Now I was going to wait until I have used my newly acquired gadget, before blogging about it. But, today’s training session that I attended, just sold it even more to me (the demo last week sold it to me when a simple recon was done in a few seconds). I decided that I MUST write about this, before my enthusiasm flies out the window. Now you are probably wondering WHAT I am going on about? If you are an Accountant or Auditor, continue reading here. If not, well, just continue reading so that you can enjoy my sense of humour in what I experienced during today’s training session.
The invention that I am going on about is called The Audit Toolbar ™. To dumb it down a bit – it is an Excel Plug In that is incorporated in the toolbars of Excel. What this thing does, is, it saves you so much time filtering through data, deleting unwanted rows and cells, to name only a few. It is more aimed at auditing, assisting with things like sample selections, catching out people hiding things in sheets (yes, we can now virtually see everything clients give us), errors in formulae, etc.
Now I am not going to reinvent the wheel here, retyping everything that I have learnt in my two-hour session. The only thing that I do want to say is – Christiaan did virtual pull ups when he was showing us what this toolbar can do with messy data. A pull up is one of the most difficult exercises to do in my opinion. When I attend weekly Cross Fit exercise classes, and either Kerneels or Schwartz (our instructors at Steel Eagle Fitness Gym in Skeerpoort) demonstrate the movement, they make it look so easy.
This was the same for me during today’s training session. Christiaan made it look so easy. I always say that my brain has muscles like Arnold Schwarzenegger. Although after today, I think Christiaan’s brain has more muscle tone than my brain, and rightfully so! This is such an incredible invention! So much time and effort went into this development. Those who think a program just works, think again. It is hours and hours of blood, sweat and tears that go into something like the Audit Toolbar ™.
Having a quick chat with him last week after the demo session of the morning and signing up to purchase the toolbar, I learnt that Christiaan took a huge leap of faith in resigning his full-time job (with a confirmed income also left behind, just by the way) to take on this invention. This was approximately two years ago. Now, he can see the fruit that his labour is bearing. And I must say, I think it is great. It is almost like one of those old cars that have been taken from a rusty and dusty old thing that does not work, to a polished, pretty red car that can move at the speed of light (almost).
Like every newly developed system I expect some teething issues, but, from what I can see on reviews on this product, is that Christiaan is always ready to assist. His aim is to resolve queries within 30 minutes, which I think is also great, because if you have a deadline, stuck with a schedule and need help, you cannot wait for weeks or days for it to be resolved! Christiaan – I truly hope that you will get some sleep and that the 30 minute rule does not apply to issues submitted after hours. Because anyone that has friends that are Accountants and Auditors know that we work strange hours at times…
I look forward to doing my first GL cleanup with this toolbar, actually being able to recover all my time on an engagement. Getting more done in a day/week/month and year. With the pressure we have and with everything going on, such as changes in legislation, anything to assist, will most certainly help and be welcome! Christiaan, from my side – congratulations on a well written and designed product! May you experience God’s favour in abundance, and may He bless you with this new baby that He has entrusted with you.
