Dundee Accountants for Digital Businesses, Rural Enterprises and Growing Organisations

Dundee has one of Scotland’s most distinctive business economies, combining an internationally recognised gaming and digital sector with life sciences, healthcare, education, manufacturing, food and drink, construction and a substantial rural economy across Angus, Perthshire and the wider Tayside region.

The city’s accountancy market reflects this variety.

A freelance designer, independent contractor or landlord may need straightforward digital bookkeeping and tax compliance. A growing technology company may require management accounts, forecasts, investment support and employee share advice.

A manufacturer may need reliable stock, production and margin reporting, while a farm or family business may require long-term succession planning involving land, trading assets and several generations.

The appropriate accountant therefore depends on more than the client’s turnover or legal structure.

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

Company directors may also need advice concerning salary, dividends, pension contributions, employee 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The balance visible in a company bank account does not necessarily represent money that can safely be withdrawn or spent.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.

Directors must also distinguish company money from personal income. Amounts taken from the business may represent salary, dividends, expenses, loans or the repayment of funds previously introduced into the company.

Each category has different accounting, tax and documentation requirements.

As an organisation develops, annual accounts become only one part of the financial information its directors require.

Monthly or quarterly management accounts can help leadership understand current profitability, margins, customer debts, stock, recurring revenue, overheads and future cash requirements.

A business can report an accounting profit while still experiencing significant cash-flow pressure.

Customers may take several weeks to settle invoices, while employees, suppliers, lenders and tax authorities must be paid according to fixed timetables.

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

Investment-backed businesses can face a different financial challenge.

A company may hold substantial cash after a funding round while continuing to operate at a monthly loss. Its directors and investors therefore need to monitor burn rate, available runway and progress against the assumptions presented during the investment process.

Dundee’s gaming and digital economy creates particularly specialist accounting requirements.

Games studios, software companies, creative agencies and digital-service businesses may earn income through development contracts, subscriptions, licence fees, downloadable products, platform distributions, advertising or international publishing arrangements.

Their accounting systems may need to distinguish recurring revenue from one-off projects while dealing with deferred income, platform commissions, foreign currencies and development expenditure.

A gaming company may also receive income after a distributor, marketplace or platform has deducted commissions, refunds, taxes or other charges.

The accounts should reconcile gross sales and contractual revenue with the net amount deposited into the company’s bank account.

Project-based studios may incur employee and contractor costs for months before a milestone payment becomes due.

Management reporting can help directors understand the profitability of individual projects and whether the company has enough working capital to complete the contracted work.

Technology and research-led companies may require advice concerning research and development tax relief, Patent Box, investment schemes and employee share incentives.

Eligibility should not be assumed simply because the business operates in software, gaming, engineering or life sciences.

A qualifying research and development claim must identify an advance in science or technology, explain the uncertainties encountered and connect eligible expenditure with the work undertaken.

Technical and financial evidence should be maintained while the project is active rather than reconstructed entirely after the accounting period has ended.

Employee share arrangements can help growing companies recruit and retain important people where cash salaries are constrained.

The company should obtain advice before options or shares are promised because the tax treatment and reporting requirements depend on the structure, valuation, timing and eligibility of the participants.

Dundee’s universities and research institutions also support biotechnology, healthcare, medical technology and other scientific ventures.

These businesses can remain pre-revenue for extended periods while depending on grants, investors and commercial partnerships.

Their financial reporting may need to distinguish expenditure by research programme, funding source or legal entity while giving directors a clear view of cash runway and future financing requirements.

Grant-funded organisations may need independent assurance that expenditure has been incurred according to the conditions of the award.

This can involve reviewing invoices, payroll records, timesheets, procurement and the allocation of shared costs between projects.

Manufacturing remains an important part of the wider Dundee and Tayside economy.

Manufacturers and engineering businesses may need information concerning raw materials, work in progress, finished stock, machinery investment and profitability by product, customer or contract.

Stock should be valued consistently, with obsolete or damaged items identified.

An overstated stock balance can make the company appear more profitable than it is and distort both management decisions and tax calculations.

Businesses investing in machinery, production facilities or technical development may require advice concerning capital allowances and innovation-related tax relief.

The financial case for an investment should consider funding, maintenance, energy, staffing and expected capacity as well as the immediate tax treatment.

