Find a Sage Accountants Network member and benefit from the expertise of a consultant.

We know that financial management programs can be confusing, which is why we have a network of Certified Consultants to help you acquire the right software and skills for your business.

Here's the information about how to look for a Certified Consultant, certification levels and qualifications, answers to the most frequently asked questions, and questions you may ask to find the right accountant, bookkeeper, or consultant for your business.

Why work with a Certified Consultant?
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Why work with a Certified Consultant?

Working with a member of the Sage Accountants Network can kick-start your setup process and maximize your growth potential at every stage of your business life cycle. A Certified Consultant is a Sage Accountants Network member with training and certification!

Getting started

A Certified Consultant will help you make the right software choice, will get you set up, and will provide you with the training and reassurance you’re after that you are in fact getting started the right way.

Daily operations

A Certified Consultant will advise you on accounting principles that extend beyond the software and are applicable for your specific business. They work with you to ensure that both the software and your internal business processes are working in cohesion to deliver the desired outcome for your business.

Managing and growth

A Certified Consultant will help you maximize the software for efficiencies, will help you implement new functionality when needed, and will leverage the reporting (both canned and custom) to give you the analytics required to maximize your growth and profitability.

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Certification levels
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Certification Levels

Certified Consultants go through training and a rigorous testing process to ensure they are qualified to consult at the level they have reached. Each level of certification introduces new concepts and skills.

To understand the training background and Sage-tested qualifications to consult on Sage 50 Accounting (formerly Simply Accounting), we have created this easy-to-read chart, which outlines topics covered in the various certification levels.

Qualifications

  • Platinum

  • Gold

  • Bronze

 
General Ledger—Build/edit chart of accounts
 
Accounts Receivable—Customers, sales, and receipts
 
Accounts Payable—suppliers, invoices, and payments
 
Payroll—Paycheques, gov’t. remittances, T-4s, and ROEs
 
Inventory—Add/adjust items, and services
 
Projects—Create jobs and report on costing
 
Time and Billing—Invoice customers for employee time
 
Banking—Enter deposits, transfers, and reconciliations
 
Department—Separate company into divisions
 
Budgets—Compare income and expenses/project to budget
 
User security—Assign access rights and permissions
 
Multicurrency—Record transactions in foreign currency
 
Periodic maintenance—Month- and year-end procedures
 
Report customization—Add logo, modify forms
 
Network setup and firewall troubleshooting
 
Account reconciliation—Bank, credit card, payroll
 
Importing and exporting data with Microsoft Excel
 
Advanced inventory—FIFO and serialized items
 
Integrated services—Credit card processing and direct deposit
 
Database management and maintenance
 
Possess/eligible for “Sage Certified Trainer” credentials
 
Sage 50 Intelligence Reporting—Recurring Excel reports
 
Sage 50 Development Partner program
 
Sage 100 and 300 ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solutions
 
Creating a value proposition and the basics of project management

Platinum qualifications
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  • General Ledger—Build/edit chart of accounts
  • Accounts Receivable—Customers, sales, and receipts
  • Accounts Payable—suppliers, invoices, and payments
  • Payroll—Paycheques, gov’t. remittances, T-4s, and ROEs
  • Inventory—Add/adjust items, and services
  • Projects—Create jobs and report on costing
  • Time and Billing—Invoice customers for employee time
  • Banking—Enter deposits, transfers, and reconciliations
  • Department—Separate company into divisions
  • Budgets—Compare income and expenses/project to budget
  • User security—Assign access rights and permissions
  • Multicurrency—Record transactions in foreign currency
  • Periodic maintenance—Month- and year-end procedures
  • Report customization—Add logo, modify forms
  • Network setup and firewall troubleshooting
  • Account reconciliation—Bank, credit card, payroll
  • Importing and exporting data with Microsoft Excel
  • Advanced inventory—FIFO and serialized items
  • Integrated services—Credit card processing and direct deposit
  • Database management and maintenance
  • Possess/eligible for “Sage Certified Trainer” credentials
  • Sage 50 Intelligence Reporting—Recurring Excel reports
  • Sage 50 Development Partner program
  • Sage 100 and 300 ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solutions
  • Creating a value proposition and the basics of project management

