Empower your finance team with resources tailored for CFOs, Financial Controllers, and Finance Directors.
Insights from Dave Fay, Head of Support at AccountsIQ, on why world-class support is no longer optional but essential for finance leaders navigating mounting pressures and complex software.
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 →
Insights from Dave Fay, Head of Support at AccountsIQ, on why world-class support is no longer optional but essential for finance leaders navigating mounting pressures and complex software.
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 →
With insights from Gordon Crawford, this blog explores how finance teams can adopt elite athletic mindsets - focusing on collaboration, adaptability and resilience.
When we kicked off our Miles Ahead webinar with Gordon Crawford, performance director at Triathlon Ireland, we weren’t interested in just swapping sports metaphors. We wanted something more meaningful - a fresh way to rethink how finance teams approach performance, resilience and progress.
Finance professionals face complex challenges and high expectations every day, often with as much pressure and intensity as elite athletes.
At the heart of it all, better experiences come down to cultivating a stronger, more adaptable mindset. Let’s take a closer look at the insights Gordon shared on the webinar and how they can inspire finance teams to work smarter, support better and achieve more balanced, sustainable success.
1. Performance isn’t just results - it’s progress together
"Working together is progress. Performing is success."
As Gordon shared, elite athletes know that performance starts with alignment and shared direction. For finance teams, that means breaking silos, clarifying goals and building processes that support consistent, collaborative progress. It’s not just about closing the books faster. It’s about doing it with less friction, smarter support and greater impact across the business ensuring each professional feels valued.
2. Think differently, not just harder
High performers don’t grind until burnout. They reframe and rethink when a challenge arises. Whether it’s a late-stage training block or a quarter-end close, it’s the mindset shift that matters:
Challenge = opportunity.
This reframing is core to how both athletes and finance leaders push forward. Through automation, better workflows and a willingness to adapt to new tech, teams and leaders can spend less time firefighting and more time thinking strategically.
3. Resilience is a skill, not a trait
Improvement isn’t linear. In fact, the dips often matter more than the highs. Gordon reminded us that resilience is about response, not recovery - finding new ways around old problems, questioning assumptions and building habits that support long-term momentum.
For finance teams, that could mean rethinking legacy systems, iterating on support models, or simply making time for process reflection after a chaotic month-end.
4. People and process are the performance edge
Behind every medal is a team: - coaches, analysts, physiotherapists, who are all focused on elevating the athlete’s performance and increasing their success rate. The same applies in modern finance: craft matters, but so does connection.
Leaders should build feedback loops, champion small wins and invest in tech that enables people to focus on what they’re best at as well as finance systems that allow for visibility across the board.
5. Mindset shapes experience
In hybrid or remote-first environments, it’s easy to fall into reactive mode. But real growth – in sport or in the office – comes from intentional time to think, reset, and reconnect.
Gordon recommended The Courage to Be Disliked, a powerful read on self-awareness and mindset shifts. It’s a reminder that better experiences often start with better thinking - ,not bigger goals.
This is just the beginning...
Our partnership with Triathlon Ireland is about more than inspiration. It aims to better experiences for finance professionals who want to work smarter, grow continuously and perform at their peak.
Keep an eye out for more insights, conversations and practical tools to help you build a finance function that’s fit for the future.
Because better experiences don’t just happen. They’re built - intentionally.
Missed the webinar?
Catch the full session with Gordon Crawford, performance director at Triathlon Ireland, and hear firsthand how a high-performance mindset can reshape the way you work.
🎥 Watch the webinar: https://accountsiq.wistia.com/medias/rj0ts4qg27
This blog explores how finance teams can strike the right balance when it comes to implementing a new finance management system - moving quickly where it makes sense, and carefully where it matters most.
The old way: stress, setbacks and sleepless nights
If you’ve ever been part of a finance system implementation project, the word "fast" might make you wince. It conjures up memories of rushed onboarding calls, missing data, overworked teams and reporting deadlines that go up in flames. Speed used to mean risk. Haste meant cutting corners. And cutting corners meant costly mistakes.