Food and drink producers can face additional issues involving agricultural inputs, processing costs, waste, finished stock, distribution and margins by product or customer.

Hospitality and leisure businesses may need reporting concerning bookings, occupancy, payroll, food costs and seasonal cash flow.

Dundee also serves a substantial agricultural and rural economy extending through Angus, Perthshire and the wider surrounding region.

Farms, estates and diversified rural enterprises can require specialist advice concerning land, livestock, crops, machinery, partnerships and succession between generations.

A farm’s performance cannot always be assessed from one year’s profit alone.

Weather, commodity prices, input costs, support arrangements and the timing of livestock or crop sales can create significant variation between accounting periods.

Many rural businesses now combine farming with renewable energy, contracting, holiday accommodation, property rental, events, forestry or commercial units.

Separate management reporting can help owners understand which activities produce sustainable returns and which depend on financial support from elsewhere within the organisation.

Succession is frequently one of the most important matters facing agricultural and family businesses.

The owners may need to decide who will manage the operation, who will own the land and trading assets and how family members who are not involved in the business will be treated.

Tax reliefs remain relevant, but the wider structure should first reflect the commercial objectives and financial security of the family.

Property and construction businesses face further requirements involving Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, VAT, capital allowances, financing and the Construction Industry Scheme.

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 purchase contracts and finance arrangements are completed than after the transaction has become legally binding.

Construction contractors may experience substantial differences between reported profit and available cash because of staged billing, retentions and delayed customer payments.

Management information should identify the amount tied up in work in progress and customer debts as well as the accounting profit reported on each project.

Charities, social enterprises, schools and other not-for-profit organisations 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.

The Scottish tax system creates further considerations for individuals and business owners.

Scottish taxpayers can be subject to different income-tax bands and rates from taxpayers elsewhere in the UK, while Scottish property transactions are normally governed by Land and Buildings Transaction Tax rather than Stamp Duty Land Tax.

The accountant should therefore understand the client’s residence, sources of income, business ownership and the location of relevant property.

The seven firms in this guide represent different parts of Dundee’s accountancy market.

Ashton McGill provides a modern, performance-led accounting service for ambitious founders and growing businesses wanting tailored systems, regular reporting and commercial insight.

Findlays Chartered Accountants offers independent owner-managed support across accounting, tax, audit, payroll and cloud systems from offices in Dundee and Arbroath.

Walker Dunnett & Co combines chartered accountancy and independent financial advice, allowing businesses and private clients to coordinate accounting, tax, pensions, investments and succession.

MMG Chartered Accountants supports SMEs, technology businesses, charities and individuals through accounting, audit, tax, payroll, online systems, virtual finance services and wealth management.

EQ Chartered Accountants provides substantial independent capability across accounting, audit, payroll, tax and specialist sectors including agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, property, technology and charities.

Henderson Loggie is a longstanding independent Dundee-headquartered firm offering accounting, audit, tax, payroll, corporate finance, business recovery, digital advisory and specialist support for charities, games businesses and larger organisations.

Johnston Carmichael combines a major Dundee presence with the resources of Scotland’s largest independent chartered accountancy and business-advisory firm, covering accounting, audit, tax, restructuring, payroll, employment matters and succession.

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

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

How we selected the accountants

The firms were considered according to their current Dundee 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 independent professionals
• Startups and small limited companies
• Owner-managed and family businesses
• Gaming studios and digital companies
• Software and technology businesses
• Life-science and healthcare organisations
• Manufacturers and engineering companies
• Farms and agricultural partnerships
• Rural estates and diversified land businesses
• Food and drink producers
• Property investors and developers
• Construction contractors and subcontractors
• Hospitality and leisure operators
• Charities and social enterprises
• Schools and educational organisations
• Professional practices
• International businesses
• Organisations requiring statutory audit
• Companies raising debt or equity finance
• Owners preparing for succession or a business sale
• Organisations requiring restructuring or insolvency advice

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

Depending on the practice, this may include bookkeeping, payroll, management accounts, business dashboards, cash-flow forecasting, outsourced finance, statutory and grant audit, corporate finance, pensions, investments, wealth management and restructuring.

The firms are not presented as interchangeable.

Some are particularly accessible to founders and smaller owner-managed companies wanting regular commercial input.

Others are structured for substantial audits, charities, international organisations, rural estates and transactions requiring several specialist teams.

