Your tools should talk to each other. Most don’t.
Most businesses accumulate technology over time. A CRM picked up three years ago. A project management tool someone introduced last summer. Invoicing in one system, expenses in another, payroll somewhere else. Each tool works fine on its own. Together, they create a mess of disconnected data, manual re-entry, and insight that arrives too late to be useful.
Your tech stack isn’t a list of software. It’s a data flow – information moving from customer touchpoint to bank account to management accounts to strategic decision. Every gap in that flow creates delay, error, or missed insight. Every manual step introduces risk.
The right technology doesn’t just save time. It changes what you can see. When your systems connect properly, your monthly management accounts arrive faster, your data is more trustworthy, and the conversation about what to do next starts from a position of knowledge, not guesswork.
Most accountants can recommend Xero. Very few can map your entire data flow, identify the gaps, and build the integrations that close them. That’s what accounting technology advisory looks like when it’s done properly.
The data flow question every business should answer
How does data flow through your business? From the moment a customer enquires to the moment cash arrives in your bank – what systems does that data touch? Are you collecting the right information at the right time? Are your systems talking to each other, or are you the translator?
This is the question we start with. Not “which software do you use?” but “how does information move through your business, and where does it get lost?”
Map that flow honestly and you’ll find the gaps: the data re-entered manually between systems, the reports built from copy-pasted spreadsheets, the insight that arrives weeks after it could have made a difference. Those gaps are where technology creates real value – not by adding more tools, but by connecting the ones that matter.
Proven tools, expertly connected
We’re opinionated about technology. We’ve tested extensively and settled on the tools that work best for growing businesses – not because a vendor pays us, but because they deliver results. Each tool has a specific role in the data flow. Together, they create a connected finance function that runs in the background whilst you focus on growth.
Xero - your single source of truth
Xero is the hub that everything else connects to. Cloud accounting, real-time data, bank feeds, accessible from anywhere. Every other tool in the stack feeds data into or out of Xero – it’s not just our accounting software, it’s the central nervous system of your finance function.
We’re Xero Platinum Partners. Jonathan Gaunt was named Xero MVP 2024. We don’t just use Xero – we’ve helped shape how it’s used across the profession. That depth of expertise means your Xero setup works properly from day one: chart of accounts structured for your business, tracking categories configured for meaningful reporting, and integrations that flow cleanly.
Your bookkeeping runs through Xero. Your management accounts are built from Xero data. Your annual accounts close smoothly because Xero has been maintained all year. One platform, one source of truth.
Dext Prepare - receipts captured, data extracted, done
Dext eliminates the shoebox of receipts. Snap a photo, email an invoice, forward a supplier bill – Dext extracts the data, categorises it, and pushes it into Xero. No manual data entry. No chasing paper. No reconstructing expenses at year-end.
But here’s what makes our relationship with Dext different from every other accountant who uses it: Jonathan Gaunt created Dext Precision – the methodology for spotting and solving data quality issues before they contaminate your reports. We didn’t just adopt this technology. We helped shape how it’s used across the profession.
Clean data in means reliable insight out. That principle drives everything we do with technology.
Paycircle - payroll your team actually likes
Cloud-native payroll with a mobile employee self-service portal. Your team accesses payslips, P60s, and benefits from their phone. Salary sacrifice schemes save National Insurance whilst giving employees a genuine benefit. PAYE, pension auto-enrolment, RTI submissions – all handled, all on time.
Paycircle data flows into Xero automatically. Payroll costs are coded, allocated, and reconciled without manual intervention. Your management accounts reflect accurate labour costs every month.
Telleroo - one payment, everyone paid
Stop spending hours making individual bank transfers to suppliers, employees, HMRC, and pension providers. Telleroo turns your payment runs into a single approval. We prepare the payments. You click once. Everyone gets paid. Complete audit trail. Zero manual transfers.
Technology should solve a specific problem. We help you find it.
App advisory isn’t about recommending the most popular software. It’s about understanding your business, mapping your processes, and identifying where technology can eliminate friction, save time, or unlock insight you didn’t have before.
We start with the problem, not the tool. What’s slowing you down? Where does data get stuck? What information do you wish you had but can’t easily access? The answer determines the recommendation – not a vendor relationship or a referral fee.
