JBM & Associates Limited (which recently rebranded as Ruddell Accounting & Advisory Limited) is an accounting firm based in Pukekohe, New Zealand, founded by director Stuart Ruddell.
The firm operates as small-town accountants offering big-city service. Their goal is to help small businesses thrive through a personal and authentic approach to accountancy. They offer their clients fixed monthly fees, free support and advice, and flexible office hours. Their clients deal with one accountant they know and trust, helping them achieve the best results—whether it’s reducing their tax bill, growing their business, or protecting their assets.
The problem
The challenge was paperwork overload, and the firm never had a simple solution. They would get some documents signed by hand and then scanned back in, but that looked unprofessional and was filled with human error. They then tried using Adobe Professional, but it was only linked to one person, and the buttons for signing and dating were not very adjustable, meaning it often wouldn’t fit in the designated signing area. They also tried Adobe Sign, but the minimum package was out of reach when they did a cost-benefit comparison.
The solution
They found Annature, which was only a fraction of the price, and overall, the product provided much more flexibility and functionality. The benefit of linking with FYI Docs was huge too. A previous two-hour freak-out about storing all information in an accessible place and wondering if it was good enough for banks and clients was erased with a two-minute procedure that looks fantastic.
The outcome
The firm's amazing clients love how easy it is to sign via text message or email, and receiving an automatic copy of what they signed is a great value add. Now, all their clients have access to a perfectly signed copy of their documents whenever they need it. Having it sync back to FYI Docs also makes their staff jump for joy since they no longer need to manually check and save.
