Like many new firm owners, his early focus was on getting the fundamentals right. That meant compliance first and modelling the firm on how traditional practices operated.

“I initially tried to replicate other firms, so I was focused on compliance. Now I’m keen to explore a wider, more proactive, real-time added value service, what I’d describe as ‘corporate accounting for small businesses’.”

Fast forward to today, and AB Accountancy employs five staff and supports around 450 clients.

But growth brought new challenges.

The Challenge

As the firm expanded, Adrian found it increasingly difficult to manage multiple client relationships while keeping internal processes consistent and visible.

“For me, the hardest thing about running a firm is managing so many client relationships. We wanted all clients on the same process, and Engager is built for exactly that.”

At the same time, Adrian’s experience with his previous tax software became a turning point.

After being moved from TaxFiler to Elements, problems quickly emerged.

“There was an error that meant I couldn’t send logins to my team. Support didn’t understand the issue and I couldn’t speak to anyone in the UK. That rang alarm bells.”

Within two weeks, Adrian made the decision to move away completely.

“I switched to TaxCalc immediately, and I’m so glad I did.”

The Solution

TaxCalc – Confidence in Tax and Accounts Production

From day one, TaxCalc felt different.

“TaxCalc was so much easier to use. We rely heavily on SimpleStep for check and finish, it removes the risk of small errors creeping in, which saves huge amounts of time.”

Reliability was the key factor.

“I’ve barely needed support because everything just works as it should.”

The transition was seamless, with no disruption to the firm.

“We switched TaxCalc on and were fully operational straight away. There was no downtime.”

Engager – Visibility, Accountability and Control

As a natural system-builder, Adrian knew that sustainable growth depended on clear, repeatable processes.

Before Engager, the firm sometimes felt reactive. After Engager, everything changed.

“Engager allows us to create uniform processes that everyone can visualise. The team knows exactly who is responsible for what.”

His daily routine shifted dramatically.

“My first job every day used to be checking emails. Now it’s opening Engager’s Kanban board, and that sets up my whole day.”

Automated workflows and standardised templates also reduced admin and risk.

“You know the right information is going out every time. There’s a clear audit trail, so I can see how often clients have been chased.”

The Results: Fewer Hours, More Control

Since switching to TaxCalc and Engager, AB Accountancy has seen clear, measurable improvements:

• 30% reduction in working hours during peak January, despite having more clients

• Increased client capacity without additional pressure

• Fewer errors and less rework

• Clear accountability across the team

• Consistent, professional client communication

“We worked 30% fewer hours this January than last year, and we have more clients now. TaxCalc and Engager have been a huge factor in that.”

Support also stood out.

“The level of support from Engager genuinely blows me away. I benchmark my own support against it. Being able to speak to real people really matters.”

The Impact: A Firm Built to Scale

With dependable software and structured systems in place, Adrian now runs a calmer, more scalable and more enjoyable firm.

“It allows me to build systems that let me actually enjoy my business.”

Looking back, the biggest lesson is clear.

“One of my biggest regrets is not getting Engager from day one.”

The Bottom Line

By switching to TaxCalc for tax and accounts production and Engager for workflow and practice management, Adrian has built a robust, well-organised firm with:

• Lower risk

• Fewer hours

• Stronger client relationships

• A solid foundation for future growth

AB Accountancy is no longer just growing.
It’s built to scale.

Appleleaf Chartered Certified Accountants is an office-based practice with a team of 10, supporting approximately 500 clients. The firm provides accounting, tax advice, advisory services, and company secretarial work.

As the practice grew, so did the pressure on its systems. What had once been manageable began to create friction across leads, workflows, and client communication.

When Growth Exposed the Cracks

The biggest challenges Appleleaf faced weren’t technical. They were operational.

At the time, the firm was using Pixie alongside other stand-alone tools. While each system worked in isolation, together they created gaps in visibility and consistency.

Leads weren’t being followed up reliably, job tracking lacked clarity, and clients began to raise concerns about turnaround times.

