Forest Research achieves year-end accounts certification on schedule despite the challenges of a pandemic

Forest Research is the research agency of the Forestry Commission. It is internationally renowned for the provision of science, research, evidence, data, and services in support of sustainable forestry.

Requiring a single source of truth, Forest Research implemented Unit4 ERP, enabling them to be more confident in their decisions, consistently hit financial targets, and drive a great employee experience.

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Industry

Public Services

Company Size

250

Headquarters

Farnham, UK

The Challenge

Forest Research is the research agency of the Forestry Commission. It is internationally renowned for the provision of science, research, evidence, data, and services in support of sustainable forestry.

A third-party shared services environment led to separate silos of data, fragmented knowledge, and delayed decision-making. With income generated both from  government and external sources, it was essential to have a single source of finance and HR truth. This would enable Forest Research to be more confident in its decisions, consistently hit financial targets, and drive a great employee experience.

The Solution

Unit4 Cloud ERP – Finance Management, Time & Expenses, Sales Orders and Procurement.

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Key Takeaways

One of the first organizations to lay accounts before Parliament, despite lockdown

99.6% of suppliers paid within 10 days

All corporate services in operation during Covid-19 lockdown

““I absolutely love Unit4. Their technology, people, and roadmap for the future ensure Forest Research meets its financial, compliance, and efficiency goals.”

– Meirion Nelson, Finance Director, Forest Research

The Results

  • Organizational agility: One of the first Central Government organizations to achieve accounts sign-off, despite the Covid-19 restrictions.
  • Financial compliance: Accurately met annual revenue breakeven budget
  • Accelerated decision-making: Single, golden record of finance and HR accelerates decision-making and agility
  • Comprehensive, connected finance and HR data enables teams to harness meaningful insight and transform the workplace, take control of finance, and optimize planning
  • Automated procurement cycle – from services requests, indirect purchasing, and requisitioning to paying vendors
  • People enjoy using the platform, owing to its intuitive navigation, simple dashboard reporting, and mobile collaboration
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