Every tool recommendation connects back to your finance function. If a new CRM doesn’t feed data into Xero cleanly, it creates a gap. If a project management tool doesn’t track time in a way that supports utilisation reporting, it undermines your management accounts. We think about the whole data flow, not individual tools in isolation.
How we approach app advisory
Our process follows five steps:
- Map your data flow – understand how information moves through your business today. Where does it start? Where does it end up? Where does it get stuck or re-entered?
- Identify the gaps – where is data missing, delayed, or manually transferred? Where are you doing work that technology could handle?
- Recommend and prototype – suggest solutions, test them against your actual workflow, and prototype before committing. It’s quicker, cheaper, and safer to test an idea before you commit your whole team to it.
- Integrate and connect – implement the tool and connect it to your tech stack. Every new tool should make the whole system better, not add another disconnected silo.
- Support and refine – ongoing support as your business evolves. The right tech stack at £500K turnover is different from the right stack at £2M.
Tools we commonly recommend and integrate
We’re tool-agnostic. We recommend what fits your business, not what earns us a commission. Categories we regularly advise on include:
- CRM and sales – connecting your pipeline to your financial forecasting. When your CRM talks to Xero, your cash flow forecast updates automatically.
- Project management – time tracking that feeds utilisation and project profitability reporting. The data your management accounts need starts here.
- E-commerce – Shopify, WooCommerce, and other platforms bridged to Xero. Multi-channel revenue reconciled automatically, not manually.
- Inventory – stock management that connects to your balance sheet, for businesses that make or sell physical products.
- HR and people – beyond payroll. Onboarding, leave management, and performance tracking that gives you visibility into your most valuable asset.
If you’re doing it manually and repeatedly, there’s probably a better way
Workflow automation tools like Make (formerly Integromat) and Zapier connect applications that don’t have native integrations. They automate repetitive tasks – moving data between systems, triggering actions based on events, eliminating manual steps that consume hours every week.
Here’s what automation looks like in practice for growing businesses:
- New invoice raised in Xero → automatically sent to client → reminder scheduled at 14 days → escalation at 30 days
- New employee added to Paycircle → welcome email triggered → onboarding checklist created in project management tool
- Client form submission → data captured in CRM → task created for account manager → notification sent
- Monthly reporting data pulled from multiple sources → consolidated into a single dashboard
Before automating anything, we apply a simple decision framework. Does a native integration already exist? If so, use it – native integrations are simpler and more reliable. If not, does Make or Zapier support both applications? Is the time saved worth the cost and complexity? We only recommend automation where it genuinely solves a problem – not because it’s clever.
Custom reporting with G-Accon
Xero’s native reporting covers the essentials. But growing businesses often need more – multi-entity consolidation, bespoke KPI dashboards, or reporting formats that Xero doesn’t support out of the box.
G-Accon connects Xero to Google Sheets with two-way synchronisation. Pull live data from Xero into Sheets, build custom dashboards, schedule automatic refreshes, and create the exact reports your business needs. We’ve built custom G-Accon workflows for clients who need consolidated reporting across multiple companies, board-ready packs in specific formats, or operational dashboards that combine financial and non-financial data.
This is where our software-building background pays off. We don’t just configure tools – we build custom solutions within them. If the report you need doesn’t exist, we’ll create it.
Accountants who write code see technology differently
This is FD Works’ genuine differentiator. Jonathan Gaunt created Dext Precision – a tool now used across the accounting profession to identify and solve data quality issues. That’s not a partnership badge on a website. That’s software we designed, built, and shipped.
Our team has a track record in software development – one successful exit behind us, another product currently in development. What does that mean for you?
When we map your data flow, recommend tools, or build custom integrations, we’re not reading from a vendor’s playbook. We understand how software works at a fundamental level – APIs, data structures, integration patterns, what breaks and why. We can prototype solutions, build custom workflows, and create integrations that off-the-shelf tools can’t deliver.
We think about technology the way we think about financial controls – what’s the problem, what data do you need, and what’s the simplest solution that gets you there? No over-engineering. No technology for technology’s sake. Solutions that solve real problems for growing businesses.
