Leicester Accountants for Family Businesses, Growing Companies and Specialist Sectors

Leicester has a diverse accountancy market serving independent traders, family-owned companies, manufacturers, healthcare professionals, charities, retailers, property businesses and internationally active organisations across the city and wider Leicestershire economy.

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

A sole trader may primarily require bookkeeping, Making Tax Digital support and 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Company directors may also need advice on how money can be withdrawn from the business, whether sufficient distributable profits exist before dividends are declared and how much cash should be reserved for future liabilities.

The balance visible in the company’s bank account does not necessarily represent money that is freely available. Part of it may already be committed to VAT, Corporation Tax, wages, pension contributions, suppliers, loan repayments or planned expenditure.

As a business grows, annual accounts become only one part of the financial support its owners require. Monthly or quarterly management accounts can help directors understand whether increasing sales are translating into profit, how margins are changing and whether the company has sufficient working capital to fund continued expansion.

A profitable company can still experience cash-flow pressure. Customers may take several weeks to pay, while employees, suppliers and tax authorities must be paid according to fixed timetables. Forecasting can help management anticipate these gaps and consider funding or operational changes before the situation becomes urgent.

Leicester’s economy creates particular demand for experience across manufacturing, textiles, food production, logistics, construction, retail, property and professional services. These sectors can have substantially different accounting and tax requirements.

Manufacturers may need reliable reporting on stock, work in progress, machinery investment, production costs and margins by product or contract. Retail and ecommerce companies may need accounting systems that reconcile sales platforms, payment processors, refunds, stock movements and VAT.

Construction businesses may require support with the Construction Industry Scheme, project accounting, retentions and the VAT domestic reverse charge. Property investors and developers can face questions involving ownership structures, finance costs, capital allowances, Stamp Duty Land Tax and the VAT treatment of transactions.

Leicester and the wider East Midlands also contain a substantial number of family and owner-managed businesses. These companies may need advice concerning shareholder remuneration, succession, inheritance planning, management development and the eventual transfer or sale of the organisation.

Healthcare professionals, charities and regulated organisations have further specialist considerations. Medical practices can involve partnerships, superannuation, NHS and private income, associates and practice valuations. Charities must account for restricted funds, governance responsibilities and the reporting framework applicable to the organisation.

The seven firms in this guide represent different parts of the Leicester market. MNE Accounting provides outsourced bookkeeping, payroll, management reporting, credit control and finance-director support for growing businesses.

Celerica combines traditional accountancy and audit services with practical experience gained by partners who have worked as finance directors within commercial organisations.

Cunningtons supports SMEs, individuals, charities and regulated businesses through accounting, tax, payroll, audit, valuation and business-advisory services.

Newby Castleman is a longstanding independent Leicester practice providing partner-led accounting, audit, tax, payroll, charity, valuation, trust and private-client advice.

Haines Watts Leicester focuses on ambitious owner-managed businesses and combines local relationships with national tax, audit, research and development and business-advisory resources.

Rowleys provides substantial independent support across mid-market companies, family businesses, medical practices, charities, international organisations and regulated sectors.

Duncan & Toplis entered the Leicester market through its combination with Torr Waterfield. Its local team now provides accounting, audit and tax advice alongside access to wider outsourcing, legal, technology, wealth-management and international services.

No accountant can responsibly guarantee a particular tax saving, funding decision or commercial result without first 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 Leicester 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
• Startups and early-stage companies
• Owner-managed and family businesses
• Manufacturers and engineering companies
• Textile and apparel businesses
• Food producers and distributors
• Retail and ecommerce companies
• Construction and property businesses
• Healthcare and medical practices
• Charities and not-for-profit organisations
• Solicitors and professional practices
• Regulated financial businesses
• International companies
• Organisations requiring a statutory audit
• Businesses seeking investment or finance
• Owners preparing for succession or a company sale
• Companies requiring outsourced finance support

We also considered the services available beyond annual accounts and tax returns. Depending on the firm, this may include bookkeeping, credit control, management accounts, cash-flow forecasting, virtual finance-director support, audit, business valuations, corporate finance, wealth planning and international advice.

