Meet Colin Maher, Managing Director at Liquid Accounts
13.10.2026Liquid Accounts Managing Director Colin Maher shares advice on payroll, accounting, FCA compliance, automation and improving business processes.
From payroll and accounting to FCA reporting and compliance, there’s a lot happening behind the scenes at Liquid Accounts. But what’s it like to lead a business helping customers manage these important processes every day?
We caught up with Colin Maher, Managing Director at Liquid Accounts, to find out more about his role, what he enjoys about working at Liquid, the challenges businesses face and how he sees the industry changing.
Q: Can you tell us about your role at Liquid Accounts and what a typical day looks like?
A: As Managing Director at Liquid Accounts, my role is about making sure we continue to build a successful business while staying focused on what matters most to our customers.
We’re a software business, but we’re also very much a people business. We have a broad range of products covering accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, VAT and compliance and we work with everyone from small businesses through to accountants, bookkeepers, payroll bureau and IFAs.
A big part of my role is making sure we continue to develop products that genuinely solve our customers’ problems, while maintaining the personal level of support that we’re known for.
No day is the same, which is one of the things I enjoy about the role. It could involve talking to customers and understanding what they need, working with our development team on new functionality, looking at sales and marketing, discussing product improvements with the team or dealing with the day-to-day running and strategy of the business. One of the things I particularly enjoy is being able to get involved in different areas of the company. Because we’re not a huge corporate organisation, decisions can be made quickly and there’s a real opportunity to listen to customers and turn their feedback into improvements.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working at Liquid?
A: The people and the variety of the work - it’s a really collaborative environment and everyone is willing to help each other out and share ideas.
Q: What's the biggest challenge businesses face with payroll or FCA reporting and how can they address it?
A: I’d say keeping on top of the level of detail and the changing requirements. Small errors can have a knock-on effect, whether that’s an incorrect payroll calculation or inaccurate regulatory reporting.
The best way to address that is to have clear, consistent processes and good systems in place, rather than relying on manual checks wherever possible. It’s also important to keep up to date with regulatory changes and make sure the people responsible for reporting understand what’s required.
Technology can make a big difference by automating routine tasks, highlighting potential errors and keeping information in one place. But I’d say the key is combining good technology with knowledgeable people and strong review processes. That gives businesses greater confidence that their payroll and reporting are accurate and completed on time.
Q: What's one common misconception about payroll, accounting or FCA compliance?
A: I think one common misconception is that payroll, accounting and FCA compliance are mainly about ticking boxes and submitting figures.
In reality, there’s a lot more to it than that. Good compliance is about having accurate information, understanding the rules behind the reporting and having robust processes in place.
It’s also something that businesses need to stay on top of throughout the year, rather than just thinking about it when a deadline is approaching. That’s where good systems and software can really help. They can take away a lot of the repetitive work and reduce the risk of human error, allowing businesses to spend more time focusing on their customers and growing the business.
Q: What advice would you give a business looking to improve its processes in this area?
A: I’d start by looking at the processes you already have and identifying where the most time is being spent or where mistakes are most likely to happen. Often, there are simple improvements that can make a big difference.
I’d then look at what can be automated, particularly repetitive tasks such as data entry, calculations, reconciliations and reporting.
Having clear processes and responsibilities is also really important, so everyone knows what needs to be done and when.
Finally, I’d recommend reviewing those processes regularly. Payroll, accounting and FCA requirements can change, so businesses need to make sure their systems and procedures keep up. The aim should be to make things more efficient while maintaining accuracy and strong controls.
Q: What's the biggest change or challenge facing the industry and what's next?
I think one of the biggest changes facing the industry is the continued move towards automation and AI. Businesses are increasingly looking for technology that can take care of routine accounting, payroll and compliance tasks, while still giving them confidence that everything is accurate and under control.
The challenge is making sure that technology is used effectively. Automation can save a huge amount of time, but businesses still need good processes, reliable data and people who understand what the systems are doing.
Want to make your accounting, payroll or compliance processes more efficient?
From payroll and accounting to regulatory reporting, Liquid Accounts provides software designed to help businesses manage important financial and compliance processes more efficiently. Find out how Liquid Accounts can support your business today.
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