“Leads weren’t being followed up and existing clients were complaining about turnaround times.”

These issues were driven by disconnected workflows that couldn’t support the firm as it scaled.

Why Change Became Necessary

The firm recognised that workflow and communication bottlenecks were holding both the team and clients back.

Without a clear, firm-wide view of where work was sitting, staff were fielding unnecessary client queries, and managers lacked confidence in job progress.

Appleleaf needed a system that could bring leads, jobs, and communication into one joined-up platform, rather than relying on multiple tools that didn’t fully connect.

Discovering Engager

The firm first came across Engager via a LinkedIn post. What stood out immediately was that the product had been built with accountants in mind.

“Engager understood the pain points accountants face and had been developed specifically to solve them.”

Pricing and practicality were important, but the deciding factor was alignment. Engager replaced fragmented processes with a single system designed around how accounting firms actually operate.

A Planned Switch, Done Properly

Rather than rushing the transition, Appleleaf invested time in preparation before migrating fully.

“There was a lot of planning and preparation, then we moved everything across in one go.”

The availability of structured migration templates made the process clearer and more manageable.

“Having a template to migrate our client base was very useful and straightforward.”

Formatting and preparing data correctly took effort, but support resources played a key role.

“I overcame this by watching a lot of Johann’s YouTube videos.”

Getting Fully Up and Running

Because Appleleaf adopted Engager early in its development, reaching full maturity took time.

“It was probably six months before we were fully up and running, but Engager was still in its infancy at the time.”

That investment paid off by giving the firm a structured, repeatable way of working across all services.

The Impact on Clients and the Team

The most noticeable improvements came from firm-wide job tracking and clearer client communication.

“Job tracking at a firm level has definitely improved, as well as client communication.”

Clients now have visibility into where their work sits within the workflow, reducing uncertainty and follow-up queries.

“Clients are much happier because they know where the job is within the workflow.”

The internal impact was just as significant.

“The team is happier because there are fewer complaints from clients. Morale has 100% improved.”

One piece of client feedback stood out in particular:

“A client commented on how well we kept them updated throughout the entire workflow and how clearly they could see progress.”

Advice for Other Firms

Appleleaf’s advice to firms considering Engager is straightforward:

“Prepare, prepare, prepare, then make the switch. You won’t regret it.”

They also recommend being honest during evaluation.

“Look at your practice strategically and be honest about your weaknesses. Then consider how Engager can help not just operationally, but strategically and from a client satisfaction perspective.”

Looking Ahead

Engager is now an integral part of how Appleleaf operates.

“We couldn’t have grown the way we have without it.”

Looking forward, the firm plans to expand its use of information requests and time allocation to refine workflows even further.

When asked about confidence in scaling with Engager:

“110% confident.”

Building for Growth, Without Losing Control

By switching from Pixie to Engager, Appleleaf Chartered Certified Accountants replaced fragmented processes with a single, joined-up platform.

The result is clearer workflows, happier clients, improved morale, and a firm that’s well-positioned to grow with confidence.

Want to see how Engager could support your firm?
Learn more about Engager and discover how it helps practices improve visibility, client communication, and operational control.

Learn more about Engager

Too many standalone systems.
Too much duplication.
Not enough visibility.

As founder Jason Holden explains, the firm relied on several products that simply didn’t talk to each other, including GoProposal and Pixie alongside other standalone tools.

“The limitation was needing several products that didn’t communicate. The bottlenecks were created by tools that were designed to work in isolation.”

Over time, that patchwork approach became unsustainable. And when GoProposal was acquired by Sage and product development stalled, it accelerated the need for change.

At that point, change wasn’t optional.

Discovering Engager Early

Jason first came across Engager online, back when it was still in its early stages. While some functionality was still evolving, what stood out immediately was the mindset behind the product.

“There was basic functionality missing at the time. I spoke to Peter, the developer, and within two hours he’d made three software changes that solved my issues. Who wouldn’t use that product?”

