RICHMOND, BC and WINNIPEG, MB -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 09/26/06 -- Sage Software and The Knowledge Bureau today announced a strategic educational partnership to deliver a new series of certified bookkeeping courses that feature Simply Accounting by Sage. Basic Bookkeeping for Professionals, the first of six courses in the Certified Bookkeeper Specialist program, is designed especially for practitioners in bookkeeping, tax, and financial services and for small business owners who want a quick introduction to basic accounting concepts.

While most bookkeepers and small business owners are accustomed to running an accounting software program, many may not understand the accounting principles that guide their companies' financials. In addition to learning basic accounting principles, the Basic Bookkeeping for Professionals course will help them gain a better understanding and appreciation of the professional and ethical requirements of accurate bookkeeping. After completing the introductory course, professionals can continue on to other courses featuring Simply Accounting to achieve a Certified Bookkeeper Specialist designation.

"Bookkeepers are a very important segment of the market for Sage Software and Simply Accounting in particular. We owe a large part of our Canadian #1 market share to bookkeepers and accounting professionals who recommend Simply Accounting more often than any other small business accounting program on the market," said Laurie Schultz, general manager for both Simply Accounting and the Sage Software Accountant's Network across North America. "Partnering with The Knowledge Bureau enables us to provide more value to the bookkeeper community by delivering to them a customized learning experience that will help them provide more value to their clients and grow their business overall."

"Two compelling reasons make Simply Accounting the obvious choice as the core teaching software for our new Certified Bookkeeping Specialist program: the product's popularity and position as the market leader in Canada, and Sage Software's commitment to making their customers and industry partners successful," said Evelyn Jacks, president, The Knowledge Bureau. "We are pleased to assist practitioners to shore up their formal bookkeeping and computer skills and train new staff to prepare company books or books for other companies."

The Basic Bookkeeping for Professionals self-study course includes the Knowledge Journal, an interactive case study and a supplementary audio CD which overviews the key concepts in each chapter. Depending upon the student's administrative background and their individual learning style, the course's duration is an estimated 30 hours and will prepare students to:

--  set up a CRA-compliant bookkeeping system for a small business;
--  analyze transactions and report these within the accounting cycle in a
    double-entry bookkeeping;
--  present financial statements to the accountant for tax preparation and
    review;
--  prepare bank reconciliations; and
--  prepare simple payrolls, all featuring step-by-step guidance using
    Simply Accounting.
    

Students who successfully complete the course will have a better understanding of GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles), become more equipped to manage accounting tasks for a business, and have the option to continue through the series to achieve their DFA (Distinguished Financial Advisor) designation.

"With this comprehensive certification and designation program we expect to set the defacto standards for enhancing professionalism nationwide in bookkeeping services," said Ms. Jacks.

Evelyn Jacks' educational companies have specialized in providing the foremost continuing professional development courseware for those in a professional practice for more than 25 years. Today, The Knowledge Bureau is Canada's leading educator in the tax, accounting and financial services industry. For more information on their training programs or to learn more about The Basic Bookkeeping for Professionals course, please visit http://www.knowledgebureau.com/ or call toll free 1-866-953-4769.

About The Knowledge Bureau

The Knowledge Bureau is Canada's leading national, private post-secondary educational institute, specializing in the continuing professional development of experienced practitioners in the accounting, tax and financial services. We assist those serving clients with sophisticated needs for tax compliant bookkeeping, managerial accounting, payroll, personal and corporate tax, trust and financial services to manage and growth their clients' real wealth. Students in our certification and designation programs commit to a code of ethics, professional standards and best practices on a continuous basis while demonstrating excellence in the latest technical knowledge in the tax, accounting and financial services. We offer our programs in multi-media self study courseware, or through live workshops, seminars and conferences.

For more information contact Evelyn Jacks, President at 1-866-953-4769 or by email: evelyn@knowledgebureau.com, or visit www.knowledgebureau.com.

About Sage Software

Sage Software supports the needs, challenges and dreams of more than 2.6 million small and mid-sized business customers in North America through easy-to-use, scalable and customizable software and services. Our products support accounting, operations, customer relationship management, human resources, time tracking, merchant services and the specialized needs of accounting practices and the construction, distribution, healthcare, manufacturing, nonprofit and real estate industries. Sage Software is a subsidiary of The Sage Group plc, a leading international supplier of accounting and business management software solutions and related products and services for small to mid-sized businesses. Formed in 1981, Sage was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989 and the Group now has 5.0 million customers and employs over 10,500 people worldwide.

For more information, please visit the Web site at www.sagesoftware.com/moreinfo or call (866) 308-2378.

Sage Software and Simply Accounting are the registered trademarks or trademarks of Sage Accpac International, Inc. or its affiliated entities. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Marchell Gillis
Marchell.gillis@sage.com
770-724-4256

Aimee Ertley
Aimee.ertley@sage.com
770-724-4556