finance – Cooper Mann Consulting

September 11, 2025

Transform Your Business with M365’s Integrated Accounting Solution

The Best Alternative to QuickBooks May Be Part of a Fully Integrated Framework You Already Use

When looking at the business accounting and finance systems available in the market – particularly considering those which have earned a level of market share – there are visible gaps – big ones.

This is clearly reflected in the numbers, where Intuit QuickBooks leads in the small business market but has no reciprocal in the midrange or enterprise markets.

QuickBooks fits into that early space where the business is just starting out, but QuickBooks Enterprise can expand to keep more detailed customer, vendor and item information. Yet there often comes a point where a business has requirements that extend beyond the ability of the QuickBooks software.

Sometimes the mere thought of change is so terrible, usually based on a bad initial implementation experience, that the business uses the software far beyond what it was built to handle. In other cases, add-on solutions are adopted which offer more in-depth or complex capabilities to handle the growing business requirements. Both options may prove to be temporary solutions, meeting most functional demands as long as business needs don’t change.

If a change is in order, it makes sense to consider the benefits of using tools built on a familiar platform that is essentially a framework for designing exactly the system the business needs now, and which has flexibility and scalability enough to change as the business changes.

We understand that an integrated framework can provide much more scalability and support than a standalone solution.

We also recognize that, in today’s modern business, creating workflow efficiency and enabling user productivity are paramount.

While many products calling themselves ERP systems offer a broad range of functionality, integration, and data management capability, they often dictate more to the business how it must operate rather than revealing how it might operate.

Instead, we believe every business should have the opportunity to adapt their business software to make it easier for users to accomplish their work effectively while delivering the data and insight to guide the operation forward.

The need is for an entire tech stack and framework, not simply an application.

Competing ERP systems on the market typically address more and increasingly complex business processes while scaling to support larger business sizes. But the cost and complexity of these products, coupled with poor or too-expensive implementation services, is often the barrier to their adoption and retention.

In most cases, there is no small business version of the big business software, so the upgrade path is unclear and problematic.

Given the huge gap between the “typical” small business system and the upper-levels in the enterprise applications catalogue – the transition from very small to very large software is not likely to be made in a single step. Yet businesses can reduce the number of migration steps in the lifecycle of the company by moving to a flexible platform that can adapt and scale with the operation.

There are three things every business does: communicate, produce information, and keep score.

Microsoft places at the top with the first two, providing email and other communication tools used by businesses of all sizes around the globe, and creating the Microsoft Office family of productivity tools recognized and used by just about everyone.

In the third spot, keeping score, Intuit QuickBooks remains the clear winner. But when the business needs something beyond QuickBooks, or desires to have a solution that fits better, and maybe even integrates into their current M365 working environment, we can introduce the stakeholders to M365 Dynamics Business Central.

Business Central is part of the Microsoft 365 family of products.

Business Central is part of the Microsoft 365 family of products and is integrated with Microsoft Outlook directly, as well as the rest of the family of applications.

It is all able to be connected to the Microsoft Fabric, which weaves together the solutions and services that drive business operations around the globe.

Microsoft has the framework to provide the entire stack of applications, services and technologies working seamlessly together to deliver functionality and process support to fit the business and how it works.

When a siloed financial solution no longer supports the business requirement, or as operations become unworkable due to software that no longer fits the needs, connect with the experts at Mendelson Consulting to see what options are available.

There is never just one way to solve a problem, but there is usually a best way.

jm bunny feet Make sense?

June 21, 2023

Preparing Your Business for Exploding Growth

Preparing for exploding growth in a business requires careful planning and strategic decision-making. To develop the information necessary to support these activities, businesses must implement their processes and systems to properly collect the data required. Unfortunately, many organizations fail to develop the systems which will support increased activity and business growth, only recognizing after the fact that the process support and the data they need isn’t there. To prevent being caught off guard with more business demand and not enough organization to support it, follow these recommendations to set the business up for success over the long run.