Ashton McGill

Ashton McGill is a modern accountancy practice based in Dundee and focused on ambitious founders and growing businesses.

The firm positions its service around improving how business owners understand and use financial information rather than limiting the relationship to annual accounts and tax filings.

Its approach combines tailored accounting systems, regular performance reporting, key financial metrics and ongoing commercial discussions.

This may be particularly relevant to Dundee’s gaming studios, creative companies, technology businesses, food and drink producers and other founder-led organisations whose financial needs develop quickly.

For a startup or growing company, Ashton McGill can review the existing bookkeeping setup and redesign it around the way the business actually operates.

A standard chart of accounts may record income and expenditure accurately enough for tax purposes while failing to show the information management needs.

A project-based business may need reporting by client or contract. A subscription company may require recurring-revenue and customer-retention metrics, while a hospitality or food business may need margins by product or location.

The firm works with Xero and connected digital systems to create a more integrated financial process.

This can include bank feeds, invoicing, expense management, payment systems and regular reporting.

Software should reduce duplicated work and make useful information available sooner.

It does not remove the need for reconciliations, controls and professional review.

Transactions still need to be classified correctly, unusual balances investigated and records retained to support the accounts and tax returns.

Ashton McGill provides regular performance reports rather than relying solely on retrospective year-end information.

These reports can help owners understand profitability, cash flow, customer debts and the financial drivers that matter most to the business.

A games studio may need to understand development expenditure, contract milestones and runway.

A brewing or food company may focus on production costs, stock and gross margins.

An agency may require profitability by client, team or project.

The service is intended to help business owners become more confident using financial information.

An accountant can explain what has changed, why cash differs from profit and how planned decisions may affect the company over the following months.

This can be especially useful when the business is considering recruitment, new premises, investment or changes to pricing.

Ashton McGill has worked with recognised Dundee and Scottish founder-led businesses, including companies in the creative, technology and food and drink sectors.

Its public case studies demonstrate experience redesigning accounting systems and producing more meaningful information for management.

The firm’s style may appeal to businesses that have outgrown a basic compliance accountant but do not yet require the audit, corporate-finance and international departments of a large multidisciplinary practice.

Services include

• Accounting-system design
• Xero implementation and improvement
• Bookkeeping processes
• Management accounts
• Performance dashboards
• Key-performance indicators
• Cash-flow reporting
• Financial forecasting
• Profitability analysis
• Project and client reporting
• Founder and management support
• Business-growth advice
• Year-end accounts
• Corporation Tax compliance
• Finance-process reviews

Best suited to: Ambitious founders, creative businesses, technology companies and growing SMEs wanting tailored systems and regular commercial insight.

Pros:

• Modern Dundee-based accountancy practice
• Clear founder and growth-business focus
• Tailored rather than standardised accounting systems
• Regular performance reporting
• Strong Xero and digital-process capability
• Emphasis on understandable financial information
• Relevant creative, gaming and food-business experience
• Helps owners identify the metrics driving performance
• Commercially engaged relationship model

Visit Ashton McGill

Findlays Chartered Accountants

Findlays is an independent, owner-managed firm of chartered accountants with offices in Dundee and Arbroath.

The practice supports individuals, sole traders, partnerships, family businesses and limited companies across Dundee, Angus and the wider Tayside region.

Its services include annual accounts, tax, audit, payroll, VAT, bookkeeping, cloud accounting and general business advice.

The firm’s independent structure and two-office regional presence may appeal to clients wanting direct relationships with advisers who understand both Dundee’s urban economy and the surrounding Angus business community.

For a startup, Findlays can help the owners consider the appropriate legal structure and establish the necessary accounting and tax registrations.

A sole trader and limited company have different responsibilities concerning legal liability, ownership, tax and administration.

A limited company must keep separate records, prepare statutory accounts and submit a Corporation Tax return.

Directors also need to understand how salary, dividends, expenses and loans are recorded.

Findlays prepares accounts and tax returns for different business structures.

The practice can also maintain bookkeeping records or work with information prepared by the client.

Regular bookkeeping makes it easier to understand customer balances, supplier liabilities, cash and upcoming tax commitments.

It also gives the accountant a stronger basis for producing management information before the annual accounts are completed.

The firm supports cloud accounting and holds Xero partner status.

A cloud platform can connect bank transactions, invoicing, expenses and financial reporting while allowing the business and accountant to work from the same records.

