Success story:

PKF Francis Clark 

PKF Francis Clark is the largest independent firm of chartered accountants and business advisers in the South West of England. The firm is renowned for its client-first approach, starting with the needs and ambitions of its clients and working collaboratively to deliver success. Their commitment extends not only to clients but also to their people and communities, cultivating a culture rooted in care, inclusion, and value.

Their strong internal culture is one of the key reasons colleagues enjoy working at PKF Francis Clark. The organisation prioritises belonging and an open team ethos, resulting in an environment where everyone is empowered and supported.

With the transition of payroll functions in-house, PKF Francis Clark needed a more advanced, integrated HR and payroll system to support their evolving operations. Key priorities included automating manual tasks and empowering employees through self-service tools.

“Bringing payroll into our team meant we needed more sophisticated tools and better system integration. We wanted a solution that could adapt with us.”  

These drivers prompted the firm to reevaluate their existing systems and seek a future-ready solution that could scale with their needs.

The team at PKF Francis Clark had already been working with Access for a number of years. When it came time to reevaluate, they conducted a thorough review of the market—and chose to continue with Access due to its breadth of features and reliability.

“We reviewed several options, but Access best met our needs. It offered the right mix of functionality, usability and support.”

Their goals included:

• An integrated HR and payroll system
• Improved reporting and analytics
• Automation of tasks and document management
• Self-service for employees and streamlined manager approvals

The implementation of Access PeopleXD has delivered a positive and transformative experience for PKF Francis Clark. The team has found the system to be highly user-friendly and adaptable to their needs. Their familiarity and detailed understanding of the platform have enabled them to effectively tailor it to suit internal processes.

Support has been a standout feature, with accessible knowledge articles and a responsive case management system helping to ensure smooth ongoing use. The firm also praised the customer success and account management teams for being engaged, helpful, and solution-oriented, especially when handling escalations or exploring new functionalities.

Since implementing Access PeopleXD, PKF Francis Clark has seen several notable improvements across their operations:

• Increased efficiency through process automation
• Streamlined payroll operations with HR integration
• Enhanced document management and upload capabilities
• More effective approval workflows
• Time savings that allow consultants to focus on higher-value activities

The automation of repetitive tasks, such as sending notifications and managing documents has freed up valuable time and significantly boosted productivity.

“We’ve been able to automate a number of previously manual tasks, everything from sending out notifications to handling approvals. It’s made a real difference.”

PKF Francis Clark is keen to stay at the forefront of innovation, expressing interest in becoming early adopters of new features and updates from Access. They see tremendous potential in automation and AI to reshape the accountancy sector, particularly in areas like data entry and process verification.

“The support we’ve had from Access has been excellent. The team is engaged, responsive and always happy to help when things need escalation … We’ve had great experiences with demos, commercial discussions and rollout of new features - it’s a true partnership.”

By implementing Access PeopleXD, PKF Francis Clark has modernised their operations, automated key workflows, and empowered their people, all while laying the groundwork for future growth through AI and innovation.

PKF Francis Clark is keen to stay at the forefront of innovation, expressing interest in becoming early adopters of new features and updates from Access. They see tremendous potential in automation and AI to reshape the accountancy sector—particularly in areas like data entry and process verification.

Access PeopleXD is expected to play a crucial role in supporting the firm’s ongoing growth, especially as the industry navigates rapid changes driven by technology.

“We’re really interested in understanding what’s coming down the roadmap from Access. Being part of the early adopters programme helps us stay ready for what’s next.”

Access has played a key role in not only system implementation but also strategic support.

“The support we’ve had from Access has been excellent. The team is engaged, responsive and always happy to help when things need escalation … We’ve had great experiences with demos, commercial discussions and rollout of new features—it’s a true partnership.”

PKF Francis Clark enthusiastically recommends Access PeopleXD to other organisations, citing its broad functionality and flexibility to support various business types and industries.

By implementing Access PeopleXD, PKF Francis Clark has modernised their operations, automated key workflows, and empowered their people—all while laying the groundwork for future growth through AI and innovation.

Access remains a trusted partner on their journey, supporting efficiency today and shaping transformation for tomorrow.