Bath Accountants for Independent Businesses, Property Owners and Growing Organisations

Bath has a varied accountancy market serving sole traders, family businesses, hospitality operators, creative companies, property owners, charities, professional practices and established organisations across the city and the surrounding parts of Somerset and Wiltshire.

The appropriate accountant depends on the client’s legal structure, current financial responsibilities and plans for the future.

A sole trader may primarily require help maintaining digital records, identifying allowable expenses and completing an accurate Self Assessment return. A limited company will usually have additional obligations involving statutory accounts, Corporation Tax, payroll, VAT and filings at Companies House.

Company directors may also require advice concerning salary, dividends, pension contributions, benefits and the amount of cash that should remain available within the business.

The balance visible in a company bank account does not necessarily represent money that can safely be withdrawn or spent. Part of it may already be committed to VAT, Corporation Tax, payroll, suppliers, loan repayments or planned investment.

As an organisation grows, annual accounts become only one part of the financial information its owners require. Monthly or quarterly management accounts can help directors understand current profitability, margins, customer debts, overheads and future cash requirements.

A business can report an accounting profit while still experiencing cash-flow pressure. Customers may take several weeks to settle invoices, while employees, suppliers and tax authorities must be paid according to fixed timetables.

Growth can intensify that pressure where additional staff, equipment, stock or premises must be funded before the resulting income is received.

Bath’s visitor economy creates particular requirements for hotels, restaurants, cafés, attractions, independent retailers and other hospitality or leisure businesses.

These organisations may experience significant seasonal variation. Strong revenue during weekends, summer months, festivals and the Christmas period may need to support wages, rent, maintenance and other fixed costs throughout quieter trading periods.

Regular management information can help operators monitor occupancy, average customer spend, labour costs, food and beverage margins and the amount of cash that must be reserved for future liabilities.

Bath also has a substantial property economy involving landlords, developers, residential management companies, holiday accommodation and commercial premises.

Property clients may need advice concerning ownership structures, rental accounts, VAT, capital allowances, service-charge reporting, finance costs and taxes arising when a building is acquired, transferred or sold.

A decision to hold property personally, jointly, through a partnership or within a company can have long-term consequences. Advice is generally more useful before contracts are exchanged than after the purchase has been completed.

The city’s creative, technology and professional-services businesses can have different reporting requirements.

Agencies, architects, designers and consultants may need to understand profitability by project or client. Software and research-led businesses may require forecasts, investment support, employee share incentives and advice concerning research and development tax relief.

Bath’s charities, cultural organisations and educational bodies operate within reporting and governance frameworks that differ from those applying to ordinary commercial companies.

Their accountants may need to understand restricted funds, grants, reserves, trustee responsibilities and whether the organisation requires an independent examination or statutory audit.

Family and owner-managed businesses may require support extending beyond annual compliance.

Owners may need to consider remuneration, retained profits, investment, succession and the eventual sale or transfer of the company. Business valuation, tax and personal financial planning may need to be coordinated rather than treated as unrelated matters.

Internationally connected clients can face additional responsibilities involving overseas income, foreign subsidiaries, internationally mobile employees and transactions between connected companies.

The seven firms in this guide represent different parts of the Bath accountancy market.

JJS Accountants provides a highly personal service for limited-company directors, sole traders and owner-managed businesses, including a complete outsourced finance department.

ART Accountants supports startups, SMEs, charities and individuals through accounts, payroll, VAT, tax planning, forecasts and independent examinations.

Richardson Swift is Bath’s largest independent firm based solely in the city and provides accounting, audit, tax, finance-director, valuation, charity and private-client services.

Charlton Baker combines accounting, audit, payroll and tax with research and development, crypto taxation, wills, probate and wealth-related advice.

Moore Scarrott supports owner-managed businesses, entrepreneurs, professional practices and private clients through accounting, audit, tax, payroll, management reporting and succession planning.

Milsted Langdon offers broad independent expertise across accounting, audit, business and personal tax, international advice, corporate finance, forensic accounting and restructuring.

