We provide a range of compliance services to support all aspects of business administration.

We can help you by making sure accounts are prepared in the correct format, statutory books and other company secretarial records are kept up-to-date and that all statutory returns are prepared. Our experienced team will relieve you of the regulatory burden and leave you more time to concentrate on your core business activities. In short, we will make sure everything is in the right format, in the right place and at the right time.

Our range of compliance services includes:

• Statutory audits
• Annual accounts
• Specialist/niche audit and accounts
• Company secretarial services
• Payroll procedures including Real Time Information and Pensions Auto Enrolment compliance
• Tax returns and
• Grant claims.

The combination of your business knowledge and our support services will help your business to grow and increase profitability.

Management accounts and information

Obtaining regular reliable management information is vital to the continued success of any business. Let us work closely with you to get to know your business so we can make suggestions to help improve profits or to develop and grow your business. We can prepare your monthly or quarterly management accounts to ensure you always have reliable and accurate information on which to base your business decisions.

Payroll

Running a payroll can be time consuming, complicated and divert resources from the core activities of your business. With the implementation of Real Time Information, HMRC require information generally on or before the date of payment to the employee. We can help by installing payroll software and training your staff. Outsourcing this activity also helps relieve the pressure and we can offer cost-effective solutions. We are able to provide the complete service, whatever the size or complexity of your business, or simply provide support when needed.

Bookkeeping

We can help you with all your general bookkeeping requirements, either at your business premises or at our office. Maybe you need help writing up the books or just want us to add the finishing touches to the information in order to create your own management information. If you do not employ a bookkeeper then we can take up the role or help you recruit the right person for your business.

Business planning and forecasts

Every business should plan ahead to ensure success but daily business pressures often conspire to delay the strategic planning process. Financial forecasts are a crucial part of any business plan and we will ensure these are both meaningful and robust.

Liaising with banks and institutions

We offer support when liaising with banks and other financial institutions. Drawing on our wealth of experience we can support our clients through this often daunting experience.

Your professional and personal goals are central to our consulting services; we take the time to get to know you better so we can offer the best advice.

Management consultancy

Our management consultancy service can review your credit control, stock control, budgeting and financial reporting systems and allow you to take full control of these key areas of your business. We can also help you address specific problem areas in your business such as gross profit, cost control and stock valuation.

Effective management information will allow you to seize opportunities when they arise or identify problems quickly so you can take effective corrective action.

Information technology

Information technology (IT) is one of the key resources available to every business to achieve its short and long-term objectives.

Using the knowledge gained from our own systems and those designed for other clients, our in-house IT team are able to advise on IT related matters with first-hand experience. We can install software, provide training and help you to obtain the best from your chosen system.

Our expertise enables a complete range of services to be offered, including:

• Software selection
• Installation and training
• Management reporting solutions and
• Payroll systems

If you are spending too much time writing up books, typing invoices and chasing debts we can help to take control by computerising your accounts system. We can help you to make the best use of IT resources to produce financial information that is accurate and appropriate for running your business effectively. With the correct accounting software you will save hours of hard work leaving you more time to deal with the more important areas of the business.

In short, whether you are investing in new technology, reviewing existing systems or have simply outgrown your current resource, we can help.

As tax advisers in Oxford, our objective is to work closely with you to ensure you pay the minimum tax required by law. We will help you to understand the tax implications of your actions, in order that you can plan ahead and conduct your affairs in a tax efficient way.

Corporation tax services

Under Corporation Tax Self Assessment (CTSA), the legal responsibility for correctly calculating the corporation tax liability falls on business owners. We understand the issues facing owner-managed businesses and can prepare tax returns in a timely and efficient manner. We will also calculate your company’s tax liability and assist with the calculation of any quarterly instalment payments due.

The increased reporting obligations, investigation policies on the part of the tax authorities and harsher penalties for non-compliance mean that your time and resources can be taken up with tax administration. We will help to minimise corporate tax exposure and relieve the administrative burden of compliance with current tax legislation. Effective corporate tax planning can also result in significant improvements in your bottom line.

