Name: Outbased
Based: London
Website: www.outbased.co.uk
As commercially trained accountants, Outbased have transformed the approach of how we work with our clients, moving from advisor to coach.
One change was starting to run free out-of-hours finance clinics in December 2014, where clients can raise any issues and challenges they are facing in their businesses. We discuss these in detail and work together to solve them. Clients don’t feel like they are ‘on the clock’ in these sessions and are able to talk informally.
These sessions have a number of benefits. Firstly, they contribute towards our aim of stretching the minds of our clients by helping them get the most out of their financial data and run their businesses profitably. High street accountancy and its focus on compliance are dead – we are cultivating a new focus on our clients’ business operations.
Secondly, efficiency gains for Outbased are huge as clients save any queries for these clinics which then don’t disrupt our workflows outside of these times.
Additionally, to staff the clinics, our employees don’t have to work to rigid office hours. Staff can work at times that suit them and their families, and Outbased are able to cover evenings and weekends so that clients can always reach someone. Small businesses work at all hours and we want to be available to support them when they are at work.
Simon Lee is the director of Outbased
