Q&A with Michael Pawley, Proficio Solutions

Why use Proficio Solutions?

Since setting up Proficio Solutions I have worked with over 30 different companies, gaining a wide range of experience covering the issues and challenges that growing businesses face.

What types of businesses do you work with?

Typically our clients are owner-managed service sector businesses with a turnover of between £1-15m. We’ve worked with lawyers, sports coaches, staff placement agencies, consultancies, football agents, executive coaches and many more. There is no sector or business that we are unable to assist.

How do you identify your clients?

Often it’s another advisor who will contact us, i.e. a bank manager, accountant or lawyer. They recognise when a company needs the kind of help that we are able to provide. That is why we actively use networks like B4 to grow our circle of trusted contacts. We also receive referrals from previous or current clients.

What are the key indicators for businesses who could benefit from your assistance?

All businesses run up against brick walls as they grow and business owners find themselves having to deal with issues outside their area of expertise; understanding their numbers, financial and others, is critical to successful growth and having an independent person to work with you to make informed decisions, using those numbers, is really valuable.

How have you helped your clients?

We can deliver the practical solutions such as: improved and integrated systems; financial reporting; recruiting accounts staff; securing new borrowing or other finance facilities; resolving problems with HMRC in relation to VAT or PAYE and generally removing the hassles around day to day finance admin.

We have also taken companies through the complex process of mergers, acquisitions and restructuring. We work alongside these businesses as they grow, offering support and acting as a sounding board or calm voice of reason.

What Software Accounting Tools do you use and recommend?

We are Certified Advisers for Xero, Futrli and WorkflowMax:

Xero an excellent cloud-based accounting package. We’ve been using Xero since 2011 and are also a Silver Partner. With the advent of Making Tax Digital this April, more and more businesses will need to submit their VAT returns directly from their accounts software. Xero is already set up for this and we have undertaken Xero’s Migration Certification to qualify us to help businesses migrate from their current system, whatever that may be, to Xero;

Futrli an application that permits users to tailor an online dashboard using tables, charts and text. This can be used to monitor a business in real time and produce meaningful financial reports. As a Certified Adviser, we have invested in our own branded Futrli portal allowing clients to login, through our website, to access their information;

WorkflowMax a great project management application specifically designed for SME’s and which integrates with Xero;

ReceiptBank an application that sits alongside your accounts software and extracts the necessary information from invoices and receipts, copies of which are then stored online.

For an informal, no-obligation chat with Michael, feel free to call or email him.