Best accounting software for football clubs and associations in the UK

Many UK football clubs have turned to easily accessible, cloud-based software to manage their finances. It’s easy to see why. Football clubs of all sizes have multiple revenue streams including ticket sales, events such as conferences and weddings, as well as other income lines such as grants, sponsorship and catering.

Keeping track of all of this is a big job for Finance, which is why it’s useful to invest in up to date football club accounting software.

Top 3 accounting software solutions for football clubs

Take a look at the key features and differences between the Top 3 accounting solutions available today. In addition, bear in mind other important elements such as how easy it would be to implement, whether the software has the option to scale or flex as your club grows or your needs change, and what level of customer support is available both during the implementation and afterwards when you’re up and running.

Access Financials accounting software for football clubs

Larger, established football clubs such as Leicester City Football Club, as well as countless smaller grassroots clubs, already use Access Financials.

This cloud-based solution includes all the tools you would expect from an accounts package, as well as useful additional functionality that enables you to separate revenue streams (ticketing, events, grants, etc.) for greater clarity of financial management and reporting as well as the opportunity to build in budgetary controls.

Access Financials for football clubs is straightforward to implement, offers some flexibility to customise to your club’s needs, and is easily scalable as you grow. Access is also proud to offer best-in-class customer support to ensure the changeover and your ongoing financial management runs smoothly.

Xero accounting software for clubs and associations

Aimed at smaller clubs with simpler requirements, Xero is an off-the-shelf accounting software package with four levels of subscription depending on how much functionality is needed.

Key features for all packages include quoting, invoicing, VAT, cashflow and some reporting. Trade up for additional functionality such as payroll, expenses, analytics and project tracking. Discounts are available for not-for-profit clubs and there are five education courses offered which cover the basics on how to manage club finances.

Sage accounting software

Although not specifically tailored to the needs of sports clubs, Sage offers three easy options for its cloud solution which is aimed at a range of non-profit organisations as well as at small businesses. The right solution for your club will depend on your legal status.

The Sage solution for small businesses and charities covers all the basics you would expect such as invoicing, accounts payable, VAT and reporting; it also introduces automation into key tasks such as reconciliation and admin to help you save time and improve processes. And it aims to give your club greater visibility across your finances with useful reporting features.

How to use Access Financials to manage your football club's finances

Access Financials is an ideal choice of football club accounting software – especially for clubs looking to tightly manage multiple revenue streams and keep track of the detail of each in real time.

At Access, we already work with various football clubs as well as numerous sports clubs and associations. We understand the nuances and appreciate that clubs of different sizes have differing needs – some of which are particular to their status i.e. clubs can be an unincorporated association, limited company, community interest company or a registered society.

We offer solutions that enable football clubs to manage the complexity of their individual finances whilst also keeping the tools and functionality simple and accessible.

Choosing Access Financials for your football club will provide everything you need to work efficiently on all your core finance tasks whilst also giving the opportunity to dig deeper into your data and make more informed decisions about your club finances.

Some of the key benefits our football account software already being used and enjoyed by other clubs include:

• Multi-dimensional reporting
• Detailed expense management
• Efficient funds and grants management
• Effective cash flow forecasting
• Easy to use payroll management

Get your demo of Access Financials today to discover how our software features can help your sports club or association succeed.

Can I monitor my football club's bank reconciliations with Access Financials?

Yes, you can. Access Financials includes an automated bank reconciliation feature that streamlines the process for you. It also enables reconciliations for multiple accounts and in multiple currencies too if you need it (something that larger football clubs find useful).

Can Access Financials help me track accruals and prepayments?

Yes, there’s an accruals and prepayment facility within the software that creates a journal entry for each accrual or prepayment – which therefore makes it much easier to keep track of each one.

Do community amateur sports clubs need to file accounts?

As a community amateur sports club (CASC) your legal responsibilities to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) depend on your size and turnover. So for example, CASCs need to pay Corporation Tax on any income or capital gains that don't qualify for tax relief. If your CASC needs to pay tax you must file a Company Tax Return. Your CASC must also register for VAT if your taxable turnover is more than a specific amount. Check what applies for your club directly with HMRC.

What happens after purchasing Access Financials for my football club?

We’ll support you at every stage, starting with taking you through the details of what’s offered and how it can work for our club. We’ll then agree to an implementation plan that works for you and we’ll guide you through the migration process. Throughout the process, you’ll have a dedicated Account Manager to answer your questions and provide any support needed.