Outsourced Finance

Outsourced Finance for Growing SMEs

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For Ambitious SMEs

A proper finance team, built to grow with you...

A UK-based outsourced finance department giving ambitious SMEs the financial control, reporting and commercial insight they need as their business becomes more complex.

We manage the day-to-day, improve the systems behind it and give leadership a clear view of cash flow, profitability and performance. You get a finance team that works as part of your business and can adapt as your priorities change:

  • Accurate, up-to-date financial information
  • Management reporting built around your business
  • Active cash flow and working capital management
  • Joined-up accounting, tax and legal expertise
  • Regular input from people who understand your plans
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Fractional CFO for videography business

Outsourced Finance that supports the way your business operates

As a business grows, finance rarely stays simple. You may be managing more people, new revenue streams, tighter working capital, different systems or plans to acquire another company.

At that point, accurate accounts are only part of what you need. You also need reliable management information, closer control of cash and people who can explain the commercial impact of important decisions.

We bring these elements together in one finance function, giving your management team the information and support it needs to move confidently.

Outsourced finance department online

Clear numbers. Better decisions. Greater control.

We build a finance operation that gives you a reliable view of what is happening across the business.

  • Financial systems and processes that work together
  • Accurate reporting that reflects how you earn and spend money
  • Rolling cash flow forecasts and visibility over working capital
  • KPIs and management information shaped around your priorities
  • Regular conversations about performance, risks and upcoming decisions

The result is a finance function that does more than keep records. It gives you the control and foresight to manage growth properly.

Hiring a Finance Manager? Here’s an Alternative.

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All Your Finance Needs in One Place

Running your Finance Operation

We manage the work that keeps your finances accurate and moving, including bookkeeping, bank reconciliations, payroll, VAT, invoicing, credit control, supplier payments and year-end accounts.

Reporting and financial control

We produce management accounts, rolling cash-flow forecasting , budgets, variance analysis and KPI dashboards that give your leadership team a clear view of performance.

Supporting important decisions

Our senior team can help with acquisitions, funding, expansion, scenario planning, tax and other decisions where the financial implications need to be properly understood.

Outsourced finance team

Who We Work With

Our outsourced finance department is designed for established and growing SMEs whose financial needs have moved beyond bookkeeping and year-end accounts.

It may be the right fit if:

  • Your business is growing quickly or entering new markets
  • You have several revenue streams, entities, locations or currencies
  • Cash flow and working capital need to be managed more actively
  • Your existing reports do not give you enough commercial insight
  • You are preparing for funding, an acquisition or another major change
  • Your leadership team needs better information before making decisions
  • You want accounting, tax and legal advice to work together
  • Your current finance setup is no longer keeping pace with the business

We shape the team and service around the way your business operates, then continue developing it as your needs change.

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Our Process

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Management Account Dashboards
Understand the business

We start by learning how your business operates, where it is heading and what your management team needs from finance.

Review the finance function

We assess your systems, processes, reporting, cash flow and existing resources to identify what needs to change for the next stage.

Build the right structure

We create a joined-up finance function with clear responsibilities, reporting cycles and points of contact.

Run, advise and improve

Once everything is in place, we become an extension of your business, handling the finance work each month and keeping the numbers moving properly. You stay close to what matters, with clearer reporting and regular advice as the business grows.

Can we keep using our current systems?

Although we are a Xero first firm, there are some instances where we use other accounting software.

We always encourage our clients to use Xero, as it not only speaks the language of business owners but also has an impressive app infrastructure that integrates seamlessly. This means your accounting function can be scalable, with everything from receipt scanning, invoice chasing, and cash flow forecasting all in one place.  We’ve also handled hundreds of conversions to Xero from other platforms, it’s a common first step in the onboarding process. However, we do have some clients who use other software, so get in touch to find out how we could work together.

Hiring a Financial Controller? Here’s an alternative.

Will I still see what's happening?

Of course, you will get a customised dashboard with all the KPIS you'd like to track, a monthly pack and regular check-ins to discuss progress.