Bishop Fleming provides substantial regional capability for owner-managed companies, charities, education providers, public organisations, larger businesses and private clients requiring audit, tax, corporate finance or strategic advisory support.

No accountant can responsibly guarantee a predetermined tax saving, funding decision or commercial outcome without understanding the client’s complete circumstances.

Legitimate planning should reflect current legislation, reliable records and the wider commercial consequences of any proposed arrangement.

How we selected the accountants

The firms were considered according to their current Bath presence, professional credentials, published services, sector experience and the types of client they appear equipped to support.

The selection includes accountants working with:

• Sole traders and self-employed professionals
• Contractors and consultants
• Startups and small limited companies
• Owner-managed and family businesses
• Hospitality and tourism operators
• Creative and professional-services companies
• Technology and research-led businesses
• Landlords and property companies
• Construction businesses
• Charities and not-for-profit organisations
• Education and public-sector organisations
• Healthcare and other professional practices
• International companies
• Organisations requiring statutory audit
• Businesses raising finance
• Owners preparing for succession or a company sale
• Private clients with complex tax or estate-planning needs
• Businesses requiring restructuring, forensic or insolvency support

We also considered what each firm provides beyond annual accounts and tax returns.

Depending on the practice, this may include bookkeeping, payroll, management accounts, cash-flow forecasting, outsourced finance functions, statutory audit, charity independent examinations, business valuations, corporate finance, financial planning and international advice.

The firms are not presented as interchangeable.

Some are particularly accessible to sole traders and smaller companies wanting direct contact with one accountant. Others are structured for audited organisations, charities, larger businesses, international clients or assignments requiring several specialist teams.

JJS Accountants

JJS Accountants is an independent ICAEW chartered accountancy practice based on Queen Street in central Bath.

The firm works primarily with limited-company directors, sole traders and owner-managed businesses that want a direct relationship with a qualified accountant.

Its service covers annual accounts, Corporation Tax, Self Assessment, bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, the Construction Industry Scheme and Companies House compliance.

JJS also offers a complete outsourced finance department for companies that want one provider to manage their routine financial administration and reporting.

For a newly formed company, the firm can help establish the bookkeeping, payroll and compliance processes required from the beginning.

Directors need to understand that company money is legally separate from their personal finances. Amounts withdrawn may represent salary, dividends, expenses, loans or repayment of funds previously introduced into the business.

Each category has different accounting, tax and documentation requirements.

JJS prepares statutory accounts and Corporation Tax returns for limited companies. It can also maintain the records supporting those filings and handle correspondence from HMRC or Companies House.

The firm advises directors on remuneration, including the relationship between salary and dividends.

A dividend should only be declared where sufficient distributable profits exist. The decision should be supported by current financial information rather than the balance visible in the company’s bank account.

JJS provides bookkeeping and supports a range of cloud-accounting platforms, including Xero, FreeAgent, QuickBooks and Sage.

Clients do not necessarily need to replace their existing software. The firm can work with the system already in use where it remains appropriate and reliable.

Where no platform has been selected, the accountant can recommend and help configure one according to the company’s size, transaction volume and reporting needs.

The outsourced finance department is designed for owner-managed businesses that require more structure than an annual year-end service but do not want the cost and complexity of recruiting a complete internal finance team.

The service can include bookkeeping, payroll, VAT, monthly management reports, annual accounts, Corporation Tax and regular meetings.

Monthly management reporting can help owners understand how the business is performing throughout the year.

Reports may include a profit and loss account, balance sheet and information concerning cash, customer balances and upcoming liabilities.

The value lies in using these figures to make decisions about hiring, spending, pricing and growth before the year has ended.

JJS also manages payroll and workplace-pension responsibilities. This can include calculating wages, producing payslips and submitting Real Time Information reports to HMRC.

Its Construction Industry Scheme support may be useful to contractors and subcontractors requiring monthly reporting and accurate records of deductions.

The practice is led by a chartered accountant who remains directly involved in client accounts, returns and advisory work.

This may appeal to smaller and growing businesses wanting one principal professional contact rather than a service divided between several departments.