The firms are not presented as interchangeable. Some are particularly suited to smaller organisations that want their day-to-day finance administration managed externally. Others are structured around family businesses, audited groups, specialist sectors, international activity or more complex personal and corporate tax affairs.

MNE Accounting

MNE Accounting is a Leicester-based firm of accountants and outsourced finance specialists operating from the Phoenix Yard on Upper Brown Street. It supports ambitious business owners, entrepreneurs and internal accounts teams across Leicester and the wider UK.

The firm is particularly focused on the ongoing operation of a business’s finance function. Its services include bookkeeping, payroll, credit control, management accounts, VAT, cloud accounting and remote finance-director support.

This makes MNE relevant to companies that want more than annual accounts and tax-return preparation. A business may have grown beyond the point where its owner can maintain the records personally but may not yet want to recruit a bookkeeper, credit controller, management accountant and finance director as separate employees.

An outsourced finance arrangement can give the business access to several of these skills through one external team. The precise scope can be adapted according to what the client already manages internally.

Some companies may outsource all transaction processing, payroll and reporting. Others may retain an internal accounts administrator while using MNE for management accounts, oversight, software support or senior financial advice.

MNE’s bookkeeping service can include recording and categorising transactions, reconciling bank accounts and ensuring that the accounting records remain current.

Reliable bookkeeping is the foundation for most other financial work. Management accounts, tax estimates and forecasts become less useful where transactions are missing, duplicated or recorded within the wrong period.

The firm also offers outsourced payroll. Employers must calculate wages, PAYE, National Insurance, pension deductions and statutory payments while submitting information to HMRC through Real Time Information.

A payroll provider can manage the calculations and reporting, although the employer must still supply accurate information about hours, salaries, benefits, starters and leavers.

Credit control is another distinctive part of MNE’s service. Increasing sales does not improve cash flow if customer invoices remain unpaid for long periods.

An outsourced credit-control team can issue statements, follow up overdue invoices and maintain a consistent process for collecting money. This can be especially useful where business owners avoid chasing customers because of time constraints or concerns about damaging commercial relationships.

MNE prepares management accounts to help clients understand current performance. Reports may include a profit and loss account, balance sheet, cash-flow information and comparisons with budgets or previous periods.

The value of management accounts lies in identifying what is changing and why. Directors may need to understand whether revenue growth has been offset by lower margins, whether one service line is more profitable than another and how quickly the company is converting invoices into cash.

The Remote Finance Director service can add more senior financial input. This may include budgeting, forecasting, reporting to management and helping directors assess the financial implications of growth, recruitment, investment or a change in strategy.

MNE also helps businesses move between accounting systems and establish cloud-based finance processes. The firm works with platforms including Sage and Xero.

Software migration should involve more than transferring a list of transactions. The business may need to review its chart of accounts, VAT settings, customer and supplier records, opening balances, reporting categories and integrations with operational systems.

The firm works across industries including manufacturing, construction, property, retail and personal-service businesses. Its focus on outsourced finance makes it particularly relevant to established SMEs that want stronger financial administration without building a full in-house department.

Services include

• Outsourced accounting
• Bookkeeping
• Payroll
• Credit control
• Management accounts
• Remote finance-director support
• VAT advice and returns
• Tax advice
• Cash-flow reporting
• Cloud accounting
• Sage support
• Xero support
• Software migration
• Finance-process improvement

Best suited to: Growing SMEs that want to outsource some or all of their bookkeeping, payroll, credit control, management reporting and financial oversight.

Pros:

• Central Leicester office
• Strong focus on complete outsourced finance functions
• Provides bookkeeping, payroll and credit control
• Offers management accounts and remote finance-director support
• Relevant experience across manufacturing, construction, retail and property
• Supports Sage, Xero and software migrations
• Can supplement an existing internal accounts team
• Helps businesses improve the efficiency of their financial processes

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Celerica

Celerica is a Leicester firm of chartered certified accountants and registered auditors based at the Old Chapel on Kempson Road. Established in 2006, the firm’s partners and associates have more than three decades of accountancy and commercial finance experience.

