Jamie’s Farm acts as a catalyst for change, enabling disadvantaged young people to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.
They do this through a unique residential experience and rigorous follow-up programme, combining farming, family and therapy.
Find out more at www.jamiesfarm.org.uk
Case Study Overview
The Problems & Frustrations
Jamie’s Farm were looking to modernise its accounting, finance function systems and processes. Previously using Sage; Dominic found that with the business growing over many sites it was becoming harder to keep information up to date and paperwork was being lost in transit.
The Review
Hayley and Oli met with Dominic and Ed and discussed how their ideal set up would be. This would include such things as using a cloud based solution with multi-user and multi-level access, create a scalable platform of applications for the five sites with potentially more added in the future, reduce efficiencies in paperwork movements and in multiple sources of financial data.
The Solution
Upon review Dominic decided that the move would be made to Xero with a combination of connected applications to ease their current workload. Purple Lime would trial different connected apps to advise on which might be the best fit for Jamie’s Farm and their growing business with their current frustrations in mind.
Hayley converted several years of Sage information over to Xero with live bank feeds, set up Receipt Bank to reduce the paperwork, and speed up the flow of information within the business. Training was carried out at different levels for all members of staff.
Hayley managed project timelines and deliverables throughout and was adaptive and responsive when challenges arose; all the while being personable, friendly and demonstrating a deep knowledge about the conversion process and wider accounting requirements.
With multiple analysis/measurement needs on both the income and cost side of the organisation, Jamie’s Farm chart of accounts were also updated and tracking added; stream lining the input of data and giving the reporting greater accessibility for all users.
The Result
Information is now live with the bank being reconciled daily and the system accessible by all sites all the at the same time, to the level of detail appropriate for each user. Physical paperwork has now been reduced significantly, with digitisation giving huge efficiencies in document tracing and management
The business has room to grow and the new reporting layouts can be manipulated to fit their business; right from a cost centre level, through senior management and on up to the board of trustees.
The business has room to grow and the new reporting layouts can be manipulated to fit the business, right from a cost centre level, through senior management and up to the board of trustees.