Services include

• Limited company accounts
• Corporation Tax
• Sole trader accounts
• Self Assessment
• Bookkeeping
• VAT returns
• Payroll
• Workplace pensions
• Construction Industry Scheme returns
• Companies House compliance
• Management accounts
• Monthly financial reporting
• Outsourced finance department
• Cloud-accounting support
• Director remuneration advice
• Dividend planning
• Registered-office support

Best suited to: Limited-company directors, sole traders and owner-managed businesses wanting direct chartered-accountant support or a complete outsourced finance department.

Pros:

• ICAEW chartered accountancy practice
• Central Queen Street office
• Direct founder involvement in client work
• Strong limited-company and director focus
• Provides bookkeeping, payroll, VAT and compliance
• Complete outsourced finance department available
• Monthly management reporting and meetings
• Works with Xero, FreeAgent, QuickBooks and Sage
• Supports both local and fully remote clients

Visit JJS Accountants

ART Accountants

ART Accountants is a firm of chartered certified accountants with an office on Manvers Street, a short distance from Bath Spa railway station.

The practice also maintains offices elsewhere in Bath and Wiltshire and supports individuals, startups, SMEs, charities and not-for-profit organisations.

Its services include accounts, tax planning, company formation, payroll, VAT, management accounts, forecasts, company secretarial support and charity independent examinations.

For a startup, ART can help the founders consider whether to operate as sole traders, a partnership, limited liability partnership or limited company.

The structure affects legal responsibility, tax, ownership, administration and how profits can be withdrawn.

The firm can also help establish a suitable bookkeeping system and explain the records that must be maintained.

ART prepares accounts for sole traders, partnerships, LLPs, limited companies, charities and other not-for-profit organisations.

Its service is flexible according to how much work the client wants to complete internally.

A business may provide fully maintained records or ask the firm to prepare the accounts from a less organised collection of invoices and receipts.

ART can also provide monthly, quarterly or annual bookkeeping support or temporary cover where the client’s usual bookkeeper is unavailable.

The firm supports Sage, QuickBooks Online, Xero, FreeAgent and other cloud solutions.

Choosing suitable software can improve the speed and reliability of the accounting process, but the platform should reflect the nature of the organisation.

A consultancy with relatively few transactions may need a simpler system than a retailer managing stock, cash, card payments and several sales channels.

ART emphasises reviewing the annual figures with clients before the accounts are finalised.

A face-to-face discussion can help identify income or expenses that may not be apparent from the accounting records alone and give the owner an opportunity to understand changes in performance.

The firm also prepares management accounts and forecasts.

These reports can help directors monitor profitability, cash flow and performance against expectations while there is still time to respond.

A forecast may be required when applying for finance, planning recruitment, moving premises or assessing the effect of a significant purchase.

ART provides payroll, VAT and Corporation Tax services.

The practice also offers business and personal tax planning. Advice may involve the timing of expenditure, remuneration, available allowances and the tax consequences of a proposed decision.

Charities that do not require a full statutory audit may need an independent examination.

ART provides charity independent examinations and can help trustees understand the financial statements and reporting obligations applying to the organisation.

Company secretarial support is available for limited companies requiring help with statutory records, confirmation statements and ownership or director changes.

The firm also offers fee-protection arrangements covering professional costs associated with qualifying HMRC enquiries.

Services include

• Sole trader and partnership accounts
• LLP and limited company accounts
• Charity and not-for-profit accounts
• Bookkeeping
• Temporary bookkeeping cover
• Management accounts
• Cash-flow forecasting
• Payroll
• VAT
• Corporation Tax
• Self Assessment
• Business-startup advice
• Company secretarial services
• Charity independent examinations
• Sage and QuickBooks support
• Xero and FreeAgent support
• Tax planning
• HMRC enquiry fee protection

Best suited to: Startups, SMEs and charities wanting flexible local support with accounts, bookkeeping, payroll, forecasting and tax planning.