That experience set Engager apart. It wasn’t just software. It was a platform being actively built with real firms in mind.

One Clean Switch, Done Properly

Rather than a slow, phased rollout, Holden Associates committed fully.

“We jumped in with both feet.”

Instead of bulk uploading legacy data, the firm chose to start clean. Every client was set up deliberately, ensuring accuracy and consistency from day one.

“It meant more work upfront, but it gave us a system we could trust.”

Building a Fully Functioning Practice System

It took time to get everything exactly how the firm wanted it. Around nine months in total, but the end result was a system covering every core area of the practice:

• Quoting

• Letters of Engagement

• Client onboarding

• Job and deadline tracking

• Automated client communications

“Quoting, job tracking and onboarding are now super efficient. We save hours, but more importantly, we don’t miss deadlines and we have a set way of doing everything.”

Visibility Across a Distributed Team

Holden Associates operates with a mix of office-based, remote, and offshore staff. Visibility across work was critical.

Engager gave the team a single source of truth.

“Staff know where everything is up to. It’s especially useful with remote staff, because the office-based manager can instantly see job status.”

That clarity has had a direct impact on client experience and internal confidence.

One small but telling change:

“I used to forget things when onboarding new clients, like submitting 64-8s. That just doesn’t happen anymore.”

Advice for Other Firms

Jason’s advice to firms considering Engager is refreshingly direct:

“Do it.”

And when it comes to evaluating practice management software:

“Go through every section in the order they appear. The setup is logical if you follow it properly.”

Looking Ahead

For Holden Associates, Engager isn’t just supporting the firm today. It’s making future growth simpler.

“It makes growth easy. Quotes, engagement letters, onboarding, job tracking. Once what we already use is fully optimised, we’ll look at even more features.”

When asked how confident he feels about scaling with Engager:

“Totally.”

While the local economy is rooted in farming and fishing, the firm has built a strong reputation as a modern, forward-thinking adviser. In just four years, the team has grown from five people to a 25-strong practice, creating new challenges around visibility, capacity planning, and operational control.

Susan Lyon, PA to the directors, has had a front-row seat to that growth and the systems that needed to evolve alongside it.

Before Engager, the firm relied heavily on Excel spreadsheets, supported by TaxCalc for compliance work. They had also briefly trialled another practice management tool, an experience Susan describes simply as “an epic fail.”

Why Spreadsheets Stopped Working

As the firm expanded, it became clear that spreadsheets could no longer keep up. The biggest challenge wasn’t just tracking work; it was trying to predict what was coming next.

“It was about trying to see into the future,” Susan explains. “Busy periods like VAT deadlines, knowing when we’d need more people. The spreadsheet gave us visibility, but it also scared my boss when he saw the workload. That’s when we realised we needed better systems.”

Alongside capacity planning, risk and human error were growing concerns.

“It’s so easy for someone to update a spreadsheet incorrectly or accidentally delete something. You can only password protect things so much.”

Their earlier attempt with another PM system only reinforced the need to choose carefully this time.

“It was overcomplicated, and even the people behind it struggled to explain how it worked. That gave us real hesitation about trying again.”

The Decision to Move to Engager

The turning point came after one of the firm’s directors, Michael, attended an industry event in London and returned full of ideas.

“He came back buzzing, saying ‘we’re going to do this, we’re going to do that’, and asked me to look at Engager. Straight away, it felt like exactly what we needed.”

Ease of use was critical, especially for a growing team.

“It’s intuitive. Even new starters get shown once and they’re away with it. That was a massive plus for us.”

Implementation Without Disruption

Migrating to Engager required preparation, but the process itself was refreshingly straightforward.

“Getting the import spreadsheet ready took time, but the fact that Engager handled the import while we just carried on working was perfect.”

This contrasted sharply with their earlier experience, where the firm had been left to manage migration alone.

“With Engager, any questions were answered really quickly. No waiting.”

One feature quickly became indispensable for Susan: bulk updates.

