PHM Accountants saves time on every return and builds capacity to grow with IRIS Elements

Phipps Henson McAllister (PHM Accountants) moved from IRIS Accountancy Suite (IAS) desktop software to IRIS Elements, a cloud-based accountancy platform. The firm estimates it saves at least 20 minutes per client by linking Accounts Production directly to Xero, which around 95% of its clients use. Sole trader accounts now flow straight into the tax module, disclosure changes sit on a single page, and no hosting software is needed. The team now has more capacity to take on work.

Phipps Henson McAllister (PHM Accountants) have used IRIS software for years, and IRIS Accountancy Suite (IAS) never let the team down. But with most of their clients already in the cloud, the firm decided it was time to move as well. Client Manager Ben Antony led the migration to IRIS Elements. The team now spends less time on repetitive steps, waits less for screens to load and has the capacity to take on more work.

Why PHM moved from desktop to the cloud

For a long time, PHM stayed on desktop software. “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it,” says Ben. The team used the full IAS suite, including Accounts Production, Business Tax and P11Ds, and ran the practice on it as their practice management software.

Two things prompted a rethink. The first was a mismatch with the firm’s own advice. Ben explains, “Most of our clients are now on cloud software, so we recommend to any clients that are still using desktop to switch to the cloud. We were advocating for them to move to the cloud while we were still on desktop.”

The second was cost. IAS always worked without issues, but as PHM began investing in newer technology, including AI, the software started to feel expensive for what it was. Ben tells us, “We also found IAS quite expensive for what it was. Given that we started investing into tech, like AI, it all became quite expensive and my boss suggested investigating the cloud.”

Staying with IRIS was the natural next step. “We’ve been with IRIS for so long. If they have a product that works for us, why don’t we stick with them? That’s how we came to Elements in the end.” Now that PHM is on Elements, it no longer needs the hosting software and makes it easier for the team to follow a hybrid work pattern.

Fewer screens, fewer steps

Ben sums up the difference between the two products simply. “Moving from IAS to Elements is like moving from an old Nokia to a brand-new iPhone. The Nokia works and I can call and text, but once you start using an iPhone, it’s revolutionary. It’s just that much quicker and more efficient.”

The biggest gain for the accounts team is the time saved when changing disclosures. Ben gives the example of the average number of employees note, which limited company accounts must include by law.

“On IRIS desktop, this would require us to open Data Screens, where you then have to find the page with the average employees note and enter it in there along with the date of directors’ approval, and so on. On Elements, it is so much quicker, as all the information is on the same page. On desktop, you’re waiting forever for screens to load. That is not the case with Elements.”

Sole trader work has also become simpler. On desktop, the team worked across three screens. They prepared the accounts first, then ran the computation in Business Tax, then re-ran it in Personal Tax. “Now on Elements, once the accounts production is done, it pushes that straight into the tax module. This saves a lot of time by removing repetitive steps.”

Linking Accounts Production directly to Xero adds to the saving. Around 95% of PHM’s clients use Xero. “That alone, per client, probably saves us 20 minutes at least,” says Ben. These small steps begin to add up. He says, “Even a small step like that being automated adds up on time saved.”

Fewer manual steps also mean fewer chances for something to go wrong. “Every added process is another risk of somebody forgetting to add something. When you account for the time savings when somebody makes an error, it definitely adds up and feels more secure.”

Room to grow

The team has settled in well. “Now we’ve settled into Elements, the team love Elements!” says Ben. The time saved gives PHM more capacity. “All of this time saving definitely creates more capacity for the team, who can now take on more work.” The firm has also integrated its own practice management system with Elements and wants to build on that. “We’d like to scale that up and grow with Elements.”