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Hit those deadlines and deliver better value for clients

hello@deadlinetracker.co.uk — Wed, 18 May 2022 15:43:29 GMT

Automation and cloud-based technology is allowing accountancy firms to move to the next level in providing maximum value for their clients.

Giving value to your customers is a winner for both. For instance, if you can advise clients on maximising their turnover from £150k to £200k, everyone benefits with increased fees and profits.

Having a conversation is important

There’s an old bit of business advice that says don’t send an email when you can make a phone call and don’t make a call when you can meet. Reach out to your clients and talk to them.

Before that, make sure you check on what is going on with their business, as they will expect that. It doesn’t have to be bad news or reminders about taxes and deadlines, it can be a discussion on how well they are doing.

Outsourcing can help you keep track of your business and deliver more for clients.

Accountants possess a wealth of data which is not always being used in the client’s best interest if they are bogged down with paperwork. It’s a lost opportunity to be proactive with them.

Business can be generated by offering good value

This is where Deadline Tracker comes into the picture. We all hear about how the labour shortage has hit accountancy hard and firms cannot get the right staff. Deadline Tracker is a dedicated tailor-made solution that can relieve the pressure on deadlines.

Get it wrong or miss the filing deadline and you could incur penalties, which will increase if you delay in correcting the situation. That is where outsourcing can break a logjam.

Deadline Tracker allows you to do away with complex spreadsheets and stop your calendar from being overwhelmed with customisable alerts, easy filtering of tasks, and an intuitive, single dashboard setup. Added value that frees up time and eases deadline pressure.

All of this allows accountants to concentrate on delivering value for money, which needs to be demonstrated as unhappy clients can vote with their feet and look elsewhere for better value.

We’d love to hear your view so do not hesitate to contact us, subscribe to our powerful software for free, or simply choose one of the paid packages, according to your requirements Keep up to date with the latest content by following our Social profiles on Facebook and LinkedIn .

How tracking deadlines can help to avoid the ‘great resignation’

hello@deadlinetracker.co.uk — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 14:14:30 GMT

Research from employment specialists Reed has found that half of UK workers are prepared to leave their roles to access hybrid working benefits. This means firms must now more than ever, double down on their employee retention efforts, especially accountants who have been hit badly by staff shortages.

So they must showcase what they have to offer. Whether it be career progression, alternative career pathways providing a new challenge, learning and development or establishing greater flexibility around how and where people will work in a post-pandemic world.

What is employee onboarding?

Onboarding new staff is the process companies go through to welcome and integrate them into the workplace, a process that extends far beyond the first day, but continues until they’ve fully adjusted to their role and team. It allows for getting acquainted with the company culture and feeling welcomed and valued in their team.

Why is onboarding important?

If initial training and communication is poor, it can lead to demotivation. This may be one of the reasons that up to 25 per cent of new employees leave their jobs after their first three months. And this is a huge loss for a company that must repeat a costly hiring process to find a replacement.

Good onboarding means staff reach full productivity faster, so getting new employees up to speed effectively can improve your company’s employee retention. As can outsourcing parts of the accountancy process to allow these employees to flourish.

Onboarding process steps

When welcoming new staff on board there are measures, like sending them a company welcome package, arranging a team lunch or dinner with colleagues, or preparing a presentation, that will make them feel welcome.

Put together a plan for their first few days on the job and check all the important boxes, like informing co-workers, setting up their workstation or informing the front desk staff about the new arrival.

So outsourcing tasks like tracking deadlines can help and allow accountants to concentrate on their staff. The chances are that new talented members of staff will stay and flourish if certain tasks can be outsourced.

Organise deadlines and save time

Deadline Tracker allows you to do away with complex spreadsheets and stop your calendar from being overwhelmed with customisable alerts, easy filtering of tasks, and intuitive, single dashboard setup.

It can automatically manage deadlines and workflow by showing tasks in the order of priority that they should be worked on (overdue, warned, in progress and upcoming) in a kind of traffic light system.

It allows you to organise, prioritise and track all of your deadlines in a single, easy-to-use system.

All of this allows accountants to concentrate on attracting and utilising top talent.

We’d love to hear your view so do not hesitate to contact us, subscribe to our powerful software for free, or simply choose one of the paid packages, according to your requirements.

Keep up to date with the latest content by following our social profiles on Facebook , LinkedIn , and Instagram .

Use the three-minute rule, but make sure you don’t run out of time

hello@deadlinetracker.co.uk — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 14:36:07 GMT

Use the three-minute rule, but make sure you don’t run out of time

Procrastination is often said to be the enemy of success.

Waiting until the final possible moment to tackle an important task can be costly, and in extreme cases, cause business failure.

It is a theory from psychologists who say doing dreaded tasks for a short period can make completion much more manageable – the so-called three-minute rule – an antidote to procrastination.

Psychologist Dr Jennifer Wild, an associate professor at Oxford University, said: “It is all too easy, when it is cold and you are watching television not to want to go out for a long run, even when you know it is good for you. But when people are told they can go for a three-minute jog and stop if they don’t feel the benefit, that can get them out.”

Procrastination can lead to stress and costs

They added that procrastination has become a major source of modern-day stress, but in business it can be costly, particularly if you are an accountant advising many clients.

Time is behind every aspect of the working week, and you can’t afford to manage it poorly. It is a valuable commodity that needs to be nurtured because when it runs out it cannot be replaced and that is when the alarm bells start ringing.

A partner like Deadline Tracker gives accountants that bit of breathing space to allow them to deliver strategic advice to guide their clients, knowing they have a professional partner as backup.

They may have started a task for a client, in similar fashion to the three-minute rule, but now need reminding to finish it before alarms start going off. In this case, in the style of traffic lights.

Keep that traffic light in the green

· Deadline Tracker has the functionality to keep tabs on all your deadlines with a simple set up that based on a traffic light system.

· The plan is for it never to go red and while amber is acceptable, keeping in the green keeps everyone happy as the sometimes steep costs of missing deadlines are avoided.

