Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 is a productivity suite that includes Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive in a cloud-connected platform. It is the most widely used productivity suite in the accounting profession.

Accounting firms rely on Excel for financial modelling, data analysis, and reporting — it remains central to most firm workflows. Outlook handles email and calendar management, Teams provides chat and video conferencing, and SharePoint/OneDrive offer cloud file storage with version history, permission controls, and compliance features. Most accounting, tax, and practice management software integrates with Microsoft 365, making it the default productivity layer for firm operations.

Microsoft 365 business plans include security features like multi-factor authentication, data loss prevention, and information barriers. It is suited for accounting practices of any size, from solo practitioners to large multi-office firms. Firms that prefer browser-based tools and lighter-weight applications may consider Google Workspace as an alternative.