Is It Time to Move from an Accountant to an Outsourced Finance Function?
As your business grows, how do you know when it’s time to move from a traditional accounting firm or individual accountant to a fully supported outsourced finance function? Are you getting the real-time financial insights you need to drive strategic decision-making? Are funding rounds, operational scale, or financial complexities pushing the limits of what your current setup can handle?
For many high-growth startups or smaller SMEs, the transition from a basic finance setup to a structured outsourced function can feel daunting—but it’s also essential for long-term success. This case study explores the key signs that indicate it’s time to make the shift, the challenges of transitioning, and how Malander Advisory is helping a high-growth UK agency and project management startup streamline its financial processes for scale.
The Challenge: Outgrowing a Basic Finance Setup
Like many startups, this client initially relied on a small accounting firm for basic bookkeeping and compliance. However, as their business grew, several financial gaps became apparent:
- No Prior VAT Registrations or Submissions – They had never been VAT registered before, but as they scaled, VAT became necessary. They lacked the expertise to register, calculate, and submit VAT correctly, creating compliance risks.
- Limited Financial Insights – Their accounting firm provided compliance-focused support but lacked real-time financial data and strategic input for growth decisions.
- Increasing Complexity – With multiple projects, revenue streams, and costs to track, they needed a more advanced financial reporting system.
- Funding & Expansion Planning – As they considered funding rounds and geographic expansion, they required expert advisory support beyond traditional accounting.
- CFO Overload – Their CFO was spending too much time managing financial processes rather than focusing on strategic growth initiatives.
- High Cost of Hiring In-House – While hiring an in-house finance team was an option, it came with significant overheads, including salaries, onboarding, and administration.
The company needed a scalable, cost-effective solution—one that would provide finance expertise without the cost and complexity of an in-house team.
The Malander Solution: Outsourced Finance Function for Scalable Growth
- Transitioning from a Standard Accountant to a Full Finance Function
We replaced their basic accounting setup with a comprehensive outsourced finance function, giving them:
- Ongoing financial advisory rather than just end-of-year reporting.
- Proactive support for funding rounds, tax structuring, and operational decisions.
- Real-time financial reporting and insights for strategic planning.
- VAT Registration & Full VAT Compliance Management
Since the business had never been VAT registered, Malander handled:
- VAT registration from scratch, ensuring full compliance.
- VAT submissions and reconciliations, taking this burden off their team.
- Strategic VAT planning, ensuring they claim VAT where applicable and optimize their tax position.
- Enhancing Accounting with Cloud based accounting systems for Real-Time Insights
We leveraged the platform they use to transform how the business tracks and analyzes its financials:
- Automated project-based tracking for clearer visibility on revenue and costs.
- Live dashboards for cash flow monitoring, improving decision-making speed.
- Optimized invoicing and expense management to improve efficiency.
- Cost-Effective Outsourcing Instead of an In-House Team
Instead of hiring a full finance team, they outsourced their finance function to Malander, gaining high-quality financial expertise at a fraction of the cost.
- No salaries, onboarding, or HR costs—only a lean, scalable finance service.
- Expert finance professionals on demand, reducing reliance on internal resources.
- A structured finance function that evolves with their growth.
- Strategic Tax & Business Structuring Support
As the business continues to scale, we provide ongoing tax and VAT guidance, helping them:
- Optimize VAT compliance and cash flow efficiency.
- Structure their business strategically for future funding and expansion.
- Reduce tax liabilities with proactive financial planning.
- Supporting the CFO with Shareholder & Dividend Planning
With growing shareholder interests, we advised on:
- Structuring shareholder resolutions effectively.
- Implementing a scalable dividend policy that supports long-term growth.
- Providing financial clarity to investors and stakeholders.
The Results: A Finance Function That Works for Scale
✔ A full finance function at a fraction of the cost of an in-house team.
✔ Significant time savings for the CFO, freeing them up for strategic growth.
✔ VAT registration and ongoing compliance fully managed.
✔ Stronger financial insights, enabling better business decisions.
✔ More effective tax and VAT management, ensuring compliance and efficiency.
✔ A trusted, long-term finance partner providing continuous value.
Why Malander?
At Malander Advisory, we specialize in finance outsourcing for UK SMEs, providing:
- High-quality financial advisory for growth businesses in the UK
- Best finance outsourcing firms for SMEs scaling efficiently
- Cost-effective finance support for businesses looking to improve processes
- Interim CFO services in the UK for startups and scale-ups
For this startup, transitioning from a traditional accountant to an outsourced finance function has been a game-changer, allowing them to grow faster, operate more efficiently, and make informed decisions with confidence.
If your business is scaling and your financial needs are evolving, it may be time to move beyond a basic accountant and invest in a finance function built for growth. Let’s talk.