· A virtual calendar, with multi-function multi-user capability and working with the latest cloud-based accountancy software, it allows users to organise, prioritise and track deadlines in a single, system.

For some, the three-minute rule is a great way to start a task, but the deadline tracking system makes sure there is support to make sure it is completed.

If you miss those critical deadlines then the joke is on you

hello@deadlinetracker.co.uk — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 16:43:26 GMT

There are many jokes about missing deadlines. Here’s one: “I'm reading a book about meeting deadlines – I should have finished it a week ago.”

How about this: “Why did the chef miss his deadline? – He ran out of thyme.”

Amusing, yes, but for businesses and their accountants, missing deadlines is not a joking matter. The explosion of technology and digital data puts many challenges in the path of SMEs.

Deadlines are a part of every accountant's job, but with accountancy evolving more into advisory roles, many traditional tasks are now being outsourced.

Outsourcing can also help with hitting those all-important deadlines with tasks like tax filing deadlines, quarterly and annual financial report deadlines, and deadlines imposed by clients who need financial information by a set time.

Bespoke deadline tracking technology can help prevent accountants from tearing their hair out by helping to manage their workload.

It can also help as businesses strive to attract the talent needed for an evolving profession.

A move to address this has been launched by the global body for professional accountants ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and the International Baccalaureate organisation (IB). They have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that creates a pathway programme for IB students towards a professional accountancy career.

ACCA’s diploma covers a wide variety of business and finance subjects, including technology and digitalisation, alongside core financial and management accounting subjects.

Accelerated pathway into accountancy

The IB is a non-profit foundation that offers four educational programmes for students. In the UK, it is studied mainly by young people in years 12 and 13 as an alternative to A levels.

Accountants will benefit from this new talent ready gradually coming on stream and stepping up to the plate as the profession moves forward to a more advisory and consultative role.

That does not mean that traditional tasks like compliance are overlooked and that’s where deadlines become ever more critical, and automation of tasks plays a clear role in improving efficiency.

Keeping pace with fast-moving environments and supplying solutions to hitting deadlines and improved efficiency are outsourcing experts who can unburden businesses of some of the more mundane tasks with the use of clever interactive technology.

Deadline Tracker is pretty much a unique development in the market, automatically managing your deadlines and workflow by showing tasks in the order of priority that they should be worked on (overdue, warned, in progress and upcoming) in a kind of traffic light system.

It allows you to quickly and easily see when you can actually work on a deadline and not just focus on the due date. Deadlines will never creep up on you again. No joke!

We’d love to hear your view so do not hesitate to contact us, subscribe to our powerful software for free, or simply choose one of the paid packages, according to your requirements. Keep up to date with the latest content by following our social profiles on Facebook , LinkedIn , and Instagram .

Never miss a deadline and improve your client’s profitability

hello@deadlinetracker.co.uk — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 10:27:16 GMT

Never miss a deadline and improve your client’s profitability

It is thought that Napoleon coined the derogatory phrase about the UK being ‘a nation of shopkeepers’ when referring to his enemies across the Channel.

There is some doubt he may actually have said it, but small does not mean ineffective, as Napoleon later found out.

In the case of British business, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the lifeblood of the country, accounting for 99.9 per cent of all businesses across the UK, employing millions of people and driving one of the biggest economies in the world.

But they acknowledge, according to a survey, that their operations would struggle to function efficiently without the expert help of accountants, particularly as COVID-19 has swept across the country.

The survey, commissioned by software supplier Sage, confirmed the importance of accountants to SMEs rating as “number one” go-to business service as firms struggle with problems over the pandemic, Brexit and other areas like moving across to Making Tax Digital (MTD).

Easing the burden on SMEs

The survey shows 91 per cent rating accountants as an important part of their business operation, while 49 per cent are happy to approach them for strategic business guidance.

When asked what services they would go to when first starting a business, more than a third (34 per cent) said accountants would be the first port of call.

That should not be a surprise given the problems the country has faced throughout the pandemic. It’s a busy time for accountants and that is where outsourced assistance can smooth their workload and that of their clients.

Deadline Tracker allows you to organise, prioritise and track all of your deadlines in a single, system, offering customisable alerts, easy filtering of tasks, and an intuitive, single dashboard setup.

It operates with a kind traffic light system to manage deadlines and workflow, so they can be prioritised, and warnings delivered when deadlines approach.

Critical role in building success

You save time, meet deadlines and improve profitability because with Deadline Tracker, everything is neatly managed in one place and because its cloud-based, can be accessed anywhere and can ensure deadlines won’t be missed, even if someone is away from the office.

Commenting on the survey of SMEs, Paul Struthers, MD, UK and Ireland, Sage, said: “Accountants play a critical role in accelerating this success and our research shows they are vital to the UK’s economic recovery.

“Our research shows accountants have an open door to become a de-facto strategic partner for their clients – this is an opportunity they must embrace.”

It’s clear that task is made that much easier with the expert support of outsourcing with a partner like Deadline Tracking.

How outsourcing your deadline tracking tasks can increase your profitability

hello@deadlinetracker.co.uk — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 13:47:50 GMT

Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day,
Fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way,
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your hometown,
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way

When Pink Floyd recorded those lines in the song ‘Time’ on their classic Dark Side of the Moon album, they were making a point about procrastination rather than taking action and the final line makes it clear you are sometimes waiting for expert help.

A missed deadline is costly in terms of incurring penalties and losing business with the added impact on your reputation. Missing filing annual reports on time on behalf of corporate clients, or tax returns for individual firms can be costly for both sides.

Accountants are busy people juggling various accounts and losing track of deadlines can easily happen as the pressure builds.

The days of keeping track of such areas with pen and paper have pretty much been consigned to the scrapheap, no doubt with a few exceptions, like firms still using:

· An annual calendar on the wall with highlights on deadline dates

· A drawn timeline on a roll of paper

· Information drawn an annual wheel

· An actual physical diary

As the festive season is upon us, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and hope you will be able to celebrate with your family this year.

