Product

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