One set of numbers for a group in two countries

The group runs restaurants and two small hotels through eleven companies, seven in the UAE and four in the UK. Each country had its own bookkeeper and its own tax adviser, and the board pack was assembled by hand from both.

Investors received figures six weeks after quarter end, and the two countries used different charts of accounts, so like for like comparisons between sites were impossible.

• Took over the books for all eleven companies on one chart of accounts, with tracking by site.
• Moved UAE and UK payroll, VAT and corporate tax onto one calendar, run by one team.
• Built a monthly investor pack with consolidated results and a page for every site.
• Prepared year end files so the group's auditors in both countries could start on day one. We do not audit companies whose books we keep.

The board now receives one pack ten working days after month end, with every site measured the same way in both countries. Investors receive quarterly figures in two weeks instead of six.

Every return for every company is filed early, and the auditors in both countries signed their reports four weeks sooner than the year before.