Set clear goals and adjust as required. You need to know what the business purpose is… the objective you hope to achieve with all this activity. Establish SMART goals – specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. With a set of smart goals and a well-defined objective, the business has a clear direction and a guide to assist in decision-making.

Build infrastructure that is scalable. If the business infrastructure can’t handle increased demand, the business can’t grow effectively. Scalable information technology and software systems, robust production capabilities with adequate human resource availability, and increased efficiency in supply chains will help the business meet increasing demand, while improved reporting and business intelligence helps to anticipate potential bottlenecks, allowing for plans to be developed to address them.

Make sure finance and accounting are set for growth. Strengthen overall financial management and review your financial processes to ensure they can accommodate growth. Implementing the right systems and software is necessary to not just optimize production and operations, but to provide a foundation for establishing sound accounting and financial practices which will help the business secure funding and manage cash flow effectively. A good way to evaluate your preparedness for growth is to prepare financial forecasts and stress tests to gauge your business’s financial resilience under various growth scenarios.

Streamline operations and automate where it makes sense. Evaluation of businesses processes is an ongoing task if your business is to continuously work to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Where opportunities for optimization and improvement exist, consider using automation and technology solutions to help streamline operations and reduce manual effort while remaining focused on enhancing customer experience and satisfaction through streamlined processes and improved service delivery.

Plan for Risk and Contingencies. You should try to identify potential risks and challenges associated with rapid growth, such as increased competition, supply chain disruptions, or changes in customer preferences. Develop contingency plans to mitigate these risks and ensure continuity of the business and operation. It may even make sense to consider diversifying your revenue streams to reduce dependency on a single market or product.

Monitor, adjust and adapt as needed. Key performance indicators (KPIs) should be regularly monitored, as should market trends, to stay informed about your business’s progress and to stay on top of industry developments. Use data analytics and reporting tools to gain insights and make data-driven decisions instead of operating on emotion. The business that plans for growth must remain agile and adaptable, adjusting strategies and operations as needed to accommodate changes in demand as they occur.

Preparation for rapid growth requires a proactive approach and continuous evaluation of your business’s readiness. Regularly reassess your strategies, make necessary adjustments, and stay focused on delivering value to customers as you scale.

Mendelson Consulting and the Noobeh cloud services teams are advisors and consultants with expertise in scaling businesses, and can provide valuable insights, guidance, and support throughout the growth process and beyond.

jm bunny feet Make Sense?

June 14, 2023

Good and Proper Accounting for Small Business

There are many reasons why a small business needs to have quality accounting, and it isn’t just about the cash. Especially when a business is small or growing, a strong financial management and reporting process will benefit the business in a number of important ways. Managing the cashflow and keeping money in the bank to cover payroll and inventory is critical, but good accounting data helps support better decision-making for more than just cash management.

Accounting and financial systems help small businesses keep track of their financial performance. This includes monitoring income and expenses (money in and money out) and creating financial statements. By having accurate and up-to-date financial information, small businesses can make informed decisions about how to allocate resources and grow the business.

Tax compliance is another area where good accounting data is essential. Small businesses are required to file taxes just like larger ones, and proper recordkeeping helps small businesses stay compliant with tax laws and regulations and to avoid penalties and fines.
Securing funding for operations and growth is another area where quality accounting data is critical. Banks and investors usually require financial statements and other financial information before providing any funding. By having accurate and well-organized financial records, small businesses can demonstrate their financial health and increase their chances of securing funding.

Knowing more about the business is always helpful, but being able to look at trends and understand what the numbers indicate is the real power. From budgeting and forecasting to identifying and reducing areas of risk, accounting data is the foundation for developing a true understanding of business activity and performance and finding ways to improve.

Track business performance, remain compliant with taxes, and get funding or investment when it’s needed. With good and proper accounting supporting management decisions, decisions become more informed and relevant and are likely to bring a better result.

jm bunny feet Make Sense?