In that spirit, maybe time to treat yourself by allowing your firm to outsource these key tasks to an expert like Deadline Tracker.

A variety of businesses use these electronic tools to highlight key dates, facilitate day-to-day operations and keep track of plans for meetings or projects.

Deadline Tracker is a dedicated tracking app that allows you to organise, prioritise and track all of your deadlines in a single system, offering customisable alerts, easy filtering of tasks, and an intuitive, single dashboard setup.

Our smart, intuitive dashboard allows you to create customisable alerts, and filter tasks as well as assign them to the relevant team member.

In other words, it saves you precious time and then money. Pink Floyd no doubt would have approved.

Wasting time is the enemy of efficiency and can affect profitability

hello@deadlinetracker.co.uk — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 14:24:11 GMT

Time is money. That is a phrase attributed to Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States of America. It is thought he meant that each choice you make has its cost, and delays through inaction, usually lead to a decrease in output.

There are some other great quotes about the importance of time, and how you manage it, including:

· Time waits for no one. Meaning no-one has enough power to stop time or to change its course.

· Time is the wisest counsellor of all. From Pericles, the influential ancient Greek statesman, who warned against premature decisions and poor judgment caused by the lack of time.

There is also the opposite, espoused by Oscar Wilde. Punctuality is the thief of time, from The Picture of Dorian Gray. He was saying when you invest effort in someone else’s comfort like hurrying because someone is waiting, you sacrifice your own time that you could spend on much more pleasant things.

Such a Wildean quote certainly doesn’t fit the bill when it comes to businesses hitting deadlines, and keeping track of business performance.

So it’s important in business and accountancy in particular, that time management is handled most efficiently, so deadlines can be made and business can make profits.

A missed deadline doesn’t only make you look unprofessional, but it can lead to a loss in clients, assignments and money.

That’s why it’s so important to create a plan of action for every project you take on .

This is where specialist deadline tracking technology can save time and boost your bottom line.

A hi-tech application like Deadline Tracker can work directly with clients with its state-of-the-art task management software.

So how does it work?

A kind of high-tech super calendar, Deadline Tracker allows you to organise, prioritise and track all of your deadlines in a single, system, offering customisable alerts, easy filtering of tasks, and an intuitive, single dashboard setup.

It operates with a kind traffic light system to manage deadlines and workflow, so they can be prioritised, and warnings delivered when deadlines approach.

The lights system uses:

· RED: States if a task is overdue

· ORANGE: States if you are now in the warn period e.g. the deadline is approaching

· GREEN: States that these tasks you can potentially be working on

· GREY: States upcoming tasks but you can’t potentially start yet.

Deadline Tracker's unique 'open periods' feature allows you to quickly and easily see when you can actually work on a deadline and not just focus on the due date. Deadlines will never creep up on you again.

Managing the system is straightforward.

When you start having more than a single user you want the ability to restrict what that user can do or see. By using categories and/or tagging users to tasks you can limit what appears on their dashboard but by specifying user roles you can restrict what they can actually do to those tasks or company settings.

You save time, meet deadlines and improve profitability.

Stay on track with your deadlines and improve efficiency

hello@deadlinetracker.co.uk — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 08:19:27 GMT

The continuing growth in the UK economy after 18 months in the doldrums is driven by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which are the backbone of the UK economy.

SMEs are firms with fewer than 250 employees but account for around 99.9 per cent of UK businesses.

As these firms grow, they provide a rich seam of business for accountancy firms as well as boosting local economies and providing jobs.

But those growing businesses are facing new problems with labour and skills shortages, which begs the question: “How can I streamline my business and manage tasks more efficiently to mitigate this?”

Solutions are available with the likes of employment agencies helping to supply staff, but other areas require more specialised skills, particularly accountancy firms.

Deadline tracking technology can save time and boost your bottom line.

A hi-tech business like Deadline Tracker can work directly with clients with its state-of-the-art task management software.

It uses a traffic light system to manage deadlines and workflow, so tasks can be prioritised and warnings delivered when deadlines approach.

That obviously eliminates the need for bottlenecks and last-minute rushes where expensive mistakes can be made. Try telling HMRC that you didn’t have time to do it properly.

The lights system uses:

· RED: States if a task is overdue

· ORANGE: States if you are now in the warn period e.g. the deadline is approaching

· GREEN: States that these tasks you can potentially be working on

· GREY: States upcoming tasks but you can’t potentially start yet.

It allows users to:

Centralise activity

You can integrate all your activity and deadlines in one place. You can monitor activity, update details all without worrying about creating duplicate files that can leave your colleagues confused

Boost efficiency

With easy access to the platform, individuals can prioritise the most important tasks whilst achieving their deadlines. The software is loaded with features that allow you to add notes on tasks or activities to help manage your time effectively

Provide accessibility

Keep track of your deadlines

Knowing what tasks can be started or completed and which ones are nearing their end date or becoming urgency or even seeing the upcoming workload are all key to your company’s success.

We’d love to hear your view so do not hesitate to contact us, subscribe to our powerful software for free, or simply choose one of the paid packages, according to your requirements.

Keep up to date with the latest content by following our Social profiles on Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn , and Instagram .

6 Tips For Accountants To Help You Write Great Emails To Your Clients

Sun, 09 May 2021 10:53:14 GMT

1. Be friendly, but not too much

As an accountant it’s important to have some sort of relationship, albeit professional, with your clients. It keeps them loyal because it shows you care about their life beyond their books. That said, not everybody appreciates a “flowery” email and too much detail might come across as a bit forward, so balance is the key here.

The trick is to adapt your tone to suit each client. This might sound like a lot of work but really it’s something you do everyday without thinking about it. The way you speak to your boss is probably a world apart from how you speak to your mum, or the parcel delivery person, for example.

Try to remember one thing about each of your clients; perhaps they’re building a new extension on their kitchen, or their child just started a new school. A simple note on your client’s profile as a prompt can help with this. And all it takes is a nod to this event and your client will really appreciate this extra thought. A little really does go a long way.

