18 August 2008
IRIS, one of the fastest growing and now the largest privately
owned software business in the UK (www.iris.co.uk), has announced the
acquisition of 5 Star Computer Systems Limited, a leading reseller
and partner of the multi-award winning financial management system
for mid-sized organisations, IRIS Exchequer.
Headquartered in Kent and founded in 1994, 5 Star Computer
Systems has established an excellent reputation for the quality of
its customer service and the delivery of expert consultancy to
medium sized companies using business and accounting systems in
South East England.
This is a significant move for IRIS as it underscores the
investment it is making in the Exchequer system, sales of which are
increasing by 15% year on year, in terms of its development
and in the implementation and support of the product.
Exchequer is rated best mid-range software product for business
by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
(ICAEW 2006) and is the three times winner and current holder of
the title ‘Financial Software Provider of the Year’ in the FD’s
Excellence Awards held in association with the CBI. Its customer
retention rates of 95% year on year are among the highest in the
industry.
The business will join the growing portfolio of the IRIS
Accounting and Business Solutions Division which comprises the
mid-market ERP systems, Exchequer and Chorus and the project
management solutions, IRIS PROJECTminder and IRIS SharpOWL. The
Division is headquartered in Bournemouth with offices in Brighton,
Barnstaple, West Bromwich and Norwich.
The founders, Andrew and Graeme Clarke will remain actively
involved in the operation and will focus on delivering business
benefits to customers through IRIS Exchequer with access to the
support and resources of the wider IRIS Group.
Stuart Dawson, Managing Director of IRIS Accounting and Business
Solutions said: “We are delighted that 5 Star is joining forces
with IRIS as they have been the number one reseller of IRIS
Exchequer for some years and a valued business partner since 1999.
Their expertise in the implementation, support and bespoke
development of the Exchequer product will be invaluable moving
forward. Customers are already benefiting from the expansion of the
IRIS Group allowing them to implement fully integrated specialist
systems from a single vendor with Exchequer at the heart of the
system.
"As always, our emphasis will be very much on ensuring ‘business as
usual’ for the customer base"
Founded 30 years ago, IRIS Software Group is one of the fastest
growing and now the largest privately owned software business in
the UK. It has revenues of c£120m pa and c1,200 employees servicing
over 60,000 UK businesses from a national network of offices.
IRIS is a sector specialist, with leadership positions in the
markets it operates in and unrivalled customer retention rates
averaging 95% pa across the Group.
IRIS is:
- The No 1 provider to UK accountancy practices
- The No 1 provider to UK law firms, barristers and coroners’
offices
- The No 1 provider to the UK Not For Profit sector
- The No 1 provider of payroll and accounts to
GPs
- The No 2 provider of Payroll & HR software solutions,
providing payslips to c10% of the UK workforce
- An award winning provider of accounting and ERP systems to UK
businesses
- A leading provider of special software for sports clubs, field
services and application modernization software and services for
blue chip companies.
