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For finance leaders, month end is more than a routine task - it is pivotal to leadership decisions. Whether approving new investments, evaluating performance, or planning growth, finance leaders rely on timely, accurate financial insight to act with confidence. When month-end reporting runs smoothly, leaders and their teams have clarity; when it falters, decisions are delayed, uncertain, or made in the dark.

Yet for many finance teams, month end is still a stressful scramble. What’s behind the mayhem? A familiar combination: manual spreadsheets, disconnected systems, and late reconciliations that slow down reporting. When data is delayed or unreliable, confidence at the top wavers – and strategic decisions are either postponed or based on incomplete information.

So, how can finance teams turn month-end frustration into a workflow that empowers leadership, boosts confidence and enables better, faster decisions?

Why a smoother month-end matters now

The pace of business has never been faster. Finance teams are under mounting pressure to deliver quicker turnarounds, sharper insights and more powerful data that leaders can trust. But external forces – from market volatility to the rapid adoption of AI – are stretching traditional month-end processes to their limit.

According to AccountsIQ’s CFO Mindset Report 2.0, 65% of finance leaders say strategic decisions are often made without sufficient data, while 94% have regrets about recent system choices that were meant to make things easier. These figures tell a clear story: the gap between financial data and decision-making is still too wide, and the systems designed to help are often slowing teams down instead.

Finance leaders who can close that gap – by delivering fast, reliable reports and insight – are no longer just managing operations; they’re shaping strategy. A well-structured month end isn’t simply about closing the books. It’s about providing leadership with the clarity to move first, act decisively, and stay ahead.

Rising to the top: workflows that work up the ladder

1. Speed to insight: Faster month-end closes mean executives act on up-to-date numbers, not outdated projections.

2. Accuracy equals trust: Clean reconciliations and automated checks eliminate errors that undermine leadership confidence.

3. Focus on strategy: When month end runs smoothly, finance teams can shift from transactional tasks to strategic analysis, offering executives insights that drive performance.

4. Scenario planning: Accurate, timely data allows leadership to model different outcomes and prepare for uncertainty.

Actionable steps for finance teams

• Automate repetitive tasks: Streamline reconciliations and reporting wherever possible to free up time for analysis.

• Centralise data: Bring all financial data into one system to create a single version of the truth.

• Standardise reporting templates: Reduce errors and speed up delivery with consistent, automated formats.

• Communicate early: Share preliminary insights with leadership before month end closes to support faster decisions.

Better month end, better decisions

Streamlined processes, from month-end to year-end, don’t just save time; they strengthen trust across departments, sharpen insight and empower CFOs and financed leaders to act confidently and strategically.

With the right systems and workflows in place, finance teams can turn month end from into a springboard of opportunity – one that drives better, faster and smarter decisions across the business.

👉 Ready to streamline your month end and support better business decisions?
Book a demo with our finance experts today and discover how AccountsIQ can simplify your month-end process.

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London, UK; Thursday 18th September 2025: Harlequins F.C. (“The Club”) has today announced a major partnership with cloud accounting leader AccountsIQ (“AIQ”). Under a multi-year agreement, The AccountsIQ Group will serve as the Club’s Official Data & Insights Partner.

With naming and branding rights to the Club’s iconic West Stand, coaches’ gantry, and laptops, the AccountsIQ Stand -for the 2025/2026 season - will become the focal point for all data, insights and key-decision making across the Club, both on and off the field. Through data-driven insights, the AIQ Match Insights, Preview and Coaches’ Ledger content series will serve to deepen fan engagement and understanding and showcase AccountsIQ’s role in helping key decision-makers transform the way they work.

The partnership blends AccountsIQ’s market-leading cloud accounting platform which delivers unparalleled transparency and control, from automating manual data entry to once-click consolidation of multi-entry accounts, with the Club’s ambition to bring best-in-class insights, data and storytelling to its fans. 

Laurie Dalrymple, Chief Executive, Harlequins said: “We’re delighted to welcome AccountsIQ to the Harlequins family ahead of the new season as Data and Insights Partner and the title sponsor of the West Stand at The Stoop. AccountsIQ shares our commitment to using clear insights to drive progress both in our sporting performance and how the Club operates as a business, and the new AccountsIQ Stand will serve as a physical and digital hub for that activity for this season and beyond.”

Darren Cran, CEO at AccountsIQ, added: "This partnership marks a significant milestone for The AccountsIQ Group. The Harlequins brand - and especially its iconic jersey - is among the most recognised in the rugby world and across the wider sporting landscape. Becoming the club's official data and insights partner reflects the strong synergy between Harlequins and AccountsIQ, and highlights the power of data and intelligence to drive teams forward and deliver results - whether for a finance team in business or a rugby team on the pitch. We wish the team every success for the season ahead and will be watching keenly from the newly named AccountsIQ Stand!"