Pros:

• Chartered certified accountancy firm
• Central Bath office near the railway station
• Supports different legal and organisational structures
• Flexible bookkeeping arrangements
• Management accounts and forecasting available
• Face-to-face accounts reviews included within its approach
• Charity independent-examination capability
• Supports several major accounting platforms
• Company secretarial and fee-protection services

Visit ART Accountants

Richardson Swift

Richardson Swift is Bath’s largest independent firm of chartered accountants and chartered tax advisers based solely within the city.

Its office is at Laura Place in central Bath, and the firm advises more than 500 businesses alongside charities, individuals and families.

The practice provides annual accounts, audit, cloud accounting, finance-director support, business valuations, tax consultancy, succession advice and private-client services.

Its position as an independent Bath-only practice gives it substantial local capability without operating as part of a wider national office network.

For an owner-managed business, the relationship can begin with annual accounts and tax compliance before developing into more regular financial and strategic support.

The firm helps clients maintain compliance while understanding the information contained within their accounts.

Annual figures can identify long-term trends, but business owners may require more current reporting to assess profitability, working capital and upcoming liabilities.

Richardson Swift provides cloud-accounting support and finance-director services tailored to the client’s requirements and budget.

An external finance director may help produce management reports, establish budgets, prepare forecasts and provide financial input into significant decisions.

This can suit a business that has grown beyond basic bookkeeping but is not ready to recruit a full-time senior finance professional.

The adviser may also help management understand whether growth is adequately funded and whether one part of the business performs more strongly than another.

Richardson Swift undertakes audit work for companies and charities requiring independent assurance.

An audit provides an opinion on whether the financial statements are materially accurate. The process can also identify issues involving accounting policies, financial controls and the quality of the underlying records.

The firm has a dedicated charity and not-for-profit service.

It prepares accounts under the Charity SORP and provides independent examinations and statutory audits according to the organisation’s requirements.

Charity trustees need financial information that distinguishes restricted and unrestricted funds and helps them understand reserves, cash flow and the organisation’s ability to continue delivering its activities.

Richardson Swift also provides business valuations.

A valuation may be required when selling a company, introducing or removing a shareholder, settling a dispute, planning succession or assessing the owner’s wider financial position.

The figure should reflect sustainable earnings, assets, liabilities, risk and the purpose for which the valuation is being prepared.

Business-sale and acquisition support is available for owners considering a transaction.

A seller may need to improve management reporting, explain adjustments to profit and organise information for financial due diligence.

A buyer may require independent analysis of the target company’s earnings, working capital and liabilities.

The firm’s chartered tax advisers support companies, individuals and families with business and personal tax matters.

Private-client services include inheritance tax, Capital Gains Tax, trusts, probate and international tax issues.

This can be particularly useful where a business owner’s company, property and family wealth need to be considered together.

Richardson Swift assigns clients a dedicated director and emphasises long-term advisory relationships rather than treating compliance as the complete service.

Services include

• Annual accounts
• Management information
• Cloud accounting
• Corporation Tax
• Business-tax planning
• Audit and assurance
• Charity accounts
• Independent examinations
• Charity audits
• Finance-director services
• Business valuations
• Business-sale support
• Acquisition advice
• Company succession and exit planning
• Personal tax
• Capital Gains Tax
• Inheritance tax
• Trusts and probate
• International tax advice

Best suited to: Ambitious owner-managed businesses, charities and private clients wanting substantial independent accounting and chartered-tax expertise based entirely in Bath.

Pros:

• Bath’s largest independent firm based solely in the city
• Advises more than 500 businesses
• Chartered accountants and chartered tax advisers
• Provides accounts, audit and finance-director support
• Dedicated charity and not-for-profit service
• Business-valuation and transaction capability
• Strong private-client, trust and probate expertise
• Dedicated director relationships
• Combines extensive local knowledge with broad technical capability

Visit Richardson Swift

Charlton Baker

Charlton Baker is a group of chartered accountants and tax advisers with a central Bath office on Old Bond Street.

Its Bath team provides accounting, audit, business tax, bookkeeping, payroll, business advisory, personal tax and research and development tax services.

Clients can also access specialist support concerning crypto taxation, wealth, wills and probate through the wider group.

