VFD Articles

Case Study: Grant McKnight Accountants

“What used to take a team of accountants a month to prepare, is now done at the touch of a button so I can focus on analysis and what it means for the client.”

About Grant McKnight:
Before starting Grant McKnight, Jo was FD at Goodyear Dunlop with extensive hands-on experience running a complex finance team, overseeing due diligence, acquisition and establishment of financial processes and controls, up to and including recruiting a part time FD to run the subsidiary.

Grant McKnight now use this experience to offer a complete package of part-time FD services and outsourced Finance Functions to help clients achieve both their professional and personal goals.

The Challenge:
Forecasting cash flow and preparing management information is time consuming. At Goodyear Dunlop Jo’s team spent nearly a month preparing reports, before Jo could start analysis and help the management team understand financial performance.

To offer Grant McKnight clients the same level of financial support, reporting, analysis, planning and cash flow forecasting at prices SMEs could afford

Jo needed a way to streamline the process.

The Solution:
I just sync to Xero and the Board Reports, Business Growth Model and the Cash Flow are there at the touch of a button.

I can create in 30 to 60 minutes, a cash flow forecast with a depth and level of detail that is just so comprehensive. Saving so much time compared to the alternatives.

Lenders love the forecast and the funding proposal, but the time saved is just incredible.

The Results:
We use VFD Pro to do all the heavy lifting for the clients where we serve as their part-time FD, saving days each month. The Business Overview really benefits our smaller clients.

We also find VFD is invaluable when it comes to wowing new potential clients. As soon as they see what we can do, they love it, and it is so easy.


Reason for choosing VFD Pro:

I first heard of VFD at an ICAEW conference on ‘Digitising your Practice’, when Sean Farnell delivered a mind blowing presentation on how Burgis & Bullock were using VFD to offer advisory services for clients.

What I can do with VFD Pro in 30 to 60 minutes would have taken days. The level of detail and the time saved is just amazing. We could not do it without VFD Pro.

Jo Drinkwater | Managing Director,

Grant McKnight Accountants

About VFD Pro:

VFD Pro automatically extracts data and uses AI to generate enhanced Management Reports.

Reporting is just the eginning, a gateway into proper ‘Financial Advisory’, planning, forecasting and reporting Performance versus Forecast each month.

Allowing clients to focus on business growth, whilst we focus on managing their outsourced financial function, win-win.

Business Owners don’t want to ‘do finance’ they need someone they can trust to do it for them.