Silverfin

Future-proofing Johnston Carmichael with Silverfin

Johnston Carmichael, Scotland’s largest independent Chartered Accountants firm with over 800 employees and 13 UK locations, is future-proofing its business by adopting Silverfin’s cloud accounting software to transition from paper-based, inconsistent processes to a streamlined, data-driven advisory model that meets rising client expectations for real-time strategic support beyond compliance.

“We believe that accountants of the future will be data-driven advisors above all else.” — Lynne Walker, Partner and Head of Business Advisory

Location: London, England
Employees: 800+
Product used: Silverfin: cloud accounting software for clients

Lynne Walker, Partner and Head of Business Advisory at Johnston Carmichael, Scotland’s largest independent firm of Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors, shares how Silverfin is helping to future-proof the company.

About Johnston Carmichael

Johnston Carmichael has 13 locations across the UK (primarily in Scotland) serving over 16,000 clients in industries such as agriculture, technology, food and drink, financial services, hospitality, and tourism. Their main goal is to use expertise and experience to turn clients into business success stories.

Why Consider Silverfin?

A major trend has emerged: rising client expectations. Compliance is now assumed, and clients seek ongoing support from advisors who understand their business and can help them make strategic decisions. Johnston Carmichael believes accountants of the future will be data-driven advisors, operating and analyzing in real-time. To achieve this, they needed a tool to make obtaining and analyzing business-critical data easy for both employees and clients. Silverfin was chosen to meet this need.

“Compliance is no longer a major attraction or selling point — clients simply assume that it’s going to be part of the package.”

Challenges Faced

The firm realized it was too reliant on paper-based processes and had inconsistent working practices, sometimes duplicating work across assignments. To address this, they aimed to:

  1. 1.Improve how client data is captured
  2. 2.Provide a digital working papers platform
  3. 3.Streamline the end-to-end compliance process
  4. 4.Focus on value-add advisory opportunities

Despite a willingness to embrace the future, there was understandable fear of change among staff, many of whom had used existing processes for decades.

“We were still far too reliant on paper-based processes and worse, we had inconsistent working practices across our teams.”

Gaining Buy-In for Change

Continuous communication was key. The firm informed staff about upcoming changes, explained their value, and involved everyone in the journey. Top-down support from leadership was also crucial for successful change.

“We didn’t want to suddenly impose new technology or ways of working on our staff without their prior knowledge or consent.”

What Was Needed in a Tech Provider?

The primary goal was to provide data-driven advisory services in real-time. The firm wanted to spend more time on advisory services and less on compliance, requiring greater efficiency and streamlined digital practices. Silverfin was recommended by a partner and quickly proved to be a powerful, responsive platform that met their needs.

“To be more competitive in the future we knew we needed to spend more time on advisory services and less time on compliance-related work.”

Implementing Silverfin

A dedicated internal project team was established to focus on successful implementation. Specific training materials were developed, and Silverfin provided ongoing support. The company has shifted its mindset, now actively seeking new tools to improve success, guided by the principle of reinventing internal processes to bring more value to clients and prepare for the future.

“We invested time developing specific training material and the Silverfin team’s been wonderful, they’ve been on hand at all times to assist with any and all training needs.”

Impact of Silverfin

Silverfin has been transformative, especially during the shift to remote work caused by COVID. It has made accessing critical information, sharing resources, and maintaining business continuity much easier. The platform enables the firm to be proactive to client needs and access information anytime, anywhere. Silverfin’s team has been receptive to Johnston Carmichael’s future plans, supporting their development and acting as a genuine business partner.

“Now we’re able to be proactive to our clients’ needs, instead of reactive, and we can easily access need-to-know information at any time or any place. It’s a lifesaver.”

Silverfin is expected to remain central to Johnston Carmichael’s operations for the foreseeable future.