Case Study: Harbor Watch HOA
QuickBooks Online Conversion for Long-Term Efficiency & Compliance
Client Overview
Harbor Watch Homeowners Association (HOA) is a long-established residential community with a long history of managing finances in-house. For over 15 years, their board successfully relied on a Microsoft Access-based financial application. While this system had served their needs, the HOA recognized the importance of upgrading to a mainstream, cloud-based accounting solution that could offer scalability, supportability, and better compliance with modern record retention requirements.
Challenges
Reliance on a legacy Microsoft Access-based financial application for 15 years
Concerns about long-term support and system maintenance
Need for a solution that aligned with records retention and compliance requirements
Aggressive timeline to convert by January 2019
Balancing the shift from a custom-built solution to an “off-the-shelf” product without losing critical functionality
Why QuickBooks Online?
The Harbor Watch HOA board selected QuickBooks Online because it offered:
Mainstream support and longevity from a widely recognized accounting solution
Cloud accessibility for board members and accountants
Enhanced functionality compared to their outdated legacy system
Future potential for integrations, automation, and reporting improvements
Our Implementation Process
Harbor Watch HOA partnered with Certum Solutions to manage their QuickBooks conversion. Our team guided the HOA through the QuickBooks conversion process:
Scoped requirements carefully to match HOA workflows
Delivered the conversion within a tight timeline and budget
Guided the HOA through the transition from a custom-built solution to QuickBooks Online
Provided responsive support during implementation and post-launch
Results
On-time, within-budget conversion completed by January 2019
Smooth transition to QuickBooks Online with only minor exceptions related to moving from custom code to a standardized platform
Additional functionality unlocked with QuickBooks Online, outweighing the limitations of the legacy application
Improved confidence in records retention, compliance, and future scalability
HOA board praised Certum Solutions’ expertise, responsiveness, and quality of support
Client Feedback
"We were very pleased overall with Certum Solutions’ expertise, responsiveness, quality of the end product, and level of support."
Key Takeaways
Legacy software risks can be eliminated with mainstream, cloud-based accounting solutions
QuickBooks Online supports long-term growth, compliance, and functionality for HOAs and community associations
Partnering with the right implementation team ensures smooth transitions even on aggressive timelines
Ready to modernize your HOA or community association’s financial management?
Let Certum Solutions help you transition to QuickBooks Online with confidence.
👉 [Schedule a Free Consultation Today]
Supporting Case Studies: