Accountants have an enormous responsibility on their shoulders. After all, they must ensure that everyone gets paid, whether it’s employees or partners. Therefore, they need a solution that takes the stress out of their role.
Electronic signature software does just this. It cuts document turnaround time with templates, meaning that accounting processes are finalized much sooner. Business-wise, this also means that deals are closed faster due to less back-and-forth, as there’s no need to print documents and find their recipients one by one. In short, accountants no longer have to swim in paperwork as e-signatures ensure a paperless environment.
However, choosing between providers can be challenging as they tend to offer similar features. As such, when weighing up your options, it’s important to consider a few factors. These include the safety of the software, whether it meets your specific requirements, and whether it can be seamlessly integrated into preexisting accounting systems.
Recommended e-Signature Software for Accountants in 2024
signNow
The software supports accounting with a plethora of templates. Additionally, documents are fully editable, letting users add placeholders for signatures, initials, and payment collection. What’s more, the platform supports custom branding.
signNow’s integrations are also impressive. It integrates with payroll platforms and its sibling US Legal Forms, giving access to state-specific legal documentation.
Another plus of signNow is its pricing – its wallet-friendly subscriptions kick off with a 7-day free trial, and you’re also protected by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Positives |
---|
Negatives |
---|
PandaDoc
For instance, it supports numerous document formats, including DOC, XLS, PPT, and PDF. Whichever you work with, it’s possible to add placeholders for signatures, stamps, and payment collection fields. If that isn’t enough, the e-signature platform has more than 750 forms in its library.
PandaDoc’s integrations are also something to behold, as it works faultlessly with payroll software and payment processing platforms. Also, the Microsoft Word integration unlocks comprehensive text editing.
While PandaDoc is a bit expensive, its prices are reduced by up to 35% with annual billing. To top it off, the software can be fully tested for free for 14 days.
Positives |
---|
Negatives |
---|
Adobe Acrobat Sign
There are custom placeholders for signatures, initials, and payment collection fields, so making a document your own takes minimal effort. In addition, the platform offers the most sought-after templates for accountants, such as I-9, W-4, and W-9 forms.
It’s also worth noting the many integrations on offer. Alongside the Microsoft 365 add-ons, Adobe Acrobat Sign can be linked to Mastercard and the payment processing solutions RevSpring and Braintree.
All this comes with a unique pricing structure, as it’s possible to commit to an annual plan and enjoy a discounted rate while still paying on a monthly basis. Finally, everything Adobe Acrobat Sign has to offer can be tried out free of charge for 30 days.
Positives |
---|
Negatives |
---|
What To Look for in an e-Signature Solution for Accounting
Financial tasks are not to be taken lightly, so accountants must make sure that everything is legally sound. As such, an e-signature platform must be legally binding above all else. Fortunately, documents signed with e-signatures are admissible in court, so this isn’t something you need to check when choosing a provider.
Furthermore, the chosen e-signature platform should come with various document customization options. It must also include advanced signature fields, like one-click payment collection. Failing this, users should be able to enter payment details via text boxes and dropdown menus.
Another essential feature is custom branding, so watermarks can be applied to any document. What’s also vital is that the e-signature platform smoothly integrates with other programs. In particular, it should support software related to accounting, such as payment processing platforms.
Finally, the best electronic signature software is simple to use. It can be off-putting if the program is overwhelming, so its dashboard should be logically designed and the tools easy to find.
Is Electronic Signature Software Safe?
E-signature providers take several steps to ensure data safety. For instance, they must adhere to countless regulations, such as the e-signature acts ESIGN, UETA, and eIDAS, as well as the privacy regulations of the IRS and the GDPR.
Many electronic signature providers also comply with additional regulations, such as HIPAA, Soc 2 Type II, and PCI DSS. Fundamentally, e-signature software protects users with robust security so that both business data and sensitive documents remain safe.
Security measures include two-factor authentication, which is usually used to block unidentified users from accessing accounts and to authenticate recipients. Other means of verification include passwords, knowledge-based verification, and biometric authentication. Additionally, documents leave audit trails, which reveal who opened and signed them.
A trustworthy electronic signature platform also protects individual documents and folders with passwords. In other words, a single document can be secured with two passwords: one for the folder and another for the file itself.
Additional Recommendations for Streamlining Accounting Processes
Using an electronic signature program is another step towards a paperless office. By ditching printing, you save money and put a stop to the endless piles of accounting documents. When making this switch to online software, consider implementing accounting and CRM platforms to truly streamline processes.
Another no-brainer is the need for a consistent project management system that lets you keep up with and prioritize deadlines. Although this may seem daunting at first, an online project management platform can be a game-changer, especially if it also offers budgeting and invoicing tools.
What’s also important is team training. Make sure that everyone is up to date with the latest software developments, be it accounting or e-signature platforms. By taking this step, delays are minimized, and the accounting process is much more accurate since there are fewer mistakes to correct.