This year one of our newer clients, using QuickBooks, had voided a check from 2004. That one simple step caused QuickBooks to change all the totals for the 2004 reports so the financial records no longer matched what we had used to prepare the tax return. And that meant that the 2005 amounts wouldn’t be correct either! We might have spent a lot of our time, and our client’s money, sorting it out. Fortunately I’m familiar with the “thought process” of this software and was able to identify the error, record the transaction properly and avoid any problems going forward.

Don’t get me wrong. QuickBooks is a wonderful tool and a number of our clients use it for their businesses. It’s easy to use and does a lot of things really well. But because its designed to be so easy to use, it doesn’t have all the “checks and balances” common in more sophisticated accounting software. This can create pitfalls the average user would not be aware of. Please take a look at Using QuickBooks: Tips to remember at year end.

I spend a good portion of my time consulting with our clients on the ins and outs of QuickBooks. This has worked really well for both clients and our firm. Our clients can take advantage of the automation and reporting features that QuickBooks provides – and we get better information when it’s time to do their business planning.


Diane is an experienced, seasoned accountant and really knows quite a bit about QuickBooks. She is a key contributor in helping our clients, and their businesses, get the most out of their money. Her experience gives her the ability to quickly identify issues, change gears, and find the right solutions.

If you’re using QuickBooks and have a question, or aren’t quite sure about something, give Diane a call. In fact we encourage all our clients using QuickBooks to take advantage of her expertise. She's a wealth of knowledge and terrific coach.