Entry, chart of accounts, reconciliation, VAT, fixed assets, management statements.
Before starting, we run a 1-minute tech check — microphone, ambient noise, connection. If your setup isn't good enough, the test is fully refunded.
Prove you actually know Sage 100 or Sage 50 beyond the basics: a 15-minute AI oral exam validates your chart of accounts, reconciliation, VAT, year-end close, and fixed asset skills.
The Plume Sage 100 / 50 badge certifies your ability to work with Sage in real, demanding accounting situations. The 15-minute AI oral covers the full accounting cycle: chart of accounts setup, journal entry, automatic and manual reconciliation, VAT management (returns, advance payments, cash vs. accrual), monthly and year-end closes, fixed asset tracking with depreciation schedules, and management statement generation. The AI examiner pushes beyond surface knowledge to understand the decisions you actually made and why.
Unlike a self-declared LinkedIn skill, the Plume badge is backed by an interview transcript scored by Claude Opus across five weighted dimensions: functional mastery of Sage, rigour of control processes, ability to diagnose and fix anomalies, knowledge of the surrounding ecosystem (payroll, banking, reporting), and critical perspective on the software's limits and evolution. Every score is reproducible and shareable, with a detailed report that breaks down exactly what was assessed and how.
This badge is built for accountants, finance managers, accounting assistants, and consultants who use Sage 100 Accounting, Sage 100cloud, or Sage 50 day-to-day and want their skill level to be visible and credible. It's especially useful when applying for roles, pitching for freelance missions, or reassuring a new SME client that you can take over their Sage file without a long onboarding ramp.
Here are the concrete dimensions the AI examines during the 15-minute oral.
Creating, inheriting, and restructuring a Sage chart of accounts: account numbering conventions, customer and supplier subsidiary ledgers, cost centres, journal setup, and payment method configuration.
Automatic reconciliation by amount or reference, manual matching on accounts receivable and payable, handling payment discrepancies, partial credit notes, down payments, and foreign currency entries in Sage 100.
Full close protocol in Sage: balance checks, accruals cut-off, automatic reversal entries, journal validation, opening balance generation, and archiving the Sage file in a consistent and auditable state.
Configuring VAT codes in Sage, generating VAT returns, handling advance VAT payments, managing cash-basis vs. invoice-basis VAT, and reconciling VAT accounts at period-end.
Creating asset records, selecting depreciation methods (straight-line, declining balance), calculating depreciation charges, recording partial or full disposals, and handling changes in accounting method.
Generating balance sheets, income statements, and aged debtor/creditor reports from Sage, configuring custom report templates, and exporting data to Excel or Power BI for management reporting.
Importing bank statements (OFX, CFONB), automated bank reconciliation, linking to payroll software, EDI interfaces, and knowing when to recommend Sage X3, Cegid, or a full ERP over Sage 50 or 100.
Understanding the Sage 100cloud transition (SaaS model, automatic updates) and preparing for mandatory e-invoicing in 2026: Factur-X format, certified service providers (PDP), and the practical impact on daily Sage workflows.
Final scoring is performed by Claude (Anthropic), which reads back the full transcript and applies this weighted criteria grid.
The candidate navigates Sage fluently, referencing specific menus, parameters, and features (journals, subsidiary ledgers, depreciation plans) rather than speaking in vague generalities.
Quality of controls applied during closes, consistency of reconciliation, management of outstanding items, and ability to catch an anomaly before it becomes a balance sheet problem.
When faced with a complex situation (inconsistent chart of accounts, VAT discrepancy, misconfigured fixed asset disposal), the candidate describes a structured approach and the concrete steps taken inside Sage.
Ability to position Sage within a broader toolset: bank imports, payroll links, reporting, and clear judgment on when Sage 50 or 100 has reached its limits compared to other solutions.
Awareness of Sage's roadmap (Sage 100cloud, mandatory e-invoicing 2026) and ability to anticipate their practical impact on day-to-day accounting workflows.
A Plume session takes about 20 minutes, from tech check to badge delivery.
Before the exam starts, Plume tests your microphone and connection. The Sage oral is entirely voice-based: no screen share, no multiple choice. Find a quiet spot with a decent headset or mic before you begin.
The AI examiner asks you to introduce yourself and describe your Sage setup: which version you use (Sage 50, Sage 100, Sage 100cloud), your industry, company or firm size, and how many files you handle.
