Affinity Outsourcing

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you work with any accounting software?

Yes, we can work with and interface with any UK accounting software, downloading directly into your in-house accounts production software if necessary. The software we use for general accounting include Xero, Kashflow, Sage, and QuickBooks For accounts production, we work on tools like Sage, CCH, Digita, IRIS, and TaxCalc.

How competent is the Affinity Outsourcing staff?

All of our employees in India are fully or partially qualified Chartered or Chartered Certified Accountants, who have received comprehensive training in all UK reporting requirements.  Two of our Indian partners and our UK practice manager visit our India office two or three times a year to hire, train, and do quality control checks at all levels. Our experience of delivering quality accountancy services to our clients is at the heart of our business. Naturally, it boils down to how well we train our employees.

How will we communicate with the Affinity Outsourcing staff handling our clients’ work?

As an Affinity Outsourcing client, you will be assigned a "team," with each team having a leader who will be your point of contact for consistent communication.

In addition, you can stay in touch with our client manager in the UK or the team leader in India. There is normally one staff member working UK hours, so you do not have to worry about getting your queries resolved when you want.

Does Affinity Outsourcing deal with all sizes of practices?

Yes, we work with accountancy practices of all sizes. Our ideal clients outsource £50,000 plus of their GRF. This enables us to allocate at least one dedicated team member to the practice. In addition, we work with smaller practices trying to grow but need help with accounts production work so that they can concentrate on fetching more clients. For such practices, we allocate the jobs to a “pool” of staff until the workload increases, after which they are allocated a dedicated team member as well.

Does Affinity Outsourcing offer a free trial?

Yes, we do offer a free trial so you can assess the potential value of our service for your accountancy practice. Once you are certain that this is the type of support you have been looking for, we collaborate with you to develop a package specifically tailored to your company's requirements.

How much will outsourcing to Affinity Outsourcing cost me?

Prices are negotiable and are based on the amount of work outsourced to us to achieve economies of scale. We agree to the fees - that will be charged - in advance and we keep these rates consistent so that you are aware of the whole amount of each job's profit as well as the costs associated with it. No surprise charges from us—get only brilliant accounts outsourcing service from us!

How does your pricing model work?

We do not charge by the hour, nor would you have to pay a monthly fee when no work is available. Either all the work we produce for you is completed for a guaranteed fixed fee. This is calculated as a set % of the fee you charge your client, which means you always know how much profit you will make on the job! Or if you have sufficient work, we provide a full time employee.

Can I get any real benefits from outsourcing?

Of course! Outsourcing is highly beneficial - ask our numerous clients who use our accounting outsourcing services. We deliver timely jobs at a fixed fee. If necessary, we can also complete a project in 24 hours. Accounting outsourcing helps you reduce overhead costs, improve your practice’s focus, and free your staff for activities like building client relationships and providing high-end advisory services such as budgeting and forecasting. Outsourcing takes time-consuming functions like client bookkeeping or payroll off your plate. If you are looking to give it a try, book a consultation with us.

Can I outsource my clients’ bookkeeping to you?

Yes, you can! We provide an outsourced bookkeeping solution that is quite popular with our clients. By using our service, you may be able to lighten the load on your staff so they can focus on high-value projects and avoid the stress of having to meet tight deadlines.

What happens if I have an urgent job or suddenly need a lot of extra help?

We always have some extra capacity at our delivery centre in India, and teams there will work on weekends, in the evenings, and on bank holidays in case an urgent deadline is around the corner. The Affinity Outsourcing team takes tremendous pride in delivering excellent service and being able to assist clients in an emergency.

Can I hire a single accountant or a bookkeeper from Affinity Outsourcing?

Yes, it is possible for you to delegate the management of your accounting department to a single accountant or to a whole team of accountants if you want. However, this decision depends on your flow of work. Get in touch with us to discuss your project requirements.

Do I have to outsource the entire project or can I only outsource a few tasks?

Whether you want to outsource the complete project or only a few tasks depends entirely on you. We do not demand any contracts from our clients, and we operate on the "Pay As You Go" principle, so you only have to pay for the services you really use.

What measures does Affinity Outsourcing take to safeguard client data security?

We take data security seriously and follow protocols to safeguard client information. Client data is stored securely in Wembley. All delivery centres access customer data remotely via dumb terminals and encrypted links. All our offices have CCTV. USB drives, DVD drives, and unnecessary websites are prohibited. It is also mandatory for all employees to lock up their phones, electronics, and bags while at work.

What format do the jobs need to be in for you to do the work?

We can process any file format your client sends you, but electronic versions are faster and easier. Accountants scan client papers and send them to us electronically. If you cannot do this, you can courier the documents to our Wembley office where we will scan them for a fee. Records will be couriered to you.

What format will the accounting files come back to me in?

The files will come back to you in your own existing format. Every accountant has their file structure set up slightly differently and in their own preferred style. We will match that exactly, but if you do not have an existing format, then you may care to use our own, which is how we will present it to you anyway!

What is a typical turnaround time for a job?

Turnaround times are determined by the amount of work you want us to complete for you and are discussed when you sign up as an Affinity Outsourcing client.  We decide together how quickly you would like us to start the work. Accountancy practices with a GRF of £400–500K and a GRF of £100K, for example, should expect the work to be completed in 3–4 weeks and 1 week respectively.

Is there a certain way to contact Affinity Outsourcing?

Using the latest communication technology, we make sure we are always ready to respond to your questions. Please feel free to fill the contact us form. Cannot wait for us to get back to you? Contact us directly by giving us a ring on 020 3794 051 or email us at info@affinityoutsourcing.net.

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