Newman Morris:
An intuitive alternative to IRIS
For years, St Albans-based accounting firm Newman Morris relied on the full IRIS suite to manage its client work. But as the firm grew, frustrations with the software’s clunky interface and poor usability became harder to ignore.
“IRIS had all the functions we needed, but it was incredibly difficult to navigate,” explains Yvonne Gordon, Office Manager. “It wasn’t intuitive, which made training new staff a real challenge. We also looked into other IRIS products, but the response was painfully slow. In the end, we didn’t feel valued as a customer, so we decided to look elsewhere.”
…much better value for money compared to IRIS.
…much better value for money compared to IRIS.
Yvonne Gordon,
Office Manager
A modern, flexible solution
After trialling multiple alternatives, Newman Morris found that TaxCalc stood out for its user-friendliness, intuitive design, and powerful reporting tools.
A modern, flexible solution
“We tested a few different software packages, but TaxCalc was by far the easiest to understand and navigate,” Yvonne says. “It’s flexible, packed with useful features, and much better value for money compared to IRIS. Plus, being cloud-based, updates are seamless and don’t disrupt our work.”
The support from the TaxCalc team also helped make the decision an easy one.
“The whole team was so helpful during our research and trial period,” she adds. “Their responsiveness and willingness to guide us through everything gave us confidence that we’d be supported throughout the transition and beyond.”
Smooth transition, immediate results
Smooth transition, immediate results
Despite moving thousands of client records, the transition process went better than expected.
“The switch was remarkably smooth,” Yvonne recalls. “The training and support were fantastic, and the software is so intuitive that the team adapted quickly. Within weeks, everyone was comfortable using it.”
Since adopting TaxCalc, Newman Morris has seen major improvements in workflow and efficiency.
“Features like Jobs & Tasks have helped us stay on top of deadlines and manage work more effectively,” Yvonne says. “We’ve also made great use of custom fields for better reporting and client segmentation. This allows us to easily target specific groups of clients with important updates, making us more proactive in our service.”
The ability to send bulk client communications has also been a game-changer.
“It’s so easy to communicate with clients now,” she says. “We can quickly send out updates, track who has received what, and respond more efficiently.”
Measurable improvements
Measurable improvements
In just a few months, Newman Morris has seen significant time and cost savings across multiple areas:
- Lower software costs – TaxCalc is far more cost-effective than IRIS.
- Faster processes – Virtually all functions are quicker than before.
- Improved reporting – TaxCalc’s built-in tools eliminate the complexity of IRIS data mining.
- Better software integration – Directly importing trial balances from Xero and QuickBooks saves at least 10 minutes per job.
- eSign Centre – Reduces admin time by 5 minutes per job, eliminating the need for manual document uploads.
- Lower software costs – TaxCalc is far more cost-effective than IRIS.
- Faster processes – Virtually all functions are quicker than before.
- Improved reporting – TaxCalc’s built-in tools eliminate the complexity of IRIS data mining.
- Better software integration – Directly importing trial balances from Xero and QuickBooks saves at least 10 minutes per job.
- eSign Centre – Reduces admin time by 5 minutes per job, eliminating the need for manual document uploads.
Favourite features
Favourite features
While the team at Newman Morris loves many aspects of TaxCalc, a few features stand out:
- eSign Centre – “It makes getting client approvals so much faster and easier.”
- Time Tracking – “We’ve been able to review fees more effectively and improve profitability.”
- Post Tax Journals – “Corporation tax entries go straight into accounts production - huge time-saver.”
- What-If? Planner – “Brilliant for tax forecasting and advising clients.”
- Lower software costs – TaxCalc is far more cost-effective than IRIS.
- Faster processes – Virtually all functions are quicker than before.
- Improved reporting – TaxCalc’s built-in tools eliminate the complexity of IRIS data mining.
- Better software integration – Directly importing trial balances from Xero and QuickBooks saves at least 10 minutes per job.
- eSign Centre – Reduces admin time by 5 minutes per job, eliminating the need for manual document uploads.
Firm Name: Newman Morris
Location: St Albans
Practice Size: 4 partners; 23 staff; 3,000 clients
Previous Software:
IRIS Desktop Suite
Ready to switch?
Ready to switch?
Get a quote and see how much you could save.
Get a quote and see how much you could save.
For firms considering the switch, Yvonne has one simple message: “Don’t be nervous - just do it!”
“The TaxCalc team is fantastic, and the software itself is amazing,” she says. “It’s intuitive, efficient, and packed with features that make day-to-day work easier. We haven’t looked back.”
“They really know their stuff,” she says. “We got great advice on setting up workflows, and it’s made a huge difference. If you’re switching, don’t be afraid to ask for help -they’ll make sure you get the most out of the system.”
A one-stop solution
Favourite features
With TaxCalc now fully embedded into their operations, Newman Morris has found the all-in-one solution they were looking for.
“It’s a one-stop shop.” Yvonne concludes. “Every feature is designed to be more efficient and easier to use. We’re glad we made the switch.”
"You won’t look back"
"You won’t look back"
Her advice for new users? Make full use of TaxCalc’s support team.
Customer stories / Newman Morris