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At Lombard we believe that one of the clearest indicators of a financially healthy business is not simply its level of profit, but how effectively it manages its working capital. Many Irish SMEs devote significant attention to increasing turnover, winning new customers and improving profitability, y…

At Lombard we believe that one of the greatest financial challenges facing growing SMEs is not always a lack of sales, but the gradual loss of profit through small inefficiencies that often go unnoticed. As businesses expand, operations become more complex, teams become larger and day to day activit…

At Lombard we believe that uncertainty is an unavoidable part of running a business. Markets change, customer demand fluctuates, operating costs rise and economic conditions can shift quickly. While no business can predict every challenge it will face, every business can improve how prepared it is t…

At Lombard we believe that one of the most common reasons businesses become less efficient over time is not a lack of effort or ambition, but a reluctance to invest in the systems that support growth. Many SME owners delay upgrading software, replacing outdated processes or introducing automation be…

At Lombard we believe that one of the greatest strengths any SME can develop is a healthy cash reserve. Many business owners naturally focus on increasing sales, improving profitability and expanding their customer base. While these are all important objectives, businesses with strong cash reserves…

At Lombard we believe that successful businesses are built on informed planning rather than constant reaction. Every business faces unexpected challenges from time to time, but when reacting to problems becomes the normal way of operating, financial performance often begins to suffer. Decisions beco…

Top 5 Things Revenue Looks for When Reviewing an Irish SME’s VAT Returns
At Lombard we believe that VAT deserves far more respect than it typically receives. For many SME owners, the bi-monthly VAT return is a routine chore, completed quickly and forgotten just as fast. Yet VAT is one of the areas R…

Preparing for Interest Rate Changes: How Irish SMEs Can Protect Their Borrowing Costs
At Lombard we believe that interest rates deserve a permanent place on every SME owner’s agenda, not just a glance when the headlines turn dramatic. After a long period in which borrowing costs seemed to move in on…

At Lombard we believe that payroll is one of those business functions that only attracts attention when something goes wrong, and by then the cost of the problem usually far exceeds the cost of preventing it. Paying people accurately and on time is a fundamental obligation, yet it has become steadil…

We here at Lombard believe that year-end accounts should be the calm conclusion of a well-organised year, not a stressful archaeology project. Yet for many SMEs, the annual accounts process involves weeks of hunting for missing invoices, explaining mystery transactions and answering long lists of qu…