Jisc
Maximising customer experience and minimising costs
The Client
Jisc is a not-for-profit organisation delivering technology solutions to the UK’s education and research sectors.
Known for its Janet network, which supports around 18 million users nationwide, Jisc plays a vital role in enabling digital infrastructure across academia.
The project is a massive credit to everyone involved. It was completed on time and under budget, with limited disruption across the wider business. Having reached this point and spoken to peers about similar implementations, it’s only now I realise that we all achieved something remarkable.
The Challenge
In 2018, Jisc upgraded to Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance. But the initial configuration fell short. “We needed to be able to access more system functionality than our existing configuration allowed,” says Anne Marie Gregory, Director of Finance Transformation. The system lacked automation, relied on manual processes, and used a single-entity ledger, despite Jisc being a multi-entity organisation. This mismatch led to inefficiencies and limited visibility across financial operations. “It was frustrating for us as we weren’t where we wanted to be,” Anne Marie recalls.
The Solution
We won the tender to reimplement the solution, standing out for our detailed response and strong data security credentials which were critical for Jisc’s infrastructure. Our first priority was to fully integrate Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations with Jisc’s existing IT systems. This created a unified platform that automated operations, improved decision-making, and supported growth.
We restructured the system to reflect Jisc’s multi-entity setup, enabling accurate financial tracking across legal entities. Sales invoicing and payment processes were streamlined, and visibility into customer transactions improved. “We can now run automated daily bank reconciliations,” Anne Marie explains. “Our credit control team gets timely information, and month-end reporting is much more efficient.”
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The Results
The project was delivered on time and under budget, with minimal disruption. “It’s only now I realise that we all achieved something remarkable,” Anne Marie reflects. Automated reporting—especially for complex inter-company transactions—is now accurate and reliable. The team has reduced debtor days and gained confidence in their financial data.
Beyond the technical success, the transformation empowered Jisc’s finance team. “Node4 has helped us to fully realise the potential of our Microsoft Dynamics 365 solution,” says Anne Marie. By using out-of-the-box functionality and reducing reliance on third-party software, the team now has a stable IT foundation and the flexibility to adapt.
We also provided training, documentation and technical guidance. “We’re not experts yet,” Anne Marie admits, “but we’re very well-educated.” The team is now self-sufficient and ready to expand reporting capabilities.
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The Node4 Difference
We didn’t just deliver a reimplementation, we laid the groundwork for long-term success. “Node4 has done a lot for us, but they’ve enabled us to do a lot too,” Anne Marie concludes. Our approach combined technical expertise with patience and professionalism, helping Jisc’s team grow in confidence and capability. The result is a future-ready finance function built on solid foundations.