The Best Accounting Websites and Online Resources for Aspirational Accountants

So, your analytical mind, love for numbers and affinity towards problem-solving has led you to seek out the world of accounting. Whether you plan to study accounting, tax accounting, forensic-, financial-, cost- or management accounting, staying up to date with legislative changes and trends is imperative to any accountant.

Businesses and individuals will rely on your knowledge of the industry and therefore small business owners, managers and students who completed their BCom Degree can benefit from staying abreast with accounting software, apps and the latest accounting trends and news.

Many professionals will continue to read accounting books, subscribe to accounting journals or attend conferences to stay in the know. To remain certified they also have to do continued professional studies.

Learning is thus not only a requirement if you are a practising accountant, but also necessary if you want to provide the best accounting services to clients or the company you work for.

The Essential Accounting Websites in South Africa

Finding credible sources on the internet can keep South African accountants up to date, but it can also provide effective guidance on how certain financial problems can be solved.

Many websites will discuss interesting topics around tax, legislative issues or resolving complex accounting problems. Chartered Accountants will frequently make use of The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) to find information and documents around auditing legislation while Professional accountants refer to SAIPA (The South African Institute of Professional Accountants).

One of the most important websites for anyone working with tax will be the South African Revenue Service (SARS). Tax specialists and consultants have to know when legislation  related to taxes change. If a previously tax deductible expense is not allowed anymore, their client can get into trouble if they don’t advise them correctly.

International financial changes can also impact the survival of some businesses.

In a global economy, a war in Europe will influence the changes we experience in our economic climate. The same is true in other parts of the world. Many people in senior management positions ensure they read the news to keep informed of trends that allow better management decisions.

Some great international news websites are:

• Bloomberg.com
• reuters.com
• Financial Times
• News24.com (local)

Informative Blogs, Accounting Websites or Digi-Mags

Building a list of online resources and websites to follow will make it easier for the financial updates and news to find you. finding the right ones might be tricky, but the more you get involved, the more you’ll be exposed to new names, websites and newsletters that will pique your interest.

Most companies and accounting institutions have a newsletter or a blog that you can subscribe to.

Accounting firms will create different online articles and provide information on their sites to help clients. Many auditing firms like Deloitte, PWC and Ernst & Young have a news section on their website that gives updates on the company and some legislative changes. It is a great marketing tool as it keeps them in close contact with their customers.

Accountants also use a range of magazines, of which many have gone online, to discover articles, opinion pieces and news around accounting. Many publishers will find you once you start practising, but some in South Africa include:

• Accountancy SA (ASA)
• SAICA Digital News Show.

There are also some excellent international websites that are informative and educational for business owners or managers. In these you’ll be able to see what is important in the world of accounting and find blogs or information around topics like how to design a website, how to start a firm or considerations when moving over to cloud computing.

Here are some exciting international accounting websites you can check out:

• Accountingweb (U.K)
• Accounting Insight (U.K)
• Accounting Today (USA)

Websites of Accounting Software Services

Accounting software and services allow accountants and management teams to update and view financial information wherever they are. It also makes the life of small business owners so much easier.

The designed software will allow for the recording of expenses, invoicing and reporting. It makes accounting paperless and safer than traditional methods.

These innovations also allow businesses to draw financial statements and real-time insights to determine the business’s financial health on the spot.

As a new accountant you’ll have to be familiar with some accounting systems and many new accountants get their exposure while they are still in training.

There has been a massive increase in accounting software services on the internet and they all have one aim, to make life easier for accountants. Systems like Xero, Zoho and Sage have provided online accounting services to small and big businesses across the globe. They all tend to have incredibly user-friendly interfaces and many of them will makes the accounting process much easier.

Many smaller South African accounting firms use technology, smart design, websites and the internet to provide accounting services to their clients.

Start taking online accounting courses on here Superprof.

South African companies, like The Beancounter, have made international headlines due to its great innovations around online accounting and local companies, like KeyAccounts, offer full financial packages with encrypted security in the cloud. Most accounting websites also allow clients to purchase services like business taxes management and financial reporting.

Cloud accounting stores all info on secured servers. They eliminate the need for desktop accounting software.

Digital Management Tools and Apps

To study accounting is a skill that takes a bit of practise. A good Accounting tutor or accounting lecturer will provide you with the necessary guidance around how to approach your studies. Becoming a full-time accountant has its own set of demands and professional accountants, entrepreneurs and certified chartered accountants will have to learn to manage their time and other people when they enter the workplace.

Find good bookkeeping courses here on Superprof.

There are some great additional apps and tools that can help you in running projects, with managing your time and doing interactive or shareable to do lists:

• Calendly - A modern and simple way to manage client meetings and bookings. You can sign-up for free and they also have offers around professional plans with added features.
• Monday.com or Asana - Project Management is a specialisation in itself, but small firms might have to do it themselves. Accountants and managers can use these tools on their laptops or by downloading an app. Both are easy to use and have excellent features around planning, scheduling and reporting.
• Google Drive - Google drive is the modern way to work where stakeholders has access to a digital version of the file on the cloud. Changes are tracked and you can start with a free version if you don't have a lot of documents.
• Wix, Spotify and WordPress - Getting a website done for a small business or new firm is much easier than what it used to be. These brands all have offers around website design and their templates make it easy. Some of them also have add-on services around social media.
• Canva - The more creative accountant can design social media posts or basic leaflets, invitations and posters on canva. They also have a free plan and are ideal for small businesses.

Ask The Experts

The last resource, and certainly not the least, is the help of experienced professional accountants. They were also students and beginners once, so don't be afraid to ask practicing accountants about the software they like or the blogs they subscribe to.

You can also find a tutor to give you accounting lessons right here on Superprof. Whether you want to add accounting skills to your CV, are doing a supplementary course to your existing qualification, or plan to do a short course in finance, we're almost certain there will be a tutor in your your area that's a perfect match.

There are literally thousands of resources at your fingertips. Use them to ignite your passion for accounting and ensure you become the best accountant you can be.