The point of outsourced finance is that we become a part of your business in the same way that a permanent member of staff would. We want to empower your team to understand the numbers in jargon-free terms, with full visibility at all times. You’ll have:

  • A named Finance Manager, shared inbox, and clear points of contact

  • Regular check-ins

  • A simple live dashboard plus a consistent monthly report you’ll actually read

  • Rolling cashflow forecast so you know where you’re up to

  • Real-time access to  Xero

  • A tidy approvals flow so you can see what’s awaiting sign-off and what’s paid

  • Agreed response times for queries and a clear escalation route to a senior accountant/CFO

In short: you keep control and clarity; we do the heavy lifting and make the numbers easy to act on.

Hiring a Finance Director? Here’s an Alternative.

Can we keep some tasks in-house?

Yes, common splits are invoicing or bill approvals in-house, with bookkeeping and close handled by us.

Every business is different but some teams may already have bookkeeping in place, or perhaps they have an existing payroll team. The point of outsourcing is that we want to be a useful addition to your team, slotting in however works best for you.

How do we switch from our current accountant/bookkeeper?

We manage the handover: request data, collect working papers, map balances, and agree a start date, so you don’t have to chase.

We handle this all the time; it’s a part of our onboarding process, so rest assured, it will be carried out effectively. To get started, we’ll ask for the essentials: read-only bank access or recent statements, access to your accounting/payroll tools (e.g., Xero/QBO), your latest trial balance and prior working papers, customer and supplier lists with any open invoices/bills, VAT and payroll details (including deadlines), HMRC agent authorisations, and key contacts for approvals.

Is this the same as offshoring?

No. Our outsourced finance department is not about sending your finance work to a faceless team you never speak to.

You get named contacts, regular check-ins, clear reporting and access to people who understand your business. We work as an extension of your team, handling the finance work that needs doing while keeping you close to the numbers.

Emma Williams - Seene Digital

Accounts and Legal have been fantastic to work with over the last few years. Kath Meehan-Lacitignola, who handles our bookkeeping, is incredibly thorough, efficient and friendly. She’s quick to respond, genuinely cares and is always ready to help with any question. Special thanks to Jack Dawber-Axon, Senior Manager, who is our go-to for tax and accounting queries. Jack is exceptionally talented, thinks outside the box and has been instrumental in increasing our tax efficiency & saving us money. Both Kath and Jack make a real difference to our business.

Emma Williams

Emma Williams, Founder of Seene Digital

What Our Clients Say: Leopold Forest

I have been using A&L for my business since launch for more than 2 years and it has been working very efficient. They are very proficient in using the latest technologies, from helping me with my accounts, managing better my costs, helping with my payroll, but also on the legal side, helping me understand better legal documents and registering my trademark. Cannot recommend more !

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Meet Our Team

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Accounting Legal Payroll Tax
Jack Dawber-Axon

Jack Dawber-Axon

Head of Accounting
Jack Dawber is our Head of Accounting at Accounts & Legal, leading the...
Accounting Knowledge100
Air Miles50000
SME Expert100
No. of Sports Played200
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Neil Ormesher, FCCA, CTA

Neil Ormesher

CEO
Meet Neil Ormesher, CEO of Accounts and Legal. Neil has been in the...
Cookin' Up a Storm100
Accountancy Knowledge 1000
Tax Skills10000
Kitchen Dance Moves4
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Neil Nichols

Founder
Neil Nichols, Founder of Accounts and Legal set up the business after successfully...
Corporate Finance Expertise1000
Piano Skills89
Growth Specialist1000
Honorary Northerner 100
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Jessica Hall

Jessica Hall

Business Development Consultant
Meet Jessica, Our new Business Development Consultant. Jess joins the Accounts and Legal...
Solution Finding100
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Greys Anatomy Enthusiast 90
Cornet Playing95
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Rachel Duncan

Head of Legal
Theatre Lover:89
Singing:-100
Eagle Eye:99
Legal Magic:1000
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