Choose your accounting software. Get it working for you.

Find the right accounting and payroll package with Total Accounting Solutions. Ask David Hartley about Sage Pastel Partner, Sage Accounting, Xero, SimplePay and SmartBank, with product guidance, setup, migration, training and ongoing support. Based in Tokai, Cape Town, with online support across South Africa.

Find the right package Explore the software

35+ yearsof Sage Pastel and accounting software experience
One connected teamsoftware, data, accounting, tax and advisory knowledge

David Hartley discussing accounting software with a business owner in Cape Town

The right software. Practical support.

Choose a package, get set up and keep your business moving.

PDF & bank data→Structured CSV→Allocated entries→Trial balance

New in SmartBank: PDF bank statements → CSV automatically.Catch up overdue cashbooks with less manual capture. For accountants, bookkeepers and business owners.

See the new SmartBank workflow →

01Product-led

Accounting and payroll systems remain the core focus.

02Outcome-focused

Selection, setup, training, fixing and usable reports.

03Founder-led

Direct access to decades of practical experience.

Start with the outcome

What needs to work better?

We begin with the problem, then decide whether the answer is a better setup, better use of the current product, a clean migration—or experienced accounting help.

David Hartley and a bookkeeper checking an accounting software migration

I need the right system

Compare practical options for invoicing, stock, cloud access, bank feeds, reporting and payroll.

Compare the options

David Hartley providing online accounting software support from Cape Town

My current system needs help

Fix setup problems, clean data, catch up entries, train users or move safely to a better-fit product.

See setup & support

David Hartley helping a business owner organise overdue bookkeeping records

I need the numbers finished

Turn statements and source documents into reconciled records, a trial balance and accounting-ready information.

See the fast-track workflow

Accounting products

Choose Sage Pastel, Sage Accounting or Xero.

Compare accounting packages and discuss product, licence or subscription requirements with David. Add the setup, migration, training and support your business needs. Existing Pastel Xpress users can still ask for legacy support.

David Hartley reviewing stock-control requirements with a warehouse business owner

Desktop expertise01

Sage 50cloud
Pastel Partner

Setup, chart-of-accounts design, stock and invoicing workflows, reporting, training, troubleshooting and upgrades.

Pastel Partner support

David Hartley providing support for an existing accounting system

Legacy support02

Pastel Xpress

Pastel Xpress is no longer the current product choice, but existing users still deserve knowledgeable support.

Pastel Xpress support

David Hartley helping a business owner set up cloud accounting

Cloud accounting03

Sage Accounting

Previously known as Sage One and Sage Business Cloud Accounting, this online system supports accessible, collaborative processing for smaller businesses.

Sage Accounting setup

David Hartley reviewing cloud bookkeeping with a small-business owner

Cloud accounting04

Xero Accounting

Cloud accounting for businesses that value strong integrations, live collaboration and accessible management information.

Xero setup & support

Payroll products

Payroll that fits the way your team works.

Sage PayrollProduct selection and system setup

SimplePayCloud payroll products and system setup

Explore payroll products →

David Hartley reviewing payroll records with a business administrator — Payroll software and reliable employee records.

Bank records → usable accounts

AI-assisted data conversion

Bank statement PDF to CSV and Excel conversion.

Old bank statements, PDFs, spreadsheets and exports no longer need to be retyped line by line. We use modern conversion tools and accounting judgement together to structure the data, allocate transactions, reconcile the records and prepare a clean result for the right accounting package.

Technology speeds up the work.Experienced accounting review makes the result useful.

Explore bank-statement and PDF conversion

For original bank-issued PDFs, SmartBank now converts PDF statements to CSV automatically during import. Use the software yourself, or ask us to help with catch-up conversion, allocations and reconciliation.

Illustration of paper bank statements becoming structured digital transaction data — Supported records prepared for review and accounting imports.

Four steps. One usable result.

Collect
PDF statements, CSV files, spreadsheets and system exports.
Convert
Turn inconsistent source files into structured transaction data.
Allocate & reconcile
Apply rules, review exceptions and agree the balances.
Deliver
Import-ready files, corrected accounts and a usable trial balance.

David Hartley and Sylvain reviewing bank statements together at a computer — David and Sylvain: practical support from bank statements to an organised cashbook.

Setup, training & support

Accounting system setup, migration & training.

From a first chart of accounts to a difficult migration, the work is scoped around the business, the team and the reports you actually need.

Explore accounting system setup & support David Hartley guiding a bookkeeper through accounting software

Design

System selection & setup

Choose Sage Pastel, Sage Accounting or Xero around your invoicing, stock, users and reporting needs. We help structure the chart of accounts, opening balances and bank-processing workflow so the system supports everyday work.

Explore software selection & setup →

Use

Training & troubleshooting

Get practical guidance for invoices, bank imports, allocations, reconciliations and month-end reports. David helps users investigate processing problems, understand the numbers and build a repeatable routine, with online support across South Africa.

Explore training & ongoing support →

An accounting software training session with users reviewing reports on a computer

Move

Migration & clean-up

Move from an older accounting package or spreadsheets with a clear cut-off date. Prepare customer and supplier records, review opening balances and reconcile the bank and control accounts before carrying the records into the new system.

