Playing "catch up" with transactions

[debbieg]

I have a multi-part question....... Hopefully, I will complete the accounting setup tonight (I did it once but then realized some errors so I restored from a backup and am trying again). I know that I will still have a little massaging to do on the COA after setup is complete.
But after that, what should be my check list or order of tasks? I am starting on a blank slate and want to enter the transactions since Jan.1. I need to do this very quickly because I need to have financial reports ready by our quarterly business meeting on April 7th.

* Is this best way to enter already paid transactions through the Fund Accounting module?
* Do I have to pre-load all my vendors or just do them as I enter each transaction?
* Do I have to have budget info loaded up front or can I do that after the transactions are entered?
* What is the best way to get payroll data in? In other words, I've already paid the employees for 3 months and would want that reflected in the financial reports. but do I have to go through the whole Payroll setup first and run each prior payroll to get the data into the accounting part? If there is a way around it right now, will I be able to go back at some point and put the payroll stuff in properly?

The manual is great at explaining individual tasks but I guess I'm looking for the big picture to take me through the minimum number of steps as quickly as possible. Thanks for any pointers.
Debbie

[JohnDMeyers]

I am going to assume you are using version 11.

* Is this best way to enter already paid transactions through the Fund Accounting module?
-Yes. Put the check number in the REFERENCE field.

* Do I have to pre-load all my vendors or just do them as I enter each transaction?
-In order to save time, enter them as you need them. Also to save time, set the default checking and expense accounts in the Vendor record, at the bottom of the ACCOUNT INFORMATION tab. That information will come in automatically each time you set up the invoice.

* Do I have to have budget info loaded up front or can I do that after the transactions are entered?
-The budget can be entered any time. Do that later.

* What is the best way to get payroll data in? In other words, I've already paid the employees for 3 months and would want that reflected in the financial reports. but do I have to go through the whole Payroll setup first and run each prior payroll to get the data into the accounting part? If there is a way around it right now, will I be able to go back at some point and put the payroll stuff in properly?
-Hmmm. I will tell you how I would do it, but there may be other opinions. I would set up payroll and run it several times, changing the date each time. When you process each payroll, you tell it the beginning and ending dates, and the date of the check. Change this information each time and allow it to run as if it was the actual payroll. When you get to the last screen of each payroll, (I think it's the fifth screen), you have a drop-down box that says "Payment Method". Change it from "Check" to "Manual Check" until you get to the current payroll. "Manual Check" won't generate a computer check, but it will post as if you had generated a check.

The other way is to calculate the total of all the "missed" payrolls and run it once. To me, that is harder than changing the date and running a lot of "normal" payrolls.

Hope that helps.

[debbieg]

Thanks for the input John. I guess I'm going to have to go through all the Payroll setup also. Hope that's not as complicated.
Debbie