EXAMPLE:

Hello James,

Hope things are well, if memory serves your extension should be finished soon?

Back to business, I notice that your year end tax deadline…….

It’s professional, but also shows a human touch too. Your clients will really value this and you will come across as caring and approachable. Someone they want to stick with.

2. Emails are not letters

People are super busy these days. Everyone is juggling about seven things at once. What nobody needs is a War and Peace length email - just tell people what they NEED to know and they rest can be done as a follow up. Get their attention and get them on side first.

It’s good to remember the inverted triangle principle of putting important things at the top, not tucked away at the end or in the PS. They will get missed.

So whilst leaping straight into the important stuff may come across as aggressive, using the warm and friendly intro as mentioned in point #1 will help take the edge off.

EXAMPLE:

Hello Murad,

Hope your business trip to Turkey was fruitful.

There’s a couple of things that I need to draw to your attention to urgently, I have listed them below but let’s schedule a call this week so I can take you through them?

Have you paid your corporation tax? The deadline is XX
Example 2
Example 3

3. Try not to cover too much in one email

Whilst it’s tempting to lump everything on your list into one email, this can be confusing and overwhelming to people who don’t work in our industry. Instead carve up the list into different subjects and send emails that address each area separately.

We’re not saying that it’s never appropriate to cover more than one topic in one email - you know your client and the history better than anyone. But if the email is starting to get too broad, consider splitting it into smaller topic based (or deadline based) emails that get sent to the client at staggered dates. This way the recipient won’t feel swamped.

There is also a risk that emails with too much information in them can make the sender (you) look sloppy, as if you have left all the information until the last minute. A drip feed approach is a good way to avoid either scenario.

4. Avoid copy / paste or template emails

You can tell if an email you’ve received is generic. Even if the algorithm has added your first name at the top, you can just sense it and so can your clients.

Sometimes a big generic newsletter send out is the right decision, such as announcing company news to your subscribers. But that example aside, if you’re asking your clients for something, try and draft an email that is specific for them.

Using a template as a starting point is a great way to be more efficient with your time and ensure that important information isn’t lost or incorrectly communicated. But think about how you are topping and tailing that communication. Is there something in the template this is irrelevant to them? Delete it.

If you want your recipient to read it all, it has to feel like you’re speaking directly to them or they may skim or even delete without opening.

5. Close the loop

So once you’ve said all you have to say, how are you going to end this email? Wish them a pleasant weekend? Well yes, possibly. But if you really want to get a reply to your email you need to close the loop. What does this mean?

EXAMPLE 1:

“Thanks for taking a look at the attached. As soon as you let me know the final figure I can tell you the amount left to pay.”

You’re telling your reader what they need to do, and what you can achieve once they have completed their part. This is also a good moment to mention a deadline if there is one.

EXAMPLE 2:

“Thanks for taking a look at the attached. Please can you let me know the final figure by 30th April and I can tell you the amount left to pay by 10th May.”

6. Maximise your subject line

I’ve written this part at the end of the blog deliberately. Just because your subject line is at the top doesn’t mean you need to fill it in first. Often it’s easier to go back and fill in your subject line once your email is written and you know what it is you’re trying to say.

The subject line is usually the part you think about the least, but it’s the bit that your client will see first, so it’s worth giving your subject line a bit of love. If you use the recipient's name in the subject they are more likely to open your email, so that’s worth a try.

It’s also a good idea to ask a question in the subject line so even before opening the email your reader knows what’s expected of them. It will help them have the right mindset when reading your main message contained within the body of the email. Set them up for a win.

EXAMPLE:

To: Maria

Subject: Can you look at this invoice and let me know if it’s what we agreed?

It’s long, yes, but without opening your email, Maria is totally ready for the task you need her to do. Worst case, she puts a flag on it and comes back to it later because she knows she’s going to have to cross reference with her records. But it’s on her radar and that’s a step ahead for you.

Summary

As mentioned at the top, you know your clients the best and know the tone of voice they will respond to. If they are an older, established solicitor, or a younger coffee shop proprietor, the language you use will vary.

But hopefully some of these tips will help you get the most out of your email communications by minimising chasing your clients and growing your business relationships instead.

Deadline Tracking Software for Busy Bees...

Deadline Tracker allows UK accountants to organise, prioritise and track all of your deadlines in a single, easy-to-use system. Do away with complex spreadsheets and eliminate calendar overwhelm with Deadline Tracker's customisable alerts, easy filtering of tasks, and intuitive, single dashboard setup.

Would you carve your steak with a penknife?

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 11:40:23 GMT

Would you carve your steak with a penknife?

When you're looking to get a job done in accounting there are two ways.

The first way is to use a Swiss army knife or a multi tool to help you. Back in the 1960s two of these were invented. The spreadsheet and email.

People tried to manage projects, tasks, deadlines, communicate and more with these tools. It was hard to know who was responsible for what, what the position of work was and as such client deadlines were missed.

It's not optimum and it's not the best way to do things.

It’s 2021 and if we’ve learned anything from the past few months it’s about working smarter not harder. And smarter people use specialised tools for specialised jobs. One size doesn’t fit all; I don't default to the Swiss army knife, I find a solution that fits the problem.

When I worked in accounting, managing when I could work on client tasks and ensuring deadlines didn't get missed was a problem and nothing specific existed for my industry. So I decided to create that solution.

I'm glad I get to use my Deadline Tracker and not the Swiss army knife or some kind of email spreadsheet deadline task management madness.

Or worse pen and paper with a paper diary ��

Merry Xmas from our Team

Thu, 24 Dec 2020 16:33:59 GMT

Merry Xmas from Deadline Tracker

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

It's that “most wonderful time of the year” again!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year To all the busy bees out there. May this Christmas find you surrounded by those you Love, filled with a lot of fun and cheer, and may the New Year bring happiness, health, and prosperity.

Thank you all for continuing to use our services and visiting our blog, and for all your kind reviews this year. We thank you for your continued support during the pandemic. While it has been a challenging time for many people and business during these unprecedented times, we could not have continued without your support.

