About the Client

Sera Neon Limited is a London-based technology company operating in information technology consultancy.

Challenges

When AccountUp stepped in, the finance environment carried material risk and daily stress for the team:

• We inherited incomplete bank reconciliations and inconsistent ledger coding, leaving leadership without decision-grade numbers and masking the company’s true performance and cash position.

• Prior-year statutory accounts and tax filings did not reflect the underlying economics—wrong numbers were submitted, which would have led to an overstated tax liability and unnecessary pressure on working capital.

• The compliance calendar lacked a single owner, so submissions were vulnerable to slips and rework—creating ongoing anxiety and operational distraction.

• Processes and systems were under-utilised and fragmented, driving slow, noisy closes and extra review effort.

• Stakeholders needed a professional finance partner to take ownership, communicate clearly, and resolve issues end-to-end.

Our Approach

AccountUp embedded as Sera Neon’s day-to-day finance function—repairing history, installing control, and creating predictable rhythms.

1) Clean-up & Corrections

• Completed bank reconciliations, corrected coding, documented judgments, and aligned treatments with applicable standards (e.g., IFRS).

• Amended statutory accounts and the tax return so the financials and tax position accurately reflected reality—which saved the overpayment of tax and preserved working capital to support day-to-day operations.

  
  

2) Monthly Close & Reporting (on demand)

• Implemented a structured month-end close with checklists, cut-offs, and review steps.

• Optimised QuickBooks for chart hygiene, controls, period locks, and reporting.

• Produced management accounts and KPI packs on demand using Fathom; prepared investor/lender packs when required.

• Introduced budgeting and variance reviews to support decisions.

  
  

3) Payroll, VAT & Compliance Operations

• Ran payroll via a dedicated payroll platform with accurate processing and timely submissions.

• Took ownership of VAT returns, payroll submissions, P11D, pensions, annual confirmation statement, year-end accounts & tax return—all on a single, owned compliance calendar.

  
  

4) R&D Tax Credits & Support

• Managed the end-to-end R&D claim: scoping eligibility, compiling cost schedules, preparing reports, submitting to HMRC, and handling pre-/post-submission queries.

  
  

5) Governance, Communication & Expansion

• Served as the primary finance contact for directors, senior staff, customers, and suppliers (including finance-inbox triage).

• Introduced approval workflows to channel spend and strengthen controls.

• Supported India incorporation and coordinated local finance/compliance setup.

Results & Impact

Summary

Since February 2024, AccountUp has taken Sera Neon’s finance from uncertain and fragmented to accurate, compliant, and calmly in control. By correcting prior-year filings, optimising QuickBooks, instituting a predictable close, owning the compliance calendar, and delivering a full R&D claim, we’ve stabilised cash flow and given leadership confidence that nothing is missed.