The core of the exam: the AI asks 5 to 7 precise questions about your real use of Sage. It might ask you to walk through a complex reconciliation, a tough year-end close, a fixed asset setup, or your VAT management process. It follows up on your answers to probe the depth of your knowledge.
The examiner explores your critical thinking: when is Sage no longer the right fit, how you're preparing for mandatory e-invoicing in 2026, and how Sage sits within your broader tool ecosystem.
Claude Opus analyses the transcript, assigns a score from 0 to 100, a proficiency level (Novice/Proficient/Advanced/Expert), and generates a detailed report. Your Sage 100 / 50 badge with its shareable URL is ready in minutes.
Your score out of 100 translates into a level a recruiter can grasp at a glance.
You use Sage for routine data entry and basic transactions (purchases, sales, bank) but rely on a colleague or accountant for configuration, closes, and VAT returns. You don't yet have a solid grasp of chart of accounts structure or internal control processes.
You independently handle data entry, reconciliation, VAT returns, and monthly closes in Sage. You can configure journals and subsidiary ledgers, produce standard reports, and take over an existing Sage file with minimal ramp-up time.
You run full year-end closes, restructure charts of accounts, configure fixed assets and depreciation schedules, and connect Sage to a broader ecosystem (payroll, banking, reporting). You spot anomalies quickly and correct them without compromising data integrity.
You have deep mastery of Sage 100: advanced configuration, multi-entity management, third-party integrations, guidance on Sage 100cloud migrations, and a clear view of the mandatory e-invoicing changes coming in 2026. You train other users and advise on when to move from Sage 50 or 100 to an alternative solution.
No degree or years of experience required to take the badge. Here are the profiles it makes the most sense for.
You manage all of the accounting yourself under Sage and want to prove your end-to-end autonomy across the full accounting cycle, from entry to year-end close, without going through a lengthy technical interview.
You handle multiple Sage files in parallel and want a credible signal to demonstrate your versatility to a partner or when applying to a new firm.
You've built real Sage skills on the job but don't have a recent qualification to back them up. The Plume badge gives you a concrete, recruiter-readable certification.
You oversee the accounting function in Sage and want to benchmark your own level for external mobility or to set a clear skills bar when hiring a new accountant to take over your Sage instance.
You offer bookkeeping catch-up or ongoing Sage management as a freelance service and want a verifiable credential to display on your LinkedIn, Malt profile, or client proposal.
Where and how your Sage 100 / 50 badge will help you day to day.
You're applying for a sole accountant role at an SME running Sage 100. Sharing your badge URL lets the hiring manager see your score, level, and the detailed oral report before the first interview, setting you apart from candidates who just tick 'Sage' on their CV.
A small business owner wants you to take over their messy Sage 50 file. You share your Expert badge to demonstrate you can restructure their chart of accounts and bring the closes up to date without errors or data loss.
You want to move up to senior accountant in your firm. Your manager is on the fence because you have only two years of experience. An Advanced badge with strong scores on fixed assets and year-end closes gives your case concrete backing.
You add the Sage 100 / 50 badge to your Malt or Upwork profile. Companies looking for a freelance accountant can immediately see your certified level and optionally listen to a clip of your oral to assess how you explain complex accounting decisions.
Your company is moving from Sage 100 on-premise to Sage 100cloud. You take the badge to validate your existing knowledge before the transition and to show leadership you can drive the project without external consultants.
A CFO asks shortlisted candidates to complete the Sage badge before the HR interview. She compares scores across the five criteria and uses the detailed reports to prepare targeted questions on each candidate's weak spots.
A few minutes to check you have everything you need.
At the end of your session you don't just get a score — here's everything that awaits you.
You get a precise score out of 100 and a proficiency level (Novice/Proficient/Advanced/Expert) that reflects your real command of Sage 100 or Sage 50, rated across five weighted criteria.
Claude Opus generates a report that details your strengths and development areas on each dimension: functional mastery, close rigour, fixed asset management, ecosystem knowledge, and critical awareness.
The recording of your 15 minutes is stored securely and accessible only to you. You can choose to share it with a recruiter or client to show how you reason through a real Sage problem.
Your Sage 100 / 50 badge comes with a public URL you can paste on LinkedIn, your CV, Malt, or a client proposal. The link displays your score, level, and evaluation summary.
Discover related skills you can validate with Plume.
A 15-min oral exam with an AI, a shareable badge for your recruiters.
Choose this badge · €19.99
