[einhverfr]

> I would be curious to know for which sort of accounting things Excel is ideal?

Well, let's see.

1. Preprocessing data for entry. This might be used, for example, if you want to depreciate fixed assets using a method your accounting software does not support.

2. Post-processing data. You might do this if you have a report from an accounting system but your final report needs to take into account additional factors. Some of my customers use Excel to turn trial balance data from their accounting systems into financial statements.

Another example of post-processing might be if you take aggregated sales reports from an accounting system and further process it by business folk who don't know the programming environment.

As for paper: Yes, separation of duties is a part of it but paper has an advantage that no computer system can match, namely that if you keep your books in indelible ink, then alteration of numbers is obvious on audit. This is a weak point of electronic media. You can lock it down, but it is always possible for someone to unlock it. So with comparable policies, paper wins out anti-fraud-wise.

[daemon13]

Interesting, actually what you mention is not an accounting per se, but I agree with you, specifically

>> 1. Pre-processing data for the entry.

For this specific example if the accounting package does not support certain depreciation method (which rather rare), you can easily do this in Excel, both for financial modelling purposes and as a supporting document for the accounting entry.

>> 2. Post-processing data.

What you describe is not accounting. This is financial and management reporting. Yes, Excel is what is used by most everyone.

Good points.

[einhverfr]

Perhaps I have a more expansive definition of "accounting" than you ;-) I do agree that Excel is not and never should be a primary tool for bookkeeping.