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‍About Harlequins:
Founded in 1866 and playing in famous Quarters kit, Harlequins is possibly the most iconic and recognised Rugby Union club in the world. The Club is proud to be a founding member of the RFU and boasts and has a rich history alongside a healthy dose of current and former men’s and women’s international players. The Club were double domestic league champions in 2020/21 and continue to push for silverware in both European and domestic competitions.

Harlequins Men and Women both play their home matches at the 14,500 capacity Twickenham Stoop stadium in SW London but twice a year travel across the road to play at the Home of England Rugby, the 82,000 Allianz stadium, Twickenham. The annual festive Big Game event, now in its 17th edition,  is the biggest annual club rugby event in the world and features both men’s and women’s teams. Due to its success a summer version, Big Summer Kick-Off has been created to allow more fans to see the team play and is in its 5^th edition this year. 

The Club is renowned for its remarkable matchday experience and unrivalled atmosphere. With almost all men’s matches sold out across the last 3.5 seasons, matchdays at the Stoop are ranked as the best in the league by an independent Premiership Rugby survey. The combination of a family friendly matchday environment and an entertaining style of play has attracted more people than ever to follow the Club who are now digitally the most followed team in England and the 9^th most followed in the world. 

About AccountsIQ

AccountsIQ delivers cloud accounting software for mid-market businesses. Providing automated processes that increase productivity, group accounting features and next-level business intelligence, AccountsIQ supports over 35,000 users in over 85 countries, enabling them to streamline their workflows and save one week per month via smart automation. With a go-live period 5x faster than competitors, AccountsIQ stands out in the market as an easy-to-use, cloud-native platform that delivers next-level insights and empowers better business decisions and faster results.

AccountsIQ is part of the AccountsIQ Group, which also includes the leading expense management software ExpenseIn. The Group has a combined headcount of 146 and is headquartered in Dublin with a second office in London.

https://www.accountsiq.com

Finance leaders and their teams are under enormous pressure. Last year’s CFO Mindset Report from AccountsIQ revealed that 85% of CFOs need an extra one to two days per week just to manage their workload, while 76% feel they’re not fully in control of their organisation’s financial health. If that doesn’t scream ‘urgent need for support’, we don’t know what does. Support in finance software isn’t a nice-to-have - it’s make-or-break for any finance team trying to stay ahead.

As we gear up to launch our second report in the CFO Mindset series, we’re doubling down on our mission to uncover and tackle the most pressing challenges facing finance professionals across industries. Last year’s findings highlighted the growing need for technology to help teams stay in control - but it raises a critical question: who is actually there to help finance teams adapt, thrive, and get the most out of this new tech?

Support is not a wish list item when it comes to finance software. It’s a consistent, non-negotiable need. Yet too many teams are still forced to settle for slow responses, poor onboarding, and generic guidance. So, what does truly good support look like, and why does it matter so much?

Onboarding that actually works

Whether with entry-level systems or ERP software, onboarding can be mediocre at best. Finance teams dread complex setups, cookie-cutter training, and the risk that new systems will disrupt daily operations. The difference between a good and a bad onboarding experience is stark. Exceptional onboarding is hands-on, structured, and ongoing. It sets clear milestones, offers personalised guidance, and ensures teams feel confident from day one - not like they’re left to figure it out themselves.

And here’s the kicker: the quality of support after go-live is just as important. Slow responses, boilerplate answers, and limited availability frustrate teams and waste time. Great support is personal, patient and proactive. It turns software from a frustrating tool into a partner that actually helps you get things done.

Why support isn’t optional

Workload pressures aren’t going away. Finance leaders are juggling tighter deadlines, growing responsibilities, and mounting expectations. That’s why software support is the backbone of effective financial management.

Take Stott and May, a global technology recruitment agency, for example. They were struggling with a fragmented system that slowed reporting and hampered decision-making. By switching to AccountsIQ, they unified multi-entity accounts, slashed month-end closing from weeks to days, and gained real-time insights that genuinely improved strategic planning. Crucially, this was supported by a team that listened and guided them long before go-live - and continued to provide hands-on support well after the system was in place.  

Good support in finance software isn’t optional. It’s proactive onboarding, responsive assistance, and intelligent automation that together deliver efficiency, confidence, and growth. Finance teams don’t just want it - they need it. And if a solution can’t deliver, it shouldn’t even be on the shortlist.  

Ready to see support done right? Explore how real, responsive support transforms finance teams - Dive into AccountsIQ’s Support Centre →

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