Overview                                                  
What you need to know
System requirements 
Upgrades
Version history

Getting started
Introduction
Setting up a new client
Creating your first accounts - step by step        
Final accounts production checklist
Console toolbar

Using First Choice Final Accounts    
Chart of accounts
Accounts description file
Special account codes
Posting file data entry
Transferring opening balances
Importing trial balances
Using the client data screens
Printing the final accounts
Using Quick View/print
Dealing with fixed assets
Creating/filing accounts for Companies House

Other Topics
Periods of accounts and comparatives
Final accounts creation options
Cashflow statements for limited companies
Final accounts validation
HMRC Live validation
The trial balance import wizard
How the software handles iXBRL
The iXBRL viewer
Submitting accounts to HMRC and Companies House
Exporting self assessment data to tax packages
The Clients directory screen
Installing import conversion files
Final accounts formatting options               
Limited Company abbreviated accounts                                                                     
                                                                         

First time user ?
We strongly recommend you print the Creating your first accounts - step by step topic and follow the instructions in each step.  It should take you about 20/30 minutes and is the quickest and easiest way to find your way around the software.

Introduction to the software

First Choice Final Accounts is a software package designed for the automatic production of financial accounts from data supplied by the user.  The software emulates the same workflow as manual accounts production > client setup >period set up> posting transactional data> trial balance and notes creation >final accounts production.

The software produces final accounts for sole traders, partnerships, small limited companies and medium/large limited companies. Accounts for filing at Companies House can also be produced and these can be Full accounts, Abbreviated accounts or Dormant accounts. Final accounts are produced in HTML format and are viewed in a web browser. Limited company accounts files are embedded with hidden XBRL data and are called iXBRL instances. These files can be imported into Corporation Tax filing software for HMRC submissions. 

Tips for getting started quickly
We suggest you first take a tour of some of the program screens and options and then follow the step-by-step guide to produce your first set of accounts.  Before you start your tour,  from the Start Menu screen, click on the User Options button and enter your user data, if you haven't already done so.

Then return to the Start Menu and click Clients Directory and select any one of the 5  Demo clients (from a small sole trader to a large limited company). Then go into the Accounts Production Console. This is the 'engine room' of the program from where posting files, trial balances, accounts data and final accounts are created.  You will not be able to change any of the Demo client's data, but you can start getting familiar with the Chart of Accounts groups and the Account Description File.  See how the Account Search Box works and  click on some of the Console toolbar command buttons (at the right of the Console screen) including Trial Balance, Nominal Ledger and the View/Print Accounts command, which for limited company accounts gives two options - normal view and tag view. Click the Client data Pages command buttons or select a Client data item to see how the Notes for a limited company are recorded.

Before you start producing your first set of account it is important to understand how First Choice Final Accounts handles and deals with comparatives.  See Periods of accounts and comparatives.