The practice supports businesses ranging from startups to multimillion-pound groups. Its services include annual accounts, management accounts, audit, tax, bookkeeping, payroll, cash-flow forecasting and cloud accounting.

Celerica’s team includes accountants who have worked as finance directors within commercial organisations. This can provide a useful perspective because the adviser has experience both preparing financial information and using it to operate a business.

A finance director must consider issues such as cash availability, customer concentration, borrowing, staffing, investment and operational risk. These matters may not be visible from a set of year-end statutory accounts alone.

For smaller businesses, Celerica can prepare annual accounts and associated tax returns. The firm supports sole traders, partnerships and limited companies with the reporting and filing obligations attached to their legal structure.

Its bookkeeping and payroll services can reduce the administrative burden placed on owners and employees. Regularly maintained records also give the accountant better information for tax planning and forecasting.

The firm prepares management accounts for clients that need more frequent reporting. A management pack may show revenue, gross profit, overheads, cash, customer balances and amounts owed to suppliers or tax authorities.

The reports can be adapted to the way the organisation operates. A group may require separate information for different companies, while a business with several departments may want to compare the performance of each one.

Cash-flow forecasts are another part of Celerica’s service. A forecast estimates when money is expected to enter and leave the organisation, allowing directors to anticipate periods when additional working capital may be required.

Forecasting is particularly important where sales are seasonal, customer payment terms are long or substantial expenditure must be made before the related income is received.

Celerica is registered to conduct statutory audits. Its audit service is available to companies and organisations that require independent assurance because of their size, ownership, funding or regulatory arrangements.

The firm’s tax services cover personal tax, corporate tax, VAT, PAYE and Capital Gains Tax. Business owners may require coordinated advice where a decision affects both the company and their personal position.

For example, the sale of a company may involve corporate records, shareholder tax, valuation and the treatment of assets or money retained within the business.

Cloud-accounting support is available for clients wanting to access financial records online and reduce manual administration. The firm can help clients select and use systems suited to the size and complexity of their organisation.

Celerica’s commercial experience makes it relevant to businesses wanting an accountant who can discuss performance and financial management as well as prepare the required returns.

Services include

• Sole trader and partnership accounts
• Limited company accounts
• Group accounts
• Management accounts
• Cash-flow forecasts
• Business planning
• Statutory audit
• Corporation Tax
• Personal tax
• Capital Gains Tax
• VAT
• PAYE
• Bookkeeping
• Payroll
• Workplace pension support
• Cloud accounting
• Financial-management advice

Best suited to: Startups, established companies and corporate groups wanting a Leicester accountant with practical finance-director and commercial-management experience.

Pros:

• Leicester-based registered audit practice
• Supports clients from startup to multimillion-pound groups
• Partners include former commercial finance directors
• Provides annual and management accounts
• Offers cash-flow forecasting and business planning
• Covers corporate, personal and indirect taxation
• Provides bookkeeping, payroll and cloud-accounting support
• Combines professional-practice and in-house commercial experience

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Cunningtons

Cunningtons is a firm of chartered certified accountants, registered auditors and business advisers based at Grange Business Park in Whetstone, south of Leicester.

The practice supports SMEs, sole traders, partnerships, limited companies, clubs, charities and individuals. Its services include annual accounts, bookkeeping, payroll, tax, audit, business valuations and financial planning for business growth.

Cunningtons can provide a complete compliance service for smaller organisations. This may include maintaining bookkeeping records, preparing VAT returns, processing payroll and completing annual financial statements and tax returns.

For a business owner, placing these responsibilities with one firm can make it easier to understand which information must be supplied and when each filing or payment becomes due.

The firm’s bookkeeping support includes fully managed systems designed to meet HMRC requirements. It can help clients move from informal records or spreadsheets to a more consistent accounting process.

This will become increasingly relevant as more self-employed individuals and landlords enter Making Tax Digital for Income Tax and need to maintain compatible digital records.

Cunningtons also operates a managed payroll service. This can include calculations, payments to employees and HMRC, electronic payslips and workplace pension administration.

The employer remains responsible for ensuring that the payroll provider receives correct information, but outsourcing can reduce the amount of routine processing completed internally.