The system should be configured around the client’s activity.

A farm, retailer and consultancy may all require different account categories and reporting structures.

Findlays provides payroll and VAT support.

Payroll outsourcing can reduce routine administration, but employers remain responsible for supplying accurate information concerning employees, wages, benefits, statutory leave and workplace pensions.

VAT advice may include registration, return preparation and support selecting a suitable accounting method.

Property, international and partially exempt activities can require more detailed consideration than an ordinary quarterly return.

The firm can undertake audit work for organisations whose size, ownership, governing documents or stakeholders require independent financial assurance.

Audit capability allows Findlays to continue supporting clients as their businesses and reporting requirements develop.

Findlays’ regional client base can include family enterprises, trades, retailers, professional practices, agricultural businesses and other SMEs.

Family businesses may require advice concerning ownership, remuneration and succession as well as ordinary compliance.

The firm’s owner-managed structure may make it particularly suitable to clients who value continuity and practical discussion with advisers familiar with running an independent business themselves.

Services include

• Business-startup support
• Sole trader accounts
• Partnership accounts
• Limited company accounts
• Corporation Tax
• Self Assessment
• Bookkeeping
• Payroll
• VAT
• Xero cloud accounting
• Management information
• Audit and assurance
• Business-tax planning
• Personal-tax planning
• Family-business advice
• Succession support
• General business advisory

Best suited to: Owner-managed companies, family businesses and individuals wanting broad independent accounting and tax support across Dundee and Angus.

Pros:

• Independent owner-managed practice
• Offices in Dundee and Arbroath
• ICAS chartered accountancy firm
• Xero partner capability
• Provides accounts, tax, payroll and VAT
• Audit and assurance support
• Serves several business and personal structures
• Strong Tayside and Angus knowledge
• Relationship-led regional service

Visit Findlays Chartered Accountants

Walker Dunnett & Co

Walker Dunnett & Co is a firm of chartered accountants and independent financial advisers with offices in Dundee and Carnoustie.

The practice supports businesses, families and individuals through accounting, tax, payroll, business advice and personal financial planning.

Its combination of chartered accountancy and independent financial advice allows clients to consider business compliance and personal financial objectives through connected professional relationships.

For a sole trader, partnership or company, Walker Dunnett can prepare annual accounts and the associated tax returns.

The firm can also provide bookkeeping, VAT and payroll support according to the client’s internal resources.

A smaller business may outsource the complete accounting process, while an established organisation may maintain its own books and use the firm for review, year-end accounts and advisory work.

Current records allow business owners to monitor customer debts, supplier liabilities and upcoming tax payments.

They also make it easier to produce management accounts or forecasts where the client needs financial information during the year.

For owner-managed companies, corporate and personal finances are often closely connected.

The company may provide salary, dividends, pension contributions and other benefits while retaining part of its profit to fund future growth.

The appropriate balance depends on the company’s cash position, the owner’s wider income and longer-term plans.

Walker Dunnett’s independent financial advisers can support clients with pensions, investments, protection and retirement planning.

This can be particularly useful where the owner’s financial security depends heavily on the value of the business and the income it can generate.

A succession or company-sale plan should consider how the ownership transfer will be funded and whether the expected proceeds will support the existing owner’s retirement.

The firm can also assist families and private clients whose affairs involve investments, property or inherited wealth.

Scottish taxpayers may require advice reflecting Scottish income-tax rates and bands.

Property transactions can involve Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, while disposals may produce Capital Gains Tax considerations.

Walker Dunnett’s Dundee and Carnoustie presence may also make it relevant to businesses and families operating across Dundee, Angus and nearby coastal communities.

Its integrated service is particularly suited to clients who want accounting, tax and personal financial planning to be considered together rather than managed by entirely separate providers.

Services include

• Sole trader and partnership accounts
• Limited company accounts
• Corporation Tax
• Self Assessment
• Bookkeeping
• Payroll
• VAT
• Management information
• Business planning
• Corporate and personal tax advice
• Pensions
• Investments
• Financial protection
• Retirement planning
• Business-owner financial planning
• Succession support
• Private-client services

Best suited to: Owner-managed businesses, families and private clients wanting accounting, tax and independent financial advice through one regional practice.