For a smaller company, the service can include annual accounts, bookkeeping, payroll, VAT and Corporation Tax.

As the company grows, Charlton Baker can add management information and business-advisory support.

An owner-managed business may need to understand not only its annual profit but also how much cash is available, which customers owe money and whether the company can afford planned expenditure.

Regular financial information can help directors identify changes before they become visible in the next statutory accounts.

The firm’s bookkeeping and payroll services can reduce the amount of routine administration completed internally.

The company must still maintain appropriate approval controls and supply accurate information concerning employees, transactions and expenses.

Charlton Baker provides audit services for organisations requiring statutory or voluntary assurance.

The audit process may also highlight weaknesses in accounting records, processes or controls that management should consider.

Business and tax advisory extends into planning for growth, ownership and longer-term financial objectives.

A company considering expansion may require forecasts and advice on the tax consequences of investment, recruitment or restructuring.

The firm has a dedicated research and development tax service.

A valid claim should identify a qualifying advance in science or technology, explain the uncertainties addressed and connect eligible expenditure with the relevant project.

The relief may be relevant to software, engineering, manufacturing and other innovative businesses, but eligibility should be assessed according to the actual work performed.

Charlton Baker also provides specialist crypto tax services.

Individuals and businesses dealing with cryptoassets may need to identify disposals, income, gains, losses and transfers between wallets or platforms.

The tax treatment depends on the nature of the activity and the records available. Complete transaction histories are particularly important where several exchanges or wallets have been used.

Personal-tax services support individuals with Self Assessment, investments, property and more complex affairs.

The firm’s wealth, wills and probate service gives business owners access to connected advice concerning succession, estate planning and the administration of estates.

This can be useful where company shares form a substantial part of the family’s wealth and need to be considered within the owner’s will and inheritance planning.

Charlton Baker’s wider office network provides access to additional specialists while retaining a central Bath contact point.

Services include

• Annual accounts
• Bookkeeping
• Payroll
• VAT
• Corporation Tax
• Audit
• Business and tax advisory
• Management information
• Personal tax
• Research and development tax credits
• Crypto tax
• Wealth planning
• Will writing
• Probate
• Estate planning
• Business-owner advice
• Succession support

Best suited to: Owner-managed businesses and private clients wanting accounting and tax services alongside specialist crypto, innovation, wealth and estate advice.

Pros:

• Central Bath office on Old Bond Street
• Chartered accountancy and audit services
• Provides bookkeeping, payroll and business tax
• Dedicated research and development tax support
• Specialist crypto tax capability
• Personal-tax services for complex circumstances
• Connected wills and probate expertise
• Broader specialist resources through multiple regional offices

Visit Charlton Baker

Moore Scarrott

Moore Scarrott is an independent firm of chartered accountants and tax advisers with a Bath office at The Office Village in Peasedown St John.

The firm supports owner-managed businesses, entrepreneurs, professional practices and private clients across Bath, Somerset and the wider UK.

Its commercial services include accounting, tax, bookkeeping, payroll, management accounts, audit and strategic advisory support.

The firm’s approach is built around understanding the client’s business, objectives and personal circumstances before determining the service required.

For a smaller or established company, Moore Scarrott can provide annual accounts, tax returns, bookkeeping, VAT and payroll.

Management accounting is available for companies requiring more current information.

These reports can help owners understand revenue, margins, overheads, customer debts and available cash rather than relying only on the annual statutory accounts.

Moore Scarrott also advises business owners on structure and profit extraction.

A business may operate as a sole trader, partnership, limited liability partnership, limited company or through a more complex group.

The appropriate arrangement depends on commercial activity, ownership, risk, investment and longer-term objectives.

Profit-extraction planning considers how the owners take income from the business.

The accountant may assess salary, dividends, pension contributions and other arrangements while considering both business and personal taxation.

The objective should be an appropriate overall structure rather than reducing one tax liability without regard to cash flow or future plans.

The firm’s tax services include Corporation Tax, personal tax, VAT, Capital Gains Tax, inheritance tax and support with HMRC investigations.

