Vitaliy:

Software is an infinitely debatable issue and since you're the boss, they
use what you select.  There are usually migration packages for cutovers such
as (And I am not advocating this product ... but taken from a competitors
website):

"Q: Can I convert from QuickBooksR, One Write Plus, or DacEasy? [ Top ]

A: Yes, converting your information from another product is easy. Peachtree
offers a conversion wizard only for QuickBooks to walk you through the
steps, allowing you to get up and running in no time. Peachtree supports
conversions from QuickBooks version 2004 - 2007 Basic through Enterprise;
One Write Plus (version 8) and DacEasy (versions 11, 12, 13 or 14)."

Anyway, I really don't want to get hung up on software.

As for the person you are looking for in a 10 person organization, besides
the obvious get-up-and-go, I'd look for someone with integrity, some
college, a few years Bookkeeping and Accounting experience in a
small-business (10 - 30 people). Keeps records of financial transactions,
using calculator and computer: Verifies, allocates, and posts details of
business transactions to subsidiary accounts (I your case, to projects) in
computer files from documents, such as deposits, up-front payments, sales
slips, invoices, receipts, check stubs, and computer printouts. Summarizes
details in computer files and transfers data to general ledger, using
computer. Reconciles and balances accounts. May compile reports to show
statistics, such as cash receipts and expenditures, accounts payable and
receivable, profit and loss, and other items pertinent to operation of
business. May calculate employee wages from timecards and prepare checks for
payment of wages. May prepare withholding, and other tax reports. May
compute, type, and mail monthly statements to customers. May be designated
according to kind of records of financial transactions kept, such as
Accounts-Receivable Bookkeeper (clerical), and Accounts-Payable Bookkeeper
(clerical). May complete records to or through trial balance.  Plus whatever
other analyses or business variables you feel you need or want to track.

Rich

-----Original Message-----
From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu [mailto:piclist-bounces@mit.edu]On Behalf
Of Vitaliy
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 2:38 PM
To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public.
Subject: Re: [OT] Hiring a business administrator -- help


 Richard J. Pytelewski wrote:
> A controller is the "head bookkeeper" of organizations.  The are
> responsible for assuring that all cash flowing in and out is accounted for
> on a daily basis and that people who try to buy things have the proper
> authorization and have the budget for it.

Ok, I guess I'm going to have to do a search on Monster to get an idea of
what other companies are looking for in a controller.

Any advice on picking a controller for a small (10 people) organization?

> QuickBooks is a very basic piece of financial software and depending on
> your
> size and expectations, may be the right product ... or may not.  I was
> suggesting that, based on your current needs, someone with greater
> exposure
> to other financial products may assist you in making better and more
> efficient business decisions (like, what did that project REALLY cost me).
> I would not characterize knowledge of QuickBooks as a desirable asset to a
> financial person.

But QB is a "de facto" accounting software for small businesses, which I
would expect any accountant to know (local colleges train the accounting
students in QB and PeachTree, it's almost like MS Office or VB for
programmers). We've been using it for the past five years, so it would be a
major task to switch (and definitely not by someone who has no experience
with QB).

Vitaliy

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