Building a successful accountancy firm with the IRIS
Starter Pack.
Setting up a new
business is a challenge at the best of times. However, for two
Midlands accountants, Rod Wigley and Terry Di Ponio, the process
was simplified by making an extremely important strategic decision
– to implement IRIS software from day one.
Harringtons Accountants (www.harringtonsaccountants.com) was
formed in August 2003. The brain-child of the two partners, Terry
Di Ponio and Rod Wigley, the firm was formed to provide small to
medium sized firms with a 'back to basics' accounting
service.
Both Rod and Terry were already familiar with the IRIS brand
and had been using the software at their previous firms. When they
made the decision to launch their own practice, they did not
consider any other software package: it had to be IRIS.
Partner, Rod Wigley summed up the IRIS contribution.
'We wouldn't be doing this if we hadn't got IRIS to support us.
IRIS Software provides us with the flexibility to concentrate our
time on the client while it handles the day to day running of the
practice.'
Harringtons began with IRIS 100 standalone which caters for
100 clients and 200 tax returns and the client base has expanded
rapidly since August 2003. A network upgrade soon followed and the
practice is now looking to the next level, IRIS 200 network. Terry
added "The system paid for itself in six months. We are now at the
stage when we will need to move to the next level and we are now
considering adding IRIS Practice Management Software to the system
which will help control workflow and alert us to any jobs that need
attention or completion. This will be key as we reach the next
stage of our development."
The effective use of Information Technology impresses clients
with its immediacy and this is used to great effect at client
meetings.
Terry continued "As IRIS is networked throughout the practice,
we are able to have it loaded on-line in our meeting room. We
invite clients in to go through their final accounts and if any
alterations are needed, we make them as they present themselves.
Clients never fail to be impressed with the speed in which we can
turn the alterations around."
Both partners attribute the ease with which they have managed
to grow their practice to IRIS and its centralised database. Terry
concluded "It saves us time, saves us money and makes us look good
to our clients. What more could we want?"
