Car Cloud Community

What was the main challenge you were facing which led you to consider working with The Smart Finance Team?

Our business was and to some extent still is a messy start up, and our existing accountant wasn’t giving us the structured organisation we needed. We often felt that we were last on his list of clients, and this made things particularly stressful when the VAT return was due, and we were all searching for receipts and invoices. We felt there must be a better way to do this!

We were introduced to Tracy by our chairman, who knew her from a previous role, and the thought of having systems and processes in place to give us more of a sense of calmness and control was very appealing.

How did you reach the decision to work with us?

Of course, a recommendation goes a long way, and our initial call went well. During the call, Tracy was able to demystify and explain what we needed to do. She didn’t make it sound more complicated than it needed to be and that ability to explain things in a way we understood gave us the confidence to get started.

Having worked with us now for a few years, what is the biggest difference you think we have made?

We work with Caroline and Kasia, and the structure and processes they have implemented have brought a greater level of systemised calmness. The monthly reporting they deliver means that our board meetings work more effectively. Instead of a chaotic meeting we have structure, a process and a plan. The reports they deliver have become the platform for us to discuss how the historical performance will influence and guide the future. Our monthly Board meetings are now the most important regular meetings of the month.

Do you want to call out anyone in our team who has really helped?

All the Smart Finance Team have added value for us. Tracy with her sometimes-brutal honesty, Zal bringing the initial plan and structure together and Caroline with her calm and efficient way of working. Kasia is a diamond, incredibly productive and has great understanding of her profession which is evident in the way she explains sometimes quite complex accounting treatments in layman’s terms.

Is there anything else you’d like us to do for you?

Looking forward we would like to understand the art of the possible regarding automating even more of our finance processes to make us even more efficient. This in turn will help us become more strategic with our financial management and leadership.

What do you value most about working with us?

One thing which stands out is that we have always felt prioritised. It feels like you will do whatever it takes, and you have made us feel like we are your only clients. You have never said that you can’t do anything because of other priorities.

I have particularly valued the honesty from Tracy which permeates through the whole team. She doesn’t shy away from a message if it needs to be given, although she can be a bit pithy in the delivery sometimes!

Would you recommend us?

Yes.

I would recommend working with The Smart Finance Team if you want to feel in control of your finances and would welcome systems and processes to help you get into a flow to calm the chaos down.

I’d also add that the commercial experience of having lived directorship & leadership roles coupled with their technical knowledge gives them a unique perspective especially when you remember that as a small business themselves, The Smart Finance Team are also on the entrepreneurial journey too.

Geoff Turral – Director Car Cloud Community (Midlands)