Goodman Jones
Provider of personalised business and accounting services
Company Overview
Goodman Jones is an accountancy firm offering a broad range of personalised business services. Based in central London, the company has a pedigree that stretches back to formation in 1934. As professional accountants, Goodman Jones offers a wide range of services to companies with a particular focus on mid-sized businesses. In addition to offering traditional accounting and auditing services, the company prides itself on the high quality of business advisory and support that it offers. Its high calibre, professionally trained team are able to offer an objective view on their clients’ dayto- day responsibilities, including a complete range of outsourcing opportunities that enable business owners to successfully run their business.
These services vary from client to client, and can range from ad-hoc business advisory services such as how to deal with relocating a business and handling a buy-out, to providing a fully outsourced bookkeeping function with periodic management accounts and analysis.
From construction to advertising Goodman Jones’ clients come from a range of different industries, but all require the in-depth understanding of industry-specific issues that the company offers.
Time for Change
Back in 2000, Goodman Jones was an increasingly busy accountancy practice offering traditional accountancy services, but had a vision to offer ‘that bit more’ by using the latest technology to keep ahead of the competition – but before that could happen, the backbone behind the company operation needed an overhaul – fast. Philip Woodgate, Partner, recalls “We ran our accounts through a bespoke bookkeeping system, which wasn’t adequate for our needs.”
The Challenge
Philip knew exactly what he wanted in an in-house replacement system. “Being an accountancy firm, we needed firstclass reporting abilities, plus full integration with Microsoft Office.” He continues,“We looked at all the usual suspects, including Sage, but it was the range of functionality and ease of use offered by the Dimensions solution that really attracted us to Access as a supplier.”
A Successful Implementation
The implemention of the new Access system went without a hitch, with the Import Utility module used to convert the existing data. “With the new system up and running, we were able to generate customised Crystal reports with full-drill down options and enjoy the convenience of full integration with Excel,Word, Outlook and other parts of the Office suite.”
Spreading the Word
The partners at Goodman Jones were delighted with their solution. In fact, they were so confident with both the capabilities of the software and the support they’d received that they joined the Professional Partner Programme (see ‘Why join the PPP’?) to recommend Access solutions to their clients.
Philip has worked with his Specialist Centre for over ten years and finds Access Accounting’s solutions a perfect
match.“Our clients are typically mid-sized companies across a variety of business sectors that are keen to revamp their systems” comments Philip.“They’ve normally outgrown their existing business software package, and want a range of extra functionality.They come from a wide variety of market sectors, but nearly all of them want to integrate their accounts with third-party systems, and need modifications that fit the exact working practices of the business. I tell them that Access Accounting can make this level of integration a cost-effective reality.”
Philip is passionate about the role that Access Dimensions can play within all market sectors.“With globalisation, and competition from larger businesses, midsized businesses need to harness technology to survive – and thrive.The great thing about Access Accounting is that they keep up.” With this in mind,
Philip regularly arranges for his clients to have a demonstration of the Access Dimensions system.“I know that I can trust Access with my clients” Philip concludes.“They’re delighted and impressed when you tell them what Dimensions can achieve!”
Why join the PPP?
The PPP programme brings together Access Accounting’s software with people connected with the recommendation, supply and support of business solutions.
Over 500 accountants in practice have already joined the scheme, which sets new benchmarks in the quality of the services and products enjoyed by members and their clients. The scheme’s unique structure creates a partnership between the customer and one of the Access Specialist Centres, giving each member unrivalled IT expertise and assistance on demand.
Benefits
- Time savings – the Import Utility module means installation is swift and the information is accurate, leading to minimal working hours lost during system migration and full accuracy of data thereafter
- Customisation – Access Dimensions can be tailored via the SDK – a module used to link Dimensions with third-party systems – to embed key elements of one system into another
- System-wide benefits as standard, including: security, SQL-Server speed & capacity, integration with third-party systems, multi-period auditing, Crystal reporting and multi-currency & multilanguage functionality
- Scalability – Access Dimensions is module-based, meaning that the system can be extended as a business grows
- Real-time updates within the system means users have the right information available at the right time
...it was the range of functionality and ease of use offered
by the Dimensions solution that really attracted us to Access
as a supplier.
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