Take some time this holiday season to be appreciative of those who work when they should be with family and friends, those who are away from those they love, and those who sacrifice for our needs.

New Year - New software

Now may be the time to consider seeking the services of an online, web-based platform that can contribute to managing your time better whilst keeping on track of all the small and big tasks that consume our day.

You will know when you have found the perfect match in a deadline tracking software when it should be working in partnership with you to achieve your business goals and meet them on time. When you work with our system, you will think of it as an extension to your team. Deadline Tracker will intuitively work with you to plan, forecast, and work towards your short and long-term goals. And, when you are head down in the everyday running of your business, our systems design keeps all upcoming deadlines organised and well colour coded to help you stay on top and continue to meet you goals.

So, when you are wavering about whether to employ the expertise of a personal assistance, think of the services Deadline Tracker provides as a cheaper and better investment. Not only does it prevent you from drowning in paperwork and remind you of important financial deadlines, but it will also save you time and money in the future.

Make 2021 your best business year yet

If your new year resolutions include building on your business success, staying on track of important tasks or achieving a more organised and effective way of managing your workload then Deadline Tracker can help you achieve this.

2020 may have been written off so why not make 2021 a business year to remember?

Get in touch with Deadline Tracker today by signing up online for a FREE account. Find out more about our packages in the pricing section and feel free to contact our support team over at hello@deadlinetracker.co.uk.

Government Support Covid-19: Business

Thu, 24 Dec 2020 14:45:02 GMT

Government Support Covid-19: Business

It has been a tumultuous year to say the least, for most business owners both in the United Kingdom and worldwide. COVID-19 has not only made all business plans and activities obsolete for the past year and foreseeable future, but more importantly – in some cases- forced businesses to furlough their staff, minimise working hours or even shut down all together.

As such, it is not surprising to see that governments worldwide have had to step in and assist businesses and households in ways never imagined before. It has not only been necessary for these interventions to be done, to allow economies to survive but also essential to ensure that businesses can survive, and everyday life does not become even harder than it already was for some.

Nonetheless, with changes and uncertainty being the only constant since the pandemic struck world economies, it becomes quite difficult to keep on top of what your rights are, what you are entitled to and how it is you can go about “getting” it. We have consequently chosen to focus on the latest changes announced by the government, following the latest lockdown applied on November the 2nd, 2020.

Let’s have a look at the most important changes and new measures put into place below:

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (furlough) has been one of the most significant measures the government has put in place allowing companies to survive whilst their employees are not “left out in the cold”. As originally announced, it was due to end on 2nd December 2020 has now been extended. In a change of plans, the prime minister announced the extension of the furlough scheme after some resistance. Here, we will provide a summary of further details and guidance for you to be aware of.

The extended furlough scheme will now continue until the end of March 2021. With extra support being put into place to help businesses recover from the effects of the pandemic and to get them back on their feet. The government will pay up to 80% of an employee’s normal pay, capped at £2,500 and employers will be responsible for National Insurance contributions (NICs) and pension contributions. The government will review the policy in January to decide whether economic circumstances are improving enough to ask employers to contribute more.

What you need to know/how to claim

Employers across the UK can claim, whether their businesses are open or closed.

Employers will have flexibility to use the scheme for employees for any amount of time or shift pattern, furloughing employees on either a full-time or part-time basis, and will be able to vary the hours worked in agreement with the employee.

Employers can claim for employees who were employed and on their PAYE payroll on 30 October 2020. The employer must have made a PAYE Real Time Information (RTI) submission to HMRC between the 20 March 2020 and 30 October 2020, notifying a payment of earnings for that employee.

Employees do not need to have been furloughed under the CJRS previously. For an employee who meets the criteria of the extended scheme but was not previously eligible for CJRS, the alternative calculations of reference pay and usual hours must be used. For all other employees, employers must use the CJRS calculations for calculating reference pay and usual hours.

But for the extended scheme deadlines have been put in place limiting the time available to make a claim which is the 14th (or 15th if the 14th is a weekend) of the following month so November 2020 claims must be made by 14th December 2020.

The extended CJRS will operate as the previous scheme did, in several respects:

• employers must report and claim for a minimum period of 7 consecutive calendar days

• employers will need to report actual hours worked and the usual hours an employee would be expected to work in a claim period

• for hours worked, employees will be paid by their employer subject to their employment contract and employers will be responsible for paying the tax and NICs due on those amounts

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) Grant Extension

The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant extension provides critical support to the self-employed in the form of 2 further grants, each available for 3 month periods covering November 2020 to January 2021 and February 2021 to April 2021.

The Government will provide a taxable grant calculated at 80% of 3 months average monthly trading profits, paid out in a single instalment and capped at £7,500 in total. This is an increase from the previously announced amount of 55%.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for the grant extension self-employed individuals, including members of partnerships, must:

• have been previously eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme first and second grant (although they do not have to have claimed the previous grants)

• declare that they intend to continue to trade and either:

o are currently actively trading but are impacted by reduced demand due to coronavirus

o were previously trading but are temporarily unable to do so due to coronavirus

How to claim

The online service for the next grant will be available from 30 November 2020. HMRC will provide full details about claiming and applications in guidance on GOV.UK in due course.

Deadline Tracker for Diverse Industries

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 11:30:02 GMT

Deadline Tracker for diverse industries

With more and more of us working remotely, it is becoming ever more difficult to keep on top of all deadlines, jobs, tasks and chores on our daily schedule! The pandemic has caused an enormous shift towards “working from home” which, however, has also come with an increased number of responsibilities that now need to be juggled whilst in our environment of relaxation.

It is hence crucial that you are able to maintain your high productivity levels, without wasting unnecessary time in trying to find what you are supposed to do and when, if it is even your task to complete. Using a task and deadline tracking system can not only offer solutions to the above, but also allow you to spend your time more productively instead of feeling like you are always playing “catch-up”.