On the other hand, traditional implementations can take months - draining budgets and leaving teams stranded with even more fragmented systems. With both of these scenarios obviously not ideal, it’s no surprise that implementation often sparks anxiety.
The truth is, both extremes - too fast and too slow - can create risk. One leads to overwhelm, the other to inertia and drained resources. A successful, stress-free implementation should balance urgency with intentionality moving quickly where it makes sense, and carefully where it matters most. Asking the right questions and choosing a provider with standout support is critical.
So how do you move fast without losing control - or avoid delay without dragging out the pain for your finance team?
A new standard: fast, thoughtful and fit for purpose
Fast implementation can and should mean smart implementation - provided you have the right team, and a platform that understands the needs of your finance department.
AccountsIQ has helped hundreds of mid-market companies go live in as little as 4–6 weeks. This isn’t about skipping steps. It’s about using intelligent design, automation, and expert onboarding to accelerate the journey without losing control.
And while long timelines might feel safer, they often create more risk: delays drain resources, stall transformation, and sap momentum across the business.
According to our CFO Mindset report, 72% of finance leaders say implementation timelines are a key barrier to switching systems.
What sets successful finance teams apart isn’t just their choice of tech - it’s also their mindset around change. Many have been shaped by messy, all-consuming implementation experiences that made them wary of moving fast again.
Imagine this: a better start for your finance team
Now picture the opposite of a painful rollout:
This is what AccountsIQ users experience every week - and it’s helping finance teams win back time, reduce stress and get back to high-impact work.
This isn’t a rushed approach. It’s grounded in planning, support and smart sequencing that is tailored to each business and the needs of its finance department.
Better balance begins with better onboarding
Fast onboarding isn’t about pushing finance teams harder. It’s about doing the hard thinking for them.
AccountsIQ’s approach focuses on:
By embedding structure and clarity into every step, we make fast feel calm—and change feel manageable.
A better standard for the mid-market
There’s a reason why more mid-market finance teams are leaving behind legacy systems and drawn-out rollouts. They want a partner that understands the pace of business today - and a platform that supports it.
At AccountsIQ, we know that implementations should be stress-free and seamless - giving finance teams the confidence to hit the ground running.
Because faster doesn’t have to mean riskier. And slower doesn’t always mean safer.
It’s time for a better, balanced approach to finance transformation.
Want to learn more?
Explore how AccountsIQ helps teams like yours go live with confidence - and stay ahead.
Learn more about our onboarding approach.
Before switching to AccountsIQ, Stott and May faced significant challenges due to its fragmented financial management system. This case study examines the firm’s journey toward a streamlined solution with AccountsIQ, highlighting the pivotal changes and outcomes that transformed its operations.
Stott and May is a global technology recruitment agency with approximately 100 employees across four companies and offices in the UK, US and Ireland. It serves a diverse range of clients, from large software service companies to small startups. It focuses on placing candidates in positions across core areas including cybersecurity, data, privacy and AI.
Given its international reach and the competitive nature of the tech recruitment sector, the agency’s finance team faced a challenging task in managing accounts across multiple entities and currencies.
After a comprehensive review led by the head of finance and the CEO, assisted by an external project manager, Stott and May selected AccountsIQ as the platform to streamline its financial operations and support its continued growth.
The decision to implement a new accounting system for the agency was driven by the need to replace its existing fragmented setup, which relied on three separate accounting packages: QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Enterprise and Sage 50. This setup created multiple issues for the seven-member finance team in the following areas:
This disjointed approach prevented the finance team from operating efficiently and prevented operations from scaling effectively as the company expanded.
Stott and May implemented AccountsIQ in June 2022, guided by an external project manager and involving the finance team at every stage. The transition to a single, unified system was smooth due to AccountsIQ’s intuitive interface and the structured implementation plan, as well as the expert customer support and training resources provided.
