Silverfin launches Talking Points for accounting firms

Silverfin has launched Talking Points, a new feature for accounting firms designed to turn insights from compliance work into client advisory discussions.

Early access data from selected firms showed more than 40,000 client discussion points captured across 400 clients. Of those, 85% were advisory points identified during routine compliance work.

Built into Silverfin's existing accounting software platform, the product lets accountants record issues during file review, present them to clients, and track follow-up actions in the same system.

The approach targets a longstanding issue in accountancy practices: compliance processes are often formalised, while advisory conversations are handled less consistently. As a result, useful observations made during routine work are often not turned into structured client discussions.

Talking Points also uses artificial intelligence to create meeting summaries and action points after client conversations. It keeps a searchable record of discussions, which can help firms maintain continuity when staff change or a partner is unavailable.

For example, a review that highlights unusual movements in cost of sales can prompt a discussion with the client about pricing, supplier risk or margin performance, turning routine compliance work into a more valuable client meeting. It also gives firms a complete, searchable history of every client conversation, reducing handover risk and ensuring continuity when staff change.

Firm Workflows

For larger firms, the feature can be used across a broad client portfolio when combined with Silverfin's existing Insights tools. In that setup, firms can identify patterns or regulatory changes affecting multiple clients and generate relevant discussion points across those accounts.

For smaller practices, the emphasis is different. In many firms, client history and meeting notes remain with a single partner, creating operational risk if that person is absent. An automatic archive of client interactions can make that information more widely available within the firm.

Silverfin is positioning the launch as part of a wider effort to keep advisory work within the same software used for compliance. Rather than moving data into separate meeting or advisory tools, firms can go from file review to client conversation and follow-up within one platform.

Founded in Belgium in 2013, Silverfin was acquired by Visma in 2023. The company says it serves more than 1,000 accounting firms across 18 countries, including the Big Four networks.

An Maes, CEO, Silverfin outlined the gap the product is intended to address.

Maes said, "Compliance work is highly structured in most firms but client meetings aren't. That's where valuable insights get lost. Talking Points changes that by making advisory a natural extension of the compliance work teams are already doing in Silverfin. We built it because we believe a shift to advisory shouldn't mean more software. It should mean better use of the data firms already have."