“If a new manager joins or clients are reassigned, I don’t have to go into 100 individual records. I just use bulk update. That’s been a massive change for me.”

The Benefits They’ve Seen

Today, Engager sits at the centre of how M Squared Accountants manages work and deadlines.

The leadership team relies heavily on the Kanban-style workflow view.

“They love it. You can instantly see how much work each person has, who’s overloaded, and where things might be stuck. And because it’s numbers and data, accountants really buy into it.”

The firm uses Engager in a way that fits their current needs, without forcing unnecessary complexity.

“We’re not using every feature yet. Fees are still handled in Xero, for example. But the beauty of Engager is you can use what’s relevant to your firm without it feeling overwhelming.”

Advice for Other Firms

When asked what she’d say to other firms still relying on spreadsheets, Susan didn’t hesitate.

“Go for it. You won’t regret it.”

She also highlighted the importance of support and responsiveness during and after the switch.

“Use the support. You really can’t fault it. And I love that feedback is actually listened to, rather than just being told ‘that’s not how it works’.”

The Future with Engager

Looking ahead, the team at M Squared Accountants is particularly excited about deeper integrations, especially with TaxCalc.

“Anything that makes life easier is a win. Right now, if a client’s address changes, it has to be updated in multiple places. The Engager–TaxCalc sync is going to save so much time.”

Susan also sees opportunities to refine reporting further as the firm continues to grow.

“When we export deadline reports, there’s a lot of columns we don’t use. If there was a way to choose which ones we wanted, that would be brilliant. It’s not the end of the world, but it would make management reporting a lot smoother.”

From Spreadsheets to Scalable Systems

For M Squared Accountants, switching to Engager wasn’t about adding another tool. It was about replacing fragile, spreadsheet-led processes with a platform that could scale alongside the firm.

Today, Engager gives the team clearer visibility, stronger control, and the confidence to grow without chaos.

As Susan puts it:

“Go for it. You won’t regret it.”

Want to see how Engager could work for your firm?
Learn more about Engager and explore how it helps growing practices replace spreadsheets, reduce risk, and stay in control.

Learn more about Engager

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Fusion 2025 wasn’t just a conference, it was a statement of intent. A packed room of accountants, bookkeepers, and industry leaders saw first-hand how TaxCalc and Engager are shaping the future of practice management, workflow automation, and cloud-first compliance.

Across the day, three standout sessions defined the momentum behind the platform and the direction of travel for the year ahead.

Jason Reynes & Esther Theobold: Building a Streamlined MTD IT Workflow with Engager and TaxCalc

The afternoon kicked off with a practical, hands-on walkthrough from Jason Raynes and Esther Theobald, who demonstrated how seamlessly Engager and TaxCalc come together to support firms preparing for MTD IT.

Their session focused on something every practice is thinking about right now: how to build a scalable, compliant, repeatable workflow before MTD IT arrives in full force.

Key themes from their session:

1. Modern service management for MTD IT
Jason and Esther showed how Engager helps firms break down MTD IT into clearly structured service lines. From recurring quarterly submissions to bookkeeping add-ons and support tiers, firms can map out exactly what’s included, how often work is delivered, and who owns each step.

2. On-brand, crystal-clear proposals
The pair demonstrated how Engager generates branded, MTD-specific proposals in minutes, outlining scope, deadlines, and responsibilities. Practices can create consistent, compliant engagement letters without copying and pasting or managing endless templates.

3. Automated reminders and task management
Their demo highlighted how Engager’s reminders, scheduling, and task workflows take the pressure off admin teams. Data collection, client approvals, and document chasing become automated steps rather than bottlenecks.

4. A unified workflow with TaxCalc
Once clients are onboarded and work is scheduled in Engager, the workflow continues seamlessly into TaxCalc’s preparation and submission process. The integration removes duplication, reduces rekeying, and ensures teams always work from the latest client information.

The message was clear: MTD IT doesn’t have to be complicated, not when the right systems are connected and designed to work together.