“The AccountsIQ expense app transformed how we manage consultant expenses. Moving from manual Excel sheets to an automated app has streamlined the process - receipts go directly into the system, saving us a lot of time and reducing errors.”
Ryan Tyndall
Management Accountant, Stott and May
The adoption of AccountsIQ has led to several tangible benefits for Stott and May:
1. Enhanced consolidation and reporting
2. Improved multi-currency and tax management
3. Boosted team efficiency and strategic focus
With AccountsIQ, Stott and May are now well-positioned for continued growth and expansion. The platform’s comprehensive reporting and multi-entity management capabilities provide a solid foundation for scaling operations across new markets. The finance team continues to explore additional functionalities within the system, further optimising their processes. The flexibility and adaptability of AccountsIQ ensure that Stott and May can remain agile in a dynamic recruitment industry, enabling them to respond quickly to changing market conditions and seize new opportunities.
If your recruitment firm is struggling with fragmented financial systems, AccountsIQ’s powerful multi-entity and reporting capabilities can help you streamline your operations and drive strategic growth. Book a demo today to see how AccountsIQ can support your business.
“Before AccountsIQ, using QuickBooks Online for our Irish entity was a headache. Switching to AccountsIQ’s single system, supported by the Academy learning hub, made the transition seamless and our team now runs the entity with ease and confidence .”
Ryan Tyndall
Management Accountant, Stott and May
Formed in London in 1985, David Chipperfield Architects (DCA) are now widely recognised for their award-winning, innovative work across the world. Since Alex Gilbert joined as CFO in June 2021, they’ve completed a major digital transformation of their finance function. This involved implementing two new systems simultaneously: moving from Sage and Deltek (project management software) to an integrated solution of AccountsIQ’s Cloud-based Financial Management Software and Rapport3 (for project costing and reporting).
“Getting AccountsIQ up and running was quick and easy. It’s worked really well from day one; our month end is smooth.” Alex Gilbert, CFO, David Chipperfield Architects
New finance team members at DCA have also found AccountsIQ easy to navigate, even though they’d never used the system before. “When systems cause problems, I tend to know about it as that’s when I’m forced to get involved,” says Alex. “I’ve never had to deal with anything to do with AccountsIQ. The team can handle it all themselves; AccountsIQ just works. Rapport3 is also a fantastic system, with a good online interface.”
The integration between AccountsIQ and Rapport3 was built completely from scratch for DCA. It was an iterative process that was turned on in phases. First, we synched the codes of the two systems and tested that. Then we worked on sales invoices, purchase invoices and purchase orders.
"The main advantage of this fully integrated AccountsIQ/Rapport3 solution is more accurate and timely reporting. To ensure we’re driving the business in the right direction we need to base our decisions on reliable and real-time data. Both systems working together enables us to do that.”
DCA are doing a huge amount of work on data and analytics across the business. They’re extracting project data from Rapport3 and visualising it using Power BI. The result is that each project now has its own dashboard that finance can share with project teams and architects.
"This AccountsIQ/Rapport3 integration is transforming everything. We will be able to ensure everyone has complete visibility on how their projects are going.”
AccountsIQ now has several customers using the integration including Costello Medical, a consulting firm in the medical space.
Another big benefit of software integrations is that there’s no duplication of data entry or day-to-day finance processes. For example, at DCA project expenses now go into Rapport3 and are synched to AccountsIQ. Non-project expenses go direct into AccountsIQ. The systems are seamlessly integrated, so finance has complete visibility – by project and at company level – in AccountsIQ.
“We don’t have to duplicate anything,” says Alex. “Everything just synchs straight across. I’d say this saves us 1-2 days a month and it helps with our cashflow forecasting because we know what expenses are coming down the line.”
The fact that both systems have full multi-currency capabilities is another big win for David Chipperfield. They run projects around the world and the architects want to know how their projects are doing in the local currency. “It’s hugely important to have the ability to look at everything in local currency,” says Alex. “It’s not just that it’s more accurate, it’s that it avoids misunderstandings. Now, FX is easy; we just set the rates in AccountsIQ, and it flows through to Rapport3.”
