Industries · Professional services

IT and business systems for professional services firms

Consulting, engineering, architecture, legal and accounting firms sell time and expertise. We help keep the IT dependable and secure, and connect the systems that turn time into invoices.
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Professional services: where SyncBricks fits

A professional services firm depends on two things working well: the IT that people use every day, such as laptops, Microsoft 365, file storage and remote access, and the systems that track projects, time, expenses and billing. Problems in either show up as lost hours, late invoices or client data in the wrong place.

SyncBricks works with firms on both sides. Managed IT covers devices, accounts, security and support. On the business systems side, we map how work moves from proposal to project to invoice, then help you improve that process, choose the right system and connect it to your accounting software.

Where each service fits in a firm

Smaller firms usually need managed IT plus a well set-up practice or project tool connected to Xero or MYOB. As a firm grows into several offices, entities or service lines, project accounting, resource planning and consolidated reporting become the reasons to look at an ERP or a professional services automation (PSA) system.

Common problems we see in professional services

  • Time recorded late or not at all, so work goes unbilled
  • Project budgets tracked in spreadsheets that do not match the accounts
  • Invoices built by hand from timesheets and expense claims
  • Client files spread across personal OneDrive folders, email and USB drives
  • Staff working from home, client sites and the office without a consistent security setup
  • Little visibility of utilisation or margin by project and client

ERP and business processes

ERP and process work for professional services

Process first, then system. We map how work flows before recommending software.

Proposal to invoice mapping

Map how work is won, scoped, delivered, timed and billed, and agree where the process should change before any system is chosen.

Project and time systems

Select and set up practice, PSA or ERP software for projects, timesheets, expenses, WIP and billing.

Accounting integration

Connect project and billing data to Xero or MYOB so invoices, payments and costs flow without re-keying.

CRM and reporting

Link HubSpot or Salesforce to projects and finance, so you can see pipeline, utilisation and margin from one set of data.

Managed IT

Managed IT for professional services

Day-to-day support and security, delivered remotely and on site when needed.

Microsoft 365 done properly

SharePoint and Teams structured around clients and projects, sensible permissions, and retention that matches your obligations.

Devices and remote work

Laptops managed and encrypted wherever they are, with secure access to files and systems from home and client sites.

Security baseline

Multi-factor authentication, email protection, patching and backup, aligned with the Essential Eight, so client data is handled with care.

Helpdesk and onboarding

Support for staff, and a repeatable onboarding and offboarding process so new starters are productive on day one.

Systems and integrations we often see

Platforms we commonly work with in this sector. We are vendor neutral and are not a reseller for any of them.

Systems

Microsoft 365XeroMYOBHarvestHubSpotSalesforceERPNextBusiness Central

Common integrations

Accounting (Xero, MYOB)CRMTimesheetsPayrollDocument management

How we usually start

  1. 01

    Short discovery

    Understand how the firm runs, the systems in use and what is causing the most friction.
  2. 02

    Fix IT foundations

    Accounts, devices, backup and security, so the basics are reliable.
  3. 03

    Map proposal to invoice

    Agree the future process for projects, time and billing.
  4. 04

    Choose and connect systems

    Select the right tool, configure it, and integrate it with accounting and CRM.

FAQ

Professional services questions

Do we need an ERP or is a practice management tool enough?

For many smaller firms a good practice or project tool connected to Xero is enough. An ERP or PSA system earns its place when you have several entities or offices, need project accounting and resource planning, or are outgrowing a collection of add-ons.

Can you help us organise our files in SharePoint?

Yes. We design a structure around clients and projects, set permissions so people see what they need, and move existing files across in a planned way.

Do you work with our existing accounting firm?

Yes. We work with your accountant or bookkeeper on chart of accounts, tracking categories and how integration data should land in the ledger.

Can you help accounting and legal firms with client data obligations?

We put the technical controls in place, such as access control, encryption, backup and retention settings, and document them. The professional obligations remain with the firm, and we do not give legal advice.

Related

Talk to us about IT or systems in professional services

Tell us how the business runs today and what is getting in the way. We will tell you plainly whether and how we can help.

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