Nick Moss & Ash Hall: The Integration Reveal That Changed Everything

In one of the most talked-about sessions of the day, Nick Moss and Ash Hall unveiled the next phase of the Engager x TaxCalc integration. The audience saw, live on stage, how far the two systems have come, and how closely intertwined they are becoming.

Below, you’ll find individual video highlights for each reveal.

1. Two-Way Sync – Available Immediately

Ash announced that two-way sync is officially live, meaning client details now update in both systems automatically. No more rekeying. No more mismatches. No more checking two places to see which one is right.
This upgrade delivers instant alignment across your workflow, giving practices a level of consistency they’ve never had before.

2. File Sharing Built Into the Workflow

Nick and Ash demonstrated how firms can now share files seamlessly between TaxCalc and Engager. Documents move securely, automatically, and without the need for third-party tools — removing unnecessary steps and speeding up the entire preparation and review journey.

3. Service Safeguards for Risk-Free Operations

One of the biggest wins for compliance: Service Safeguards.
These automated checks stop work progressing until essential conditions are met, helping teams reduce risk, strengthen governance, and improve consistency across the entire practice.

4. Personal Tax Questionnaires

The team unveiled integrated Personal Tax Questionnaires, designed to simplify and automate tax season.
Client data is collected digitally, structured neatly, and passed directly into your workflow — cutting out the back-and-forth that traditionally slows practices down in the busiest period of the year.

Engager and TaxCalc are no longer just connected. They are becoming a unified operational ecosystem.

Pauline Smith: TaxCalc’s Hybrid Future – Cloud and Desktop

The final keynote announcement came from Pauline Smith, who shared one of the most important strategic decisions in TaxCalc’s history: the move to the cloud.

But this wasn’t a simple “we’re going cloud-only” message.

It was something far more thoughtful, and far more aligned with how real practices operate.

TaxCalc’s hybrid approach:

Cloud for flexibility, mobility, and the future of collaboration.
Desktop for speed, power, stability, and firms who rely on local performance.

Pauline outlined a strategy that respects the needs of thousands of practitioners who love TaxCalc’s reliability, while simultaneously paving the way for the next decade of innovation.

This hybrid approach means practices won’t be forced into a corner.
They’ll be able to choose the environment that fits their workflow, without sacrificing performance, features, or security.

It was the perfect close to Fusion 2025: thoughtful, ambitious, and focused entirely on supporting the profession through its next chapter.

Fusion 2025: A Turning Point

This year’s Fusion conference made one thing absolutely clear:

TaxCalc and Engager are building the future of practice software, one that’s integrated, modern, compliant, and genuinely designed around how accountants and bookkeepers work.

With MTD IT approaching, cloud adoption accelerating, and firms demanding better workflows, the momentum behind this partnership has never been stronger.

At Engager, we’ve always believed that first impressions matter, especially when it comes to clients. Your proposal isn’t just a document.

It’s your brand.

Your professionalism.

Your promise.

That’s why we created Proposal Plus, the biggest update to proposals and letters of engagement we’ve ever released.

Why We Built Proposal Plus

Creating proposals and engagement letters used to be one of those necessary-but-frustrating admin tasks.

Lots of copying.

Plenty of editing.

Too many steps.

And if you wanted to make your proposal look good?

That usually meant even more time.

Proposal Plus changes all that.

We’ve reimagined the entire process, turning it into a seamless, brand-driven experience that’s faster, smarter, and designed to help you win more clients.

What’s New

1. Build Beautiful, On-Brand Proposals in Minutes

Say goodbye to copy-paste templates.

Proposal Plus gives you full control over how your proposals look, from imagery and layout to colours and content.
Your brand. Your way. Every time.

2. Generate Engagement Letters Instantly

Once your client accepts your proposal, your letter of engagement is automatically displayed to the prospect, ready for eSignature, no manual setup, no missed details.

3. One Seamless Onboarding Flow

Proposals, engagement letters, payment setup, preferences, and portal access, all in one slick, connected journey.

