We have been looking at the accounting for PC and are just now getting ready to start it up for 2014.
To start it do we enter Jan as our starting date or should we use March (since we are almost out of Feb) and just enter lump sums for outstanding checks/deposits? And how do we enter the payroll info into that as well, or do we do that after we get the accounting set up? Any info/suggestions are MUCH appreciated! We are coming from QB so we are still learning the ropes here
It will be quicker to begin in March, but tell PowerChurch that your year begins in January.
I wouldn't enter outstanding checks and balances as a lump sum. I would simply skip entering them.
Enter all the beginning balances as of 3/1/14 and go all the way through the setup wizard (you can skip a lot of things after the beginning balances are entered, and enter them later).
After you are up and running, if an outstanding check or deposit clears the bank, simply enter it as a manual check (a manual check will not require the printer to print a check) in Accounts Payable and post it in AP and Fund Accounting.
For Payroll, it is pretty easy to catch up the entire year. It will take an hour or so to setup Payroll, anyway, so the setup time is not increased. Once Payroll is setup, go to Payroll / Process Payroll
The first screen allows you change the payroll period dates. Put in your first Payroll dates for the year. Change the check date to be inside that payroll period.
On the last screen before you print the checks (I think it is the 5th menu screen), you can change the Payment Method from CHECK to MANUAL CHECK. Do this for each employee and click FINISH. Post, and repeat until you are current with payroll. It won't take long after you have done the setup.
You can watch my PowerChurch tutorials now on YouTube!
Some additional advice is to have the Powerchurch Manual handy as you do this, as it will answer a lot of the questions you may have while running the Payroll setup.
If you don't have a copy of the manual handy, press the <F1> key and context ready help will pop up. Basically, what the help contains is the printed manual.