The firm’s tax service covers individuals, sole traders, partnerships and companies. Advice may involve Self Assessment, Corporation Tax, VAT, Capital Gains Tax, inheritance tax and HMRC investigations.

Tax investigations can range from questions concerning one entry on a return to a wider review of records and transactions. An adviser can help identify the information requested, communicate with HMRC and explain the basis on which the original return was prepared.

Cunningtons also provides business-support services including cash-flow forecasting, profit improvement, financial information systems, business-development strategies and assistance raising finance.

A funding application may require historical accounts, forecasts and an explanation of how the money will be used. The accountant can help ensure that the figures are consistent and that the assumptions are clearly presented.

The practice offers business valuations. A valuation may be needed for a company sale, shareholder transaction, succession plan, dispute or internal assessment of the owner’s financial position.

The appropriate valuation method depends on the nature of the business, its assets, sustainable earnings, growth prospects and the purpose for which the valuation is required.

Cunningtons is also registered to provide audit services. It works with commercial organisations, charities and regulated businesses requiring independent financial assurance.

Its services for charities can include accounts, independent examinations, audits and reporting under the applicable charity framework.

The firm also supports regulated organisations such as independent financial advisers that may require client-money or compliance reporting in addition to ordinary company accounts.

Research and development tax-relief advice is available for companies undertaking qualifying scientific or technological projects. Claims should identify the advance sought, the uncertainties encountered and the relevant expenditure.

Cunningtons’ broad service makes it particularly suitable for owner-managed businesses that want a local practice capable of providing compliance, commercial advice, audit and valuation support.

Services include

• Annual accounts
• Sole trader and partnership accounts
• Limited company accounts
• Charity and club accounts
• Bookkeeping
• Payroll
• Workplace pension administration
• Corporation Tax
• Self Assessment
• VAT
• Capital Gains Tax
• Inheritance tax advice
• HMRC investigation support
• Business planning
• Cash-flow forecasting
• Profit-improvement advice
• Raising-finance support
• Business valuations
• Statutory audit
• Charity audit and independent examination
• Regulated-business reporting
• Research and development tax relief

Best suited to: SMEs, charities and regulated organisations wanting a local Leicester-area firm with accounting, audit, tax, valuation and business-support capabilities.

Pros:

• Leicester-based chartered certified accountants and registered auditors
• Supports sole traders, partnerships, companies and charities
• Provides fully managed bookkeeping and payroll
• Offers cash-flow and profit-improvement advice
• Qualified business-valuation service
• Experience with charities and regulated organisations
• Provides HMRC investigation support
• Covers research and development tax-relief claims
• Combines compliance with practical business-development services

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Newby Castleman

Newby Castleman is a longstanding independent firm of chartered accountants and tax advisers with offices in Leicester and Loughborough. Its history dates back to 1851.

The Leicester office is based at the West Walk Building on Regent Road. The firm works nationally while maintaining a partner-led approach for businesses, organisations and private clients.

Its services include audit, accounting, business tax, private-client tax, VAT, payroll, bookkeeping, cloud accounting, charity services, trusts, estates, valuations and wealth management.

Newby Castleman supports a broad range of clients, including sole traders, partnerships, limited companies, property landlords, contractors, freelancers, startups and established regional and national businesses.

For smaller organisations, the firm can provide annual accounts, bookkeeping, payroll, VAT and tax compliance. These services can be adapted as the client grows and begins to require management information, an audit or more specialist advice.

The firm’s partner-led structure may appeal to clients who want senior advisers to remain familiar with their business and personal circumstances.

Continuity can be valuable where decisions made in one year affect future tax, ownership or succession. An adviser who understands the history of the organisation may be better placed to explain the reasons behind previous structures and identify when those arrangements should be reviewed.

Newby Castleman is registered to undertake audit work. Its audit and accounting services support commercial companies, charities and other organisations requiring statutory or voluntary assurance.

An audit involves assessing the organisation’s risks, controls and financial reporting before testing the evidence supporting material balances and transactions.

The formal purpose is to provide an opinion on the financial statements. The process may also identify weaknesses within financial systems or controls that management and those responsible for governance should consider.

The firm has dedicated charity and not-for-profit services. Charities may require accounts preparation, independent examination, audit, payroll and tax advice.

