Does SharePoint remove the need for document management software?

For some firms, yes. SharePoint and OneDrive provide storage, permissions, version history, and retention, which covers internal document management. What they lack is accounting-specific structure — client folder templating, tax software integration, document request workflow, and KBA e-signature. Firms often use SharePoint internally and a dedicated tool for client exchange.

Which plan should a firm choose?

Business plans cover most practices, with the higher tiers adding data loss prevention, information barriers, and advanced threat protection. Firms handling sensitive client data or documenting safeguards obligations usually need those security features, so the cheapest plan is frequently a false economy once the compliance requirements are considered.

How does it compare to Google Workspace?

Excel is the decisive factor for most firms — the depth of financial modelling, add-ins, and the fact that virtually every accounting system exports to it make Sheets a difficult substitute. Google Workspace is stronger on real-time collaboration and browser-first working. Most accounting practices land on Microsoft for the Excel dependency alone.

Does accounting software integrate with it?

Almost universally. Practice management, document management, and tax platforms integrate with Outlook for email filing, SharePoint for storage, and Teams for communication. Firms should check the depth of integration for their specific stack, since Outlook add-ins vary considerably in quality.

Microsoft 365

Document Management Communication & Collaboration

Website: www.microsoft.com

Microsoft 365 at a glance

Best for: Firms of any size as the core productivity layer
Pricing model: Per user per month, by business or enterprise plan
Deployment: Cloud, with desktop and mobile applications
Regions: Global
Key integrations: SuiteFiles, Karbon, ShareFile, Most practice management platforms

Last reviewed July 2026. Pricing and features change frequently — confirm current details with the vendor.

Microsoft 365 is a productivity suite including Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive, and is the most widely used productivity platform in the accounting profession.

How accounting firms use it

Excel remains the centre of gravity. Financial modelling, analysis, reconciliation work, and ad hoc client schedules run through it, and effectively every accounting and tax system exports to it — which makes moving away from Microsoft harder for accounting firms than for most other businesses.

Around that, Outlook handles email and calendar, Teams covers internal communication and client meetings, and SharePoint with OneDrive provides storage with version history and permission controls. Most practice management and document management platforms integrate with these rather than replacing them, so the suite tends to be the layer everything else connects to.

Key features

Excel provides financial modelling with Power Query for data transformation and a large add-in ecosystem, including connectors published by accounting software vendors.

SharePoint and OneDrive deliver cloud storage with retention policies, permission controls, and version history — sufficient for internal document management in many firms.

Security on business and enterprise plans includes multi-factor authentication, data loss prevention, information barriers, and threat protection, which matter for firms documenting safeguards obligations.

Who it’s best for

Accounting practices of any size, from solo practitioners to multi-office firms. It is close to a default rather than a considered choice, largely because of Excel and the integration expectations of the surrounding software.

Firms preferring browser-first working may consider Google Workspace, though the Excel dependency makes that a difficult switch for most practices. Client-facing document exchange usually still needs SmartVault, SuiteFiles, or a practice management portal.

Visit Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 FAQ

Does SharePoint remove the need for document management software?: For some firms, yes. SharePoint and OneDrive provide storage, permissions, version history, and retention, which covers internal document management. What they lack is accounting-specific structure — client folder templating, tax software integration, document request workflow, and KBA e-signature. Firms often use SharePoint internally and a dedicated tool for client exchange.
Which plan should a firm choose?: Business plans cover most practices, with the higher tiers adding data loss prevention, information barriers, and advanced threat protection. Firms handling sensitive client data or documenting safeguards obligations usually need those security features, so the cheapest plan is frequently a false economy once the compliance requirements are considered.
How does it compare to Google Workspace?: Excel is the decisive factor for most firms — the depth of financial modelling, add-ins, and the fact that virtually every accounting system exports to it make Sheets a difficult substitute. Google Workspace is stronger on real-time collaboration and browser-first working. Most accounting practices land on Microsoft for the Excel dependency alone.
Does accounting software integrate with it?: Almost universally. Practice management, document management, and tax platforms integrate with Outlook for email filing, SharePoint for storage, and Teams for communication. Firms should check the depth of integration for their specific stack, since Outlook add-ins vary considerably in quality.

Microsoft 365 Alternatives

Other document management tools for accounting firms, ordered by how much of Microsoft 365's functionality they cover.

Document Management Communication & Collaboration

Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 at a glance

How accounting firms use it

Key features

Who it’s best for

Microsoft 365 FAQ

Microsoft 365 Alternatives

Google Workspace

LedgerDocs

ShareFile

SmartVault

SuiteFiles

Box