Case Study
July 2026
About The Client
Howett Thorpe is a specialist recruitment firm focused on financial recruitment and business support. With a strong client base spanning Hampshire and Surrey, and reach extending much further afield for senior appointments. Their clients include blue-chip corporations, owner-managed businesses, public practice firms and public sector organisations.
As the business grew and its ambitions expanded, the Howett Thorpe management team began to realise that their existing accountancy set-up wasn't keeping pace. They needed something different, and they needed it fast.
The Challenge
Howett Thorpe had been working with a top 50 accountancy firm with several offices nationwide. On paper, it looked like the right fit. In practice, it wasn’t.
The business wasn’t looking for a firm to simply file their accounts and move on. They needed a team that could think commercially, act proactively and function as a genuine extension of their finance function.
“Working with a larger firm can be less personable. We realised we needed more effective accountancy solutions along with more hands-on support."
Greg Thorpe
Director of Howett Thorpe Recruitment Consultants
The Solution
Howett Thorpe found SHA and the difference was immediately clear.
“We met them and were immediately struck by their commercial knowledge.”
From the outset, SHA took a proactive approach. One of the first recommendations was a move from Sage to Xero, the leading cloud-based accountancy platform. As a Xero Platinum Partner with over 100 clients on the platform, SHA knows first-hand the difference the right software can make to a growing business.
The transition opened up a new level of financial visibility for the Howett Thorpe team:
“It is so straightforward. We can see what’s happening in real time; reports are clear and easy to read. It’s far more intuitive than Sage.”
SHA also provided tailored Xero training as part of the onboarding process, covering everything from initial setup through to managing reporting, ensuring the team could get the most out of the platform from day one.
Alongside the software transition, SHA introduced cashflow forecasting for the year ahead, giving Howett Thorpe the kind of forward-looking financial clarity that had previously been out of reach.
The Results
- Seamless transition from Sage to Xero, with full training and onboarding support provided.
- Real-time financial visibility across the business.
- A detailed cashflow forecast built and in place for the year ahead.
- A proactive, commercially minded finance partner embedded alongside the business.
- Fast, responsive communication, a marked improvement on the previous firm.
- Strong foundations laid quickly, with significant progress made in a short period of time.
“We have only been working with SHA for a short time yet already we have achieved a huge amount.
Why This Matters
Growing businesses often outgrow their accountancy support before they realise it. The signs are subtle at first, slower responses, less proactive advice, a feeling that your firm doesn’t really understand your business. But the impact compounds over time.
Howett Thorpe made the switch at exactly the right moment. By moving to SHA, they gained not just better software and sharper processes, but a team that thinks commercially, acts quickly and genuinely invests in the success of the businesses they work with.
“Dealing with Surrey Hills Accountancy is a pleasure. I strongly believe they will provide us with the support to grow.”
Looking For More Than Compliance?
If you’re an ambitious, fast-growing business, who needs more than an accountant. We embed ourselves in your business, build the right foundations and grow with you every step of the way, Surrey Hills Accountancy can help.