The recent news of Ember’s acquisition by Starling Bank confirmed that “ongoing accounting services provided directly by Ember will stop after 26th September 2025”. Existing Ember clients must now transition to another online accountant ahead of that date.

Understandably, many of you have been reaching out to us with questions about what we can do to help, so in this article we answer some of the most common queries to help you plan your next steps.

What happened to Ember’s accounting services?

Until recently, Ember provided accounting services alongside their bookkeeping software. Their acquisition by Starling Bank means Ember’s platform will now integrate exclusively with Starling’s banking services. You’ll need a Starling account if you want to continue using Ember for your bookkeeping, but accounting services will stop entirely after the end of September 2025.

Can I continue using Ember for bookkeeping if I go to a different accountant?

Yes, although it’s worth checking your new accountant’s terms and conditions first! Some providers will only work with clients who use specific software.

Here at The Accountancy Partnership we’re not tied to a specific platform, so we can support you with our dedicated accountancy services whether you:

• Make use of unlimited access to our own software, Pandle, for no extra cost
• Continue using Ember as bookkeeping software
• Use any other bookkeeping provider you decide to switch to

How do you compare as an alternative to Ember’s accounting service?

We offer online accounting services such as tax returns and accounts for businesses, so there are some similarities. But here at The Accountancy Partnership, we do things a little differently.

How much will I pay for online accounting compared to Ember?

We provide online accounting services which include all of the essential services you need. This means your tax filing, accounts, tax efficiency reviews, and unlimited support from your own dedicated accountant are all provided as part of your fee. Check out our service comparison table below.

Ember clients would need to pay an additional £300 on top of their usual fees for a Confirmation Statement and annual accounts. We include those as standard.
 

Additional accounting services when you need them

We don’t bundle services together and charge you for things you don’t need. You can add and remove support for bookkeeping, payroll, pension auto enrolment, VAT, and more. Ember didn’t offer these services to clients, but with The Accountancy Partnership they’re available as and when your business needs them.

Bookkeeping (the process of managing your financial records) is a good example of this. Any accountant who works on a set of accounts will need the business’ bookkeeping. No matter who your accountant is, you have two choices:

• Take care of your bookkeeping yourself
• Have an accountant or bookkeeper do it for you

With The Accountancy Partnership you can use Pandle, or continue using Ember or a different bookkeeping platform and have us take care of your accounting needs, or we can do your bookkeeping for you, from £20.00 per month – only paying for what you need.

Doing your own bookkeeping means you can update your records as often as you want, and you’ll always have the correct financial information available. You’ll be able to see exactly which invoices have been paid, who you need to follow up, and how your cash flow is looking at any given moment.

Our proactive bookkeeping checks

If you use Pandle, our trained bookkeepers will support you every step of the way. From initial set up calls, to our in-app live chat support and product tours, you can get instant answers about anything you’re unsure of. Even if you don’t use our bookkeeping service!

If you prefer to take care of your own bookkeeping with Pandle, we’ll still review your records – free of charge – to make sure we spot potential problems before they have chance to turn into something bigger. We’ll let you know if there are any other changes which might help you, too.

Choosing a new online accountant after Ember

Ember clients didn’t have access to their own dedicated accountant so this might not be something you’re used to, but we believe this is an essential service.

You’ll always be able to check your dedicated accountant’s direct contact details through your Client Hub account, and you’ll be notified of any planned absences well in advance.

We have robust systems in place to make sure you always receive an outstanding level of service and expertise, regardless of holidays, illnesses or unexpected absences.

Every accountant is also paired with a dedicated “buddy”, so if your usual accountant is away, their buddy will step in to help with any queries about your business. Their information will be displayed in your Client Hub account so you know exactly where to get help.

Your personalised timeline in Client Hub will also give you a clear view of upcoming deadlines, so you know what needs to happen and when!

Having a big team means we have hundreds of years of experience between us. With accountancy and tax laws being such a massive subject, it helps to have such a diverse range of knowledge!

Can you help me switch from Ember?

Of course! We take care of this for all new clients who are switching to us from a different accountant or provider, and we’ll manage every step of the process for you.

 
Learn more about our online accounting services for small businesses, and get an instant online quote.