As we slowly moved to “working from home” ourselves for more days than ever before, it was an eye opener to us on how many tasks, bills and even house chores could get missed out simply because our new, busy schedule. And this is how Deadline Tracker was born, as a deadline and task management solution for individuals and teams to help efficiently organised and priorities tasks whilst keeping them focused on upcoming tasks. As such, our platform is suitable for any individual or industry looking for support with tracking their repeatable tasks, no matter whether that is Social Media, Marketing, Legal, Accountancy and more.

One of the major components of a deadline tracking tool is the visual outlay required for you to keep yourself organised and on task. By setting out all your necessary tasks you can gain a general picture of what work is required and make sure they are then allocated to the relevant person in your team to complete. It makes the process of prioritising that much easier when you collectively have all your tasks in one place and able to access them from your mobile phone or laptop from anywhere in the world.

No matter the industry you work in, you will be less stressed and find yourself more time to utilise elsewhere in the business. With clearly laid out deadlines, it’s easier to stay motivated on a task and enables you to take the steps needed to accomplish your goal.

In addition, you can always set up custom notifications based on your personal preferences, that allows you to instantly see what's for you, what's to-do and what's overdue. It is particularly useful for large projects, that may at first appear somewhat daunting. You can break large projects down by creating smaller tasks, each of which will have its own set deadline and tracking, set.

As a manager, you are also able to ensure deadlines won't be missed if someone is ill, or off on the day by checking your Manager Overview to see all your outstanding tasks.

So, what are you waiting for? If you are also struggling to keep all your tasks and deadlines organised in one place, look no further than Deadline Tracker. Deadline tracking has never been this simple or effective, so join us now for free at www.Deadline Tracker.co.uk! With a 30-day free trial (no credit card required) and a helpful onboarding service, you can start taking advantage of Deadline Tracker today with zero hassle or investment.

The advantages of using a tracking system

Wed, 25 Nov 2020 13:30:02 GMT

The Advantage of Using Deadline Tracker

Implementing and installing a new Task Tracking system might not always go down as a good idea at first. Adaptation, training, time needed for both and of course resistance to change – as customary – as usual factors that lead owners and companies in delaying the decision to implement a new system. But what if it had a direct effect on yours and your employees’ timely task completion and productivity hence helping your organisation be managed more efficiently from anywhere in the world?

Let’s have a closer look at 5 of the key benefits of using a task management software, in our blog below, some of which – if not all – may well persuade to urgently seek a new system, to manage your workload.

Centralise activity

With a task management software, you can integrate all your activity and deadlines in one centralised place. Saving time wasted using various platforms and banishing the need to remember multiple passwords and accounts. Fortunately, as everything is all in one place, you can monitor activity, update details all without worrying about creating duplicate files that can leave your colleagues confused

Efficiency

A task management software is a great for business who want their employees to have readily available a list of tasks that needs to be completed. With easy access to the platform, individuals can prioritise the most important tasks whilst achieving their deadlines. The software is loaded with features that allows you to add notes on tasks or activities to help manage your time effectively

Accessibility

As long as you have an internet connection, you can access your time management software from anywhere and anytime. If you have clients that have urgent requests, it’s very easy to log into the system and access the relevant information. Having an online software opens the opportunity for collaborative works amongst colleagues and allows for flexible working conditions, whether that be working from home on the go as you travel in between meetings.

Manage Deadlines

It’s easy to get lost when you are bombarded with a ton of tasks. It may come as no surprise that some deadlines may not be reached due to lack of time, inefficient management or simply forgetting. When you use a task tracking software, you’ll be able to significantly minimize the risk by allowing your team to set reminders and ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.

Tracking

Last, but not least, tracking itself is key to any business. Knowing what tasks can be started or completed and which ones are nearing their end date or becoming urgency or even seeing the upcoming workload are all key to your company’s success. What is more tracking the time certain tasks take to be dealt with, allows you to efficiently price the work your team are putting into an external client’s project.

How clients can outsource their accounting work using cloud accounting

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 12:30:02 GMT

How clients can outsource their accounting work using cloud accounting

In a time before cloud accounting, outsourcing your accounting work could sometimes feel like the negatives outweighed the positives. On the one hand, it would allow a business owner time to concentrate on other aspects of his business (or personal time) whilst paying for that “time” versus having the burden of hiring and paying for a full time or part time staff as well as getting the right knowledge at the right time.

But what were these negatives?

For business owners one of the most important negatives was the fact that outsourcing felt (and sometimes meant) like relinquishing control. Bank statements, invoices and other paperwork would be handed over and at a designated time in the future those would be handed back in the form of management accounts, year-end reports or a list of queries or payments to make. This could also mean a duplication of work where the business was raising and sending invoices and then these needed to be re-entered into the accounting system.

What is more, the above meant that accurate – and more importantly up to date – data information would become a thing of the past. As soon as all financial records and docs were handed over automatically rendered a company’s records old or effectively created 2 sets of records. This could have an enormous effect and impact on most companies’ business decision process.

Last but not least, relying on someone else to give you the information, especially if you outsourced the finance function completely can be draining in business terms.

Cash is King

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 19:15:02 GMT

Cash Is King

We have all heard or even used the phrase, Cash is King, and in today’s climate it is even more so. But how do you manage this as a business? In the good old days this was done by devising a Microsoft Excel and custom formula, but nowadays there are applications that can help with this. In our opinion, only of two applications (Float and Fluidly) that we have personally trialed in our team can be of actual and genuine use.

Both use your data from your cloud accounting solution, to assist in the cashflow forecasting process and give you insights. Both are indeed easy to understand and get started quickly. In addition, they also have the concept of scenarios which you can create on top of your base cashflow to see and analysis the effect on cashflow enabling businesses to make informed decisions.

So, what is the difference between them? It is in the way that they use the accounting information to create the cashflow. Fluidly’s approach uses AI to map out future spend based on past experience, which then you can tweak whereas. On the other hand, Float uses your accounting information to match your actual spend versus the budgets that you have created. Both approaches work well for some businesses but not for others.

