Ian Grant, Chartered Accountant and CEO of Caliber Global Consulting, runs a practice that specialises in implementing accounting software for international businesses. Caliber Global’s strengths include being able to understand their clients’ unique business requirements then implement a finance system that is optimised to tackle their specific challenges and support their goals.

As a former Big Four accountant and auditor with deep expertise in complex ERP systems such as Oracle and SAP, Ian turned to Aqilla as the cloud accounting platform of choice for his startup and scale-up clients.

Challenge

With his clients expanding across multiple regions, Ian needed a single cloud solution that was adaptable, cost-effective and scalable without the hefty implementation costs typical of larger ERP solutions. Ian noted:

“A lot of our clients are high-growth tech companies, dealing with a rapidly-growing volume of multi-currency transactions and operating across different tax regulations,”

This level of complexity ruled out entry-level accounting software, such as Xero or QuickBooks, which couldn't meet these demands.

Why Aqilla?

Ian chose Aqilla for its flexibility, scalability, multi-currency and multilingual capabilities, all essential for handling diverse business requirements across different countries.

“Aqilla’s technical capabilities were far beyond what we expected” he shared, praising the software’s adaptability to cope with local tax regulations and local language.

Key advantages of implementing Aqilla for growing, international companies

• Technical innovation

Ian was impressed by Aqilla's use of advanced technology, allowing Caliber Global to adapt and comply with local regulations easily without the need for extensive development work to the system.

“The system's flexibility meant that we could modify work processes to meet unique business and tax requirements quickly,” he explained.

Ian was also able to translate the user interface into local language himself, without the need for developer input.

• Scalability for high-growth business

A standout feature for Ian was Aqilla’s scalability.

“Growing start-ups outgrow their initial systems and then do not have the time or ability to upgrade them. This causes operational problems and breakdowns that can actually hold back the company,” said Ian.

Aqilla’s capability of growing with the company allows it to grow seamlessly in a familiar environment, and also allows management to introduce best practice business processes that are more suited to the larger enterprise.

Client case study

One of Caliber Global’s clients, a tech startup with offices in the UK, US and Israel, exemplifies Aqilla’s flexibility.

The fast-growing company initially relied on QuickBooks and manual Excel processes but soon struggled with handling multi-currency and high transaction volumes. Ian implemented Aqilla and gave them a solution that allowed them to scale rapidly, while seamlessly managing invoicing and compliance across different countries. This meant they could quickly and comfortably grow from a few hundred clients to several thousands.

“As they grew further, Aqilla kept pace, all without costly reconfiguration,” Ian remarked.

Aqilla's system allowed for smooth periodic billing, crucial for his tech client, which managed frequent, high-volume invoicing cycles. 

Ian explained,

“With Aqilla, they could manage their invoicing in one go, whether it was five or five hundred invoices, and the system didn’t break a sweat.”

Aqilla and Caliber Global’s partnership

Ian endorses Aqilla, not only for its robust software but also for the company's commitment to customer service.