Their financial statements must distinguish between unrestricted, restricted and endowment funds where relevant and explain how the organisation has used its resources.

Newby Castleman’s business-tax team advises on Corporation Tax compliance and more complex planning. This may include transactions, reorganisations, capital allowances and the tax implications of investment or succession.

Its private-client team advises individuals, business owners and families. Services include Self Assessment, Capital Gains Tax, inheritance tax, trusts and estates.

Trust and estate work can involve tax reporting, asset valuations, administration and planning for the eventual transfer of family wealth.

The firm also provides business valuations. A valuation may be required when a shareholder leaves, a company is sold, ownership passes to relatives or the value of an interest must be established for tax or legal purposes.

VAT specialists can assist businesses with registration, partial exemption, land and property questions, business transfers and other areas where the correct treatment may not be obvious.

Payroll and bookkeeping are available for clients wanting to outsource routine financial administration. Cloud-accounting support can help establish a more current and accessible record-keeping system.

Newby Castleman also provides wealth-management services. This can help business owners consider pensions, investments and personal planning alongside decisions affecting the company.

Services include

• Annual and management accounts
• Audit and assurance
• Bookkeeping
• Payroll
• Cloud accounting
• Corporation Tax
• Business-tax planning
• Self Assessment
• Capital Gains Tax
• Inheritance tax
• VAT advice
• Charity and not-for-profit accounting
• Independent examinations
• Trusts and estates
• Business valuations
• Making Tax Digital support
• Wealth management
• Property-landlord accounting
• Startup and contractor services

Best suited to: Owner-managed businesses, charities, property clients and private individuals wanting a longstanding independent Leicester firm with broad accounting, audit and tax expertise.

Pros:

• Independent practice with a history dating to 1851
• Partner-led client service
• Central Leicester office
• Provides audit, accounting, tax, payroll and bookkeeping
• Dedicated charity and not-for-profit expertise
• Specialist private-client, trust and estate services
• Offers VAT advice and business valuations
• Supports sole traders through to established regional and national companies
• Connects business advice with personal wealth planning

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Haines Watts Leicester

Haines Watts Leicester is a firm of chartered accountants and business advisers based in Stoneygate. It works primarily with ambitious owner-managed businesses across Leicester and the wider East Midlands.

The Leicester practice combines local relationship management with access to the national Haines Watts network. Its services include accounting, bookkeeping, management accounts, outsourced finance, audit, tax, payroll, research and development tax advice, online accounting and business advisory support.

Owner-managed companies often require advice that considers the business and the individuals behind it together. Decisions involving salary, dividends, pensions, retained profits, succession or a company sale can affect both corporate and personal tax.

Haines Watts’ joined-up approach is intended to help owners understand these interactions rather than addressing each return in isolation.

Its accounting services include statutory accounts, Corporation Tax returns, VAT returns, management accounts and bookkeeping.

For a growing business, management accounts can provide information about current performance rather than simply recording the previous year. Reports may be accompanied by forecasts, cash-flow analysis and performance reviews.

This can help directors assess whether they can afford additional employees, premises, equipment or borrowing. It may also reveal where growth is creating pressure on cash or reducing margins.

The firm provides outsourced finance support for businesses that want to supplement or replace part of their internal accounting function.

The service can include bookkeeping and reporting together with more senior advisory input. The appropriate arrangement depends on the size of the company and the capabilities already available internally.

Haines Watts Leicester undertakes audit and assurance work. Auditors review financial records and controls while obtaining evidence supporting the annual financial statements.

The engagement may also produce recommendations concerning the quality of financial processes, reporting and governance.

The Leicester office is identified within Haines Watts as an East Midlands centre of expertise for research and development tax relief.

A qualifying company must demonstrate that it attempted to achieve an advance in science or technology and faced uncertainties that could not readily be resolved by a competent professional.

The claim must also identify qualifying expenditure and comply with the current submission requirements. Advice should therefore involve both technical understanding of the project and accurate financial records.

The tax team covers personal and corporate planning, VAT, customs duties, tax investigations and international matters.