I was impressed in how quick I could get a cashflow forecast using Fluidly as after a few minutes of waiting for the data to sync from my accounting system for the first time, I had already received an editable forecast. It is great if your revenue and expenditure is fairly consistent in growth, and easy to add in or take away one-off items. However, we found that if there was any kind of season fluctuation in your sales, the AI software would not be able to align itself with this change, as it was geared to look at the last few months. This means that depending where you were in the yearly sales cycle, this “dysfunction” could distort the revenue element of cashflow. Fluidly have also brought in an accounting partner plan, which means for that for just one monthly fee you can give all your online accounting clients access to Fluidly short term cashflow. This allows them to also try this out for themselves and upgrade if they wish. A nice little additional service you can offer and include as part of your practice offering to clients.

XERO 5 way purchases

Sat, 10 Oct 2020 18:31:44 GMT

Xero 5 Way Purchases

Making sure all bills are paid in a timely and efficient manner is key for any household or business nowadays. As such, we will be focusing this week’s blog on how cloud accounting, and in particular Xero, can make the purchase side of your business run smoother for you as a business owner or others who help you run your business.

1) Attaching copies of invoices and information

When creating a bill transaction in Xero, you can attach a copy of the invoice or other important information relating to that transaction. Big deal I might here you say, well it is actually. No more having to keep paper copies taking up space in your office, helping you also implement “greener” practices whilst also worth mentioning that it comes with the bonus that HMRC accepts electronic versions too. But there is also the advantage of control and diligence. Having full knowledge of where all items are when needed, allowing yourself (and accountant to easy and fast access to any document required.

2) Hubdoc

But Xero haven’t stopped there. They have joined forces with HubDoc, to make this even easier for you. Most invoices nowadays are sent electronically either via an attachment or embedded in an email but rather than them sitting in your email clogging up your inbox, you can ping these over to HubDoc and they will start the process for you. By using AI, it will extract the date, amounts and tax information as well as creating an attachment already linked to this transaction. All that’s left for you to do is review it and say where you want it posted in Xero, though it will remember where you have previously posted and then hit sync. Done.

That all sounds great but how much is it going to cost? If you haven’t heard as of 18th March 2020 this is part of the Xero package, so it’s included for free and integrated with Xero so there is just one place of access and one sign in details too.

1) Assigning costs to customers

Do you have costs which you pass over to your customers? By assigning these costs to the customer at the time of creating the bill transaction, or afterwards if forgotten at the time, there is no need to remember to include these in your invoicing later as these will appear as a reminder when billing that there are these costs to include which haven’t been included previously.

For consultant clients this is a great way to ensure that all the expenses are reimbursed without having to keep separate logs or even think about it.

2) Repeating bills

This is a useful tool to mop up though expenses which come out each month for the same amount each time but you don’t always get an invoice for them. Set them up as repeating bills and Xero will include them in your bills to pay so you know that these are due.

3) Purchase orders

We are not claiming this is an all singing and all dancing purchase order system as it’s not but if you don’t need all the bells and whistles then it’s another tool included in the package.

Once created and sent your purchase order to your supplier all the information can be copied to a bill transaction with a click of a button and can move the purchase order to the billed status so you can see what costs you have committed to but the invoice hasn’t arrived yet.

4) TransferWise

You can now even pay your bills directly in Xero using TransferWise as it lets you pay and manage multiple bills using your preferred bank account rather than having to log into your bank separately to create the bill payments. This will also automatically update the status of your bills and then you can send remittance to your suppliers to notify them of payment.

5 ways to improve your sales process

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 18:29:23 GMT

5 ways to improve the sales process

Cloud accounting software is everywhere and with Making Tax Digital set to increase its scope, now is undoubtedly the time to make that switch. Apart from a necessity of turning cloud based however, let’s also examine whether it can improve your existing processes.

We are big fans of Xero and hence our listed examples are based on the Xero product. That does not nonetheless mean that Xero is the only cloud accounting solution and there most definitely other alternatives solutions also out there.

1) Invoicing On-The-Go

With the use of the Xero app, invoices can be created, approved, emailed and accepted before you leave the client’s premises. All you need is your smart phone. No need to wait till the end of the month to send your invoices or spending time at the weekend doing the paperwork and resending missing invoices.

This made perfect sense for a company selling medicine equipment while visiting doctors or medical staff as they could create new customers on the go and coupled with the fixed item pricing could easily create the correct invoice using the correct pricing structure and ensure that it has been received while making the sale and not having to take all the details down and having to wait until finance has created the invoice before discovering any mistakes or missing information.

2) Pay now

By using cloud accounting software to produce and send your invoices and if you have the facility for customers to pay by debit or credit card through the likes of Stripe or PayPal, you can create a direct link embedded in the invoices to enable your customers to pay there and then simply use the ‘Pay Now’ button.

As the use of smartphones is more and more prevalent nowadays, this gives the customer the ability to pay your invoice no matter where they are or what they are doing and not have to wait until there are back in the office. Who doesn’t want to get paid quicker!

3) Quoting to invoice

How synced are your quoting and invoicing systems? By using the quoting system within Xero, you can produce quotes with the same look and feel as your other financial documentation. It also provides a simple CRM system as you can see what quotes have been accepted, rejected, need updating or chasing. And invoicing time comes, all you need to do is simply convert the quote into an invoice, ready for sending out.

But if you need more from a CRM / quoting system then there are plenty of Xero integrated add-ons to choose from, that will enable you to create the best solution for your business.

4) Repeating invoices

If your invoicing is for standard amounts at regular intervals, then invoicing can be done without you even having to think about it using repeating invoicing. By setting up the criteria you can either create invoicing in a draft format to be approved. Alternatively, if you don’t need to pre-approve it, you can just send the invoice and it will wing it’s way to your customer. Invoicing while you sleep.

For a network subscription company who had annual invoicing (but the renewal was based on joining date) invoicing became straightforward as the system would automatically produce the invoice, ready for approval. This meant invoicing was not relying on a manual spreadsheet and subscription renewal dates whilst also allowing the saving of time which could be put to better use.

