Canopy
Cloud practice management for accounting firms with client management, document management, workflow, time and billing modules.
BrightManager (formerly Accountancy Manager)
Website: brightsg.com
BrightManager (formerly Accountancy Manager) at a glance
- Best for
- UK accounting practices
- Regions
- UK, Ireland
BrightManager (formerly Accountancy Manager) is a practice management tool built for UK accountants. It was acquired by Bright Software Group in 2022 and rebranded. It automates task management, client onboarding, Companies House filing deadlines, and HMRC submission tracking, with direct integrations into UK regulatory systems.
Firms use it to track statutory deadlines across their entire client base — Companies House confirmation statements, corporation tax returns, self-assessment filings, and VAT returns are all monitored automatically. When deadlines approach or submissions are due, the system generates tasks and alerts without manual setup. Client onboarding workflows collect engagement letters, anti-money laundering checks, and other compliance documents in a structured process.
The platform is focused specifically on the UK compliance workflow and does not attempt to be a general-purpose practice management system. It is best suited for UK practices that need reliable deadline tracking and regulatory automation, often used alongside a separate workflow or project management tool for non-compliance work.
Pricing
Contact BrightManager for current pricing.
Reviews
Review scores are not yet available for the rebranded product.
Features
Workflow Management
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| List view | Yes |
| Kanban view | No |
| Job/work templates | Yes |
| Recurring jobs | Yes |
| Subtasks | — |
| Task dependencies | — |
| Automations | Yes |
| Custom statuses | — |
| @Mentions | — |
| Statutory due dates | Yes |
Client Management
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| Client directory | Yes |
| Contacts | Yes |
| Client groups | — |
| Custom fields | — |
| Tags | — |
| Notes | Yes |
| Leads | Yes |
| CRM sync (QBO) | No |
| CRM sync (Xero) | No |
Client Portal
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| Client portal | Yes |
| Client tasks/requests | Yes |
| File uploads | Yes |
| Secure messaging | Yes |
| Scheduling | — |
| E-signatures | Yes |
| White label/custom branding | — |
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| Outlook integration | — |
| Gmail integration | — |
| Shared inboxes | — |
| Email-to-task | — |
| Email templates | Yes |
| AI email drafting | No |
| AI email summarization | No |
| View all client comms | — |
Time Tracking & Billing
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| Time tracking | Yes |
| Timers | — |
| Invoicing | Yes |
| Fixed fee & hourly billing | — |
| Recurring billing | — |
| Online payments | — |
| WIP tracking | Yes |
| Write up/down | — |
| Realization reporting | — |
| QBO invoice sync | — |
| Xero invoice sync | — |
Document Management
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| Document storage | Yes |
| Folders | — |
| Folder templates | — |
| File sharing with clients | Yes |
| SharePoint integration | — |
| Google Drive | — |
| Dropbox | — |
Reporting
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| Time reports | Yes |
| Billing reports | Yes |
| Capacity/workload | — |
| Revenue insights | Yes |
Proposals & Engagement
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| Proposals | Yes |
| Engagement letters | Yes |
| E-signatures on engagements | — |
Integrations
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| QuickBooks Online | No |
| Xero | Yes |
| Outlook | — |
| Gmail | — |
| Zapier | — |
| Make | — |
| API | — |
| Webhooks | — |
Security & Admin
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| User roles | — |
| Custom permissions | — |
| 2FA/MFA | — |
| SSO | — |
| SOC 2 | — |
| Client access controls | — |
AI Features
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| AI email drafting | No |
| AI email summarization | No |
| AI task suggestions | No |
| AI document classification | No |
| AI search | No |
Mobile
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| Mobile-friendly (internal) | — |
| Native mobile app (internal) | — |
| Native mobile app (client portal) | — |
Compliance & Regulatory
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| HMRC integration | Yes |
| Companies House integration | Yes |
| ATO integration | No |
| IRS transcript pulls | No |
| MTD support | Yes |
| Statutory deadline tracking | Yes |
Support & Onboarding
| Feature | Supported |
|---|---|
| Chat support | — |
| Email support | Yes |
| Phone support | — |
| Dedicated rep | — |
| Onshore support | Yes |
| Free onboarding | — |
| Paid onboarding packages | — |
| Knowledge base/docs | Yes |
Feature data is incomplete
We have confirmed answers for 48% of the feature checklist used across our practice management entries. A dash (—) means we have not verified it yet, not that BrightManager (formerly Accountancy Manager) lacks it. Treat the gaps as unknown rather than unsupported, and confirm with the vendor.
Unverified areas: Scheduling.
BrightManager (formerly Accountancy Manager) Alternatives
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