Do you support contractor payroll models?

We support payroll and accounting for common agency models. IR35 determinations remain the client's responsibility; we help keep records and processes organised.

Can you report by consultant or desk?

Yes. Management packs can include desk, consultant or team contribution where source data allows.

Do you work with professional practices?

Yes — consultancies and similar fee-earner businesses with WIP and utilisation needs.

How do you handle multi-entity agencies?

Entity-level compliance with optional consolidated management views, scoped to your structure.

Sectors

Recruitment & Professional Services

Utilisation, WIP and contractor economics made clear for people businesses.

Recruitment agencies and professional services firms sell expertise and time. Cash, WIP, contractor margins and utilisation determine whether growth is profitable. GBFC supports owner-managed agencies and practices with compliance, payroll and management reporting that reflects how fee-earners and placements actually generate returns.

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Challenges

Key financial and operational challenges

People businesses face distinctive timing and margin challenges.

Contractor and temp margin control

Thin placement margins disappear quickly if timesheets, rebates or bad debt are late to the ledger.

WIP and lock-up

Unbilled time and slow collections create cash stress even when the pipeline looks strong.

Utilisation and productivity

Without utilisation and realisation metrics, headcount decisions are guesswork.

Compliance for contractors and PAYE

IR35, umbrella arrangements and temp payroll increase compliance load and risk.

Relevant services

Services relevant to recruitment & professional services

Services aligned to agency and practice finance needs.

Payroll

Payroll processed accurately and on time — so your people are paid and HMRC stays satisfied.

Management Accounts

Monthly numbers you can act on — profit, cash and KPIs explained clearly.

Bookkeeping & Cloud Accounting

Real-time books on leading cloud platforms — so you always know where you stand.

VAT

VAT returns filed accurately and on time — with schemes and processes that fit your business.

Annual Accounts

Statutory accounts prepared accurately, on time and in plain English.

Personal Tax

Personal tax handled clearly — so directors and individuals stay compliant and informed.

KPIs

Sector-specific KPI examples

KPI examples for recruitment and professional services.

Gross margin per placement

Temp/contract or perm contribution

Utilisation %

Billable time vs available time

WIP days

Unbilled work outstanding

Debtor days

Speed of client collection

Lock-up days

WIP plus debtors combined

Fee earner revenue

Income per consultant or fee earner

Client profile

Typical client profile

Typical clients in this sector include:

Specialist and generalist recruitment agencies

Owner-managed consultancies and advisory firms

Professional practices scaling beyond founder-led delivery

Businesses with mixed perm and contract models

Firms preparing for investment or internal succession

Engagement

How engagement works

We focus first on clean billing and payroll data, then on KPIs leaders will actually use.

Discovery

We review billing tools, contractor flows and current lock-up visibility.

Proposal

Scope covers payroll, bookkeeping, management packs and compliance fees.

Onboarding

Processes for timesheets, billing and payroll journals are standardised.

Ongoing support

Monthly packs, tax filings and advisory on hiring, pricing and cash.

Insights

Insights for recruitment & professional services

Payroll

Payroll controls that scale

Controls and checks that keep payroll accurate as headcount, sites or pay elements grow.

Read article

Cash Flow

Cash visibility before it hurts

Why weekly cash discipline matters more than a polished year-end pack — and the simple controls that stop surprises.

Read article

Management Accounts

Management packs directors actually use

How to keep month-end packs short, decision-led and trusted — instead of unread PDF dumps.

Read article

View all insights

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