Pros:

• Chartered accountants and independent financial advisers
• Offices in Dundee and Carnoustie
• Combines business and personal financial advice
• Provides accounts, tax, VAT and payroll
• Pension and investment expertise
• Retirement and succession planning
• Suitable for family and owner-managed businesses
• Strong regional accessibility
• Emphasis on helping clients understand the advice

Visit Walker Dunnett & Co

MMG Chartered Accountants

MMG Chartered Accountants is a longstanding Scottish practice with a significant presence in Dundee and other offices across the region.

The firm has approximately a century of history within Tayside’s business community and supports companies, charities, individuals and families through accountancy, audit, tax, payroll, online accounting, business support and wealth management.

Its Dundee relationships include technology, gaming, professional-services and family-run businesses.

For a smaller company, MMG can provide annual accounts, Corporation Tax, bookkeeping, payroll, VAT and company secretarial support.

As the organisation grows, the service can expand into management accounts, Virtual Finance support, audit, tax planning and wealth management.

This allows a business to retain one principal adviser as its financial requirements become more developed.

MMG’s online-accounting services can help clients introduce or improve cloud software.

Digital systems can connect bank feeds, sales, purchases, expenses and reporting.

The system should be designed around the company’s operations rather than used only as a place to store transactions.

A games company may require reporting by development project or product, while a multi-site service business may need results by venue or location.

MMG provides payroll services to businesses with different levels of complexity.

A growing employer may have several payrolls, variable workers, pension responsibilities and benefits requiring accurate processing and reporting.

Outsourcing payroll can reduce administrative pressure and provide continuity where the client does not maintain a sufficiently resourced internal payroll team.

The firm’s Virtual Finance service can support businesses requiring more than bookkeeping and annual accounts.

This may include regular management reporting, budgets, cash-flow forecasts and assistance interpreting results.

An external finance team can help a growing company strengthen its reporting without immediately recruiting every role internally.

Management must still retain appropriate approval controls and understand the figures used to make decisions.

MMG undertakes audit and assurance work for companies, charities and other organisations requiring independent scrutiny.

An audit can involve assessing financial-reporting risks, testing transactions and balances and reviewing the evidence supporting significant estimates.

It can also identify weaknesses in processes or controls that management may wish to address.

The firm’s technology and gaming experience is demonstrated through its work with Dundee-based software and games businesses.

These companies may require support with payroll, international group reporting, project expenditure and the financial systems needed during rapid growth.

MMG’s tax services cover businesses and individuals.

Advice may involve Corporation Tax, remuneration, property, Capital Gains Tax, inheritance tax and succession.

Its wealth-management service enables business owners and private clients to consider investments, pensions and retirement alongside accounting and tax matters.

The combination of Tayside history, digital capability and wider specialist services may suit businesses wanting an established Dundee adviser with resources extending beyond ordinary compliance.

Services include

• Annual accounts
• Management accounts
• Bookkeeping
• Online and cloud accounting
• Payroll
• VAT
• Corporation Tax
• Personal tax
• Company secretarial services
• Virtual Finance support
• Cash-flow forecasting
• Audit and assurance
• Business-growth advice
• Technology and gaming-company support
• Charity accounting
• Tax planning
• Wealth management
• Pensions and investments
• Succession and retirement planning

Best suited to: Growing SMEs, technology businesses, charities and private clients requiring accounting, audit, outsourced finance and wealth-management support.

Pros:

• Approximately 100 years of Tayside history
• Significant Dundee presence
• Broad accounting, audit and tax services
• Virtual Finance capability
• Online-accounting and payroll support
• Experience with Dundee gaming and technology companies
• Supports charities and owner-managed businesses
• Connected wealth-management service
• Large combined pool of professional experience

Visit MMG Chartered Accountants

EQ Chartered Accountants

EQ Chartered Accountants is one of Scotland’s larger independent accountancy and business-advisory firms, with a Dundee office at City Quay.

The wider firm employs more than 200 colleagues and works predominantly with SMEs, families, charities and private clients.

Its services include accounting, payroll, bookkeeping, tax, audit and assurance.

EQ also maintains specialist teams across agriculture, healthcare, leisure, engineering and manufacturing, professional practices, property and construction, technology and charities.

For an owner-managed business, EQ can provide annual accounts, Corporation Tax, bookkeeping, VAT and payroll.

The relationship can expand as the company develops into management reporting, audit, research and development advice, transaction support and succession planning.

