How to Choose the Right Accounting Software for Your UK Business

Updated for 2025 | Featuring Access Evolve

Choosing the right accounting software is a critical decision for any growing UK business. Upgrading from spreadsheets or switching from another provider, the right solution should help you stay compliant, save time, and scale with confidence.
Access Evolve includes Access Financials as part of a broader, AI-powered suite thus giving you everything you need to manage finance, payroll, HR, and more, all in one place.

5 minutes

Written by Joanne Farragher, Accounting software expert .

Information on this page

What to consider when choosing your accounting software
What good accounting software looks like
4 key features to look for when choosing your new accounting system
What accounting software is best for your business?
How do you choose the right accounting software?
How our accounting software could help you

1. Is it built for UK compliance?

Your accounting software must support UK-specific regulations like Making Tax Digital (MTD), VAT returns, Companies House filing, and ESG reporting.

Access Evolve includes:

MTD-ready functionality with HMRC integration
ISO/IEC 27001 certified cloud hosting
ESG and cybersecurity reporting tools
Automated updates to stay ahead of UK legislation

2. Does it give you real-time financial visibility?

Waiting days for reports or juggling disconnected systems can lead to poor decisions and missed opportunities. You need instant access to accurate data across your business.

With Access Evolve, you get:

A unified dashboard covering finance, payroll, HR, and projects
AI-powered forecasting and analytics
Experian risk data blended with aged debt for cash flow clarity
Evo Copilot for instant answers to finance queries

3. Can it scale with your business?

As your business grows, your software should grow with you — without needing to replatform or rebuild your processes.

Access Evolve offers:

Tailored suites for different business sizes: Grow, Expand, Advance
Modular design — add what you need, when you need it
Open API portal for seamless integration with other tools
Multi-entity support for complex structures

4. Does it save you time?

Manual processes slow down your team and increase the risk of errors. Automation is key to freeing up time for strategic work.

Access Evolve automates:

Bank reconciliation with AI-powered matching
Accounts payable and expense management
Payroll journal posting and HMRC reporting
Task prioritisation via Evo Feed

5. Is support available beyond implementation?

Look for a provider that offers more than just setup: ongoing support, training, and optimisation are essential for long-term success.

Access Evolve includes:

Rapid onboarding and training
Access to 250+ UK-based support specialists
Dedicated Customer Success team
Continuous optimisation via Evo Solution Services

What does good accounting software look like?

Modern accounting software should do more than just digitise your finance function, it should empower your team, reduce risk, and help your business grow with confidence.

What Great Accounting Software Delivers

Clear visibility of project and financial performance: Finance leads can monitor progress, costs, and profitability across departments and entities.
Real-time analytics and forecasting: Get AI-powered insights which help you plan ahead, spot risks early, and make informed decisions.
Automated month-end reporting: Get instant reports using live data, no more chasing spreadsheets.
No manual rekeying: Seamless integration between payroll, expenses, and financials eliminates duplication.
Error reduction through intelligent automation: Smart alerts flag anomalies before they become problems.
Built-in UK compliance: Automatic updates ensure alignment with Making Tax Digital, VAT rules, and Companies House requirements.
Time-saving workflows: Routine tasks like bank reconciliation, invoice matching, and approvals are handled by the system — not your team.

What to Avoid in Accounting Software

Limited visibility into project costs - Overruns happen, and you’re left guessing why.
Fragmented data and poor reporting - Decision-making is delayed and based on outdated information.
Heavy reliance on manual processes - Rekeying data between systems wastes time and increases risk.
Frequent human errors - Mistakes go unnoticed until they cause real damage.
Compliance is a manual burden - Staying up to date with UK regulations requires constant intervention.
No automation of standard processes - Your team spends more time on admin than on adding value.

1. How does it collect data?

The ideal finance system should centralise data from all business areas into a single dashboard, eliminating silos. It must provide accurate, real-time insights in a clear, structured format to support quick analysis and informed decisions.

2. What level of automation is included?

Finance involves many repetitive tasks, from entering payroll details to processing supplier payments, these are areas prone to error. Automating as many functions as possible reduces risk. Some systems even monitor budgets and track progress toward balance sheet targets automatically.

3. Is it compliant with current and upcoming regulations?

Your finance system should, for example, be able to send your tax return information seamlessly and without error to HMRC in line with the current Making Tax Digital rules. It should also be able to comply with Open Banking regulations if you work in that sector. Any rule changes that occur as a result of Brexit will also need to be included, which some providers guarantee.

4. What tools support strategic decision-making?

Budget forecaster tools are ideal for monitoring company spending and producing rich data that can be used to feed into spending decisions. Likewise, data harmonisation functionality is a great way to support and balance differing viewpoints, verify data, and avoid taking a siloed perspective. These tools should be a key part of robust reporting your finance system offers.

What accounting system is best for your business?

Choosing the right accounting software for your business greatly comes down to your essential requirements and key challenges. For example, you may currently be using old, outdated accounting software which is clunky and slow and could be a high security risk and cause data inaccuracies.

It might be that your team needs a smarter and faster finance management solution, and/or a broader set of features and more advanced functionality to simplify complex finance and accounting tasks. Cloud accounting, project accounting and fixed asset accounting are key examples of more advanced solutions that can help businesses and finance teams to work more efficiently.

Many finance teams also see the benefit of upgrading to a solution that can be integrated with other software (such as HR and payroll systems) on one simplified platform.

So, how do you choose the right accounting software?

Here are 6 practical steps to help you make the right decision for your business.

Start with the right research

1. Before anything else, take time to understand what’s not working with your current system. Are you struggling with cash flow visibility? Is compliance taking too long? Are manual processes slowing your team down?

Plan your switch with purpose

2. Switching software doesn’t have to be disruptive. Create a clear, step-by-step plan that aligns with your business objectives — from data migration to team training.

Think beyond bolt-ons

3. Many finance systems rely on third-party add-ons for essentials like payroll, expenses, or digital tax. That can lead to integration headaches and extra costs.

Invest in long-term value

4. Your accounting software should grow with your business. That means choosing a platform that’s scalable, secure, and built for the future.

Clean your data before you migrate

5. Your new system is only as good as the data you feed into it. Before switching, make sure your finance, HR, and operational data is accurate, up to date, and ready to go.

Choose a provider that’s in it for the long haul

6. The right software partner will make switching smooth and support you well beyond go-live. Look for UK-based support, industry expertise, and a track record of helping businesses like yours succeed.

How our accounting software could help you

Access Financials offers an integrated accounting solution helping to achieve strong financial, operational and project control, which have supported over 2,400 businesses to scale their finance and accounting activities and drive business continuity.

We are experts in finding the right software for small to medium sized businesses and provide dedicated customer support to help our users get the most from their software throughout their journey with us.

Get in touch to discuss your accounting software requirements, or book a free demo of our financial software suite to explore the features.

How to choose and switch to the right accounting software - full guide

Download this step-by-step guide for more in-depth information about switching accounting systems.

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