Accounting Knowhow Resources

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How accounting firms modernise operations without disruption

Accounting firm leaders understand the need to modernise operational workflows, but many hesitate to act because they worry about the impact on day-to-day delivery. The potential for implementation to interrupt busy periods is perceived as high, causing productivity to dip and necessitating a training module to get staff up to speed. For firms that already operate under tight reporting cycles – pulling trial balance data from Xero, retyping figures into Excel working papers, then retyping them again into statutory accounts – the idea of a major system change can feel incredibly risky. The process is inefficient, but at least it’s familiar.

From file review to client conversation, without leaving Silverfin

Every file review surfaces insights that clients need to hear. Unusual cost movements. Approaching tax thresholds. Year-on-year trends that signal risk or opportunity. Your team spots these things as a natural part of compliance work. The problem isn’t the insight. It’s what happens to it next. At some firms, these findings disappear into post-it notes, email threads and memory. At others, they do get captured, but in a separate tool that’s disconnected from the data. Either way, by the time the client meeting comes around, the link between what your team found and what the client hears is broken.

Silverfin launches Talking Points to turn routine compliance work into scalable client advisory

Early access data shows 40,000 client advisory discussions from 400 clients originated in routine compliance work. Ghent & London – 25 March 2026: Silverfin, the cloud-first accountancy SaaS platform, has launched Talking Points, a new capability designed to help accounting firms scale advisory by harnessing insights from routine compliance work. Talking Points gives accountants a structured way to capture discussion points during file review, present them to clients and follow up with clear action points, all from one platform. During an early access phase with selected firms, more than 40,000 client discussion points were captured from 400 clients. Of these, 85% were followed up with action points.

Working papers automation limits: what should and shouldn’t be automated

Automation has become a major topic of discussion in accounting firms. As software becomes more capable, many teams are exploring how automation can improve efficiency in core workflows. At the same time, many reviewers and partners remain cautious. Working papers sit at the centre of the accounting process. They support financial statements, evidence the review trail and underpin everything from corporation tax computations to statutory accounts. In most UK firms, they’re still managed in Excel – built manually each period, checked manually and passed between preparers and reviewers with little structured oversight. If automation removes visibility or weakens human oversight, the risks increase.

Aleisha Hales appointed Head of UK & Ireland at Silverfin

We’re pleased to announce that Aleisha Hales has been appointed Head of UK&I at Silverfin, taking on responsibility for the growth and performance of our business across the UK and Ireland. Aleisha has been with Silverfin for five years, most recently leading our UK Customer Success team, where she’s helped accounting firms navigate their digital transformation journeys and get real value from the platform. Before joining Silverfin UK, Aleisha built a strong foundation in the profession. She qualified as an accountant through ACCA, working in practice at firms including Williams Giles (now Xeinadin South) and McCabe Ford Williams. She then moved into industry roles before joining Silverfin.

Popular Articles

AI-powered accounting software: enhancing efficiency

AI has shifted from a novel concept to a powerful workplace tool with many practical applications. Around one in six organisations across the UK have adopted AI-powered accounting software to enhance efficiency and streamline processes.

Capacity creation in accounting: Why automation comes first

The capacity problem firms keep talking about: So many accounting firms struggle with the same problem—a sense of treading water and not moving forward. Constant busyness, relentless deadlines, and a recruitment process that seems stuck in the weeds create a feeling of always being on the backfoot. In this environment, everyone looks to leadership for answers, whether that means expanding advisory, exploring AI, improving margins, or growing capacity without adding headcount at the same pace. These accounting firm capacity challenges are not from a lack of motivation, and few teams lack ambition. The real constraint is the capacity to act.

Accounts production automation without losing review control

Automation promises greater efficiency, faster turnaround times and fewer errors. Yet many accounting firms still hesitate to upgrade their systems. The barrier isn’t the technology itself, but rather the fear of losing visibility, consistency and control over the accounting process. When partners and senior managers discuss automation, their concerns are practical. Will it reduce their visibility over the work? Could important issues be missed? Will they be asked to sign off on work they haven’t fully reviewed? This fear is both valid and common. The concern does not reflect a lack of trust in technology itself, but in processes that feel unfamiliar or untested.

Statutory accounts production: where firms lose time and how to fix it

Statutory accounts rarely take as long as planned. Even in well-run firms, files have a tendency to bounce back and forth. Late changes creep in, review queues stack up. During the busiest months, usually January through March, teams often experience the fire-fighting cycle: chasing inputs, unpicking errors, reworking documents and trying to hit deadlines without compromising quality. It’s not that statutory account production is technically hard; the problem is usually a chaotic workflow. Fragmented processes, disconnected systems and manual workarounds create rework and delay. The result is the same every year: too much time spent on admin, too little time spent on value-added work.

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: what it means for your practice

Partners and senior managers across the UK are already feeling it. After receiving HMRC mandation letters about Making Tax Digital for Income Tax, senior leaders are asking what it means, whether it applies to them, and what they need to do next. For many firms, the letters arrived just before the middle of peak January self-assessment season, when teams are stretched to their maximum. And MTD for Income Tax isn’t the only change; there are other regulatory requests competing for the team’s time and attention. It’s a testing time for organisational leaders, and many will be wondering how they will manage these changes effectively.