The breadth of the practice allows clients to draw on sector and technical specialists without necessarily moving to a large multinational firm.

EQ’s accounting service can provide management information and outsourced financial support as well as year-end accounts.

A business may require bookkeeping and payroll during its early stage before introducing monthly management accounts, budgets and cash-flow forecasts.

Current reports can help directors understand whether sales growth is generating profit and whether the company has enough working capital to fund its plans.

The firm undertakes statutory audit and assurance work.

Its clients include commercial companies, charities and organisations requiring independent financial scrutiny.

An audit provides an opinion on the financial statements and can also identify issues involving controls, financial systems and the reliability of information supplied to management.

EQ’s agriculture practice is a significant part of its wider service.

The team includes professionals with direct knowledge of farming and rural enterprises.

Agricultural clients may require advice concerning accounts, land, livestock, machinery, diversification, tax and succession.

The transfer of a farm or rural estate can involve business assets, property, family relationships and the retirement requirements of the existing generation.

EQ’s engineering and manufacturing team can assist companies with stock, production reporting, capital allowances, innovation and investment.

Manufacturers may need management information showing margins by product or contract and the amount of money tied up in raw materials and work in progress.

Technology companies can obtain advice concerning accounting systems, research and development, investment and growth.

Healthcare specialists support medical professionals and practices, while property and construction teams advise on structures, VAT, capital expenditure and project activity.

Charities can use EQ for accounts, audit, payroll, tax and governance-related financial reporting.

The firm’s tax specialists advise businesses, owners and families.

Advice can involve Corporation Tax, personal tax, trusts, succession and transactions.

EQ’s size and sector breadth make it particularly relevant to established SMEs and families wanting substantial independent capability through a Dundee-based team.

Services include

• Annual and management accounts
• Bookkeeping
• Payroll
• VAT
• Corporation Tax
• Personal tax
• Tax planning
• Audit and assurance
• Agricultural accounting
• Rural succession planning
• Healthcare accounting
• Engineering and manufacturing support
• Property and construction services
• Technology-company advice
• Charity and not-for-profit services
• Research and development tax support
• Financial forecasting
• Business-growth support
• Transaction and succession advice

Best suited to: Established SMEs, farms, manufacturers, healthcare professionals and charities requiring substantial independent accounting and sector expertise.

Pros:

• Dundee office at City Quay
• One of Scotland’s larger independent accountancy firms
• More than 200 colleagues across the wider practice
• Strong SME focus
• Comprehensive accounting, payroll and audit services
• Leading agriculture and rural-business capability
• Manufacturing, technology and healthcare specialists
• Property, construction and charity expertise
• Research and development tax support
• Broad tax and succession-planning resources

Visit EQ Chartered Accountants

Henderson Loggie

Henderson Loggie is an independent Scottish firm of chartered accountants and business advisers whose head office is located in Dundee’s Vision Building.

The practice was founded in Dundee in 1909 and now employs more than 190 partners and staff across Dundee, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Its clients range from self-employed entrepreneurs and owner-managed companies to charities, public-sector bodies and multinational organisations.

The firm provides accounting, audit, tax, payroll, corporate finance, business recovery, digital advisory and financial-planning support.

For a small or growing business, Henderson Loggie can provide year-end accounts, bookkeeping, cloud accounting, payroll, VAT and Corporation Tax.

Its accounting team can also prepare management reports and forecasts where directors require current information during the year.

A company may begin with relatively straightforward compliance and later require outsourced finance, statutory audit or specialist tax support.

The practice’s breadth allows this development to take place within one firm.

Henderson Loggie undertakes statutory audit and independent assurance work.

Its Dundee team supports commercial businesses, charities, public organisations and larger groups.

An audit engagement involves understanding the organisation, identifying financial-reporting risks and testing the evidence supporting material balances and transactions.

Complex assignments can involve group structures, international operations, grant funding, pension arrangements and significant accounting estimates.

The firm has a recognised presence within Scotland’s games and creative sectors.

Gaming and digital businesses may require support with project accounting, revenue recognition, international transactions, research and development and investment.

A studio undertaking several projects needs reliable information concerning staff costs, contractor expenditure, development milestones and available cash runway.

Henderson Loggie’s business-advisory and digital teams can help organisations improve systems, reporting and operational processes.

