216 Accountants: client and partner of Payt

The working approach at 216 Accountants

The traditional model in accountancy typically revolves around compliance services — retrospective checks to ensure that a company has operated within the rules. Richard Smid explains, “The added value that clients get from these compliance services is limited. To truly support our clients, we need to focus more on the administrative file than the compilation file.”

At 216 Accountants, client engagement is ongoing throughout the year. Tasks that are traditionally completed at year-end are now brought forward. Richard adds, “We concentrate on our client’s current administration, which allows us to discuss up-to-date data, rather than looking at old figures. That leads to entirely different conversations. Increasingly, clients are asking us whether we can support them with debtor management too.”

Automation is a key priority

“Our working method requires automation,” says Richard. “Standardisation is essential for this — without consistent data, you simply can’t automate your processes.”

This philosophy led them to look for a partner that shares their belief in automation. Richard continues, “That’s how we came across Payt. In terms of automation, Payt is ahead of the market.”

From Excel shadow lists to a streamlined system

216 Accountants’ finance department now runs entirely on Payt.

“Before, we used another system that didn’t meet our expectations. It was expensive and not user-friendly. You’d find colleagues still using shadow Excel lists on the side — and that’s just not efficient,” Richard explains. “Payt is far more intuitive and efficient, which gives us better oversight. Our admin staff can now easily manage the entire process.”

The results speak for themselves. “We’ve seen a clear reduction in our DSO (Days Sales Outstanding) since using Payt. We can track this progress very easily within the Payt platform.”

“When you see the benefits first-hand and really understand how the software works, it becomes so much easier to recommend to your clients.”

Becoming a Payt partner

216 Accountants is not just a client — they’ve also become a proud partner of Payt.

“Because we now handle compliance services more efficiently, we have more time to engage with our clients,” Richard explains. “This means we can have discussions throughout the year based on real-time data. Increasingly, we’re being asked to help manage debtors. That’s real added value.”

“If you stick with an outdated process, you can call yourself an advisor — but you’ll never truly reach your potential.”

Thanks to the partnership with Payt, 216 doesn’t need to be experts in debtor management themselves. “Instead, we can support, onboard, and inspire our clients to get started with Payt. Whether we manage the process entirely on their behalf or just provide strategic advice — the choice lies with the client.”

Support that goes beyond software

Richard appreciates the way Payt works alongside its partners. “It’s not just about providing software — the service is immediate and personal.”

“With one quick phone call, we can get support from Payt. Just last week, one of our clients had a question, and Aziz from Payt joined us to give a live demo. The client was enthusiastic and could be onboarded immediately.”

Clients are pleasantly surprised

The feedback from 216 Accountants’ clients has been overwhelmingly positive. “They’re often amazed at what Payt can do,” says Richard. “Many SME clients are stunned by how much time they save. Tasks they used to handle late in the evening are now fully automated.”

“We often hear: ‘I should have done this much sooner.’ And we agree.”