Its VAT advisers can assist businesses dealing with property, international trade and other transactions where the treatment may be complex.

Research and development tax support is available to innovative businesses undertaking qualifying work.

Moore Scarrott also advises on SEIS and EIS where businesses are seeking external investment.

The conditions should be reviewed before shares are issued or agreements completed.

The firm supports professional practices as well as general commercial businesses.

Professional firms may require reporting on work in progress, partner or director remuneration, staff costs and profitability by client or department.

Moore Scarrott also assists clients preparing for succession or sale.

A successful exit often requires preparation over several years. Owners may need to strengthen management, reduce reliance on individual customers, improve recurring revenue and produce reliable management information.

Audit work is delivered through the regulated firm within the Moore Scarrott group.

The practice can therefore support clients as they progress from ordinary accounting compliance into more formal assurance requirements.

Services include

• Annual accounts
• Management accounts
• Bookkeeping
• Payroll
• VAT
• Corporation Tax
• Personal tax
• Business-structure advice
• Remuneration and profit-extraction planning
• Audit and assurance
• Research and development tax relief
• SEIS and EIS advice
• VAT advisory
• HMRC investigation support
• Property-tax advice
• Professional-practice accounting
• Succession and company-sale planning
• Private-client tax

Best suited to: Owner-managed businesses, entrepreneurs and professional practices wanting proactive accounting, tax and succession advice from an independent regional firm.

Pros:

• Independent chartered accountancy group
• Dedicated Bath-area office
• Supports businesses and private clients
• Provides accounting, payroll and management reporting
• Strong business-structure and remuneration advice
• Research and development, SEIS and EIS support
• Audit capability within the group
• Advises professional practices and entrepreneurs
• Focuses on succession and long-term owner objectives

Visit Moore Scarrott

Milsted Langdon

Milsted Langdon is an independent accountancy, tax and business-advisory firm with an office on Queen Street in central Bath.

Established in 1988, the firm also operates from Bristol, Taunton, Yeovil and London.

Its services include accounting, audit, business and personal tax, payroll, international advice, corporate finance, forensic accounting, company secretarial work and restructuring or insolvency.

For an owner-managed business, Milsted Langdon can provide statutory accounts, tax compliance and payroll while helping management develop more useful financial information.

The firm works with companies from startup through to established groups and significant transactions.

Management reporting can help directors assess current profitability, cash flow and performance against expectations.

A business preparing for growth, investment or acquisition may require detailed forecasts and a clearer understanding of its working-capital requirements.

Milsted Langdon provides statutory audit and assurance.

Its Bath office includes locally based audit and general-practice leadership, allowing clients to access senior professionals within the city.

An audit may involve companies, groups, charities or organisations whose shareholders, funders or governing documents require independent assurance.

More complex engagements can include several entities, stock, long-term contracts, pensions, valuations and international operations.

The firm’s business-tax service covers Corporation Tax compliance and more strategic advice.

Private clients can obtain assistance concerning income tax, Capital Gains Tax, inheritance tax, trusts and internationally mobile circumstances.

International advice may be especially relevant to Bath residents with overseas income or assets and businesses operating through foreign subsidiaries.

Cross-border matters can involve tax residence, double-tax agreements, transfer pricing and reporting obligations in more than one jurisdiction.

Milsted Langdon provides corporate-finance services through its wider transaction team.

The firm can support acquisitions, company sales, shareholder buyouts and fundraising.

A transaction may require valuation, financial modelling, tax planning and due diligence.

Forensic-accounting services are available where financial evidence is required for litigation, fraud investigations, disputes or matrimonial matters.

A forensic accountant must examine records objectively and explain the findings in a form that can be understood by lawyers, courts or other parties.

Milsted Langdon also has restructuring and insolvency specialists.

Businesses experiencing financial pressure may need help assessing cash flow, creditor arrangements, refinancing and available formal or informal procedures.

Advice obtained early can preserve more options than waiting until the company has exhausted its cash or received formal creditor action.

Company secretarial and payroll services are available for organisations wanting the firm to manage additional routine responsibilities.