From Dext Precision to your business
Dext Precision was born from a repeatable problem. We kept spotting the same data quality issues across client accounts – miscoded transactions, missing receipts, reconciliation gaps. Instead of solving them manually every month, we built a tool that automates the diagnosis. That’s software thinking applied to accounting.
The same approach applies to your business. If a process is manual, repetitive, and error-prone, we’ll look for a way to automate it. If no tool exists, we’ll prototype one. If a business stands still, it’s going backwards – and that applies to technology as much as strategy.
Every tool connects to insight. That’s the point.
Technology advisory at FD Works isn’t a standalone service. It’s woven into every level of your finance function. The tech stack grows with your business, and every tool connects back to the financial clarity that drives decisions.
Foundation: Core tech stack setup and connection. Xero, Dext, Paycircle, and Telleroo configured and integrated from day one. Data flows established. Basic app advisory during onboarding and quarterly Health Checks. Establishing solid foundations of your information and direction – including the technology that underpins it.
Clarity: Technology supporting monthly management accounts and financial control. App advisory for operational tools – CRM, project management, e-commerce integrations. Custom G-Accon reporting where needed. Automation workflows for repetitive finance tasks. Insight into the what and why of your finances, powered by a connected tech stack.
Focus: Full technology advisory and custom solutions. Data flow mapping, bespoke integrations, advanced automation, prototype development. Technology strategy aligned with your growth ambition. Everything from Clarity, plus financial modelling, forecasting, and outsourced FD services – all enabled by the right technology. Focusing on your future influence and impact.
Our promise: If we make a mistake, we pay for it. It’s never happened.
Tools and technology: your questions answered
What is app advisory?
App advisory is the process of mapping your business workflows, identifying where technology can eliminate friction or unlock insight, and recommending, integrating, and supporting the right tools. It’s not about selling software – it’s about solving problems. At FD Works, every recommendation connects back to your finance function and the data that drives decisions. We start with how information flows through your business, not which tools are trending.
What accounting software do you use?
We’re Xero Platinum Partners and Xero MVP 2024. Xero is the hub of our tech stack, supported by Dext Prepare (receipt capture), Paycircle (payroll), and Telleroo (payments). For app advisory recommendations beyond accounting, we’re tool-agnostic – we recommend what fits your business, not what earns us a referral fee.
Can you help me choose the right software for my business?
Yes. We start by mapping how data flows through your business – from customer enquiry to bank account. Then we identify where technology can save time, reduce errors, or deliver insight you don’t currently have. We prototype before committing, integrate with your existing stack, and provide ongoing support as your business evolves.
What is data flow mapping?
Data flow mapping traces how information moves through your business – from first customer contact through delivery, invoicing, payment, and reporting. Understanding the flow reveals where data gets stuck, re-entered, or lost. It’s the foundation of effective technology advisory and the first step in our app advisory process.
Do you build custom software?
We have a background in software development – Jonathan Gaunt created Dext Precision, and the team has one successful exit and another product in development. For most clients, custom software isn’t needed – the right combination of existing tools and integrations solves the problem. But when a bespoke solution is the right answer, we have the capability to build it.
What are Make and Zapier, and do I need them?
Make and Zapier are workflow automation tools that connect applications without native integrations. They automate repetitive tasks like data transfer, notifications, and scheduled reporting. Whether you need them depends on your specific workflows – we assess this as part of our app advisory and only recommend automation where the time saved justifies the cost and complexity. Native integrations are always preferred where they exist.
How does technology connect to my management accounts?
Every tool in your tech stack ultimately feeds data that appears in your management accounts. Your CRM data informs pipeline forecasting. Your time-tracking data drives utilisation reporting. Your e-commerce platform feeds revenue and margin analysis. When the tech stack is properly connected, your management accounts arrive faster, with better data, and the monthly conversation is more powerful. Technology serves financial clarity – that’s the point.
“Let us stand in
your corner”
Ready to connect your business?
Your technology should work as hard as you do. Let us map your data flow, connect your systems, and build the tech stack that gives you the financial clarity to make bold decisions.
Not a list of tools. A connected system that delivers insight. We’re accountants who write code – and that changes everything.