# Key Accounting Software Features | Capterra > Checking out key accounting software features before investing in an accounting tool? Read about the five accounting software features users rate as most important. Source: https://www.capterra.com/resources/key-accounting-software-features --- Accounting BasicsFinance & Accounting # 5 Key Accounting Software Features and Top Products That Offer Them By Shephalii Kapoor Shephalii Kapoor Writer Experience I’ve been writing for Capterra since September 2021, providing expert insights to help small businesses find the right software solutions. ... [See bio & all articles](https://www.capterra.com/resources/author/skapoor/) Published March 14, 2023 6 min read Table of Contents - [1\. Financial reporting](#1-financial-reporting) - [2\. General ledger](#2-general-ledger) - [3\. Bank reconciliation](#3-bank-reconciliation) - [4\. Expense tracking](#4-expense-tracking) - [5\. Billing and invoicing](#5-billing-and-invoicing) ## A list of key accounting software features to help make software selection easier for small businesses. Are you an accounting manager dealing with multiple tasks, such as generating financial statements, invoices, and expense management—all at the same time? If yes, we understand that staying on top of all your responsibilities can be both time-consuming and taxing. To prevent hurdles and manage your accounting tasks efficiently, you need to understand the key features of an [accounting solution](https://www.capterra.com/accounting-software/) that can help you derive the best out of your software purchase. This article highlights five crucial features of accounting software based on the ratings given by verified software users. We also include the highest-rated accounting software solutions for each feature. [Read more](#methodology). ## 1\. Financial reporting Financial reporting in accounting software allows users to generate financial statements and reports, including balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements. The feature may also include the ability to customize the existing report templates, create reports for specific date ranges, and export data for detailed analysis. ### What business problem does financial reporting solve? Financial reporting enables users to monitor key financial data, such as net profit margin, gross profit margin, and inventory turnover that can aid financial planning and budgeting. With this feature, you can generate necessary reports that can be used for compliance and auditing purposes.  ### Ideal users of the financial reporting feature If you are a financial analyst or a business manager looking to track the financial position of the business and make informed decisions, you can benefit the most from the financial reporting feature. It can provide you with a clear picture of your organization’s financial health, including the cash flow, liquidity, profitability, and outstanding liabilities of the business. ### Top 3 products with the highest ratings for financial reporting _\*Analysis performed January 2023_ #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Financial reporting feature rating 4.88/5 #### Device Compatibilty Error Could not fetch Product Information #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Financial reporting feature rating 4.62/5 #### Device Compatibilty ## 2\. General ledger General ledger functionality helps you to create and maintain an online version of a general ledger/trial balance sheet. Users can track financial data, such as fixed assets, liabilities, equity, and expenses. The general ledger can be used as a source for other financial statements, including the balance sheet, and to identify inconsistencies in your accounts. ### What business problem does the general ledger solve? Manual accounting, including general ledger maintenance, can be a time-consuming process that is also prone to inaccuracies. Automating the process via accounting software can help businesses overcome these challenges and provides for increased efficiency and accuracy.  The general ledger feature in accounting software offers a central place to record, track, and manage financial transactions, such as sales, purchases, and payments. Businesses can create accurate financial forecasts, comply with financial regulations, and ensure that the financial data is up to date. ### Ideal users of the general ledger feature An accountant looking for an organized system to record and track financial transactions, or a financial manager looking to create accurate budget forecasts, can benefit the most from the general ledger feature in an accounting tool. Other than these, a small business owner can also leverage this feature to monitor the financial performance of the business. ### Top 3 products with the highest ratings for general ledger _\*Analysis performed January 2023_ #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### General ledger feature rating 4.91/5 #### Device Compatibilty #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### General ledger feature rating 4.63/5 #### Device Compatibilty Error Could not fetch Product Information ## 3\. Bank reconciliation The bank reconciliation feature of accounting software allows users to compare and match their financial records with the corresponding bank statements. It typically includes tools for securely importing bank transactions from multiple bank accounts, categorizing transactions to facilitate reconciliation, and making necessary adjustments wherever required. ### What business problem does bank reconciliation solve? Manual bank reconciliation involves several challenges, including the lack of real-time access and limited reporting capabilities. The bank reconciliation feature in an accounting tool allows real-time access to bank account transactions, including deposits