Clients review, sign, and get started with confidence.

4. Edit, Save, and Reuse

Need to tweak content or pricing? No problem.

Proposal Plus remembers your changes, so you can continuously refine your templates without starting from scratch.

5. Fully Customisable Signing Experience

Add your logo, colours, and messaging directly to the signing pages, giving your clients a truly branded experience from start to finish.

Why Accountants and Bookkeepers Love It

Firms using Proposal Plus have told us it’s saving hours every week.

But more than that, it’s helping them stand out from their competition.

Because when your client experience looks this polished, it reflects the quality of your work long before you’ve even started.

See It in Action

Want to see how Proposal Plus works?

Watch our short demo video and see how you can generate stunning, fully compliant proposals and engagement letters in just a few clicks.

Her story is one of fresh starts, bold decisions, and building a firm the right way, with Engager at the centre of it all.

A Different Kind of Beginning

Beth didn’t grow up planning to run her own accountancy practice. Her early career was spent in retail, working at the fast-paced heart of a FTSE 100 company.

“I was a clothing buyer living in London, working in a role where if it wasn’t done yesterday, it wasn’t fast enough,” she explains. “Over time, recessions and cutbacks meant the job became increasingly focused on budgets and numbers, and I realised I actually enjoyed that part the most.”

That realisation planted the seed. Beth began studying AAT on the side, and eventually made the leap into accountancy full time. By February 2025, she was running her own practice.

Starting on the Best Foot

Having worked in firms that relied on clunky, sub-par practice management systems, Beth knew exactly what she didn’t want when she went solo.

“I wanted to start on the best possible foot. I’ve worked in firms with systems that just weren’t sustainable, they slowed everything down. I didn’t want that for myself or my clients.”

So instead of waiting until she grew, Beth built her firm on Engager from day one.

“I’d already set Engager up for a firm I worked at years ago and knew it was a game changer. The features and support were far superior to alternatives. This time, it was a no-brainer.”

A Remote-First Firm with a Personal Touch

Beth’s practice is run fully remotely. She offers bookkeeping, tax, accounting, advisory, and VFO services, but her real niche isn’t an industry, it’s people.

“Some clients just want to hand over papers and have the work done, and that’s fine. But for me, I want to work with people who are open to change, who want to make their lives easier, and who value collaboration.”

This ethos is shaping her practice as she grows. She’s already mentoring young entrepreneurs through local start-up programmes, combining her commercial background with accounting to support the next generation of business owners.

Building a Tech Stack That Works Hard

Starting fresh meant Beth could be deliberate about her technology choices. She wanted a tight tech stack, not a mess of disconnected tools.

Engager became the central hub, giving her:

• Automated client communication and reminders

• Seamless onboarding and Letters of Engagement

• A client portal to keep everything in one place

• Reporting that gives her confidence in her workflows

Around Engager, she’s adding tools that integrate and complement, not duplicate. When she saw Adfin’s payment integration announced at Engager Day, she knew it was the right move.

“Adfin was the simplest thing I’ve set up so far. Cost-effective, straightforward, and it just works. Direct debits from day one have taken so much stress off my plate.”

The Results

It took Beth just a few months to feel fully up and running, but only because she pushed herself to set up automations and templates straight away.

Now, she’s seeing the benefits:

• Efficiency: Faster, more consistent client communication.

• Transparency: She feels more in control and clients get a clearer view.

• Client Experience: Every client gets the same seamless journey, no matter who they are.

“I definitely feel transparency is easier, and client experience is more consistent. Engager has made me more efficient from day one.”

Looking Ahead

Beth isn’t chasing growth for growth’s sake. She’s building carefully, with the right clients and the right systems.

Her advice for other bookkeepers and accountants considering Engager?

“It’s worth the time investment. Systemise your approach so it’s not overwhelming, the payoff is huge.”

And as for her own future?

