Warbird Experiences runs Spitfire flights and hangar tours from the historic Heritage Hangar at Biggin Hill Airport in Kent.
The flying side of the business was thriving, but the bookkeeping had slipped behind. A backlog had built up, the annual accounts deadline was closing in and the desktop software they relied on had aged out.
We came in, cleared the backlog, got the accounts filed on time and moved the whole operation onto Xero and then ‘Hubdoc’ after AutoEntry.
We started working with Warbird in 2018 and they are our longest-serving client till this day! It goes to show the quality of service we provide at Cain and Co.
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Warbird Experiences had built a busy, well-run operation around Spitfire flights and hangar tours. The bookkeeping hadn’t kept pace with it. Work had stacked up faster than it could be cleared, the records sat on a desktop accounting package that was past its best, and the deadline for filing the annual accounts was getting nearer by the week.
This wasn’t a case of fixing sloppy work. The records had been kept to a good standard. It was about volume, timing and a system that could no longer carry a business of this size. A late filing meant a fine, and the directors were clear they didn’t want one.
The directors needed two outcomes. The immediate one was the backlog cleared and the annual accounts filed on time. The longer one was a setup that could keep up with a growing operation without ever falling behind again. We met the team, agreed the plan and worked through it in four stages.
Sat down with the directors to understand the business, size up the backlog and agree what had to happen first. The filing deadline set the order of priorities.
Brought the bookkeeping fully up to date on the software already in place, so the annual accounts could be filed on time. It was a sizeable job, and we finished it with time to spare.
With the deadline handled, we sourced online accounting software built for an operation of this size and moved Warbird onto Xero and then 'Hubdoc' after AutoEntry. The data came across from the old desktop package cleanly, with no disruption to the day-to-day.
Paired Xero with AutoEntry so invoices and paperwork are captured automatically. We attend Warbird's offices twice a week and work remotely the rest of the time, so the books stay current.
Brought a stacked-up set of records fully up to date in time for the accounts deadline.
Got the bookkeeping in shape so the statutory accounts were filed on time and no fine was triggered.
Sourced and set up Xero for a business of this scale, then migrated the data off the old desktop software cleanly.
Twice-weekly on-site visits plus remote work, keeping the books current and any issues dealt with quickly.
The annual accounts were filed on time, with the deadline beaten and the fine avoided.
The whole operation moved off ageing desktop software and onto Xero and then ‘Hubdoc’ after AutoEntry, with the data migrated cleanly.
Xero and then ‘Hubdoc’ after AutoEntry now handle invoice capture and bookkeeping, so the records stay up to date without the manual graft.
We work with aviation businesses, visitor attractions, experience operators and growing companies across Kent and the UK who’ve outgrown their current setup or need a safe pair of hands on the books. If your bookkeeping is slipping behind or a deadline is looming, let’s talk.
