Founded in Cape Town in 1990Cloud and desktop systems082 061 2300

Sage · Pastel · Xero · Payroll

Accounting software setup that saves time after go-live.

Choose the right product, move the right data and build a workflow your team can actually follow. Total Accounting Solutions supports South African businesses from first decision through setup, training and ongoing troubleshooting.

David Hartley guiding a bookkeeper through accounting software
Help your team use the accounting system with confidence.
35+ years: accounting software experienceIndependent thinking: fit before featuresOne roof: systems plus accounting insight

A workable system

The package matters. The setup matters more.

The best accounting software is the one that fits the size of the business, its transaction volume, stock, invoicing, payroll, reporting needs and the people responsible for processing.

We assess what you already have before recommending change. Sometimes the answer is a better Pastel setup. Sometimes Sage Accounting or Xero offers a cleaner route. Sometimes the biggest improvement is not a new product at all—it is a better chart of accounts, document flow, bank-reconciliation routine and user training.

A new business owner planning accounting requirements with an adviser
Choose a system around the needs of the business.

Xero cloud accounting

We help businesses assess, set up and improve Xero workflows, including opening information, bank rules, reconciliations, reporting and user routines.

David Hartley helping a business owner set up cloud accounting
Cloud accounting records available for collaborative review.

Sage Accounting

Sage Accounting—previously known as Sage One and Sage Business Cloud Accounting—is a cloud option for invoicing, processing, bank reconciliation and financial reporting. We can help with selection, setup, migration and practical support.

  • Product and workflow assessment
  • Chart of accounts and tax-code setup
  • Opening balances and master-file migration
  • Bank feeds, rules and reconciliations
  • Management reporting requirements
  • User training and support procedures

Payroll software support

Accounting and payroll need to agree. We help businesses assess, set up and support Sage Payroll and SimplePay workflows, with attention to employee records, processing responsibilities, payroll journals and the hand-off into the accounting records.

David Hartley reviewing payroll records with a business administrator
Payroll setup begins with reliable employee records.

Cloud or desktop?

Cloud access is useful, but desktop systems still suit some businesses—especially where established Pastel processes, inventory or a complex operating history matter. The decision should be based on workflow, control, reporting and total effort, not fashion.

See our dedicated Xero setup and support, Sage Accounting support and payroll setup pages for product-specific help.

David Hartley and a bookkeeper checking an accounting software migration
Assess desktop-to-cloud migration before moving your records.

Move with control

Accounting system migration & data clean-up

Moving from Pastel, another accounting package or spreadsheets starts with a clear cut-off date and an agreed list of records to transfer. We review the existing data, prepare customer and supplier records, and check the chart of accounts before importing into the new system.

Opening balances, bank reconciliations and customer and supplier control accounts need to agree with the records being handed over. We help identify duplicates, incomplete allocations and unexplained differences, then agree how those items should be resolved.

Whether you need a full migration or a clean-up of the system you already use, the scope follows the state of your records. For overdue bookkeeping, tax and broader accounting work, explore accounting services through Smarter Accounting.

David Hartley and Sylvain reviewing accounting records at a computer
A controlled handover starts with records and balances that agree.

Build a working routine

Accounting software training & troubleshooting

Practical training follows the work your team actually does: invoices, customer receipts, supplier payments, bank imports, transaction allocations, reconciliations and month-end reports. Sessions can focus on Sage Pastel, Sage Accounting or Xero, with online support for businesses across South Africa.

When something goes wrong, we help trace the issue through the setup, source records and processing steps. The aim is to correct the cause and give the person responsible a clear routine for the next processing cycle.

Training helps users operate the system; migration moves records between systems; clean-up corrects existing data. These services can be scoped together where your business needs a combination. Tell David which system you use and where you need help.

David Hartley and Sylvain helping an accounting software user at a laptop
Practical training and technical support from David and Sylvain.

Catch-up work starts with usable bank data.

SmartBank’s new automatic PDF-to-CSV import helps accountants, bookkeepers and business owners prepare supported bank statements without retyping them. Export CSV straight away, or allocate and reconcile first. We can help connect the tool with your accounting setup and scope the catch-up work that follows.

See the SmartBank catch-up workflow →

Assess

Map the business, current records, users, pain points and required outputs.

Design

Select the product and define accounts, controls and document flow.

Move

Prepare master files, balances and history without carrying avoidable clutter.

Train

Give users clear processing, reconciliation and reporting routines.

The wider picture

Software, accounting, tax and advisory knowledge under one roof.

Total Accounting Solutions handles the product, setup and support side. When the need becomes bookkeeping, tax, SARS, reporting, planning or advisory, Smarter Accounting carries the work forward.