“I feel really confident about scaling with Engager, especially with all the integrations on the horizon. My goal is to keep my tech stack tight, make it all work hard, and focus on the clients that are the right fit.”

Beth’s story is proof that starting small doesn’t mean starting slow. With Engager as her foundation, she’s built a practice that’s modern, efficient, and ready to grow, all while keeping her clients at the heart of it.

👉 Want to start your practice on the best possible foot? Start your free trial of Engager today

Standalone Proposals: more than just a quote

For the first time, you’ll be able to produce proposals that truly stand alone. Clients can accept or reject them, and when rejected, they’ll have the chance to provide reasons. That feedback is invaluable, giving you insights into pricing, services, and client expectations.

But that’s only the beginning. Accepted proposals will now trigger a seamless web-based flow that continues straight into:

• A compliant Letter of Engagement (LoE)

• Collection of contact preferences

• Direct Debit setup via our Adfin integration

Everything is connected, everything is streamlined.

LoE/LoD History: your audit trail, built in

Transparency and compliance are critical in our profession, which is why we’re introducing a complete Proposal, LoE & LoD history.

You’ll be able to see:

• When documents are viewed

• When they’re signed

• Every historical status, captured in one place

This means you’ll always have a clear audit trail, giving you confidence with compliance, dispute resolution, and client communication.

More control over look, feel and flow

It’s not just about functionality, it’s also about experience. With this release, you’ll have more freedom to customise the writing and design of your onboarding document signing flow. That means every interaction with clients reflects your brand, your tone, and your professionalism.

Why this matters

Together, Standalone Proposals and LoE History mark a significant step forward for Engager. They open the door to even more advanced functionality in the future, from deeper analytics on proposal performance to richer automation in your onboarding.

Most importantly, they put you in control: of how you present your services, how you onboard clients, and how you evidence compliance.

As always, this update comes directly from feedback across our community. We’re building the tools you ask for, so you can build the practice you want.

Get ready

These updates are rolling out very soon. Keep an eye on your Engager dashboard and your inbox for the release announcement, and be among the first to try them out.

👉 Not yet using Engager? Start your free trial today

Why Xenon Connect?

Xenon Connect brings together bookkeeping data, client financials, and actionable insights in a way that gives firms a true picture of what’s happening behind the numbers.

By integrating with Engager, Xenon insights now flow straight into your practice management workflow. That means:

• Better pricing decisions when you create proposals

• Fewer surprises when deadlines are approaching

• Richer client conversations, backed by real-time financial health data

As Andy Wainwright, founder of Engager, put it:

“Accountants and bookkeepers tell us they want better visibility when creating proposals. With Xenon data flowing into Engager, firms can price smarter, plan better, and have more confident conversations with their clients. It’s about giving practices the context they need, right when they need it.”

How the integration works

This isn’t just a data link. It’s a seamless experience inside Engager that makes your workflow more powerful:

• During proposals: When you’re building a proposal in Engager, Xenon data automatically feeds into the process. You’ll see live insights such as average transaction volumes, unreconciled items, or the complexity of a client’s books. That means your pricing can reflect reality, not guesswork.

• Deadline management: Engager already helps you manage internal and statutory deadlines. With Xenon connected, you’ll also see risk indicators like unprocessed bank transactions or incomplete reconciliations flagged directly against client jobs.

• Client communication: No more asking clients blindly for updates. The integration surfaces what’s missing and when, so your record requests and reminders are always targeted and relevant.

• All in one place: Everything appears within your Engager client record. No need to switch tabs, export reports, or rekey data.

Johann Goree, Head of Community at Engager, explains:

“This integration takes away the guesswork. No more pricing blindly or chasing incomplete records. Accountants can now build proposals with confidence, knowing they’re grounded in real client data.”

Looking ahead

For us, this integration is just the beginning. Engager and Xenon share a common vision: reducing friction, automating admin, and helping accountants spend more time where it counts, supporting clients.

