Why Outsourcing Finance Transformed Our Firm’s Growth

McKee Campbell Morrison Solicitors is a modern, proactive and innovative Scottish law firm founded during the national Covid‑19 lockdown in early 2021. The firm has grown rapidly and established itself as a trusted legal business with strong roots in the Scottish market. Known for being approachable and highly capable, the team places clients’ best interests at the heart of every decision and builds meaningful relationships with both clients and professional advisors. The firm delivers quality legal advice across a range of areas, underpinned by values of excellence, integrity, collaboration and innovation.

Launching a New Start Up

We launched McKee Campbell Morrison Solicitors during the national Covid lockdown in early 2021. Starting with a blank piece of paper meant we could design the firm we wanted, rather than follow traditional structures.

Finding the Right Partner

There were several reasons we chose to outsource our cashroom function. First, we wanted complete confidence that our finance operations would be handled by specialists with the right expertise and regulatory knowledge. Second, outsourcing gave us the freedom to grow quickly. When we started, there were only a couple of us. We now have around twenty-five colleagues across Corporate and Commercial, Litigation, Employment, Private Client, Commercial and Residential Property and Insolvency. Outsourcing allowed us to scale our legal team without the additional burden of recruiting and training Cashroom staff. The Cashroom simply flexed with us. Finally, outsourcing acted as an important risk management tool. Partnering with experts reduced the risk of errors and ensured strong compliance processes from day one. It also protected us from the vulnerability that comes with relying on a single in-house cashier and having to arrange cover for holidays or absences. When we weighed everything up, including the cost, outsourcing was the obvious choice.

Onboarding and Collaboration

During onboarding, Cashroom made sure roles and responsibilities were clearly defined. As the firm’s designated Cashroom Partner under the Law Society of Scotland Regulations, I worked closely with their team and communication was excellent from the outset. They already had experience working with our LawWare system, so granting access posed no issues. We introduced them to our accountant and the two worked together seamlessly. The training provided was thorough and our internal team received clear guidance on new workflows and technology platforms.

Key Lessons Learned

A few lessons stand out. It is essential to have a clear service level agreement that sets out compliance expectations and reporting frequency. Technology integration is also vital as real-time visibility over transactions ensures accountability. Regular reviews are important to confirm that the Accounts Rules and other Law Society of Scotland regulations are being met. Outsourcing does not mean reducing oversight. Ultimate responsibility remains with the firm.

Impact of Efficiency and Growth

Outsourcing with Cashroom has made a significant difference. Senior members of the team can focus on client relationships, strategy and the work that drives the business forward rather than being weighed down by reconciliations and administrative tasks. Outsourcing our Cashroom function has undoubtedly improved the firm’s overall efficiency. We are free to focus on what we do best which is looking after our clients.

The Value of Expertise and Partnership

Law firm finance is unique, so choosing a partner with genuine sector expertise is essential. Technology integration should be a priority as it enables transparency and efficiency. Most importantly, outsourcing should be viewed as a partnership and not a handoff. That is exactly the type of relationship we have developed with The Cashroom over the past four and a half years.

We have used Cashroom since setting up our firm in early 2021 and are grateful for the service and support they provide. They are professional, approachable, and always on hand to answer any queries we may have. The team’s expertise is evident and gives us confidence our funds are in safe hands. Their innovative portal prompts best practice, compliance and provides a clear audit trail as well as enhancing security for our firm and clients. Working with Cashroom assures the continuous running of an essential department for our firm and means we no longer need to worry about holiday cover/sick cover etc as Cashroom has us covered.

Having Cashroom on board has allowed us to spend more time growing our business which suits our progressive approach to the provision of legal services for our clients. Cashroom have certainly been a huge benefit to our business, and I would recommend any firm who is looking to outsource their finance function to get in touch with them.

Stacy Campbell | Managing Director | McKee Campbell Morrison Solicitors