Case Study: Sentinel ICCS Ltd

“TC Group quickly helped us turn a complex finance and audit challenge into a controlled, deliverable process. Their support reduced pressure on the business, improved access to the reporting we needed, and kept everything moving to the deadline.”

Diane Towler, Accountant, Sentinel ICCS Ltd

STEADYING THE SHIP DURING A COMPLEX TRANSITION

Sentinel Industrial Cybersecurity and Control Systems Limited (formerly Eldor UK) is an Aberdeen-based engineering and automation specialist delivering complex industrial projects. As part of Init Group, an international organisation operating across multiple countries, the business requires strong financial visibility, reliable reporting and effective control to support delivery and growth.

When accountant Diane Towler joined the business shortly after year-end, she stepped into a high-pressure environment. Multiple accounting systems were in use, historical data sat across international platforms, and an audit was already underway, creating immediate reporting and compliance risk.

At that critical point, Sentinel engaged business advisory and accountancy firm TC Group to help restore control, support compliance and keep key deliverables on track.

TURNING COMPLEXITY INTO CONTROL

Diane joined Sentinel at a pivotal moment. There’d previously been no in-house finance lead, with the majority of the accounting managed externally.

At the same time, the business had recently transitioned between financial systems, leaving key data spread across different platforms, some of which were not configured for UK reporting requirements. That created inefficiencies, limited visibility and increased the pressure around audit readiness.

“As I joined the business after the year-end date, I was essentially starting from scratch, and I found our system just wasn’t giving the specific reports we needed,” Diane explains.

“We had to pull information from a previous system and align it with the new one, but many of the reports weren’t easy to access.”

Working alongside Diane, TC’s Audit team identified priority risk areas, helped extract the required financial data and introduced a more structured approach to the information needed for audit and compliance. This enabled Sentinel to move faster, reduce uncertainty and support delivery against key deadlines.

“TC Group supported me at every step,” Diane says.

“They answered questions, clarified what was needed, and made sure nothing was missed.”

 

PRACTICAL, FLEXIBLE SUPPORT WHEN NEEDED MOST

Alongside the technical challenge of navigating unfamiliar systems, Diane was also managing the entire finance function, including payroll, VAT returns and day-to-day accounting.

Adding audit and compliance requirements on top of that could easily have disrupted core finance operations. Instead, TC brought structure, responsiveness and practical support that helped the business stay focused on both day-to-day delivery and statutory obligations.

“I still had my day-to-day job to manage, and extracting information from systems I’d never used before made everything more complicated.”

Through close collaboration and proactive communication, the TC team helped streamline the audit, accounts preparation and Corporation Tax compliance process, improving efficiency and helping ensure everything remained on schedule.

“TC Group’s flexibility and commitment gave me complete confidence that our audit and accounts would be handled smoothly and filed on time.”

 

PARTNERSHIP BEYOND NUMBERS

For Diane, TC’s value went beyond technical delivery alone.

Rather than simply requesting information, the team took time to explain the process, provide practical guidance and help build confidence in the financial reporting approach. That advisory support created immediate value while strengthening capability within the business.

“TC communicate brilliantly and has a genuinely supportive approach,” she says.

“They’re not just doing the work — they’re making sure you understand it and feel supported throughout.”

This collaborative style transformed what initially felt like an overwhelming task into a clear, manageable process.

“Working with TC meant we could streamline our audit and compliance activity, improve coordination and reduce the operational burden on the business. That made a significant difference to how effectively we could manage the finance function.”

POISED FOR FUTURE GROWTH

The business continues to win new contracts and is actively exploring the recruitment of additional engineers to support expanding project work.

“The workload coming in over the next couple of years looks very positive,” Diane says.

“That means we’ll need to recruit more engineers to support new projects.”

With audit and reporting processes now under greater control, Sentinel’s well-positioned to scale with confidence, supported by a trusted advisory partner in TC Group.