If your month-end reporting drags on and forecasts consistently miss the mark, the problem rarely lies with individual staff. More often, the issue is structural. Across UK SMEs and mid-market businesses, several common factors explain why the finance function struggles to deliver timely, reliable numbers.

Your finance function should do more than close the books and file returns. What worked in the early stages often reaches its limits, and instead of supporting progress, it starts to slow everything down. So how can you tell when it’s no longer fit for purpose? Below we’ve outlined five red flags that signal your finance function is in urgent need of transformation.

Keeping on top of your accounts can feel never-ending. One missed receipt or late invoice, and the numbers stop adding up. More and more businesses are now choosing virtual bookkeeping so they can stay organised and spend less time buried in admin. If you’re considering the switch, here’s what the process looks like and how it can help.

Many people think Xero is only for small businesses. But that’s no longer true. In this article, we’ll share five reasons why you should consider Xero for your larger organisation, showcasing different features that can support your finances as your business scales.

Many SMEs, and even some larger businesses, still operate without a dedicated financial controller, often to save on salary costs. In fact, over a quarter (27%) of UK business owners handle all their accounting alone, with no professional support. However, not having a financial controller (whether in-house or outsourced) can lead to hidden costs that far outweigh the apparent savings. We discuss five key areas where lacking this financial oversight can hurt your business.

Many large UK businesses instinctively gravitate towards enterprise-level accounting software like SAP, Oracle, or Sage, believing these systems are essential for managing complex financial operations. This article compares SAP and Xero, outlining why Xero can be a smart, strategic choice for larger companies.

Your bookkeeper was perfect when your business was simpler. But things have changed. Growth means more transactions, tougher compliance, and financial decisions that demand experience beyond basic record-keeping. If your current finance setup feels stretched, now might be the right moment to consider switching to an outsourced finance department.

As your small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) moves into its next chapter, you might be asking: do we need a Finance Manager or a Financial Controller? In this article, we’ll unpack the core differences between these two roles, explore when each makes sense, and help you figure out which one is the best fit for your current stage of growth.

Financial warning signs don’t usually come out of nowhere - they build over time. The earlier you spot them, the easier they are to address. Miss them, and you could face serious issues that put your business’s stability at risk. Knowing what to watch for can make all the difference. To help you stay ahead, we’ve drawn on UK research from 2025 to highlight the key financial red flags every business should be watching for.

Without proper controls in place, growth can lead to chaos. Implementing robust financial controls from the outset helps identify errors early, reduces fraud risk, and improves your business’s financial health. Even the smallest businesses benefit from building these habits early, long before they scale. Let’s explore how your SME can build effective financial controls - even if you’re still small.