Gold qualifications
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  • General Ledger—Build/edit chart of accounts
  • Accounts Receivable—Customers, sales, and receipts
  • Accounts Payable—suppliers, invoices, and payments
  • Payroll—Paycheques, gov’t. remittances, T-4s, and ROEs
  • Inventory—Add/adjust items, and services
  • Projects—Create jobs and report on costing
  • Time and Billing—Invoice customers for employee time
  • Banking—Enter deposits, transfers, and reconciliations
  • Department—Separate company into divisions
  • Budgets—Compare income and expenses/project to budget
  • User security—Assign access rights and permissions
  • Mult-currency—Record transactions in foreign currency
  • Periodic maintenance—Month- and year-end procedures
  • Report customization—Add logo, modify forms
  • Network setup and firewall troubleshooting
  • Account reconciliation—Bank, credit card, payroll
  • Importing and exporting data with Microsoft Excel
  • Advanced inventory—FIFO and serialized items
  • Integrated services—Credit card processing and direct deposit
  • Database management and maintenance
  • Possess/eligible for “Sage Certified Trainer” credentials
  • Sage 50 Intelligence Reporting—Recurring Excel reports
  • Sage 50 Development Partner program
  • Sage 100 and 300 ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solutions
  • Creating a value proposition and the basics of project management
 

Bronze qualifications
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  • General Ledger—Build/edit chart of accounts
  • Accounts Receivable—Customers, sales, and receipts
  • Accounts Payable—suppliers, invoices, and payments
  • Payroll—Paycheques, gov’t. remittances, T-4s, and ROEs
  • Inventory—Add/adjust items, and services
  • Projects—Create jobs and report on costing
  • Time and Billing—Invoice customers for employee time
  • Banking—Enter deposits, transfers, and reconciliations
  • Department—Separate company into divisions
  • Budgets—Compare income and expenses/project to budget
  • User security—Assign access rights and permissions
  • Multicurrency—Record transactions in foreign currency
  • Periodic maintenance—Month- and year-end procedures
  • Report customization—Add logo, modify forms
  • Network setup and firewall troubleshooting
  • Account reconciliation—Bank, credit card, payroll
  • Importing and exporting data with Microsoft Excel
  • Advanced inventory—FIFO and serialized items
  • Integrated services—Credit card processing and direct deposit
  • Database management and maintenance
  • Possess/eligible for “Sage Certified Trainer” credentials
  • Sage 50 Intelligence Reporting—Recurring Excel reports
  • Sage 50 Development Partner program
  • Sage 100 and 300 ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) solutions
  • Creating a value proposition and the basics of project management
 

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FAQ
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FAQ

These questions are commonly asked by customers looking for a consultant, whether they are just new to accounting software or if they’re looking for growth and profitability guidance from an expert.

I already subscribe to Sage Business Care. Why should I pay more to work with a Certified Consultant?

Sage Business Care can provide software support, product updates, and current Payroll Tax Table assistance.

A Certified Consultant can assist you hands-on with:

Setup: You want to make sure you and your staff are using your Sage 50 software correctly and that everyone is trained to utilize all the relevant features. A certified consultant can help verify the system is set up properly, organize the workflow, and standardize procedures to maximize productivity.

Operations: Your record keeping is not producing the information required to move your company forward, and/or you're looking for a more proactive day-to-day business relationship with an accounting professional. Certified Consultants can provide accounting advice and suggest methods to improve bookkeeping.

Managing: You would like to know if upgrading to a higher version of the software will solve some of your issues (handling transactions electronically, client relationship management, reporting problems). Certified Consultants can provide insight into what products are available to enhance your Sage 50 software.

How much does a consultant (certified or not) charge?

Rates vary depending on level of certification and years of experience. Ask your prospective consultant for a breakdown of his or her pricing.

Why should I work with a Certified Consultant?

All Sage Accountants Network members are accounting and bookkeeping professionals who have varying degrees of expertise and knowledge supporting clients using Sage 50 Accounting. Certified Consultants have taken their membership to the next level by completing training and an assessment process to provide the best experience for their clients. Certified Consultants have proven their working knowledge of Sage 50—and other Sage products that can accelerate your cashflow and money management—through training and a testing process.

Learn more about the Sage Certified Consultant levels.

How do I find a Certified Consultant in my area?

Use the partner locator tool to find a partner in your area. Set the parameters of the search to the proximity of the consultant you wish to find. Certified Consultants will rank higher in your search results than uncertified Sage Accountants Network members.

Note: Many Certified Consultants utilize web tools that allow them to gain remote access to your computer. This allows them to connect with clients all over Canada. Consider this option when searching for a consultant.

How do I find the right Certified Consultant for my business?

Interview prospective consultants, like you would any vendor you are hiring. Consider asking the following questions.

  1. Do you understand my needs, project/goals?
  2. How long have you been doing this?
  3. Do you have the expertise and skill sets required to help me with this?
  4. Can you give me an outline of how you plan to accomplish this?
  5. Do you have sufficient time/resources to take my company on?
  6. When do you want this accomplished by (completion date)?