A growing company may need to shorten its monthly reporting timetable, introduce more reliable dashboards or strengthen financial controls.

Cybersecurity and digital risks can also have accounting consequences where weaknesses affect customer systems, payment processes or the reliability of financial data.

Corporate-finance services support companies considering acquisitions, fundraising, management buyouts and company sales.

A purchaser may require due diligence analysing sustainable earnings, working capital, debt and potential liabilities.

A seller may need assistance preparing reliable financial information and resolving weaknesses before buyer scrutiny begins.

Henderson Loggie also provides business-recovery and insolvency services.

Directors facing financial pressure can obtain advice concerning cash flow, creditor positions, restructuring and formal procedures.

Early intervention may preserve more options than waiting until available funds have been exhausted.

The firm’s tax teams advise companies, private clients and internationally active businesses.

Services can involve Corporation Tax, employment taxes, VAT, research and development, private-client planning and cross-border matters.

Through PrimeGlobal, Henderson Loggie can coordinate assistance with independent advisers in other countries.

Services include

• Annual accounts
• Bookkeeping
• Cloud accounting
• Management reporting
• Payroll
• VAT
• Audit and assurance
• Corporation Tax
• Personal tax
• Employment taxes
• Research and development advice
• Games and creative-sector accounting
• Charity and public-sector services
• Digital advisory
• Cybersecurity support
• Corporate finance
• Financial due diligence
• Acquisitions and company sales
• Business recovery
• Restructuring and insolvency
• International coordination
• Financial planning

Best suited to: Gaming businesses, charities, substantial owner-managed companies and international organisations requiring broad independent audit, tax and advisory resources.

Pros:

• Founded in Dundee in 1909
• Dundee remains the firm’s head office
• More than 190 partners and staff
• Independent owner-managed Scottish practice
• Strong gaming and creative-sector experience
• Broad accounting, audit and tax capability
• Digital advisory and cybersecurity support
• Corporate-finance and due-diligence teams
• Business-recovery and insolvency expertise
• International reach through PrimeGlobal

Visit Henderson Loggie Dundee

Johnston Carmichael

Johnston Carmichael operates a major Dundee office at Dundee One on West Victoria Dock Road.

It is Scotland’s largest independent firm of chartered accountants and business advisers and supports privately owned companies, family enterprises, charities, public organisations and internationally active groups.

The Dundee team provides accounting, bookkeeping, payroll, audit, tax planning, employment-tax advice, restructuring and pension or succession support.

The wider firm adds substantial corporate-finance, digital-advisory, wealth-management and international capability.

For an owner-managed company, Johnston Carmichael can provide annual accounts, tax compliance, bookkeeping, payroll and management information.

As the organisation grows, specialist teams can assist with audit, transactions, international expansion, restructuring and succession.

This can be valuable to family and regional companies whose requirements develop from routine compliance into more complex ownership and reporting matters.

The firm undertakes statutory audit and assurance work.

A larger audit may involve several legal entities, overseas operations, stock, property, pensions, information systems and significant accounting estimates.

The audit team must understand the organisation’s commercial activities and the risks affecting its financial statements before determining how to test the material information.

Johnston Carmichael’s business-advisory service can help organisations improve reporting, forecasting and financial management.

A manufacturer may require information concerning stock, production and customer margins.

A technology company may focus on recurring revenue, development expenditure and cash runway, while a farm may need reporting by agricultural and diversified activity.

The firm has extensive experience across agriculture, food and drink, hospitality, construction, property, technology and professional services.

Its rural teams understand the relationship between trading businesses, land, family ownership and succession.

Manufacturing and food clients can obtain advice concerning capital investment, stock, margins and innovation.

Property and construction companies may require support with structures, VAT, capital allowances and project reporting.

The tax service covers companies, business owners, trusts and individuals.

Scottish taxpayers can require advice reflecting Scottish income-tax rates and bands, while property transactions can involve Land and Buildings Transaction Tax.

Employment-tax specialists can support companies with benefits, share arrangements, payroll compliance and internationally mobile employees.

Johnston Carmichael’s restructuring professionals advise businesses facing cash-flow or operational pressure.

The wider firm also provides corporate finance for acquisitions, company sales, fundraising and due diligence.

Wealth-management and succession services can help owners consider company ownership, pensions, investments and retirement together.

The breadth of the Dundee office and wider practice makes Johnston Carmichael particularly suitable to substantial regional organisations wanting an independent Scottish adviser with national and international resources.