Find out more about the AccountsIQ/Rapport3 integrated solution for Architects, Engineers and Project Managers, request a callback from Sales.
DG International is a specialist freight forwarder offering a range of logistics services to clients importing into the UK from Asia via sea and air. The range of services includes Horizon, an all-in-one digital supply chain solution that allows customers to self-serve, offering cost-effective and convenient global logistics. The business has grown rapidly since it launched in 2009 and now handles more than 15,000 consignments each year.
Ian Dennis, Financial Director, DG International
Identifying the benefits that digital technologies can bring to the sector, DG started out on a path to “digital transformation” in early 2020 that saw an overhaul of the core operating system and a shift of several key systems to the Cloud. This included adoption of Salesforce as a CRM and integrating logistics management to create Horizon. Integrating supply chain logistics with Salesforce data allows DG International to offer customers an advanced self-service experience; tracking delivery in real time, accessing invoices and other documentation.
If you want to be a freight forwarder, you have to be a digital freight forwarder,” said Ian Dennis, DG’s Finance Director.
With the customer experience side of the project complete, it was time to address the needs of the business support functions. AccountsIQ was chosen by the Finance team to replace Open Accounts and integrate with Salesforce, with a fully-automated, end-to-end process in mind. With the uptake of Salesforce and the development of Horizon, the business needed a solution that could integrate with these systems and facilitate efficient, accurate reporting. AccountsIQ fitted the bill with its strong track record in integrations, as well as key functionality including multicurrency and support for multiple entities.
Conor Day, Assistant Financial Controller explained,
The system we were previously using was antiquated and slow, now everything is processed through Salesforce and we’re posting directly into AccountsIQ. The process is a lot smoother, and the in-built filters and coding options in AccountsIQ really help massively with our internal reporting.”
AccountsIQ worked with DG International’s team to implement the new system which went live in May 2020. AccountsIQ, Salesforce, and Horizon are integrated in such a way that allows each of the platforms to talk to one another and sync up information. For example, AccountsIQ picks up the gross profits from Salesforce and matches it to customer invoices. Nothing is done manually, and the digitisation of documents allows for greater visibility and less paper.
AccountsIQ has helped us to automate many of our key accounting processes. No double entries. No manual entries. We used to have a filing system. Now, being able to find those documents at the click of a button is obviously a huge time saver,” said Ian.
DG currently runs ledgers in Euro, GBP and USD which is easy to do with AccountsIQ’s multicurrency capabilities. They currently have one entity set up in the system but have plans to move to multiple entities as the business evolves its core services. This is part of DG’s ongoing evolution towards cost efficiency, convenience and confidence, driven by their digital transformation strategy. AccountsIQ supports this transformation by providing a Cloud-based accounting system that can grow and adapt to DG’s business structure as it evolves.
DG International’s success is powered by its commitment to “Cost-effectiveness, Convenience and Confidence”, and the digital roadmap continues to play a vital part in the company’s growth strategy. AccountsIQ’s ongoing product innovations will support the business in its future plans.
There are a lot of features in AccountsIQ that we have yet to explore. We’re on an aggressive roadmap for the future and we envisage that AccountsIQ will be developed further to support this roadmap,” said Ian.
“We’re now on phase two of our digital transformation, but I don’t think we’ll ever be in a position to say we’re done. We’re in constant development, and that’s how it should be.”
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Empower your finance team with resources tailored for CFOs, Financial Controllers, and Finance Directors. Our 100% cloud-based software integrates seamlessly with your existing systems, combining essential accounting tools with advanced automation and intelligence. Whether you're in tech, financial services, charity, renewables, or any other industry requiring sophisticated financial management, AccountsIQ delivers the insights you need to streamline processes, achieve real-time visibility and simplify consolidation and reporting. Equip your team with the knowledge to elevate your finance function and drive strategic growth.
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