We are pleased to have recently launched a cloud based accountancy service to enable our clients to have 24 hour, real time access to accounts from any location.
The service, which uses Twinfield,Wolters Kluwer’s online accounting solution, will allow us to work more closely and regularly with our clients, ensuring data is accurate and up to date while helping to streamline business processes.
Lesley Malkin, Audit Partner at BWMacfarlane, commented: “We engaged with Twinfield about 18 months ago after seeing an emerging opportunity in the marketplace around cloud accounting. As a firm, we try and stay ahead of the curve when it comes to IT developments and have always embraced new technologies. We were increasingly seeing that our clients were demanding more online interaction. We wanted to have the ability to work more collaboratively; enabling us to become part of our client’s team, rather than just the person they bring their financial records to once a year.
“We chose Twinfield over the other cloud accounting providers as the level of security it provided was second to none, which was a primary concern for us at the time. We had also previously implemented the full suite of CCH (part of the Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting division) software; therefore it felt like a logical progression. The team at Twinfield has been very helpful and have worked with us to develop a project strategy to ensure that the transition to Twinfield has been as seamless as possible.”
Lesley continued: “We’ve had great feedback from clients to date about the service, particularly about the ease of use and also the ability to work collaboratively alongside us. We’re now getting enquiries from new clients who have previously never used accounting software but want to embrace a cloud accounting solution. We’re also currently working on the ‘client zone’ of our website, which will enable clients to log in and access online documents securely through Twinfield, allowing even more flexibility.”
Lesley concludes, “By offering our clients a cloud-based solution we’re opening up new opportunities. In the future, we’ll be able to offer a more engaged business advisory service and to take on the role of clients’ ‘virtual FD’. It’s no longer an all-or-nothing approach – “Here’s some software for you to do your books with. We’ll pop in once a quarter to see how you’re getting on.” It’s now far more flexible and much more collaborative.”
Barbara Kroll, Managing Director at Twinfield UK, said: “Increasingly, accounting practices are seeing that real time, online collaboration with their clients gives them the opportunity to add commercial value to the relationship. They can be seen as a trusted business resource over and above the day-to-day accounting needs. This, combined with time and cost savings through standardising on a single online solution, brings a real win-win for the accounting practice and their customer.”
