Financial management software

Finance Software for UK Marketing, Creative and Media Agencies

Access Financials helps UK agencies manage project finances with confidence. From campaign costing and billing to forecasting and compliance, our software gives you real-time visibility and control.

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Accounting software trusted by professional service providers across the UK

The real cost of disconnected finance systems

Projects that looked profitable, weren’t: Actual costs spiral while time and expenses sit in separate systems.
Clients you thought were profitable, weren’t: Without real-time visibility, you over-service and under-bill.
Finance teams waste 240 hours annually: That’s six working weeks lost to manual data consolidation.

Access Financials gives you what spreadsheets and disconnected tools never could: the truth about your numbers, in real-time, when you can still act.

Ready to solve these challenges?

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See Profitability Before the Invoice Goes Out

Access Financials Projects module shows you the numbers that actually matter, while you can still act on them:

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Budget vs reality, live

See accrued costs, committed spend, and cost-to-complete for every active project, not when you close the month, when you can still adjust scope.

Your billing, their way

Retainer, milestone, percentage fee, work-in-progress, switch billing methods within the same project without wrestling separate systems.

Spot profit fast

Report at client, project, or cost-code level to identify which relationships make money and which ones just make noise.

Stop over-servicing

Resource utilisation data shows which team members are over-capacity and which projects are burning hours you didn't budget.

No Delays. Just Billing.

Automated project-to-invoice workflows mean you're not waiting weeks to bill completed work.

One source of truth (finally)

72% of finance leaders say integration is make-or-break when choosing software. They're right.

Access Financials connects the dots:

Time and expense capture: mobile apps your team will actually use
Automatic absence feeds: holiday and sick days show as unavailable capacity
Microsoft Office integration: approve invoices without leaving Outlook
Purchase order matching: automated invoice verification

Plowman Craven consolidated three vendors into one system. Tasks that took days now take minutes.

See how we compare to other finance software vendors (direct, no fluff)

Xero is a popular choice for small businesses, but as your company grows, basic bookkeeping may not be enough. This guide compares Access Financials vs Xero to help UK businesses choose a solution that scales with complexity, ensures compliance, and supports long-term growth.

Choosing the right finance software is a strategic decision, not just a technical one. If you're considering switching from Sage Intacct or researching smarter alternatives, this guide compares two leading platforms to help you make the best choice for your business.

Changing or transforming your finance system and processes can feel overwhelming. This guide compares Access Evolve and iplicit, to help you take the best decision for your business.

Stop losing money on client expenses

Unbilled expenses discovered months after project completion. Invoiced costs clients question because you lack documentation. Common problems when expense tracking isn't integrated with projects.

Agency expense management needs:

Automatic allocation: expenses are tagged to the right client and project, no manual sorting.
Budget alerts: get notified before campaigns exceed limits.
Mobile capture: submit receipts instantly from your phone.
Audit trails: substantiate invoiced costs with full documentation.

A smarter, more integrated and scalable finance system

''I have never found the same number of applications available from one supplier. The Access suite provides a lot of well-integrated pieces of software.''

David Kay, Director, Adlib Audio

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The time you're losing:

240 hours annually consolidating data from different systems
That's six working weeks of your finance team's time
Plus the opportunity cost of decisions made with incomplete information

The money you're leaving:

Projects that looked profitable until you saw the real numbers
Client expenses you forgot to bill back
Over-servicing you didn't catch until the retainer was gone
Invoices that went out weeks late because finance couldn't close

What you get back with Access Financials:

£38,000 average annual savings through AP automation alone
£20,000 average annual savings through expense automation
50% faster month-end close (from 10 days to 5 for most agencies)
Actually knowing which clients make you money

Secure, compliant finance management

Access Financials meets the security and compliance standards finance leaders require:

UK GAAP and IFRS compliant financial reporting
ISO/IEC 27001 certified for information security management
GDPR compliant data handling and storage
UK-based data centres with enterprise-level security
Encrypted data transfers between your browser and servers
Automated backups and 24/7 support
HMRC-recognised digital tax submission

Book a demo of Access Financials for Marketing and Media agencies

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Frequently Asked Questions

What finance software do marketing and creative agencies use?

Marketing, creative and media agencies typically use project-based finance software that tracks project profitability, handles multiple billing types (retainer, milestone, WIP), and integrates time tracking with invoicing. Access Financials is designed specifically for project-based businesses, offering integrated project management and financial reporting in one system.

How do agencies track project profitability in real-time?

Real-time project profitability requires integrated systems that connect time tracking, expenses, and project budgets. Access Financials shows budget vs actuals, accrued costs, and cost-to-complete as work happens, not weeks later at month-end. This allows agencies to adjust scope, resource allocation, and pricing before projects go over budget.

What's the difference between accounting software and finance management for agencies?

Accounting software handles transactions, invoicing and compliance. Finance management for agencies includes project accounting, tracking profitability by client and project, managing multiple billing types within one project, resource scheduling, and work-in-progress billing. Access Financials combines both: comprehensive accounting plus project-specific financial management.

How much time do agencies waste on manual financial consolidation?

UK mid-market finance teams spend 240 hours annually—six working weeks—manually consolidating data from disconnected systems. This happens when time tracking, project management, expenses, and finance run in separate systems. Integrated finance software like Access Financials eliminates this waste by connecting all financial data in one platform

Can finance software handle different agency billing types?

Yes. Access Financials Projects module supports multiple billing methods within the same project: retainer agreements, milestone billing, percentage fee, work-in-progress billing, and outcome-based billing. You can switch billing types mid-project without creating separate systems or manual workarounds, which is critical for agencies managing diverse client agreements.

What integrations do agencies need in finance software?

Agencies need finance software that integrates with time tracking tools, project management systems, expense capture (mobile apps), absence management, Microsoft Office (for approvals), and purchasing systems. 72% of mid-market finance leaders say integration capability is make-or-break when choosing software. Access Financials connects these systems to eliminate manual data entry and consolidation.

How do you prevent losing money on unprofitable projects?

Preventing unprofitable projects requires visibility before invoicing, not after. Access Financials tracks budget vs actuals, committed costs, and cost-to-complete in real-time. When projects trend over budget, finance teams can adjust scope, reallocate resources, or renegotiate terms before losses accumulate. Automated alerts notify teams when projects approach budget thresholds.

Is Access Financials suitable for small to mid-sized agencies?

Yes. Access Financials is designed for UK mid-market organisations with £10M-200M turnover and 50-1000 employees—the "missing middle" often underserved by software built for either small businesses or large enterprises. Over 20,000 UK finance professionals use Access products, including professional services firms with similar operational models to agencies.

How long does it take to implement Access Financials?

Implementation timeline varies based on your agency's complexity and current systems. Access provides dedicated UK-based finance software experts who support you through design, implementation, training, and go-live. The team has successfully implemented finance software for thousands of customers, with a structured approach to ensure quick deployment and minimal disruption.

Explore Finance Solutions for Your Industry

Whether you’re in professional services, IT, or management consulting, our solutions help streamline operations, improve financial visibility, and drive growth. Compare our offerings with other providers to make the best choice for your business.