Xero vs. Excel
What you'll learn
- Recognize the fundamental concepts and tools in Xero and Excel for efficient transaction processing, adjustments, and bank reconciliations.
- Identify the differences and similarities in the handling of sales, expense, and payroll cycles between Xero and Excel.
- Interpret the results of different accounting processes performed in both Xero and Excel.
- Apply the learned concepts to conduct practical data input for two months in Xero and Excel.
- Illustrate each transaction recorded in Xero within an Excel accounting worksheet.
- Analyze the results of adjusting entries, closing entries, and bank reconciliations in Xero and Excel.
- Compare the efficiency and effectiveness of Xero and Excel for various accounting tasks.
- Create an optimized workflow for handling daily, monthly, and annual accounting tasks across both Xero and Excel.
- Evaluate the pros and cons of using Xero and Excel for accounting purposes, with a focus on transparency and control.
- Formulate strategies to leverage the strengths of both Xero and Excel in managing accounting tasks.
- Synthesize knowledge gained to optimize the use of Xero and Excel in real-world accounting scenarios.
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of Xero and Excel by solving complex accounting problems.
- Argue the benefits and drawbacks of manual data input in Excel versus automated processing in Xero.
- Design a personalized accounting process flow utilizing the strengths of both Xero and Excel.
Requirements
- Basic Understanding of Accounting: Students should have a fundamental understanding of accounting principles such as debits and credits, the accounting equation, financial statements, and the purpose of adjusting and closing entries.
- Familiarity with Excel: Some basic knowledge of Excel would be beneficial, as it will be used extensively for comparison with Xero. This includes simple data entry, and basic formulas and functions.
- Access to a Computer with Internet: This is an online course that includes software demonstrations, so you will need a reliable computer with a stable internet connection to access the course materials and complete the tasks.
- Time Commitment: The course is designed to be comprehensive and hands-on. Ensure that you can dedicate sufficient time to fully engage with the course content and complete the tasks and exercises.
- Open Mind and Willingness to Learn: While this is not a 'hard' prerequisite, coming into the course with a positive attitude and a readiness to learn will greatly enhance your experience and outcomes.
Description
This course is your guide to navigating the intricate workings of accounting software through an in-depth analysis of Xero and a detailed comparison with Excel. By the end of this course, you will not only have a firm grasp of the processes that underpin Xero Accounting Software, but you'll also understand the unique advantages of data input in Excel that give you a transparent, behind-the-scenes look at accounting transactions.
The first half of this course is dedicated to immersing you in the Xero software environment. We will break down the complexities of the software and guide you through its various features and functionalities. In this section, we will analyze the common data input forms and processes across various cycles such as the sales cycle, expense cycle, and payroll cycle. By correlating these processes with Excel, we will explore how these cycles work in an accounting environment, offering a comprehensive comparison between Xero's automated processes and manual data input in Excel in journal entry format.
Throughout this journey, we'll dive deep into the principles of accounting and see them in action. We'll examine how transactions are recorded, posted, and reported in both Xero and Excel, comparing their similarities and differences, and exploring their respective strengths and weaknesses.
The second half of the course is more hands-on and focused on practical application. Here, we'll tackle a comprehensive problem, simulating two months of data input in Xero, paralleling each transaction in our Excel accounting worksheet. This problem will put your learning to the test and deepen your understanding of both Xero and Excel.
During this process, we'll go step by step through various accounting procedures, such as making adjustments and processing closing entries. We'll also delve into bank reconciliation, a crucial task in the world of accounting, comparing how it's handled in Xero versus Excel. Through these practical exercises, you will learn to perform these critical accounting tasks in both environments confidently.
By the end of this course, you will have a robust understanding of Xero Accounting Software's functions, its comparison with manual data input in Excel, and the ability to effectively apply these tools in accounting situations. Whether you're a student trying to get to grips with accounting software or a professional aiming to boost your efficiency and understanding of accounting processes, this course is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills you need.