Internationally active companies may need support concerning overseas subsidiaries, cross-border transactions, transfer pricing and employees working in different jurisdictions.

The firm also provides private-client and wealth-planning services. Business owners can obtain advice concerning inheritance tax, trusts, succession and the efficient extraction of profits.

Haines Watts has advised Leicester and East Midlands business owners for more than 30 years. Its combination of local partners and national technical resources may suit companies that want direct regional relationships without limiting themselves to the capabilities of a small practice.

Services include

• Statutory accounts
• Corporation Tax returns
• Management accounts
• Bookkeeping
• Outsourced finance
• VAT returns and advice
• Payroll and pensions
• Audit and assurance
• Cash-flow forecasting
• Performance reviews
• Business planning
• Research and development tax relief
• Corporate tax planning
• Personal tax planning
• International tax
• VAT and customs
• Tax-investigation support
• Online accounting
• Private-client advice
• Trust and succession planning

Best suited to: Ambitious owner-managed businesses wanting proactive accounting, audit, research and development, tax and strategic advice through a local firm with national backing.

Pros:

• Established Stoneygate office
• More than 30 years of experience advising East Midlands business owners
• Strong focus on owner-managed companies
• Combines local relationships with national technical resources
• Provides management accounts and outsourced finance support
• East Midlands research and development centre of expertise
• Covers corporate, personal and international taxation
• Offers audit, payroll and online-accounting services
• Supports succession and private wealth planning

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Rowleys

Rowleys is an independent firm of chartered accountants, registered auditors and tax advisers based at Meridian Business Park in Leicester.

The firm supports startups, family businesses, mid-market companies, medical practices, charities, solicitors, pension schemes, internationally active organisations and regulated businesses.

Its services include audit, accounting, outsourcing, payroll, tax, wills, probate, corporate finance and business valuations.

Rowleys has a particularly clear mid-market focus. The firm works with businesses ranging from smaller SMEs to groups with turnover exceeding £100 million, while identifying companies in the £10 million to £50 million range as a central area of specialism.

Mid-market businesses can face a particular challenge. They may have outgrown the informal systems and management structures used during their earlier development but may not possess the specialist departments available within a large corporate group.

These organisations may need stronger financial controls, formal reporting, tax planning, audit and support from advisers who can respond quickly to acquisitions, international expansion or changes in ownership.

Rowleys provides accounting and outsourcing services that can support these requirements. The work may include annual accounts, management information, financial processes and assistance improving the quality and timeliness of reporting.

The firm also offers digital finance support. Cloud systems and connected applications can help businesses reduce manual work and produce better management information, provided that the underlying controls and reconciliations remain reliable.

Rowleys is registered to provide statutory and non-statutory audits. Its audit clients include international groups, owner-managed businesses, private-equity-backed companies, charities, pension funds and FCA-regulated organisations.

Regulated businesses may require auditors with knowledge of sector-specific reporting and client-money rules in addition to ordinary financial-statement audit experience.

The audit process can also help identify weaknesses within accounting systems, controls and risk management. Recommendations should be practical and proportionate to the size and complexity of the organisation.

Rowleys has a dedicated medical team supporting GP practices and other healthcare clients. The team includes professionals with first-hand experience working within medical practices.

Medical accounting can involve partnership accounts, personal tax, superannuation, practice income, expense allocation and general financial-management questions.

Benchmarking may help partners compare selected indicators with those of similar practices, although differences in contracts, staffing and local circumstances must be considered before conclusions are drawn.

The firm also has established charity and not-for-profit expertise. Services can include audit, independent examination, accounts, tax and advice concerning governance and financial management.

Rowleys supports family businesses with succession and ownership planning. The process may involve determining whether the next generation wants and is able to lead the company, how ownership will transfer and what financial security the existing owners require.

Relevant tax considerations can include Capital Gains Tax, inheritance tax, profit extraction and the use of investment incentives where appropriate.

Its corporate-finance services can assist businesses with acquisitions, disposals, fundraising and other transactions. Business valuations are available where owners need to understand the value of the company or a particular shareholding.

Rowleys also provides wills and probate services. This can help business owners coordinate their company succession, estate planning and personal legal arrangements through connected specialist teams.

