IRIS Software Group

IRIS Software Group: business software for accountancy, payroll, HR and education

IRIS Software Group develops and supplies software and managed services for tasks the company describes as mission-critical, with a product portfolio organised around four areas: accountancy, payroll, HR and education. Its website states that more than 800,000 organisations in over 135 countries use IRIS solutions, and that one in six UK employees is paid through IRIS software.

Accountancy practice software and services

For accountancy firms and bookkeepers, IRIS offers several products. IRIS Elements is presented as integrated cloud accountancy software with a single client list, described as HMRC-recognised and cloud-native. IRIS Accountancy Suite is an integrated accounting package covering accounts production, tax and client engagement, also described as HMRC-recognised and MTD-ready. IRIS Practice Engine is a customisable corporate performance management tool, while IRIS KashFlow provides cloud bookkeeping with payments provision. IRIS Firm Management is a centralised data platform for managing time and fees, billing and scheduling.

Alongside software, the company provides accountancy-related services: IRIS Hosting for hosted cloud accounting for fewer than five users; IRIS Anywhere for hosted desktop services aimed at accountants with five or more users; IRIS Outsourcing for bookkeeping, accounting and payroll functions; IRIS Audit Outsourcing for outsourced accounting services related to auditing; and IRIS WebPortal, a website-building platform for accountants.

The site cites 29,000 accountant and CPA customers globally and states that 425 of the top 500 firms use IRIS accountancy services.

Payroll and HR tools

IRIS payroll products include Staffology Payroll, cloud-based payroll software for UK businesses; Staffology Bureau, cloud payroll bureau software for payroll providers; Every Payroll, cloud payroll software for schools and trusts; IRIS GP Payroll, healthcare payroll software for GPs; and IRIS Payroll Professional, payroll bureau software for complex payroll needs. Managed payroll services are also available: IRIS Payroll Services for UK companies, IRIS Education Payroll Services for schools and trusts, IRIS Cascade Payroll Services for IRIS Cascade customers, Troncmasters for tronc payroll in hospitality, and IRIS Paycheck Plus for managed payroll in Ireland.

On the HR side, IRIS Cascade is an all-in-one cloud HR system for employee management, Staffology HR is integrated HR software, IRIS Recruitment is applicant tracking software (ATS) for recruitment processes, and Every HR by IRIS is cloud-based HR software for schools and trusts. Related services include IRIS Recruitment Services for recruitment management and IRIS HR Consulting for global HR consulting. The company states that 300,000 UK employers use its HR tools to manage the employee lifecycle from hire to retire.

Education software for schools and trusts

IRIS education products include IRIS Financials, a financial management system for single- and multi-academy trusts; iSAMS, a school management information system for independent schools; Every HR by IRIS for schools and trusts; payroll and pension services for schools and trusts; and IRIS ParentMail, school communication software for parent engagement. The education offering is grouped into workforce management, finance and budgeting, data analytics, and school administration, the latter covering MIS, parental engagement and ID management.

Automation, AI and expertise

IRIS presents its approach as combining AI-powered automation, data and expertise to reduce administrative work and surface relevant information. The site includes a section on AI innovation and states that its solutions are designed to help accounting, payroll and HR teams stay compliant and efficient.

Scale and reach

According to the company, its software and services are used by more than 800,000 organisations worldwide, with a presence in over 135 countries. In the UK, it reports that one in six employees is paid through IRIS solutions, that 29,000 accountancy and CPA customers use its accountancy products globally, and that 425 of the top 500 firms use its accountancy services.