Here we are again! The time of year when Noddy Holder’s warming up his vocal cords, the much-anticipated John Lewis ad has just dropped, and the race is on to find the perfect Secret Santa gift.
All good festive fun, right? Not if you’re an accountant! While most of us start to wind down, they’re winding up – tackling the year-end with an annual push to wrap things up neatly.
But here’s the thing. Between reconciliations, reporting deadlines, and next year’s budget planning, December all too often turns into a sprint. Finance teams feel the squeeze, trying to make sense of data scattered across multiple systems and spreadsheets.
So, what if Christmas could come early – by automating those energy-sapping, time-consuming processes so they take weeks, not months?
What accountants really want
Unwrap Microsoft Power Apps, and it’s possible to turn year-end pressure into process improvement.
This low-code tool allows businesses to design, test and deploy solutions rapidly – often in just a few weeks – helping reduce repetitive admin and surface better insight.
Quick-win process examples include:
- An expense approval tool that removes back-and-forth emails.
- A data entry app that feeds directly into Power BI for real-time reporting.
- A compliance tracker that ensures nothing slips through at year-end.
From automation to insight – the Power BI advantage
Automation is only half the story. The other half is visibility.
When data from Power Apps and business systems flows into Power BI, finance teams get instant clarity – from cash-flow trends to KPI tracking and performance dashboards.
With year-end Power BI dashboards, businesses can:
- Automate report updates and visualisations.
- Track KPIs and variances instantly, without manual intervention.
- Spot issues early and plan 2026 budgets with confidence.
It’s reporting that doesn’t just show where you’ve been – it shows where you’re going.
From months to weeks – Power Apps in action
At HG Technology, we help clients build apps in a fraction of the time traditional systems would take. Here are some real, tangible wins we’ve delivered across a variety of sectors:
- Shipleys LLP, a leading accountancy practice, replaced manual document management with a custom Power App that automates file creation, template population and tagging – integrating seamlessly with their time-billing system, Practice Engine.
- Salix Finance, a government-backed organisation, moved from a paper-based approval process to a cloud-based SharePoint and Power Automate system, transforming turnaround times and transparency just as remote working became the new normal.
- Alternative Bridging Corporation, a long-established property finance company, integrated Dynamics, SharePoint, Power BI and Power Automate to create live dashboards that drive income generation and business development.
The gift that keeps on giving
What makes this powerful is its accessibility. You don’t need to rebuild your entire finance system or invest in costly new software. Instead, you can start small – one workflow, one app at a time – and build from there.
As for the benefits:
- Faster year-end close
- Reduced admin burden
- More time for strategic planning and forecasting
As year-end approaches and 2026 comes into view, now’s the perfect time to focus not just on the numbers, but on the processes behind them. Because efficiency isn’t just a cost-saving exercise – it’s a competitive advantage.
And let’s face it – if there’s one thing every finance team deserves this Christmas, it’s a smoother month-end and a calmer December.
To give your business what it’s always wanted – process speed and efficiency – get in touch with HG Technology.