Ash Hall, Head of Product at Engager, shared his perspective:

“Our mission has always been to strip away the busywork accountants hate. By partnering with Xenon, we’re helping firms focus less on chasing data and more on delivering value. This integration feels like a natural next step in that journey.”

Try it out

The Engager x Xenon Connect integration is live and ready to explore. If you’re already an Engager user, you can switch it on in your settings today.

👉 Learn more about the integration here

Together, we’re building smarter, faster, and more connected workflows for accountants and bookkeepers across the UK.

But in 2025, simplicity alone isn’t enough.

Firms using Engager are increasingly looking for a payment solution that does more. One that chases payments, accepts multiple methods, and actually fits around the way modern accounting and bookkeeping firms operate.

That’s why so many are making the move from GoCardless to Adfin, and using Engager’s native Adfin integration to unlock a seamless practice management and payment workflow.

Let’s explore why.

The Challenge with Traditional Payment Tools Like GoCardless

GoCardless has done a great job making Direct Debit more accessible. It works well for recurring payments and can be linked to your accounting software.

But for growing firms, it has limitations:

❌ Only supports bank payments (no cards, Apple Pay, etc.)

❌ Manual chasing or bolt-on tools required

❌ Complex reconciliation due to net settlement

❌ Extra fees for customisation or visibility on bank statements

❌ No connection to your practice management workflows

When you’re managing hundreds of clients, proposals, and deadlines inside Engager, you need your payment platform to connect with the rest of your systems.

Why Firms Are Choosing Adfin (and Engager Together)

Adfin isn’t just a GoCardless alternative. It’s a completely reimagined way for accountants and bookkeepers to get paid, and it’s been built with direct input from the industry.

And when combined with Engager, it becomes even more powerful.

Here’s why firms are making the switch:

A Fully Integrated Payments Workflow (from Proposal to Payment)

Engager + Adfin is a natural pairing.

???? Send a proposal with direct debit setup process embedded
???? Engager tracks it all from proposal status to payment collection
???? Invoices sync to Xero or QuickBooks
???? Payments reconcile automatically

No more chasing. No more missed payments. No more hopping between apps.

Why the Integration Matters

GoCardless works fine, but it’s just one tool. To make it work with your practice management, you often need to:

• Build Zapier automations

• Manually link to invoices

• Use third-party email tools for chasing

• Cross-reference your CRM or onboarding documents

With Engager and Adfin, those barriers are gone.

You’ll be able to set up:

✅ Payment collection at proposal stage
✅ Real-time tracking of invoices, reminders and receipts
✅ Full visibility from within your Engager dashboard
✅ Automated reconciliation with your cloud accounting software

It’s the difference between managing tasks and managing a business.

What Firms That Made the Switch Are Saying

“People think GoCardless and Adfin are interchangeable, but they’re not. The integrations are completely different. Adfin is built for accountants  –  you can tell it’s been designed with us in mind. There’s just so much more flexibility and depth to the integration with Xero. It’s a different level of tool altogether.”
Knights Lowe

“It’s super simple and easy to use – great for non-techy people like me! My existing clients have signed new mandates with no issues and new clients have been easy to set up.”
Jan McDermott Chartered Accountants

Has Adfin helped you with anything in particular? Yes! Lower debts, faster payments, and fewer awkward “Did you see my invoice?” chats. It’s made getting paid so much easier.
KH Accounts

“The support is really good. It’s timely, provides a lot of information, and gives you options.”
Moore to Bookkeeping

The Bottom Line

GoCardless is fine if you just want to collect money.

But if you want a modern, branded, flexible, and fully connected payment experience, especially one that fits neatly inside your practice management system, Adfin is the smarter choice.

And when paired with Engager, it doesn’t just collect payments, it transforms the entire proposal-to-payment experience.

If you’re ready to upgrade your payments and give your clients a better experience, the answer isn’t to patch together more tools.

It’s to connect them.

Get Started

✅ Already using Engager? Book your Adfin demo or find out more here.

✅ Not an Engager user yet? Start your 28-day free trial or book a demo today.