So, are you ready to take your accounting knowledge to the next level? Enroll today and embark on a journey to master Xero and Excel in accounting. Your journey to understanding and mastering modern accounting tools begins here.
Who this course is for:
- Accounting and Finance Students: If you're studying accounting or finance and want to understand how theoretical accounting principles apply in modern accounting software, this course is for you. It's also great if you want to add practical software skills to your resume.
- Early-Career Accountants: If you're starting your career in accounting and need to understand how different accounting software processes transactions and how these processes compare to manual journal entry, this course will provide valuable insights.
- Bookkeepers and Accounting Professionals: If you're an established professional looking to broaden your skills and understanding of different tools, this course can provide a new perspective. Especially if you want to understand how Xero compares to traditional Excel-based accounting.
- Small Business Owners: If you manage your own accounting and are considering using Xero or want to understand what's happening 'under the hood' of your accounting software, this course will give you the knowledge you need.
- Anyone Interested in Accounting Software: If you're simply curious about accounting software and want a comprehensive understanding of how they work, this course will give you that in-depth knowledge, using Xero and Excel as case studies.
Instructor
- 4.4 Instructor Rating
- 57,474 Reviews
- 968,776 Students
- 163 Courses
Through working with students from many different schools, Mr. Steele has learned best practices for helping people understand accounting fast. Learning new skills and finding the best way to share knowledge with people who can benefit from it is a passion of his.
Mr. Steele has experience working as a practicing Certified Public Accountant (CPA), an accounting and business instructor, and curriculum developer. He has enjoyed putting together quality tools to improve learning and has been teaching, making instructional resources, and building curriculum since 2009. He has been a practicing CPA since 2005. Mr. Steele is a practicing CPA, has a Certified Post-Secondary Instructor (CPI) credential, a Master of Science in taxation from Golden Gate University, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Economics with an emphasis in accounting from The University of California Santa Barbara, and a Global Management Accounting Designation (CGMA) from The American Institute of CPA (AICPA).
Mr. Steele has also authored five books that can be found on Amazon or in audiobook format on Audible. He has developed bestselling courses in accounting topics including financial accounting and QuickBooks accounting software.
In addition to working as an accountant, teaching, and developing courses Mr. Steele has helped create an accounting website at accountinginstruction, a YouTube channel called Accounting Instruction, Help, and How Too, and has developed supplemental resources including a Facebook Page, Twitter Page, and Podcasts that can be found on I-tunes, Stitcher, or Soundcloud. Mr. Steele's teaching philosophy is to make content applicable, understandable, and accessible.
Adult learners are looking for application when they learn new skills. In other words, learners want to be able to apply skills in the real world to help their lives. Mr. Steele’s formal accounting education, practical work experience, and substantial teaching experience allow him to create a curriculum that combines traditional accounting education with practical knowledge and application. He accomplishes the goals of making accounting useful and applicable by combining theory with real-world software like Excel and QuickBooks.
Many courses teach QuickBooks data entry or Excel functions but are not providing the real value learners want. Real value is a result of learning technical skills like applications, in conjunction with specific goals, like accounting goals, including being able to interpret the performance of a business.
Mr. Steele makes knowledge understandable by breaking down complex concepts into smaller units with specific objectives and using step by step learning processes to understand each unit. Many accounting textbooks cram way too much information into a course, making it impossible to understand any unit fully. By breaking the content down into digestible chunks, we can move forward much faster.
Mr. Steele also makes use of color association in both presentations and Excel worksheets, a learning tool often overlooked in the accounting field, but one that can vastly improve the speed and comprehension of learning accounting concepts.
The material is also made understandable through the application of concepts learned. Courses will typically demonstrate the accounting concepts and then provide an Excel worksheet or practice problems to work through the concepts covered. The practice problems will be accompanied by an instructional video to work through the problem in step by step format. Excel worksheets will be preformatted, usually including an answer tab that shows the completed problem, and a practice tab where learners can complete the problem along with a step by step presentation video.
Mr. Steele makes learning accounting accessible by making use of technology and partnering with teaching platforms that have a vision of spreading knowledge like Udemy.