The partnership will extend both companies' SME offerings through the provision of additional services to their customers and recommendations on financial activities to drive efficiency.

The FD Centre offers its customers the skill sets of experienced Finance Directors from large corporations to the small and medium sized enterprise (SME) sector, allowing organisations to benefit from the expertise of a highly experienced Finance Director without incurring the expense of hiring someone full-time. Sara Daw, Managing Director of The FD Centre explains the importance of the partnership, "Part of our job at The FD Centre is to advise our customers on best-of-breed software solutions that will ultimately streamline their financial processes and offer greater ability to manage their balance sheet in a cost-efficient manner."

Daw continues, "Albany Software has extensive experience in providing electronic payment solutions for the small to medium enterprise market space. We quickly recognised that Albany's offering would be a huge value-add to a majority of our customers, providing their businesses with a payment solution that specifically suits their financial needs. Albany's software can provide our customers with function-rich payment solutions that will afford them not only cost savings but a more efficient and streamlined finance function."

With cheques being phased out, electronic payment solutions offer an alternative automated payment method and allow for multiple payment dates to be selected - giving greater control over cash flow. Adrian Stafford-Jones, Managing Director of Albany Software, comments, "We are extremely pleased to be embarking on this new partnership and have confidence that it will improve both companies' commitment to its SME customer offering. The FD Centre's customers will be able to automate payment processes that usually require people resource and copious amounts of paper. In addition, we will be able to offer our customers the opportunity to take on a Finance Director without the expenditure of a full-time employee."

Daw concludes, "In the current economic climate it is absolutely vital for SMEs to have visibility and an understanding of the company's finance and cash flow forecast to avoid financial difficulty. We allow businesses to plan ahead and ensure they have the knowledge, financial solutions and procedures in place to allow greater control over their finances. From the partnership between Albany Software and The FD Centre both clients will receive a complete financial package to suit their business."