January 31, 2023

Cloud Platforms for Client Data Help Reduce Workload Compression in Accounting and Finance

Accounting professionals have always viewed much of their work as being seasonal, waxing and waning with the turn of the months. From monthlies and quarterlies to the annual tax return, accountants’ work is focused as much on when as it is how much work must be completed. This regularity in the timing of the work has created somewhat of a false barrier to efficiency, largely because many professionals wait for the workload to appear, and it always appears at the last minute. Instead, we suggest leveraging technology to create new working models with clients to alleviate workload compression and deliver improved service and insight in real time, when it really matters.

Accounting is no longer considered to be a final resting place for financial and performance information. Accounting isn’t passive; it is an active participant in developing and managing data as it flows through a business. Professionals who continue to perform write-up and other time-consuming “re-accounting” tasks will often find that their approach removes them from the truly interesting part of the job. Instead, when the professional participates with their clients’ businesses and information on a regular basis, the accounting data can be adjusted so it is treated properly from the start. Better data provides for more informed decision making, and this is the real benefit the accountant can deliver.

The key for every accounting professional is the technology and how it might be applied to decompress the workload and even things out. Structuring standard processes for client intake, implementing workflow tools to closely manage data and deliverables, and improving the speed and quality of internal communications are all areas where tech can make the work more consistent and manageable. Much focus can be placed on the technologies a modern accounting firm would apply to its own workflows and data handling processes, yet there is often little consideration for how the accounting professional might maximize efficiency as well as effectiveness in working with the client data at the source.

Most fundamentally, accountants typically work in places where the client or data is not. Business is done at the business location, and that’s usually not where the public accountant is. Even in large enterprise, the work gets done and data created by others than those in finance, so it is up to finance to find the way to gain access to the data and ensure its proper treatment throughout the system. This is among the reasons for the emergence of remote access solutions and services. Through remote access the professional can access the information of the client businesses, performing data entry or adjustments directly into the client’s accounting system and avoid lengthy reviews and write-ups later.

While remote access solutions may work for some, the time-sharing approach that leaves the client waiting while the accountant does the work does little to maximize the efficiency of either party. Instead, an online working model that allows the client and the accounting professional to work independently yet collaboratively addresses the needs of both.

Online working models in no way require web-based or online applications as the sole foundation. For many operations, online or web-based versions of accounting and line-of-business applications lack the cohesion and functionality that more robust desktop and network applications can provide. Where some businesses have limited functional requirements that a simpler online app may meet, others continue to rely on the maturity and proven functionality of desktop solutions. For these businesses, the adoption of virtual IT platforms brings the “online” working model, system agility and managed service potential that are at the center of web-app popularity.

Once the accounting professional has access to the clients’ systems as well as the data they produce, the accountant can take a more proactive approach to correction and adjustment, as well as gaining a basis for providing insight and advice. The after-the-fact approach to accounting is the essential flaw in attempting to decompress the workload of an accounting practice. As long as the tabulation and treatment of business data remains a job to be completed at the end of the period, there will always be urgency in completing the task and the value of the work product is unlikely to increase.

However, through the intelligent application of technology – online application services and virtual computing platforms – accounting professionals can not only help their clients embrace transformative efforts to improve business and performance, but the accountant can relieve workload compression while delivering even greater value on a continuous basis.

jm bunny feet Make Sense?

April 16, 2021

Finance Department Participation in Supply Chain Management

When most businesses approach Supply Chain Management, the focus is on the item or product – the physical thing that ultimately gets delivered somewhere, somehow. What many businesses do not consider is that the orchestration and timing of “supply chain” activities can have significant impacts on financial performance, reporting and cash flow. The current processes could just be working just “okay”, and not delivering the financial benefit that might be obtained through modernization of technologies and transformations in approaches. The key is to get the right people involved.

One big aspect of seeking to integrate electronic commerce and collaboration with customers, suppliers and payment services is the recognition that supply chain activities involving orders, invoices, payments, and remittances are directly related to finances, revenue recognition and cash management.