See migration & data clean-up →

NEW · PDF → CSV

David Hartley and Sylvain reviewing bank-statement data for a SmartBank workflow

SmartBank PDF bank statement import assistant

Original bank PDF in. CSV transactions out.

New · SmartBank automatic PDF-to-CSV import

Catch up the books. Skip the retyping.

SmartBank converts supported original bank-statement PDFs to CSV as you import them. Export the data straight away, or allocate and reconcile first, then import the prepared file into your supported accounting package. A practical tool for accountants, bookkeepers and business owners handling backlogs or routine cashbooks.

Explore PDF-to-CSV & catch-up workflows →Watch the demo ↗

15-day free Windows trial · Unlimited imports · No per-statement conversion charge

David Hartley reviewing a trial balance displayed on a desktop computer with a client — From captured transactions to a trial balance ready for review. Illustrative report.

Accounting & tax

Bookkeeping, tax & management reporting in Cape Town.

David Hartley discussing management reports with business owners

Total Accounting Solutions remains the home for products, system know-how and support. For bookkeeping, tax, SARS work, management reporting, planning and advisory services, we connect you to our sister practice.

Explore accounting services → Visit Smarter Accounting for bookkeeping & tax ↗

Total Accounting SolutionsProducts · setup · support

Smarter AccountingAccounting · tax · advisory

David Hartley, founder of Total Accounting Solutions

David HartleyFounder · Accountant · Systems specialist

The experience behind the system

At the heart of accounting software in Cape Town since 1990.

David founded Pastel Software Cape as the sole Western Cape distributor of Pastel Software. That early combination of accounting knowledge, software implementation and client support still shapes Total Accounting Solutions today.

The tools have moved from desktop files and manual capture to cloud platforms, bank feeds and AI-assisted conversion. The standard has not changed: deliver a practical system and numbers the client can use.

1990Pastel Software Cape founded

TodayCloud, desktop and AI-assisted workflows

Read David’s full story

Straight answers

Accounting software questions we solve every week.

Clear answers help businesses choose the right next step without buying unnecessary software or repeating work.

Can Total Accounting Solutions still support Pastel Xpress?

Yes. Although Pastel Xpress is a legacy product, David continues to help existing users with setup issues, adjustments, file problems, training and sensible upgrade or migration options.

Do I need to replace my existing accounting software?

Not automatically. We first assess whether the current Sage, Pastel, Xero or other system can be cleaned up, configured correctly and used more efficiently before recommending a migration.

Can you convert PDF bank statements into CSV accounting data?

Yes, where the source documents are suitable. We can structure PDF, spreadsheet and bank-export data, then use accounting review to allocate transactions, reconcile balances and prepare import-ready or trial-balance information.

Do you only work with businesses in Cape Town?

No. Total Accounting Solutions is based in Tokai, Cape Town and can provide online accounting software support, data conversion and training to clients across South Africa.

What is the difference between Total Accounting Solutions and Smarter Accounting?

Total Accounting Solutions focuses on software products, accounting tools, setup, migration and support. Smarter Accounting carries the work forward into bookkeeping, tax, SARS, reporting, planning and business advisory services.

Who is David Hartley?

David founded Pastel Software Cape in 1990 and has more than 35 years of experience combining accounting knowledge with accounting software implementation, training, troubleshooting and client support.

Can you help with Xero or Sage Accounting setup?

Yes. We help with system selection, opening balances, bank rules, reconciliations, user training and reporting. Dedicated Xero and Sage Accounting pages explain the support available.

Can you help with bookkeeping, VAT, payroll and tax?

Yes. Discuss your requirements with David Hartley. Accounting, tax and advisory engagements are scoped through Smarter Accounting, while Total Accounting Solutions handles software setup, migration and support.

Can SmartBank help accountants, bookkeepers and business owners catch up overdue records?

Yes. SmartBank automatically converts supported original bank PDFs to CSV during import. Export the transactions straight away, or allocate and reconcile first. It is useful for historical catch-up work and routine cashbooks. Visit the SmartBank page for the workflow, demonstration and 15-day trial.

Client experience

Useful systems. Responsive support.

Selected feedback from businesses that have relied on David for Pastel, SmartBank and accounting work.

Easier month-end accounts

“SmartBank has made month-end and year-end accounts so much easier, saved me a lot of valuable time and eliminated errors”
John Hesom
Constantia Ratepayers & Residents’ Association

Pastel expertise you can rely on

“David has given me excellent service in servicing my Pastel system over the years! I highly recommend him, his Pastel and Accounting skills”
Robert Thorp
Thorp Motor Group

Ten hours saved each month

“Smartbank has been an amazing tool for our businesses, saving us approximately 10hours each month.”
Kathy Arnott CA (SA)

Choose your accounting software. Get it working for you.

The right software. Practical support.

What needs to work better?

I need the right system

My current system needs help

I need the numbers finished

Choose Sage Pastel, Sage Accounting or Xero.

Payroll that fits the way your team works.

Bank statement PDF to CSV and Excel conversion.

Four steps. One usable result.

Accounting system setup, migration & training.

Catch up the books. Skip the retyping.

Bookkeeping, tax & management reporting in Cape Town.

At the heart of accounting software in Cape Town since 1990.

Accounting software questions we solve every week.

Useful systems. Responsive support.

Easier month-end accounts

Pastel expertise you can rely on

Ten hours saved each month

Tell David what you need.