Welcome to our monthly focus on how BKL can support you, your family and your growing business.
In this edition, you’ll find out how our business services team is built to champion growth and how our tax team is growing, as well as our latest news and articles.
Read on for more about we can help you to solve tough problems, manage your risks and achieve your ambitions.
The traditional view of accountants – only keeping clients compliant – has never appealed to us.
By understanding your personal and business goals, we can help you achieve your ambitions. How we do that very much depends on how we set ourselves up to give you the best client service possible.
Through our Advance Business Services (ABS) team, we advise on cloud accounting technology, statutory and management accounts, VAT and general accounting services. We’ve developed a fresh, supportive approach that connects technology, data and people.
Jason Appel, who leads our ABS team, provides some background: “How we work is at the heart of how we build an understanding of our clients and provide them with the insights they need. Over the last two years we’ve brought our accounts and outsourcing departments together and then created dedicated teams called pods. Each pod, made up of bookkeepers and management accountants, looks after a number of clients. Each pod fully understands each client. This gives a seamless service and provides clients access to the right person at the right time.”
This approach is built on cutting-edge technology that is threaded through everything we do. Jason explains: “We choose the best software to streamline our processes. Using Xero as the core system for clients, we’ve built out a whole ecosystem of specialist apps that we’re able to integrate and, if required, train our clients how to use.”
Having the right technology in place gives us a solid bedrock and enables us to collect the information our clients need to help run their businesses. Jason continues: “Having the right tech, used in the right way to collect the right data, only gets us part way there. We’re a people-led business and so is our service. Our specialist advisers analyse that data to show our clients the story of their business and where they could take it.”
Asked how clients can get the most out of our ABS team, Jason replies: “Clients get the most from us when they’re in regular communication with us. It could be when they’re dreaming up their next big deal or thinking about succession planning. When we’re involved in their decision-making process, we’re able to spot opportunities and stop obstacles from tripping them up.”
Cutting-edge software and detailed reports enhance a growing business, but people lead it. Working with our ABS team, you’ll have a dedicated team, providing a seamless service, with rich insights.
We love hearing how our guidance has helped clients to reach the next stage in their growth. Look out for some of their stories in future editions of BKL Spotlight.
To find out more about how our ABS team can support you, let’s have a chat.
This month we welcomed Neil Lancaster, who joined the Wilson Wright team in our City of London office as a Private Client Tax Partner.
With 20 years’ experience and a deep knowledge of tax, Neil is a highly respected sounding board for clients, advising on their commercial and personal plans and aspirations.
The continued growth our tax team means we can help more owner managed businesses, wealthy individuals and their families. Our specialist advice includes trusts, non-domiciled legislation, inheritance tax planning, succession planning and structuring, wills and probate.
Speaking about his appointment, Neil said: “I am delighted to be joining the Wilson Wright tax team at such an exciting time in the history of the practice.
The tax team is very impressive, and I am certain that together we will be able to advise and support clients with their goals and ambitions at this important time.”
Get in touch for guidance on growing and preserving your wealth in a changing tax landscape.
If your ambitions include establishing a UK business – to trade in the UK, or as a natural bridge to new markets in Europe, the US and beyond – it’s important to understand the factors involved.
Read our guide for an introduction to starting a business in the UK. It will take you through trading entities and structures, tax, employment matters, banking arrangements, money laundering regulations and more.
Our experts in international growth help overseas businesses and individuals to take advantage of all the benefits available when coming to the UK. Contact us to find out how.
For mortgage lenders’ purposes, you’re considered self-employed if you have a shareholding in a business of more than 20-25% (depending on the lender). For proof of income, most lenders will accept tax computations / SA302s only from the last 18 months. Those dated 5 April 2023 will therefore be considered out of date in October 2024. Lenders will insist on the 2023/24 tax returns being done for those wanting mortgages, even though HMRC’s deadline is 31 January 2025.
For expert guidance, we offer mortgage services through our partner IPFS. If you’d like to know more, we would be delighted to arrange a call.
Recently we celebrated the success of our trainees passing their final ACA (Associate Chartered Accountant) exams. We’ve also welcomed 28 new trainees to the ABS, audit and tax teams in our North London office: the largest trainee group to join our North London office! Nine new trainees have joined our City office this month.
Here’s to our advisers of the future!
Stay updated with our tax newsletters: Tax Dispatch, a selection of recent articles and tax news; and BrassTax, delving into specific tax complexities and surprises. Click here to subscribe!
Since BKL became a Certified B Corporation in 2022, we’ve had opportunities to meet purpose-driven businesses across the UK’s B Corp community.
On 10-11 September we were in Oxford at Louder Than Words, the UK’s first ever B Corp Festival. Thank you to everyone we met, at the talks and workshops and at the lunches we held at George & Danver café. It’s made us even more passionate about having a positive impact and supporting other businesses on their journeys to become more responsible.
Get in touch to find out how exploring sustainability can help you grow as a business and an employer.
On 30 October, Chancellor Rachel Reeves will present the new UK Government’s first Budget. To help you explore its impact on you and your business, join our tax team the next day when we’ll be hosting our Autumn Budget 2024 webinar (31 October from 1:00pm). Look out for an invitation soon.