International services are available for clients operating across borders. Rowleys remains independent while participating in a global association that can provide local assistance in other jurisdictions.

Services include

• Annual and management accounts
• Accounting outsourcing
• Digital finance support
• Payroll
• Statutory and voluntary audit
• International group audit
• Charity audit and independent examination
• Pension-scheme audit
• Regulated-business audit
• Corporation Tax
• Personal tax
• VAT
• International tax
• Medical accounting
• GP practice support
• Family-business planning
• Corporate finance
• Business valuations
• Succession planning
• Wills and probate
• Inheritance and estate planning
• International accounting support

Best suited to: Mid-market companies, family businesses, medical practices, charities and regulated organisations requiring substantial independent audit, tax and advisory capability.

Pros:

• Independent Leicester accountancy and audit firm
• Clear specialism in mid-market businesses
• Supports groups with turnover exceeding £100 million
• Extensive statutory and specialist audit capability
• Dedicated medical accounting team
• Strong charity and not-for-profit services
• Advises family businesses on succession and ownership
• Offers corporate finance and business valuations
• Provides connected wills and probate services
• Supports internationally active organisations
• Combines specialist resources with independent local decision-making

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Duncan & Toplis

Duncan & Toplis is a regional professional-services group with a dedicated Leicester office created through its combination with Torr Waterfield.

Torr Waterfield had operated in Leicester for approximately 25 years before joining Duncan & Toplis. Its founders continue to lead the provision of accounting, audit and tax services within the city.

The combination gives Leicester clients access to a wider group offering business services, outsourcing, tax, audit, legal advice, IT support, wealth management and international assistance.

The Leicester team supports SMEs, larger organisations, individuals and businesses across a range of industries. Its services can develop from routine accounting and tax compliance into more complex advisory, assurance and transaction work.

Duncan & Toplis’ business-services offering covers accounts preparation, bookkeeping and management accounts.

A smaller business may outsource its basic record-keeping and annual compliance. A larger organisation may need monthly reports, analysis by department or entity and help improving the systems used by its internal finance team.

The firm’s outsourcing service is designed to evolve with the client. It can provide day-to-day finance support or more strategic insight for established organisations.

The arrangement may involve bookkeeping, payroll, reporting and financial management. Responsibilities should be clearly divided so that directors understand which approvals, controls and decisions remain within the business.

Audit and assurance services are available through the group. The firm works with organisations of different sizes and sectors, including businesses with foreign subsidiaries and groups requiring more complex financial reporting.

A group audit may require coordination between several entities and advisers. Where overseas subsidiaries are involved, the lead auditor must obtain sufficient evidence from component auditors or other sources while ensuring that reporting is consistent across the group.

Duncan & Toplis also works with academies, professional services, food production, industrial and logistics businesses, retail, wholesale and technology clients.

Food producers and manufacturers may require detailed reporting on stock, production, waste, margins and capital investment. Logistics businesses may focus on fleet costs, fuel, staffing, contracts and working capital.

Retail and wholesale companies need systems capable of reconciling sales, stock, supplier terms and payment platforms. Technology businesses may require forecasting, investment support and advice concerning innovation-related tax incentives.

The group’s tax and financial services cover compliance, strategic planning and personal financial advice. Corporate clients may require help with tax structures, transactions and international activity, while private clients may need support with investments, pensions, retirement and estates.

Duncan & Toplis also offers legal services. Leicester clients can access conveyancing, wills and probate advice alongside their accounting relationship.

Connected professional services can be useful where a transaction affects several areas. A business or property purchase, for example, may involve tax, accounts, finance and legal documentation.

IT services are also available through the wider group. Businesses increasingly rely on technology systems to process financial and operational information, making security, continuity and integration part of effective financial management.

The firm has offices across the Midlands and supports clients both nationally and internationally. Its Leicester operation combines the local relationships developed by Torr Waterfield with the broader resources of the Duncan & Toplis group.

