About Us
In April 2006 Richard Francis of Richard Jones & Davies and Robert Gray of Robert Gray Chartered Accountants decided to merge their practices. Richard Francis has been in practice in Aberystwyth since 1973 and Robert Gray since 1995: during that time both have built up a wealth of experience in advising and assisting businesses.
With our experienced, approachable staff, we have the skills to help personal clients, small businesses and corporate clients with many of the financial, taxation and business issues that affect your activities. So whether you are looking for ‘hands-on’ assistance for day-to-day issues, audit or year end support, or even completing your personal tax returns, we have the staff and skills to help you.
Based in our offices in Aberystwyth, our staff are able to converse bilingually in Welsh and English and accounts can be prepared through the medium of Welsh.
We are Registered Auditors and have attracted a large number of corporate clients who depend on our services to ensure correct financial and regulatory control.
In today’s ever-changing world, clients need to be confident that their financial affairs are in good hands. This confidence is gained by our personal approach to professional matters and by the results achieved by our advice and recommendations. Our staff are always available for any of our clients who need guidance with their financial matters.
Our Clients
Our practice attracts clients from many walks of life many of whom
have little financial or accounting knowledge. Being able to talk to
someone who can understand their needs in a thoughtful and jargon-free
way enables them to benefit from a close working relationship with our
firm. Our client base is wide and diverse, ranging from PLCs to small
businesses to individuals with tax returns. We understand that different
economic needs are required to be financially successful for individuals
and businesses in today's ever-increasing and fast changing economic
environment.
What can we do for you?
We will do our level best to help you with your independent financial needs
and requirements. With our friendly and well-trained staff, who have years
of experience in dealing with a variety of types of businesses, they will
be able to guide you in the best manner.
With our help and professional expertise, the administration of your
finances will be a worry of the past. Below we describe the most common
activities that we are asked to perform, but even if it is not mentioned
below, please feel free to talk to us as we can help with more activities
than can be described here.
Audit & Assurance
Audits are an important feature of business life today, whatever the
size or nature of your organisation. Many businesses regard an audit
as an unnecessary cost adding no value to the business. However, an audit
has several advantages not only to the company but also to its directors
and shareholders as it provides a safeguard against potential problems
in the future. Together, audit and other assurance support play a fundamental
role in the successful management of an organisation.
Our approach enables us to establish an overview of your business and
not just the books; this enables us to understand both the short term
and long term objectives of your business which puts the financial picture
into perspective.
Out of this, we may suggest improvements on the day to day running
of the company which could help either with regulatory reporting or even
improve profitability!
Accounts Preparation
Our first step is to gain a full understanding of your business so
that we are able to give advice and recommendations tailored exactly
to your requirements. Accounts preparation can in itself give a good
insight to your business and often shows the bigger picture, not only
the short-term objectives but also the long-term goals of the directors
and how they wish their company to progress over the years.
A key objective in accounts preparation is for a qualified and experience
accountants to keep the tax liability to a minimum, not only for the
current year but for the past and with a view to the future.
A further objective is to ensure that the accounts are compliant with
all the Companies House and the Inland Revenue regulations.
If you are looking to set up a new business we can advise on the installation
of the correct systems from the beginning and advise on their ongoing
maintenance – this will help ensure that the right information is collected
in an efficient and timely manner that reduces the administrative burden.
Business Plans
A growing part of our work is in the preparation of business plans
either in start-up or existing businesses, whether these plans are for
banks, grant awards or other funders.
We are then more than happy to meet with potential funders to discuss
plans in detail.
Taxation
Whether it be for a company or for individuals, tax planning is important
to every client. With sound planning and good advice, you can minimise
the burden of tax, which will allow you to concentrate the rest of your
time on your business.
By carefully reviewing our client's financial affairs in details we
are able to advise on the most appropriate structure to minimise the
incidence of tax. We carefully analyse and consider various factors,
discuss with you the short and long-term objectives and offer solutions,
which will be practical and cost effective.
In particular, we assist in Inheritance and Capital Gains Tax planning.
Starting the planning process early and regularly monitoring succession
strategy is crucial to more and more businesses and individuals.
We have specialised taxation software to assist in the calculation
of tax liabilities and to plan the best alternatives.
VAT Returns
H M Customs have in recent years increased the level of intensity of
their investigations – all the more important that you have an accountant
who is successful in negotiations with them. We take best advantage of
the reliefs available and the interpretation of the regulations. This
is an extremely important feature of the service provided as it ensures
peace of mind for all our clients.
We are more than happy to complete VAT returns on our client's behalf.
This ensures accuracy and also stops any worry about a VAT control visit,
which is usually conducted within the first few years of trading and
then once every few years.
We can take the burden off your shoulders so that you can concentrate
on issues other than VAT.
Payroll
Whatever the size of your business, processing the payroll uses up
valuable resources that could be put to far more productive use. Payroll
errors are common place and can lead to serious consequences with the
Inland Revenue if proved. We have a payroll section using the most innovative
and latest software that will aid the running of your business.
We are happy to take over your payroll function in its entirety. Including:
• Compliance with the latest government legislation;
• Weekly or monthly payslips showing the respective Tax, National Insurance
payments;
• SMP and SSP calculations;
• Year end P35 & P11D forms submitted to the Inland Revenue;
• Preparation of forms P45 for leavers;
• Backup support and help line available.
Charities
The ever-increasing regulation in this area can be onerous for the trustees
and administrators. Trustees should be mindful of the extent of their
liability and seek to mitigate their exposure.
We have specialist charity accounting software to ensure that the public's
high expectations of charity performance and accountability are met.
Any Questions?
Please call us for the advice that you need.
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