The Mountain Software Solicitors Accounts module seamlessly integrates with the Practice Management System, Time Recording and Case Management Modules, giving firms complete control over their financial operation. The software is compliant with the Law Society’s Solicitors Accounts Rules and the Lexcel Practice Management Standards.

There are two versions available, either firm wide Profit & Loss or Departmental/Branch Profit & Loss. The system can handle unlimited numbers of departments and branches in either mode and comes with a full audit trail as well as financial transaction reports. The system has been audited by numerous firms of accountants.

The module can include Purchase Ledger and Costs functionality and disbursements entered through this area will automatically be entered onto the relevant nominals and/or office ledgers. The payment of suppliers can be managed, reported on and analysed. Remittance advices and electronic cheques can be produced through the module.

The system features an Open Period option allowing the flexibility of posting into any period within the current financial year. This allows time to be posted into the next period before the previous period has been closed. The system has comprehensive data validation to ensure that users are aware of the period they are posting into.

Secure Access

• Fee earners and secretaries have access into the accounts system from within the Practice Management system at ledger card level only. This is totally secure as they can only view the ledgers and not make any amendments. They can produce their own reports but access to the accounts is limited to the ledger card level and so they have no access to the nominal or banks and other sensitive areas.
• Accounts staff may view multiple screens at the same time. When using bank reconciliation, the system will “remember” which items have been “ticked off” should the user exit the screen mid-way through. On re-entering the screen, the previously selected items will still be selected.

Fast Data Entry

• The posting screens are quick and easy to use. Reports such as bank transfer, bank reconciliation (outstanding cheques selected by a simple point and click operation) are all available directly from the posting screens.
• Electronic posting Chittys may be raised by fee earners and then posted to the ledgers only by the cashier, saving time and errors.
• Seamless integration with other modules in the system provides for full credit control with automatic generation of chasing letters when required.
• Double entry is automatic leading to many powerful reports including VAT, Budget, P&L and Balance Sheet and Fee Earner performance.

The system also calculates interest on all monies held in the Client Account by reference to the bank interest rates, Law Society regulations and clearance periods on cheques. These can be interrogated by fee earners via the accounts enquiry function in the PMS. However, the postings are only available to the cashiers’ department. They can also post multiple matters interest – invaluable for firms controlling trusts. ‘What if?’ hypothetical calculations can also be made.

Powerful Reporting

Included within the package is a range of standard reports with user definable criteria. In addition to these standard reports is the Report Generator. This user friendly tool provides the user with the option to produce customised reports, drawing information from anywhere in the accounts system. Output can be in variable report formats or merged with Word documents or output into Microsoft Excel, and reports can be saved to history and recalled to view at any time.

Other management information includes:

• Unbilled Disbursements, WIP & Debtors Analysis
• Month by month comparison of budgets for this year/last year
• Income & expenditure
• Profit & Loss by branch and department
• Balance Sheet for branches/practice
• Productivity Analysis
• Turnover Analysis
• Variable time input
• Time Sheet Enquiry/Fee earner analysis
• Chargeable and Non-chargeable Activities