Accounting software in the cloud: your options

Accounting firms run on their software. Whether you spend your days on tax returns, link your CRM to your invoicing tool, or compile annual reports - a reliable, secure and fast system is not a luxury. In this article you'll read which accounting software exists, what to look for, and why more and more firms are moving to a cloud-hosted environment.

What is accounting software?

Accounting software is the umbrella term for the digital tools an accounting firm uses every day. The main categories:

• Bookkeeping and administration software (Exact, Twinfield, Snelstart, AccountView)
• Compilation and reporting software (Unit4 Audition, Caseware, King Finance)
• Payroll and HR software (Nmbrs, Loket, AFAS Personal)
• Tax-return software (Nextens, FiscaalGemak, SBR dashboards)
• CRM and workflow tools (TriFact365, Visionplanner, Xperdoc)

Most firms run three to five of these packages side by side - and want them to talk to each other through SBR, UBL or direct APIs.

Popular accounting software in the Netherlands

The most-used packages in Dutch firms:

• Exact Online - Market leader in SME bookkeeping, strong accountant portal.
• Twinfield (Wolters Kluwer) - Popular with larger firms, deep integration with tax and reporting suites.
• Snelstart - Accessible for smaller businesses, solid API.
• AccountView - Classic on-premise package that many firms now host in the cloud.
• Unit4 Audition - Compilation software for annual reports.
• Caseware - Audit and compilation software, international market leader.
• Nextens - Tax-return software for income, corporate, VAT and more.
• Visionplanner - Automated annual figures and management reports.

The right mix depends on your client portfolio, the size of your firm, and whether you handle compilation, review or audit engagements.

Key features to look for

Accounting software in the cloud: why switch?

Many firms still run their packages on their own server or on a Terminal Server at the office. That works - until the server dies, an update is missed, or ransomware arrives via a purchase invoice. The risks keep growing, and professional rules keep tightening.

A cloud-hosted accounting environment solves this:

• Access from anywhere - office, home, client site, on the go
• Automatic backups - daily, with multi-month retention
• NEN 7510 / ISO 27001 - guaranteed at infrastructure level
• Always up-to-date Windows - no more end-of-life issues
• Predictable costs - fixed amount per user per month
• Scalable - temporary staff during tax season? Live within a day
• Fast restart after incident - no hard-disk drama

Also read our article How does Exact Online work for a deep dive into the most-used package.

Checklist: choosing the right accounting software

1. Inventory your current packages - where do you see duplicate work or manual handoffs?
2. Map the integrations (SBR, UBL, payroll, CRM) your firm actually needs.
3. Shortlist 2-3 packages per category (bookkeeping, compilation, tax).
4. Schedule demos and involve both juniors and seniors - UX makes the difference.
5. Ask for references from firms of comparable size.
6. Decide: on-premise or cloud? (When in doubt, cloud, for continuity and compliance.)
7. Plan a realistic migration of 6-12 weeks - and not during tax season.

Cloud hosting for accounting firms at Virtual Computing

Virtual Computing hosts Exact Online accounts, Twinfield, AccountView, Unit4 Audition, Caseware and the rest of the Dutch accounting stack in a fully managed cloud environment. You get:

• Your familiar Windows workspace, available anywhere
• NEN 7510 and ISO 27001 certified infrastructure
• Automatic backups and disaster recovery
• 24/7 monitoring and Dutch-speaking support
• Fixed costs from €35 per user per month

Check our cloud workspace for accountants or get in touch for a no-strings introductory call.