Through MGI Worldwide, Milsted Langdon can coordinate assistance with independent advisers in other countries.

Services include

• Annual and management accounts
• Payroll and workplace pensions
• Statutory audit
• Audit and assurance
• Business tax
• Personal tax
• International tax
• Internationally mobile individual advice
• Corporate finance
• Acquisitions and company sales
• Shareholder buyouts
• Financial due diligence
• Forensic accounting
• Litigation and dispute support
• Business valuations
• Company secretarial services
• Restructuring
• Corporate and personal insolvency
• International network support

Best suited to: Established businesses, international clients and private individuals requiring independent audit, tax, transaction, forensic or restructuring expertise.

Pros:

• Central Bath office on Queen Street
• Independent South West firm established in 1988
• Broad accounting, audit and tax capability
• Locally based audit leadership
• Corporate-finance and transaction support
• Specialist forensic-accounting team
• Business-restructuring and insolvency capability
• International and private-client tax expertise
• International connections through MGI Worldwide

Visit Milsted Langdon

Bishop Fleming

Bishop Fleming is a large regional firm of accountants, auditors, tax advisers and business advisers with a Bath office at The Colonnades on Bath Street.

The office supports owner-managed businesses, SMEs, larger companies, charities, education providers, public-sector organisations, entrepreneurs and private individuals.

Its services include accounting, external and internal audit, tax, corporate finance, valuations, outsourced finance, management information, restructuring and international support.

For an owner-managed company, Bishop Fleming can provide annual accounts, Corporation Tax, payroll, management information and wider business advice.

Its accounting service can support organisations throughout different stages of development, from routine compliance to growth, succession or a substantial transaction.

Management information can help owners assess current performance and identify whether decisions are producing the expected financial result.

A hospitality company may need reports concerning occupancy, wages and gross margins, while a property or construction business may focus on project profitability, work in progress and funding commitments.

Bishop Fleming provides external audit through its dedicated audit entity.

Its audit clients include businesses, charities, schools and other organisations requiring independent assurance.

The firm also offers internal audit and risk assurance.

Internal audit may examine processes, governance, controls and operational risks selected according to the organisation’s priorities.

This can be valuable to larger charities, education providers, housing organisations and public bodies with formal accountability structures.

Bishop Fleming has established sector teams across charities, education, hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate, technology, transport and the public sector.

Its charity specialists understand the reporting and governance requirements applying to not-for-profit organisations.

Education clients can include academies, schools and other providers requiring audit, financial reporting and advice concerning controls or public funding.

The firm’s technology team can support innovative businesses with accounts, tax, investment and international development.

Food, drink, hospitality and leisure clients can obtain assistance with reporting, audit, employment matters and tax.

Bishop Fleming’s corporate-finance specialists advise on buying, selling, funding and valuing businesses.

Owners preparing for succession or exit may require valuation, financial modelling and support presenting the business to potential buyers.

A purchaser may need financial due diligence to understand sustainable earnings, debt, working capital and potential liabilities.

The firm’s tax capability covers corporate, personal, employment, international, real-estate and indirect-tax matters.

Its private-client services include Capital Gains Tax, inheritance tax, trusts and probate.

This can help business owners coordinate company decisions with family wealth and estate planning.

Restructuring specialists support companies facing financial or operational pressure.

International services are available through the firm’s wider organisation and its membership of Kreston Global.

The breadth of the Bath office and wider firm makes Bishop Fleming particularly relevant where a client expects to require several professional disciplines over time.

Services include

• Annual accounts
• Management information
• Outsourced finance solutions
• External audit
• Internal audit and risk assurance
• Charity and not-for-profit services
• Education and public-sector services
• Corporation Tax
• Personal tax
• VAT and indirect tax
• Employment taxes
• International tax
• Real-estate tax
• Technology and innovation support
• Hospitality and leisure accounting
• Manufacturing services
• Corporate finance
• Funding advisory
• Business valuations
• Financial due diligence
• Succession and exit planning
• Restructuring
• Trusts and probate
• International support

Best suited to: Growing businesses, charities, education providers and larger organisations requiring broad regional audit, tax, transaction and strategic-advisory capability.