Personal tax services (including sole-traders and partnerships)

We are specialists in income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax.

Self Assessment

We have the expertise and software to take the headache out of the form filling and compliance aspect of Self Assessment. We can provide you with practical advice on personal tax and the planning opportunities available to you. Over recent years HMRC have increased the penalties for failing to file a return on time and for errors. We can complete tax returns, calculate any tax liability and advise you on exactly when to make payments and how much to pay.

Personal tax planning

Everyone who is subject to taxation needs professional advice and support if they are to optimise their tax position and ensure they meet the compliance requirements. Our specialist tax team can provide you with year-round advice on all aspects of personal taxation.

Estate planning

Few of us like to think about dying; however the relevant legislation requires us to plan well in advance. This means making the necessary provisions now. There are many tax opportunities available and the earlier arrangements are made, the greater the chance of taking full advantage of our complicated tax system.

It is important when planning to transfer an estate that adequate provision is made and getting the right balance requires considerable skill and foresight – along with a detailed knowledge of the current tax regime. We provide a discreet comprehensive estate planning service that includes:

• help with planning and reviewing a will
• making full use of exemptions and lower tax rates on lifetime transfers
• optimising lifetime transfers between family members
• transferring agricultural or business property
• transferring assets into trust
• arranging adequate life assurance to cover potential inheritance tax liabilities.

VAT

Ever changing regulations and the growing demands of HMRC mean VAT compliance can be a difficult administrative process. We can help to ensure that you comply with the regulations and that overpayments are not made. To help you manage this complex area, we provide an efficient, cost-effective VAT service, which includes:

• Assistance with VAT registration
• Advice on VAT planning and administration
• Use of the most appropriate scheme
• VAT control and reconciliation
• Help with completing VAT returns
• Planning to minimise future problems with HMRC
• Negotiating with HMRC in disputes and representing you at VAT tribunals if necessary.

HMRC Investigations and Enquiries

Being the subject of a tax investigation or enquiry by HMRC can be a stressful and worrying experience. We have a wealth of experience in dealing with HMRC investigations, whether they are enquiries into an individual’s Tax Return, more detailed enquiries into a company’s affairs or employer-related investigations into PAYE and P11d compliance. If you are the subject of an investigation, we can provide expert help and support.

Fee protection

With the increased risk of such investigations, it may be worth considering taking out our annual insurance policy to protect you and your business from unexpected costs; an investigation will undoubtedly result in additional accountancy work being undertaken. The amount of work will depend upon the complexity of the case but the cost could be substantial.

In today’s complicated and strictly regulated financial services market, providing independent financial advice requires specialist knowledge.

We make use of our wide range of professional contacts to ensure you have a suitable independent adviser and we work with them to provide you with impartial advice in areas such as:

• Pension schemes / Auto Enrolment
• Life assurance
• Critical illness cover
• Private medical insurance and care plans
• Individual savings accounts
• Investments
• Retirement planning

Most people starting up in business do so because they have a good business proposition, the enterprise and commitment to see it through.

Most however are not experts in the legal and financial aspects of running a business and such matters can appear daunting. Fortunately you do not need to be an expert in these fields to succeed in business, but you do need the support of a team of trained experts.

We can help. Just bring us your business ideas and we will help you to make them a reality!

We will help you to:

• Decide on the most suitable structure for your business – sole trader, partnership, limited liability partnership or limited company
• Prepare a business plan, cashflow projections, budgets, and trading forecasts
• Assess the finance requirements, advise on the best sources of finance and draw up the necessary proposals
• Establish a good working relationship with your bank
• Complete any registration procedures with Companies House and HMRC
• Deal with company secretarial issues
• Set up a recording system for your internal use and for complying with statutory requirements
• Decide on what computer hardware to buy and help with the installation of accountancy software
• Keep on top of bookkeeping, VAT, payroll and other accounting requirements and
• Help with all aspects of business compliance and administration