Accounting is a constantly evolving industry, and staying ahead of the curve is essential. Adopting powerful online tools can help streamline your work, enhance your collaborative efforts with clients, and improve your overall accounting process. 

QuickBooks Online Accountant (QBOA) is a powerful software designed for accountants, offering a suite of features that allow accountants to manage their clients and practice all in one place. Due to the many features QBOA offers, it can seem tricky to learn the ropes and use the software to its full potential. You’ll also need an in-depth understanding of QBOA to explain its usage and benefits to clients. Luckily there are a number of resources such as help & support articles, videos, and community help available to help you learn. You’ll find that with the right support, it’s not so tricky after all.

In this introduction to QuickBooks Online Accountant, you’ll learn how to use the essential features to:

1. Sign Up for QBOA
2. Set Up Your Firm
3. Add Clients
4. Manage Client Files
5. Use the Accountant Toolbox
6. Collaborate with Clients in QBOA
7. Access Client Reports and Dashboards
8. Review and Adjust Your Account Settings
9. Access Helpful Resources
10. Offer Training and Support to Clients
11. Get QuickBooks Certified 
12. Provide Extra Services to Clients

How to Start Using QuickBooks Online Accountant 

Ready to sign up for QBOA and make your accounting life easier? Here’s a comprehensive guide on setting up your account and becoming a QuickBooks accountant. 

1. Sign Up for QBOA

If you haven't already, sign up for a free QBOA account on the QuickBooks website. Provide your firm's information and create your login credentials.

2. Set Up Your Firm

After logging in, set up your firm's profile. This includes adding your firm's name, logo, contact information, and other relevant details. A professional-looking profile adds credibility when working with your accounting clients through the QuickBooks interface.

3. Add Clients

Add multi-files to QuickBooks Online Accountant to manage multiple clients. Click on the "Clients" tab in QBOA and select "Add Client" to add your clients to the platform. You can invite existing QuickBooks Online clients or create new ones within QBOA. Accountants receive special pricing discounts when they sign up small business clients to QuickBooks Online.

4. Manage Client Files

Once clients are added, you can access and manage their QuickBooks Online company files from your QBOA dashboard. This allows you to review, edit, and assist your clients with accounting services. Learn more about how QBOA can help you manage your clients and practice.

5. Use the Accountant Toolbox

The Accountant Toolbox is a set of features within QBOA that streamline accountant-client collaboration. It includes tools like reclassifying transactions, fixing common client errors, and writing off multiple invoices.

6. Collaborate with Clients in QBOA

Invite clients to collaborate on the platform by sending them an email invitation. Clients can access their financial data and work together with you automatically. This will improve transparency and communication between you and your clients.

7. Access Client Reports and Dashboards

QBOA allows you to view and customize client reports. This includes balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements. You can also create custom dashboards to monitor the finances of multiple clients.

8. Review and Adjust Your Account Settings

In QBOA, you can manage your firm's settings. You can customize your logo and contact information, set up team members with different roles and permissions, and configure billing and notifications.

9. Access Helpful Resources

QBOA has a comprehensive library of resources for accountants including articles, videos, webinars and events, to help accountants improve their skills and maintain their continued professional development while also staying up-to-date with QuickBooks features. Explore these resources to improve your expertise and provide powerful accounting services to clients.

10. Offer Training and Support to Clients

Provide training and support to your clients to help them navigate QuickBooks Online and take advantage of all its features. Explain best practices, how to troubleshoot issues, and address their queries in a collaborative environment.

11. Get QuickBooks Certified 

As a QBOA user, you can access industry-recognized certification within the platform. QuickBooks new Badged for Success program allows you to acquire digital badges to showcase your proficiency in QuickBooks and helps you stand out to new clients.

Watch our introduction to QuickBooks Online for accountants and bookkeepers.

12. Provide Extra Services to Clients

QBOA features can allow you to increase your accounting service offering to your clients by providing advisory services, tax planning, and financial advice. Diversifying your services can strengthen your relationship with clients and improve your reputation as an accounting firm.

Features and Benefits of QuickBooks Online for Accountants

With so many features, QBOA can empower your firm to manage complex accounting tasks better and provide better client services. Here are some of the most powerful features and benefits that QBOA offers to help accountants and bookkeepers manage their practice and clients.

1. Streamlined Accounting Workflows

QBOA provides a comprehensive accounting tool suite that leverages the power of AI and automation to help accountants simplify and automate various accounting processes. Some of the key features that help streamline day-to-day tasks, allowing accountants to focus on higher-value activities include:

• Client Dashboard
• Document Manager
• Expense Tracking
• Task Manager
• Accountant Toolbox
• Accounting Reports
• Multi-User Access

3. Client Access to QuickBooks

Accountants can set up their clients in QuickBooks Online or have their clients invite them to access their existing account, allowing clients to maintain full control and set permission levels. This enables accountants to oversee clients’ financial data, generate reports, and gain real time insights into client’s business performance to provide better advisory services.

4. Customized Services

QuickBooks Online Accountant enables you to tailor your services to meet clients' unique needs. Whether it's generating financial reports, tax planning, tracking inventory, cash flow management or managing multi-currency clients, QBOA allows accountants to offer their clients custom high-quality accounting and advisory services.

How to Become a QuickBooks Certified Bookkeeper

QuickBooks Online Accountant offers in-platform training and certification, simply sign up for free to access our online self-paced training program anywhere, anytime. Being a certified QuickBooks accountant demonstrates your ability to grasp complex accounting skills and bookkeeping best practices. Learn more about the different QuickBooks badges you can get to demonstrate your skills as a QuickBooks accountant and stand out to potential clients.

Watch our global certification video to get a head start or join QuickBooks free events and webinars to accrue more continued professional development hours and increase your skills.

Transform your accounting with QuickBooks Online Accountant

Are you ready to streamline your accounting processes with powerful cloud accounting software? Then QuickBooks Online Accountant is the right solution for you. Sign up to QuickBooks Online Accountant for free and transform your accounting practice.