Pros:

• Central Bath office at The Colonnades
• More than 100 years of wider firm experience
• Supports SMEs through to large organisations
• Extensive external and internal-audit capability
• Strong charity, education and public-sector teams
• Broad sector expertise
• Dedicated corporate-finance and valuation services
• Outsourced finance and management-information support
• Comprehensive corporate and private-client tax capability
• International reach through Kreston Global

Visit Bishop Fleming Bath

Which Bath accountant should you choose?

The appropriate firm depends on the client’s size, sector, internal resources and expected development.

JJS Accountants is a practical option for limited-company directors, sole traders and smaller owner-managed businesses wanting direct access to a chartered accountant.

Its outsourced finance department is particularly relevant to businesses wanting bookkeeping, payroll, VAT, management reporting and annual compliance managed through one provider.

ART Accountants may suit startups, SMEs and charities wanting flexible bookkeeping, payroll, forecasts and face-to-face discussion of their annual figures.

Its independent-examination service is useful for charities that require external scrutiny but not a full statutory audit.

Richardson Swift provides one of the strongest independent Bath-only offerings.

Its accounting, audit, finance-director, valuation, charity and private-client teams can support business owners whose commercial and family financial affairs are closely connected.

Charlton Baker may suit businesses and individuals wanting accounting and tax combined with specialist services involving research and development, cryptoassets, wills, probate and estate planning.

Moore Scarrott is particularly relevant to owner-managed businesses, entrepreneurs and professional practices wanting proactive tax, remuneration and succession advice alongside routine accounting.

Milsted Langdon has broad independent capability across audit, international tax, corporate finance, forensic accounting and restructuring.

It may suit established businesses and private clients whose requirements extend beyond ordinary compliance.

Bishop Fleming provides the broadest regional infrastructure among the firms in this guide.

Its Bath office can support owner-managed businesses, charities, education providers, public organisations and larger companies requiring several audit, tax, transaction or strategic-advisory disciplines.

Before appointing an accountant, the client should establish precisely what is included within the quoted fee.

Bookkeeping, payroll, VAT returns, annual accounts, Corporation Tax, Self Assessment, management reporting, audit and advisory meetings may be priced as separate services.

The engagement should identify who is responsible for maintaining records, approving transactions and supplying information.

Outsourcing bookkeeping or the wider finance function does not remove the directors’ responsibility for understanding the company’s financial position and maintaining appropriate controls.

Businesses requesting management accounts should agree what the reports will contain and how quickly they will be delivered after each month or quarter.

A hotel or restaurant may require information concerning labour, occupancy and gross margins, while an agency may need profitability by client or project.

Property owners should appoint advisers familiar with ownership structures, VAT, rental accounts, capital allowances and taxes arising when assets are acquired or sold.

Construction businesses may require direct experience with the Construction Industry Scheme, retentions, project reporting and the VAT domestic reverse charge.

Technology and research-led companies should discuss research and development relief, SEIS, EIS and employee incentives before claims, investments or share issues are completed.

Charities should establish whether they require accounts preparation, an independent examination or statutory audit.

They should also ensure that the proposed team understands restricted funds, trustee duties, reserves and the Charity SORP.

International businesses and individuals should confirm whether the firm can coordinate overseas reporting, cross-border tax and advice from professionals in other jurisdictions.

Family-business owners should begin succession discussions before an immediate transfer becomes necessary.

Ownership, management, tax and the financial security of the existing owners may need to be considered over several years.

Companies planning investment, acquisition, employee ownership or sale should obtain advice early.

Reliable management information, organised statutory records and clearly documented ownership can materially improve the speed and credibility of due diligence.

Businesses facing financial pressure should also seek advice before the position becomes critical.

The number of realistic refinancing, restructuring or recovery options may reduce as cash is exhausted and creditor action becomes more advanced.

The strongest accountancy relationship is one in which the adviser understands how the organisation operates, produces useful information at the right time and explains the financial consequences of important decisions before those decisions become difficult to change.

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