Adfin | Taking a leap: Jim’s journey to building a client-first firm

In the spotlight this week is Jim, the founder of his own growing accountancy practice. Jim talks about taking the leap from a 14-year career to self-employment with a newborn at home, why small businesses and start-ups are his sweet spot, and how Adfin got his clients saying “Wow, that was so easy to pay”.

How did you get into accounting and start your business? How did you get to where you are now?

I actually started in accounting through school work experience - I did two weeks at an accounting firm and then stayed there for the next 14 years. So I was kind of stuck in one place for a long time.

Eventually, I just outgrew it. I got fully qualified, built strong relationships with clients, and it naturally progressed to me going out on my own. A few clients put their trust in me and said they’d come along, so one day I went home, told my wife, “I’ve quit,” and that was that. We had an eight-week-old baby at home at the time too, so it was a bit of a whirlwind.

Since then, it’s really grown. We've prioritised service, built client relationships - even just through social media - and it’s made a big difference. My wife joined the business in January, we moved into our new office in June, and our first employee started this month. It’s all happened so fast.

What memorable experience from work sticks in your mind?

Me and a few colleagues were in a hotel to attend a conference down in London and over dinner one of them asked ‘Where is the pool?’ We thought he was joking or referencing a pool table. NOPE, he meant swimming pool.

He also revealed he had packed his swimming shorts…we were staying in a Premier Inn. History was made.

Did you face any big challenges or surprises going from employment to running your own practice?

Definitely the admin. I didn’t realise just how much time you spend behind the scenes. When I was employed, I thought I’d just churn out work all day, but when you’re running things, your inbox is full of stuff from your governing body, insurance, new software - you name it. It’s a juggle to balance admin and billable work.

‍Do you specialise or work with any specific clients?

I’ve stuck to what I know best: smaller businesses and people just starting out. Especially after going through that journey myself, I now see what those clients went through. I love supporting sole traders and new business owners because they often become your bigger clients down the line.

It’s great working with people from day one because you can set them up the right way instead of correcting old habits. They want to be led, they listen to advice, and it makes the job easier and more rewarding.

If you could have a dream client at the click of your fingers, who would that be?

Honestly, a little café. I’ve always wanted to work with one. They’ve got everything - cash, card, tills, staff - all within four walls. Even though they’re small, they need quite a lot of support, which I find really interesting and feel I can be a big help to them.

I think I’ve spent so much time working in cafés over the past year (before we got the new office) that it’s just become a bit of a dream.

What’s your go-to coffee shop order?

Always a cappuccino with a shot of vanilla. I’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth.

Do you have any fun or interesting stories from your journey so far?

There are loads, honestly. Me and my wife have a running joke - whenever something big happens, I’ll come downstairs and say, “This is the turning point.” I probably said that every couple of weeks for a while.

Whether it was signing a new client, signing for our office, upgrading the computer, or the first time we took a wage - it all felt like a major moment. We laugh about it now, but those little moments really marked the growth.

‍Are there any tech trends you’re excited about?

We're on Engager, so for me, it’s the integrations. I love that I don’t have to duplicate information anymore. It’s not about learning loads of new software - it’s about how well everything connects behind the scenes.

That’s one thing I love about Adfin too. I don’t need to update client emails in multiple systems - it just flows. It used to feel like software companies were all competing, but now there’s more collaboration and it’s made life so much easier.

Before Adfin, how did you manage getting paid?

We were using GoCardless and also just sending invoices, hoping clients would grab the bank details and pay. But that process had friction. People would open the email on their phone, think, “I’ll deal with this later,” and forget.

That’s where Adfin helped - clients don’t really get the option to delay because it’s so seamless. It just happens.

Everything feeds into the customer experience. We’re a service-driven business, so if paying us is easy, that reflects well.

When clients started saying, “Wow, that was so easy to pay,” I knew we were onto something. It’s made a difference in getting paid faster too - we send tax returns and payments together, instead of waiting weeks between them.

What’s your favourite feature on Adfin?

Apple Pay, without a doubt. Those invoices get paid instantly. It’s just easy - the way the email looks, how simple it is to click and pay - it’s a winner.

What’s your go to drink when you’re off the clock?

Cider - fruity ones like Kopparberg. If I walk into a pub and they’ve got strawberry and lime Rekorderlig on tap, that’s my go-to.

What’s one task you love doing, and one you’d happily never do again?

I absolutely love mowing the grass. When you’ve got a young kid, it’s the perfect excuse to go outside for 20 minutes and block everything out. I tell them, “You can’t come out - it’s dangerous!”

The task I’d never do again? Washing up. I can’t stand it. We don’t have a dishwasher, so it’s just gross. I’m fine with drying and putting things away, but touching food on plates? No thanks. If I ever win something in a raffle, I hope it’s a dishwasher.

If you could automate anything in your life, what would it be?

Tracking my mileage. I know there are a million apps out there, but I wish it was built into my car - just press a button when I start the engine and it logs everything.

I tell clients to track mileage all the time, but when I have to do it myself, I totally get why it’s a pain. You have to remember, turn on GPS, log the trip - it’s just not a habit yet. If Tesla hasn’t already done that, they need to!

If you weren’t an accountant, what would you have been?

I originally applied for my work experience with an electrician. I enjoyed maths mainly due to the clear line of right & wrong answers and thought being an electrician would be similar (it works or it doesn’t). Sadly, apparently being colour blind is a limiting factor in such a trade, so due to safety concerns, I fell at the first hurdle - I imagine getting the wiring colours right is very important!

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Need an accountant who gets the hustle? Jim’s your guy. Get in touch with him today.

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Still waiting weeks to get paid?

Jim switched to Adfin and now gives clients a smooth, no-excuses way to pay. Book a demo and join him today.

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Taking a leap: Jim’s journey to building a client-first firm

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