Funding Options has teamed up with the Institute of Financial Accountants to ensure members have access to information and data-driven insights to advise SME clients on available financial solutions. The relationship aims to solve the challenges many independent businesses face when accessing finance, acknowledging the important role accountants play in that journey. 

The Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA) is an internationally recognised professional accountancy membership body representing more than 37,000 members and students around the world. Throughout the crisis, SMEs have relied heavily on their accountant for advice, planning, information on support schemes and business finance. 

Through its unique breadth of product coverage and unrivalled lender panel, Funding Options provides a trusted service that facilitates fast and secure access to funding for independent businesses. Its knowledge of the business finance landscape will be shared with IFA members through monthly content and webinars. IFA members will be informed on lender appetite, trends and challenges facing SME business owners to reaffirm their status as trusted advisors. 

Funding Options has also launched their next-generation platform designed specifically for accountants enabling them to create an account and refer clients quickly and effortlessly. Accountants will be able to track the status of clients’ applications in real-time through a dedicated dashboard.

Stuart Lawson, Chief Revenue Officer at Funding Options, said: “Funding Options and the IFA are both focused on championing SME growth by addressing their financial concerns and fulfilling their needs. The collaboration between the two organisations is built on complementary skills and knowledge - accountants know SMEs and we know SME business finance.”

“This year, a large proportion of the financial support SMEs have received is from the government-backed schemes. However as we look ahead to 2021, these schemes will eventually cease to exist and as economic recovery gathers pace, the role of the accountant will become even more critical. UK business owners will be leaning on their accountants a lot more to help them pursue the right finance options to help their businesses grow and succeed.”

John Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Financial Accountants, comments: “Supporting micro and small accountancy practices and business owners is the IFA’s sole focus. 2020 has been a challenging year for many organisations but we look ahead to 2021 with renewed optimism. Businesses and our practising members will need access to finance during this difficult period, whether it is to support growth, to pursue a business opportunity or to provide a short-term cash injection. Partnering with Funding Options will provide our members and their clients with on-going, valuable information and finance solutions to future proof their businesses.”