Acting Office Appoints Industry Veteran Matt Barnes as CRO to Lead UK Growth Drive

Quick Summary

Acting Office has appointed Matt Barnes as Chief Revenue Officer to spearhead its UK expansion. As accountancy firms increasingly adopt AI-driven advisory models, Barnes will leverage 35 years of experience to scale sales and consolidate fragmented software systems into Acting Office’s unified cloud platform.

How Does Matt Barnes Support Acting Office’s Growth?

Matt Barnes joins the leadership team with a mandate to identify new market growth opportunities and secure high-value client relationships. By scaling the sales function, he aims to position Acting Office as the primary solution for firms looking to modernize their tech stacks. His arrival follows the recent appointment of Wendy Rowe as Chief Strategy and Enterprise Officer, signaling a significant C-suite expansion drive.

• 35 years experience in accountancy software and IT sectors.
• Former Sales Director at Wolters Kluwer for 12 years.
• 18-year tenure at IRIS Software Ltd as Head of Business Development.

Why is the Accountancy Industry Shifting to Advisory Models?

Accountancy software is becoming the cornerstone of a major industry transition. According to ICAEW, 71% of firms believe AI will allow them to move up the value chain. Acting Office solves the problem of disconnected legacy systems by replacing up to five different platforms with one unified cloud solution. This efficiency allows professionals to focus on higher-margin advisory services rather than manual data entry.

What Results Has Acting Office Delivered for Firms?

Founded in 2021, Acting Office focuses on boosting firm profitability by reducing operational errors. The platform is purpose-built to help ambitious practices scale quickly using AI. By eliminating the need for multiple software subscriptions, firms can significantly reduce their total cost of ownership while improving data accuracy across their entire client portfolio.

FF NEWS TAKE:

This appointment moves the needle because it pairs a battle-tested industry veteran with a modern, AI-ready platform. As legacy giants like Wolters Kluwer and IRIS face pressure from agile cloud competitors, Acting Office is aggressively poaching top-tier leadership talent to capture market share. Barnes’ deep network and experience in scaling revenue functions make this a strategic power move for the UK accountancy tech sector.