5) Tracking on Projects

By using Xero projects in conjunction with Xero invoicing it is quick to see if you are on track with quotes and projects. You can produce reports to show which jobs are profitable once all allocated costs including time have been allocated to that particular project. This is a useful tool to see which type of work generates profit or of something has gone wrong it can be identified and resolved for future projects.

For a manufacturing and installation company this proved invaluable as previously though they had an understanding of time spent found it difficult to track additional costs such as travel and accommodation per project so didn’t have a true understanding of which projects were profitable or if there were additional costs that could be recharged.

We’d love to hear your view so do not hesitate to contact us, subscribe to our powerful software for free, or simply choose one of the paid packages, according to your requirements.

Deadline Tracker is here to simplify your deadline tracking and enable you to make better use of your time, focusing on your customers. Take advantage of our 30-Day FREE Trial option to experience the power of Deadline Tracker. Eliminate the confusion, inflexibility and inefficiencies associated with your existing 2 or 3 product deadline tracking solution by signing up to Deadline Tracker for free now.

The Benefits of Using Deadline Tracker

Thu, 10 Sep 2020 17:20:43 GMT

The Benefits of Using Deadline Tracker

Managing, organising and keeping track of deadlines is a laborious process to say the least. Folders full of spreadsheets, handwritten notes, CRM systems and numerous other platforms all to simply be able to ensure you do not miss anything out.

Having the right system in place, will not only help you to effectively manage your project deadlines but also ensure you are able to focus your time on other tasks, crucial for your business. This is how the concept of Deadline Tracker was created.

Deadline Tracker allows you to organise, prioritise and track all your deadlines in a single, easy-to-use system. Our smart, intuitive dashboard allows you to create customisable alerts, and filter tasks as well as assign them to the relevant team member. It is effectively an All-In-One, Calendar, Task management and & task management solution that will untie your hands and make you wonder how you were coping in the past.

Let’s have a look at some of the unique features of our brand-new platform, available for a free trial immediately, via our website.

All-In-One

Using multiple tools causes inaccuracies as it requires the individuals to ensure they have correctly transferred information from one platform to another. However, with Deadline Tracker’ s single dashboard set up, you can easily create projects, see them at a glance and keep track of all upcoming deadlines all in one place.

Access

One of the vital features of our software, is its’ distinctive ability to be accessed from anywhere in the world. All that is required, is access to the internet. Having been created as a web based, responsive software, Deadline Tracker can be access anytime, even from your smartphone. This ensures you stay on top of deadlines whilst on the go and is incredibly handy for collaborating remotely with your team.

Configuration

Allocating tasks and collaborating is undoubtedly an effective way to stay ahead of your deadlines. Nonetheless, our software also offers the option configure access per member, to ensure you employees or colleagues see only what is important to them. Deadlines will also automatically shift based on rules you set up to ensure weekends are stress free and can be filtered by the level of urgency attributed to them, status and other variables

Tracking & Open periods

No more rushing and fretting when deadlines creep up without warning. Deadline Tracker 's 'open periods' feature enables you to plan and utilise your time more efficiently by working on a deadline and not just focusing on the due date.

Affordability

Our software is available on a monthly basis and has been designed to suit all sizes of companies. With a 30-day free trial and no credit card required, you can start taking advantage of Deadline Tracker today with zero hassle or investment. Have a look at our packages now on our website, or simply email us for more information.

We’d love to hear your view so do not hesitate to contact us, subscribe to our powerful software for free, or simply choose one of the paid packages, according to your requirements.

The Story Behind Deadline Tracker

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 11:17:28 GMT

Learn more about Journey so Far

So, what is Deadline Tracker, how did this all come about, what is the story behind the product, behind the people?

It is a story that has evolved over many years, off and on, culminating in the creation of Deadline Tracker . Our partnership is a true husband and wife collaboration bring together an amalgamate of Accountancy skills and IT expertise allowing us to “set up shop” in the back bedroom of our home, well front to be precise.

This idea started 15 years ago, when one of us was working in an accountancy firm managing a growing and thriving outsourced financial services department. As the team was growing, it rapidly became apparent, that increasingly more time was being spent on managing clients and staff workflow involving the use of numerous spreadsheets, lists and meetings. Most of the work needed to be done within a time-frame either statutory or client defined and couldn’t be delayed without ramifications such as paying the client’s staff and suppliers.

Each week there would be individual meetings with the staff to go through their tasks and help prioritise work, based on upcoming deadlines and importance. This became more complex when staff booked holiday (or were on study leave), as additional time was needed to work through their upcoming deadlines and re-assign tasks to other individuals. When a member of staff was absent due to sickness, extra time had to be allocated. This was because a plan had to be made in their absence, to ensure their workload is managed and completed in the designated time.

Fast forward 10 years on and now running our own accountancy firm, we were finding that we were still experiencing the same issues when it came to tracking upcoming tasks, their start and completion date.

Trying to find a usable, fit for purpose and affordable system was difficult as it seemed practically impossible to find anything that would fit our needs as either a manager or sole practitioner. What is more, adding to the frustration was the fact we were having to waste precious time just made it all feel like we were trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

So, discussions over a glass of wine, or gin, the idea started to unfold, taking shape and code committed to screen.

Well, until today that is, Deadline Tracker product Launch day, in conjunction with our brand-new website going Live. Deadline Tracker was developed because nothing like it existed in the market. Bespoke project management solutions are often overkill for tracking deadlines (not to mention costly), while spreadsheets, calendars and to-do lists lack the functionality needed to make the whole process intuitive and simple.

But we do not aim to stop there, we have many more ideas and features we want to include, and this is only the start of our journey. Keep an eye out for some exciting updates on our website, blog and social media and try our software out absolutely free.

We’d love to hear your view so do not hesitate to contact us, subscribe to our powerful software for free, or simply choose one of the paid packages, according to your requirements. Keep up to date with the latest content by following our Social profiles on Facebook , LinkedIn , and Instagram .