Can anyone please recommend a good textbook to help me get to grips with Sage as quickly as possible? I use VT daily but now have the chance of a new/better job but they use Sage. I need to know how to handle bank loans, petty cash, credit card accounts, set up DDs, BACS etc. Its mostly supplier and Subcontractor invoices/payments, Quarterly rental invoicing. Small payroll, VAT returns, year end accounts to trial balance. I am comfortable with the bookkeeping/accounting principles but I'm looking at sage and it seems so complex after working with VT!I think I may be biting off more than I can chew?
I was looking at the "Dummies" books, Ive used them before for other things and found them useful. Or has anyone used anything better?
Hi Kirsten
I would say get the dummies books - the only differences then are in the versions of sage, although all pretty much the same until you get to the newest, which just seems to have more features rather than wholesale change of processes. Tell them you are prepared to spend some time learning the software at your own cost. I did just that with one client and won that piece of business, although it might not work for a permanent job. We cant be expected to know every bit of software out there - sage I think is easy as long as you are getting it right. A hint for if you get it - learn the basics that you list above as quickly as possible, do as many backups as you can as you go along, absolutely back up before you do anything new and post on here if you get stuck and we can try to help. There is a practice module within sage so you can have a go in there, plus a demo module too. (Oh by the way you can get the dummies book from your local library if you still have one!). Good luck with the job interview.
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Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
Hi Kirsten I would say get the dummies books - the only differences then are in the versions of sage, although all pretty much the same until you get to the newest, which just seems to have more features rather than wholesale change of processes. Tell them you are prepared to spend some time learning the software at your own cost. I did just that with one client and won that piece of business, although it might not work for a permanent job. We cant be expected to know every bit of software out there - sage I think is easy as long as you are getting it right. A hint for if you get it - learn the basics that you list above as quickly as possible, do as many backups as you can as you go along, absolutely back up before you do anything new and post on here if you get stuck and we can try to help. There is a practice module within sage so you can have a go in there, plus a demo module too. (Oh by the way you can get the dummies book from your local library if you still have one!). Good luck with the job interview.
Hi Joanne,
Thanks very much for your helpful and kind reply. I will be off to the library first thing tomorrow and will take your advice on getting up to scratch with the basics.
I would have suggested buying one of the sage accounts workbooks sets which come with a 180 trial version of sage but they've got a bit expensive (and really you need to buy all three levels).
BPP did a book for their AAT course called AAT Foundation Bookkeeping with Sage and Excel Spreadsheets which came with a case study but its not really for the latest versions of Sage.
There are loads more Sage training vids out there the above is just one that I came across some time back and it seemed ok.
Just a few more suggestions to work with.
kind regards,
Shaun.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
thats pretty much the route that I was going with the suggestion about the workbooks (but buy from Amazon rather than Sage as cheaper) then again, the route seems a bit expensive and it might actually be cheaper buying a course from a training provider.
However, I don't really think that she was looking at either that sort of lead time or indeed that sort of expense (looking at the E-Assessments in that Sage link its getting up towards £600!)
I've never actually known an employer to ask for certification, and in Kirstens case she's already got the job so wouldn't really benefit from it.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Personally .. from my IT background ... I usually learn a new product or skill by reading the manual ... These are readily down loadable .... So its down to Kirsten to choose how she wishes to learn Sage ..... I have personally done the Sage 50 courses and fully certified ... loads of job adverts ask for this !
What languages was it Trevor. Mine were COBOL, CICS, DB2, IMS, VSAM, etc. most of which was from long before the internet and finding books via Amazon. And actually finding a manual at a client site was as rare as finding unicorn poop (had to go to specialist bookshops (and Foyles) in London).
Just did a quick search on Reed and it came back with 3566 Sage jobs but glancing down it was all asking for experience, no menton of certified or certification that I could see.
I also did the Sage courses from the workbooks but didn't bother with the certifications.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Lot of money for that which is why I didnt suggest it, plus I was assuming time factor might be an issue. Ive never seen a request for certification on a job ad, although lots ask for experience.
What did you do before this malarky took over your life Trevor? Also - ive been dying to ask - is that you in the piccie? Bit of a scary dont mess with you the sniper look!
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Joanne
Winner of Bookkeeper of the Year 2015, 2016 & 2017
Thoughts are my own/not to be regarded as official advice,which should be sought from a suitably qualified Accountant.
You should check out answers with reference to the legal position
I did alot of industrial/real time data processing, and some of my code is still monitoring exhaust temperatures in Tornados .... but a previous life ....
Well Training Link feel that Sage certification is very relevant in obtaining a job !!!! so perhaps they can comment !!!! I do agree, job adverts do not specifically look for it .... As Kirsten has got the job she only needs practice (perhaps this is where the CBT courses score!!) the Sage Instant course is real cheap (can be found on ebay) and she can download Kris's practice exercise company and have some fun .... or just download the manuals .... I bought a copy of Sage Instant Accounts 2014 for £30 on ebay .....
Well Training Link feel that Sage certification is very relevant in obtaining a job !!!!
But of course, they are selling the course! lol.
I didn't say that it wasn't relevant to know sage. Its just the actual certification itself that I wouldn't put emphasis on.
With or without a bit of paper at the end of it training to use the software with someone like TL or Ideal or Premier or any of the others would never be considered a waste.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
But the poster specifically needs sage 50 knowledge for a job that she already has in the bag if she can acquire the knowledge quickly.
p.s. didn't understand the Gopher in the research lab comment?
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
Thanks for everyone's helpful input, the job isn't "in the bag" as yet but I have a good chance as long as I can pass the technical aspects of the interview. I'm spending the weekend making sure I am as good with Sage as I can be in that short time. If I get the job I'll work quickly to redress any weaknesses that come up with self-study or a course if that's what I feel I need.
I'll repost when I know the outcome!
Meanwhile thanks everyone and have a great bank holiday weekend.
Kirsten
I find the Osborne books a good text book to refer to. Steps through all the basic requirements. Test Drive as said is a good test option without purchasing. Good luck.
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Donna Curling - Complete Book-Keeping Ltd (CBKLtd) - 07939 101900
I would recommend the CCI learning courseware books, you can take a look here - http://ccilearning.com/solutions/quickbooks-sage-accounting/sage-accounting-courseware/