Services include

• Annual accounts
• Management accounts
• Bookkeeping
• Payroll
• Outsourced finance support
• Audit and assurance
• Group and international audit
• Corporation Tax
• Personal tax
• VAT
• Financial consulting
• Business advisory services
• International services
• Food-production accounting
• Industrial and logistics services
• Retail and wholesale accounting
• Technology-sector support
• IT services
• Corporate legal advice
• Conveyancing
• Wills and probate
• Wealth management
• Retirement and estate planning

Best suited to: SMEs and established organisations wanting a Leicester relationship team with access to wider accounting, audit, legal, technology, wealth and international services.

Pros:

• Dedicated Leicester office
• Builds on Torr Waterfield’s 25-year local history
• Existing Leicester leadership remains involved
• Provides accounting, audit, tax and outsourcing
• Broad sector coverage across industry, logistics, food, retail and technology
• Offers legal and IT services through the wider group
• Provides wealth-management and estate-planning support
• Suitable for businesses with international or group-reporting needs
• Combines a local team with substantial regional resources

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Which Leicester accountant should you choose?

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

MNE Accounting is particularly relevant to companies that want to outsource ongoing financial administration. Its bookkeeping, payroll, credit-control, management-accounting and Remote Finance Director services can operate as a complete finance function or supplement an existing internal team.

Celerica may suit startups, established businesses and corporate groups that value direct commercial experience. Its team combines professional accountancy with experience gained in finance-director roles, allowing it to provide accounts, forecasts, audit and financial-management support.

Cunningtons offers a broad local service for SMEs, charities and regulated organisations. It provides accounting, payroll, tax and audit alongside business valuations, finance support and assistance improving profitability and financial systems.

Newby Castleman is a longstanding independent choice for owner-managed companies, charities, property clients and private individuals. Its partner-led service covers routine compliance together with audit, VAT, trusts, estates, valuations and wealth management.

Haines Watts Leicester is structured around ambitious owner-managed businesses. It may be particularly suitable for clients wanting management reporting, outsourced finance, research and development tax advice and access to national technical resources while retaining a locally managed relationship.

Rowleys has the clearest mid-market and specialist-sector focus within this guide. Its audit, tax, medical, charity, family-business, regulated-sector and international teams are relevant to established organisations requiring substantial independent expertise.

Duncan & Toplis combines the existing local knowledge of the former Torr Waterfield team with a wider regional professional-services group. It may suit businesses wanting accounting and audit alongside legal, technology, wealth-management or international support.

Before appointing an accountant, the client should establish exactly what is included in the proposed fee. Bookkeeping, payroll, VAT returns, annual accounts, Corporation Tax, Self Assessment, management information and advisory meetings may be treated as separate services.

The engagement should explain who is responsible for maintaining the records and how frequently financial information will be produced.

A company expecting monthly management accounts should agree the reporting timetable, the information included and how results will be discussed. Reports delivered too late may satisfy an internal routine without materially assisting current decisions.

Businesses outsourcing their finance function should clarify who will process transactions, chase debts, approve payments, maintain controls and prepare forecasts.

Outsourcing can provide valuable skills and capacity, but the directors remain legally responsible for the company and should retain appropriate oversight of its finances.

Manufacturers should confirm that the proposed team understands stock, work in progress, production costs, machinery investment and profitability by product or contract.

Retailers and ecommerce businesses may need experience integrating sales channels, payment processors, stock systems and VAT records. Construction companies should look for direct knowledge of the Construction Industry Scheme, retentions and the VAT domestic reverse charge.

Healthcare professionals should appoint advisers familiar with partnerships, superannuation, NHS income, associates and medical-practice transactions.

Charities should confirm whether they need accounts preparation, an independent examination or a statutory audit. They should also ensure that the proposed team understands restricted funds, trustee responsibilities and charity reporting.

Family businesses should discuss succession before an immediate transfer becomes necessary. Ownership, leadership and personal financial security may need to be considered over several years rather than resolved through one transaction.

Companies planning an acquisition, investment round or sale should seek advice early. Reliable management accounts, well-maintained records and a clear tax position can materially affect the speed and credibility of due diligence.

The strongest accountancy relationship is not necessarily the one with the longest list of services. It is the relationship in which the adviser understands how the client operates, produces information at the right time and explains the financial consequences of important decisions before those decisions become difficult to reverse.

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