Services include

• Annual and management accounts
• Bookkeeping
• Payroll
• Audit and assurance
• Corporation Tax
• Personal and trust tax
• Employment taxes
• VAT and indirect tax
• Business advisory
• Financial forecasting
• Agriculture and rural-business services
• Food and drink advice
• Manufacturing support
• Technology-company services
• Property and construction advice
• Corporate finance
• Financial due diligence
• Acquisitions and company sales
• Restructuring
• Insolvency advice
• Pension and succession planning
• Wealth management
• International coordination

Best suited to: Substantial family businesses, manufacturers, rural enterprises and larger organisations requiring broad Scottish audit, tax and transaction capability.

Pros:

• Major Dundee office at City Quay
• Scotland’s largest independent chartered accountancy and business-advisory firm
• Wide accounting, audit and tax capability
• Strong agriculture and family-business expertise
• Manufacturing, food and drink and property specialists
• Employment-tax and payroll support
• Corporate-finance and due-diligence teams
• Restructuring and recovery capability
• Pension, wealth and succession planning
• Extensive Scottish and international resources

Visit Johnston Carmichael Dundee

Which Dundee accountant should you choose?

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

Ashton McGill may be particularly relevant to founders, creative companies and growing digital businesses wanting tailored systems, performance dashboards and regular commercial conversations.

Findlays provides a broad independent option for owner-managed companies and families across Dundee and Angus.

Its accounting, tax, payroll, cloud and audit capability can support clients from startup through more established stages of development.

Walker Dunnett & Co is particularly suitable where the owner wants accounting and personal financial planning considered together.

Its combination of chartered accountancy and independent financial advice can support pensions, investments, retirement and business succession alongside routine compliance.

MMG may suit SMEs, technology businesses and charities requiring cloud accounting, payroll, management reporting, audit, tax and wealth management through an established Tayside practice.

EQ offers one of the strongest independent sector-led services in Dundee.

Its agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, property, technology and charity teams are particularly relevant to established businesses requiring specialist knowledge alongside accounts, audit and tax.

Henderson Loggie is well positioned for gaming companies, charities, substantial owner-managed organisations and international businesses.

Its Dundee-headquartered team can provide accounting, audit, tax, digital advice, corporate finance and business recovery.

Johnston Carmichael is principally suited to substantial family companies, rural enterprises, manufacturers and larger organisations requiring several specialist disciplines.

Its Dundee office can coordinate accounting, audit, employment tax, transactions, restructuring, wealth and international matters.

Before appointing an accountant, the client should establish precisely what is included within the proposed 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 organisation’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 games studio may require information concerning project expenditure, development milestones, platform income and cash runway.

A manufacturer may need reporting on raw materials, work in progress and margins by product or customer.

A farm may require separate results for crops, livestock and diversified activities.

Gaming and digital businesses should appoint advisers familiar with project accounting, international platform revenue, research and development and employee share arrangements.

Research-led and life-science companies may also require grant reporting, investment support and forecasts suitable for directors and external funders.

Agricultural businesses should choose advisers familiar with land, partnerships, machinery, seasonal income and long-term succession.

Available tax reliefs are important, but ownership, management and the financial security of different family members should guide the wider plan.

Manufacturers should look for experience with stock valuation, capital allowances, research and development and long customer-payment terms.

Food and drink businesses may require advice concerning production costs, waste, stock and margins by product or customer.

Property investors and developers should obtain advice concerning Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, ownership structures, VAT, financing and the tax implications of a future disposal.

Construction businesses should ensure that the proposed accountant understands CIS, retentions, project reporting, payroll and the VAT domestic reverse charge.

Charities and social enterprises should establish whether they require accounts preparation, independent examination, grant assurance or statutory audit.

They should also ensure that the proposed adviser understands restricted funds, reserves, governance and the reporting framework applying to the organisation.

Scottish business owners and private clients should confirm that the adviser understands Scottish income-tax rates and Land and Buildings Transaction Tax where these affect their circumstances.

International businesses should establish whether the firm can coordinate overseas reporting, transfer pricing, global payroll and tax compliance across every relevant jurisdiction.

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

Leadership, valuation, funding, tax and the financial security of the existing owners may need to be considered over several years.

Companies planning investment, acquisition 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 situation 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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