For any project to be successful, it should include execs from both the supply chain and finance areas so that all concerns relating to event timing may be addressed to allow proper treatment in the financial statements. After all, the same things that trigger supply chain activities (orders etc) are the same documents which drive finance. When the information is accurate and timely, and when the inefficient manual processes can be replaced with electronic workflows, the business is best positioned to improve cash flow and overall financial performance as well as business value.

Unfortunately, few business owners have a real understanding of the costs associated with manual entry activities and how the direct financial impacts they have. The speed and accuracy of processing orders and invoicing customers means faster cash in, and leveraging the speed of electronic data interchange with suppliers so that “just in time” orders may be placed and logistics processes more fully enabled means cash out when necessary and not ahead of time.

“… using a digital transaction for payments allowed [businesses] to hold on to cash longer and better control the timing of the release of funds, something more difficult to control when mailing a physical check. Check fraud remains rampant across many industries. According to an AFP payment fraud and control survey, 70% of U.S. organizations reported check fraud in 2019, responsible for more than $18 billion in losses.” –

source: What Every CFO Needs to Know About Supply Chains; Study published by DiCentral and Lehigh University; 2012

For example, there are many studies which show that purchase orders that are not sent digitally are most often manually processed, and that this manual processing may be done by any number of departments in the company – but most often the job falls to finance. Rather than looking to eliminate the manual entry of data and the errors and delays that come along with it, businesses execs first looked to where the lowest labor cost rests and had them handle the extra data input.

A digital strategy that transforms inefficient manual process into efficient electronic workflows is the better solution. While many companies have approached streamlining of activities by exchanging manual entry operations for data file formatting and imports, they still have not solved the problem as would be with an integration that takes even less human time and effort.

The real goal of any business improvement effort is to improve overall business value. By bringing in finance along with supply chain execs to the “digital transformation” discussion, the business is much better positioned to make real progress in areas that directly impact cash performance as well as long-term business value. It comes down to having all the information and being able to weigh the risks against the potential rewards to be gained from the contemplated changes.

jm bunny feet Make Sense?

July 14, 2015

Formula for Success: The Cloud and a Pair of Bunny Slippers

drawn-bunny-slippers Information technology and the “cloud” is amazing. With the right IT resources and connectivity, individuals and small businesses are able to compete at global levels with much larger organizations, and are proving that placing focus and attention on the right aspects of the business helps the business perform better. The right IT approach is to use technology to make the business smarter so more gets done in less time and with fewer resources – this is wearing the bunny slippers. The goal is leveraging systems, software and connectivity to be more efficient and effective, creating the time to stop and think for a while, innovate, or simply relax.

Too often the business owners or managers are tending to computers and systems which simply support status quo and aren’t spending their quality time growing and managing the business – getting more clients, creating new products, rising above the competition. Cloud computing models play a big part in changing that standard, supporting new levels of business sustainability and supporting process improvements never before imagined.

Cloud computing is now integral to many business technology models because the potential benefits are great. Cloud computing solutions and outsourced information technology management allow businesses to focus on what they do best, and not on the IT supporting it. These solutions and services are in high demand because they allow businesses to scale easily and affordably, paying only for what is needed at the time. Improved collaboration and centralized access to applications and data make cloud computing models an important consideration for every business.

I’m not the only one who recognizes how beneficial the right IT approach and anytime/anywhere access can be. Others have recognized the freedom and flexibility these new technology models have enabled… and know the value of a pair of bunny slippers.

Joanie Mann Bunny Feet Make Sense?

Doing Business In Bunny Slippers Around The Globe.

Susan Solovic

When I first started my business, like many start-up operations, I decided to work from home.

I equipped an empty bedroom with a card table for a desk, cardboard boxes for filing cabinets and my dogs served as my office assistants. Voila! I was ready to roll, and it was great.

I could go to work in my fuzzy pink robe and bunny slippers. After all, no one other than the dogs would know.

Start-up business operations are always strapped for cash. It’s much less expensive to conduct business from your home than to rent commercial office space. And thanks to the Internet and technology home-based businesses can easily become international enterprises.

Read more at http://www.business2community.com/startups/doing-business-in-bunny-slippers-around-the-globe-01252506