When times are tough it's important to make sure you are getting maximum value out of all your business advisors, including your accountant. That means making sure they've got access to the financial information they need to perform. It's possible to do this easily. If you move your accounts online.

Xero is a web-based accounting system that's making a big difference for the small businesses that use it. Instead of being installed on a single computer or an office network, it's hosted online which means you and whomever else needs to can always get a clear, real time picture of the company's financial position from any web browser.

As easy-to-use as a computer game but still powerful enough to prepare end of year financials, the web-based accounting software makes it easy for accountants, business owners and other business experts to collaborate and share financial information.

Compared to many other accounting packages, Xero's online accounting system has won praise for being appealing to look at and easy to understand. Top-level management information is right there for anyone to see in easy-to-follow charts and graphs. If you want more information it's easy to drill down and answer any queries independently. And of course the accountant has all the tools they need to do their job properly.

The benefits of being able to easily share real time financial information using Xero's online accounting system are helping SMEs get better input from their investors, their business mentors, and in particular their accountants.

Numerous accounting practices are using Xero's web-based accounting system with small business clients, with excellent results. Not only does it make bookkeeping simpler and more efficient, but the accountants are much better placed to advise because they can easily check their clients? real time financial position at all times.