How we work

Our clients tell us that we don’t talk like other accountants. That’s because we avoid financial jargon – and we ask a lot of questions. As one client says, we speak human – not accountant.

We’re here to help you be proactive in your business. And get your finances in order and under control, so you can deal with things as and when they happen, rather than putting them off until later. The result? You’re free to focus on what you do best, while we crunch the numbers.

“When you know what’s happening this month, this quarter, this year you can plan with confidence. So not only do you know when’s the best time to invest in new equipment, for example, you can also foresee any problems and feel empowered to take the right steps in good time.”

Nick Brereton

Director | Dockwray Ltd.

Getting to know you

Every business is different because every business owner is different. It’s part of the reason we don’t work to a one-size-fits-all business model. Instead, we’ll take the time to talk to you to help us get inside your business and inside your thinking.

And we’ll listen to you to learn where you struggle, to see what frustrates you – and to understand where we can help unpick some of the problems that are slowing you down.

Have we understood you?

We’ll reflect what we’ve understood back to you, to make sure that we understand your business and can start to suggest how we can help you. Reflecting what you’ve said back to you in this way means you can add any other details you think might be helpful to us, or clarify any complexities. There’s no rush and no pressure – we’re just building a picture of what you need and how best we can help.

“After our first conversation on the phone, Gill visited the shop for a meeting the following week and took the time to get to know me, the business and go through the current paperwork.”

Miles

Director | Quay Pets and Aquatics Ltd

Putting you in the picture

After we’ve talked – and when we’ve gained a proper understanding of where you are now and where you want to be, we’ll start to put together a scope of work for you. This will outline everything you need and, once you’ve approved it, will form the basis of our terms of engagement. And if there’s anything you don’t understand – please just ask.

How much does it cost?

Our clarity and transparency mean you’ll always know what to expect and when. We don’t believe in big annual bills. They make life difficult and make it hard to budget with confidence. That’s why our clients pay a set monthly fee, which differs according to the size of their business, but which is set and agreed at the start of our working together. So, there are no hidden costs and no nasty surprises. And you can get back to work with the peace of mind that everything is under control.

Why monthly updates? And monthly payments?

Monthly updates help to remove the stress of hand-to-mouth financial management, put you back in control, and improve your relationship with your money. These monthly check-ups also mean that by the end of the tax year you’ll know exactly what you need in 12 months’ time. So, you won’t get stung with a big bill at the end of the year, and you’ll have plenty of time to plan, prepare and save.

There are no hidden charges when you work with us. We’ll assess what we need to do to keep your business ticking over, and we’ll discuss what’s needed to get you to the point where we can start a monthly billing schedule, so there’ll never be an invoice that you weren’t expecting. And everything is discussed and clarified from the start.

“Gill speaks in everyday terms, not accountancy jargon, and she makes everything clear and simple, so I always know what I need to do and when.”

Vikki Ross

Vikki Ross Writes Ltd