and withdrawals that can be used to reconcile entries with increased efficiency. You can use this feature to make necessary financial adjustments and generate necessary reports in real time. ### Ideal users of the bank reconciliation feature If you are a bookkeeper who needs to reconcile bank statements and identify discrepancies between the bank and business cash books, the bank reconciliation feature can be of immense help to you. Likewise, a financial manager who needs to review financial statements and ensure that the records are up-to-date can also benefit from this feature. ### Top 3 products with the highest ratings for bank reconciliation _\*Analysis performed January 2023_ #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Bank reconciliation feature rating 4.85/5 #### Device Compatibilty #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Bank reconciliation feature rating 4.50/5 #### Device Compatibilty #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Bank reconciliation feature rating 4.46/5 #### Device Compatibilty ## 4\. Expense tracking The expense tracking feature helps accounting professionals record and track business expenses, including purchases, wages, salaries, and other costs associated with running a business. The feature typically includes the ability to input and categorize expenses and generate reports to track expenditures over time. ### What business problem does expense tracking solve? Expense tracking makes it easier for businesses to monitor their expenses and have a better understanding of their current cash flow. It helps them identify areas where they need to cut costs, maximize savings, and become more organized concerning financial matters. The feature also enables business owners to detect and prevent suspicious activities by providing them with a clear overview of all expenses. ### Ideal users of the expense tracking feature This feature is specifically beneficial for small business owners who need to be vigilant of their expenses and stay on top of their finances. It can also benefit financial managers who are looking to track business spending, identify cost-saving opportunities, and ensure compliance with accounting standards and company policies. ### Top 3 products with the highest ratings for expense tracking _\*Analysis performed January 2023_ #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Expense tracking feature rating 4.91/5 #### Device Compatibilty Error Could not fetch Product Information #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Expense tracking feature rating 4.56/5 #### Device Compatibilty ## 5\. Billing and invoicing Billing and invoicing functionality automate invoice generation for the rendered goods and services. In accounting systems, the billing and invoicing feature enables users to generate invoices using customizable templates, set up recurring invoices for regular clients, track the status of invoices, and generate sales and revenue reports. ### What business problem does billing and invoicing solve? The billing and invoicing feature in accounting systems streamline the invoicing process, leading to more accurate and efficient billing. It typically offers automatic calculation of taxes that reduces the risk of errors associated with manual calculations. Users can also use this feature to track the payment status of pending invoices, thereby ensuring that they are paid on time.  ### Ideal users of the billing and invoicing feature If you are an independent accounting professional, the billing and invoicing feature can help you create and share professional-looking invoices with customers. You can also use this feature to set up recurring billing schedules for specific clients and track paid, outstanding, and overdue invoices. ### Top 3 products with the highest ratings for billing and invoicing _\*Analysis performed January 2023_ #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Billing and invoicing feature rating 4.63/5 #### Device Compatibilty #### Trial/Free Version - Free Trial - Free Version #### Billing and invoicing feature rating 4.61/5 #### Device Compatibilty Error Could not fetch Product Information ## Capterra's 2026 Software Buying Trends Report ### Download our 2026 Software Buying Trends Report to see how successful software adopters avoid disappointment and how your business can, too. * * * **Methodology** **Key features:** To identify the key features for this article, we asked users to rate, on a scale of “low importance” to “critical,” how important different features are for accounting software. The features showcased are those that the highest percentage of reviewers rated as “highly important” or “critical.” **Feature eligibility:** To be included in the set of features considered, a given feature had to have at least 200 user ratings, of which at least 20% must indicate the feature is “critical.” Eligible features were determined from two sources:  1. Our research team’s review of public information about accounting software usage, definitions, and associated features  2. Reviewers’ indication of the features they use for accounting. **Product selection:** To identify the top-rated products per feature, we evaluated user ratings for products that offer each feature. For a given product, reviewers rate each feature on a scale of one to five stars. A given product had to have at least 20 user ratings (between January 2021-23) for the feature in question to be considered. * * * Looking for Accounting software?Check out Capterra's list of the [best Accounting software](https://www.capterra.com/accounting-software/) solutions. ### Was this article helpful? * * * ## About the Author [### Shephalii Kapoor](https://www.capterra.com/resources/author/skapoor/) Shephalii Kapoor is a writer at Capterra. 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