Five Things to Consider Before Switching to a New Oil & Gas Accounting System
By Harrison Chamberlain, Founder of Joltly

Switching your oil and gas accounting system is one of the biggest decisions you can make as an operator. It’s expensive, time-consuming, and high-stakes. Over the past year and a half, I’ve worked with dozens of systems—some great, some truly frustrating—and I’ve seen firsthand what makes the difference between a smooth setup and a regret-filled migration.

Here are five things I’d recommend every operator consider before making the jump:

1. Does the software actually work? Is it easy to use?

This may sound basic, but it’s the first question you should ask. In my experience, there are a surprising number of systems that just don’t do what they say they will. We’ve purchased software before, only to find out it couldn’t even perform the core function we needed.

And then there’s usability. Some platforms are so complex you feel like you need a PhD in oil and gas accounting just to get started. That’s a real cost. It means more time training your team, more people in the product, and ultimately, more G&A expense just to reconcile your books.

Whatever system you're considering, I’d recommend talking to at least 2–3 other operators who are using it today. Ask them: Does it actually work? How hard was onboarding? Would you choose it again?

2. User experience and design

This one gets overlooked all the time—but to me, it’s critical. If I open a software demo and it looks like it was designed on a 1984 Macintosh, then it probably was. It's often overlooked, but the visual design of software is critical. An outdated interface, reminiscent of 1984 Macintosh aesthetics, likely indicates outdated technology.

And sadly, that’s not rare in oil and gas. A lot of legacy systems are still running on codebases and interfaces that haven’t been updated in decades. If it looks ancient, there’s a good chance the company behind it isn’t actively improving it, either.

A clean, intuitive design isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s a signal that the product is evolving—and that the team behind it cares about how you actually use it.

3. Does the software integrate with outside products?

This one drives me crazy. In most industries, modern accounting software comes standard with robust APIs that connect easily with other tools. Integration is the norm, not the exception.

But oil and gas? Not so much.

Products like QuickBooks, NetSuite, and Sage do let you import and export data seamlessly—but they weren’t built for the unique needs of oil and gas operators. Things like joint interest billing, revenue reconciliation across multiple purchasers, and lease-level expense allocations are way outside the scope of what they’re designed to handle.

That’s why integrations matter so much. No system can do everything well. You’ll always need to connect to tools that specialize in AP, revenue, production, or land. And with AI advancing as fast as it is, your tech stack needs to talk to each other.

So when you're vetting systems, get really specific: Can this software integrate with outside tools? Is there an API? Can I pull or push data automatically?

4. Pricing transparency and scalability

One thing you’ll notice quickly: most O&G software companies don’t publish their pricing. That’s intentional. It’s often negotiable, and what you pay could be totally different from what someone else pays.

So get multiple quotes. Talk to multiple vendors. Push for transparency.

Also—make sure whatever system you choose is one you can grow with. Don’t just pick what works for you right now. Will it still work when your operations double? When you take on new wells or bring on a JV partner? Is the pricing volume-based, and how will it change?

(Shameless plug: at Joltly, we’re upfront about our pricing. We’re not an accounting system—we’re an AI-powered accounts payable and revenue platform built specifically for oil and gas, and we integrate with the accounting system you already use.)

5. Switching costs

Here’s the hard truth: switching accounting systems is brutal. Especially if you want to bring in historical data. It’s time-intensive, technically challenging, and expensive. I’ve seen companies spend more on data migration than on the software itself for the first few years.

So don’t just think about the cost of having the new system—think about the cost of getting to the new system.

Also, do your due diligence on the company behind the software. Have they raised funding? Are they backed by private equity? That’s not good or bad in itself—but it gives you a sense of whether they’re set up to invest in growth, or if they’re just trying to maximize profits without innovating.

Are they building the future of oil and gas—or milking a legacy product?

Final Thought

I’m the founder of Joltly, and we’ve worked with operators across the U.S. to help streamline their AP and revenue workflows. If you're evaluating new software—or just trying to make sense of your current stack—feel free to grab time on my calendar. I’d be happy to share what I’ve learned and help you make the best call for your business.