Bruce L. Nickerson, CPA
B.L. Nickerson & Associates was founded in 1990 by Bruce L. Nickerson, CPA, specifically to serve 501(c) [nonprofit] organizations, among them human service organizations, foundations, K-12 and private schools, museums, religious organizations, voluntary health and welfare organizations, and others.
Before establishing B.L. Nickerson & Associates, Mr. Nickerson was a senior and founding member of an international management-consulting company's non-profit automation practice. With more than thirty years of professional experience in this sector, he has personally assisted many, many, hundreds of nonprofit organizations in the US and some abroad, as well.
B.L. Nickerson & Associates' core services include:
- Systems planning, review, and assessment
- Application implementation, training, and data conversion
- Financial planning, budgeting, and controls/fraud deterrent reviews
- Organization and operations assessments and
- Strategic -- senior-level and Board - advisement and guidance.
Our associates comprise accountants, system analysts/programmers, trainers, and other professionals with skills and knowledge relevant to this specialized sector.
Our Fund Accounting Relationship
Shortly after our founding, it became evident nonprofits were struggling with and hampered by outdated, underpowered, and in many instances, inappropriate accounting software. The result was frustrated and overworked staff scrambling to cobble together requested financial information and senior and departmental managers dissatisfied with the results. We knew there had to be a better way.
We undertook a thorough review of major nonprofit accounting packages - in some cases traveling to the developer's offices or annual conferences - assessing:
- the software itself
- the developers' leadership and management team's qualities and traits
- the company's' history of innovation, delivery, and customer service
- caliber of customer support resources
- the developers' internal "culture"
During this review, one company emerged above the others: Micro Information Products (MIP) of Austin, TX, now Sage Fund Accounting.
With the urging and support of our client base, we then became one of Sage Fund Accounting's first Business Partners and have been one since. Our Sage Fund Accounting relationship is now into its 21th year.
Providing, configuring, and implementing Sage Fund Accounting software is a major component of our client service portfolio and, as a result, we have become one of Sage Fund Accounting's most experienced and senior Business Partners.
Our Sage Fund Accounting clients include from quite small to the very, large; some with simple needs and others with complex accounting, reporting, and interface requirements. These organizations represent virtually every segment within the nonprofit sector. Each uses Sage Fund Accounting (formerly Sage MIP Fund Accounting) to meet their specific needs.
In conjunction with providing Sage-related assistance, we oftentimes develop or provide applications enhancing the client's ability to process data more efficiently, interface disparate systems, establish written operating procedures, and help align staff resources and responsibilities to function more efficiently.
As a Sage Software Select Business Partner and Trainer, B.L. Nickerson & Associates provides full implementation support. We assist the client with all critical aspects of establishing the Sage software, including configuring the software, managing the system implementation, and providing end-user training.
Over the years, Sage Fund Accounting has awarded B.L. Nickerson & Associates "Service Provider of the Year" and has formally recognized our firm in various manners, including participating on Sage Fund Accounting's Charter VAR Council.
BL Nickerson-developed Software
As well, BL Nickerson has developed specialized productively applications extending Sage Fund Accounting's capabilities, including:
- easyReconciler©
- VendorVision©
- ExpenseExpress©
- Check Defender©
- Entry Dates Manager©
- Automated Off-site Back-up/Data Storage
Micro Information Products (MIP) & Sage Software
Founded in 1982, MIP provides fund accounting software for nonprofit organizations, municipalities, and governmental agencies. The Austin, Texas based company's mission is to produce the highest quality software to strengthen nonprofits' accountability to fulfill their missions.
MIP's founders - Mr. Rusty Turley and Mr. Bill Locklea - set out to achieve a bold vision: developing a flexible, feature rich, easy-to-use fund accounting system designed specifically for the nonprofit sector, and making certain it was appropriately priced and well supported. They achieved their vision.
In 2001, Sage Software, a world-wide provider of business management software, to 'mid market' organizations, acquired MIP. Now an operating division of Sage Software, MIP remains committed to providing nonprofits and government agencies with integrated, scalable solutions that adapt to and address their information needs.
Presently, Sage Fund Accounting helps more than 12,000 nonprofit organizations - many on a national level, including the American Lung Association and others - to better manage their accounting and other processes.
In addition to receiving Campbell Rinker's Campbell Award Campbell Award four consecutive years in a row, with Sage Fund Accounting. In 2008 Sage Software's Sage Fund Accounting (formerly Sage MIP Fund Accounting) had received a Campbell Award for being the most recommended product among users from nonprofits with annual revenue of at least $5 million
We believe these and other independent assessments speak to Sage Fund Accounting's focus on providing the nonprofit sector with software, services, and support of the highest caliber.
Sage Software: Sage Group plc
Sage is a leading supplier of business management software and services to 5.8 million customers worldwide. From small start-ups to large organizations, Sage makes it easier for its customers to manage their business processes.
Sage Software's parent company, The Sage Group plc (LONDON: SGE.L) , was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1989 and in 1999 entered the FTSE 100 where it remains. The Sage Group has grown steadily during recent years, from 2005's US $1 billion to 2008's US $1.9 billion annual revenues.
In these times of virtually unprecedented global economic constrictions, and with lesser developers experiencing multi-million dollar losses or scrambling to secure additional capital, Sage remains fiscally healthy and profitable. Sage's 2008 net income approximated US $250 billion.
Bio
Before establishing B.L. Nickerson & Associates in 1990, Mr. Nickerson was a senior and founding member of an international management consulting firm's nonprofit industry group and was responsible for the Nonprofit Systems and Technology Management Practice.
With more near thirty years of professional service to the nonprofit sector, he has assisted numerous nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education with addressing a variety of needs, including:
- Conducting financial planning, budgeting, and fiscal management reviews
- Performing operational and organizational reviews
- Providing strategic systems advice and assistance
- Designing and implementing management reporting systems
- Conducting systems plans and feasibility analyses
- Selecting and implementing a wide variety of automated systems
Mr. Nickerson served on New York State Society of Association Executives' [NYSAE] Office and Information Technologies Committee and is past chair and vice-chair of that Committee. He also served on NYSAE's Associate Member Advisory Committee of and was the only non-Certified Association Executive [CAE] to provide NYSAE's CAE candidates technology training sessions. Mr. Nickerson is past founding chair of the New Jersey Society of Association Executives' Technology Committee.
Mr. Nickerson has spoken at ASAE, NYSAE, NJSAE, MIP and client-sponsored conferences on a variety of non-profit financial, organization, technology, and management topics. Mr. Nickerson has also provided executive training workshops for senior non-profit personnel on behalf of the Fund for the City of New York, New York Regional Association of Grant Makers, and the Corporation for Supportive Housing.
Mr. Nickerson earned a M.S. in Accounting from the New York University Stern School of Business Administration and received a B.A. with dual majors in English and Psychology from Amherst College. He is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of CPA's.
Mr. Nickerson is a Vietnam Veteran, a 30-year SCUBA diver, avid equestrian, motorcyclist, and an addictive reader. He resides with his wife and daughter in Mendham, New Jersey.
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