By law most businesses are required to operate under the rules of one or more statutory and regulatory body such as Companies House, Charity Commission, HMRC etc.
Read MoreBookkeeping Services
Wouldn't it be wonderful to have someone take away the financial burden of your business, to free up your time and head-space. So you can concentrate on growing your business?
Management Accounting Services
Do you need more direction in your business to see where all your hard work is heading and the results of what you are trying to achieve?
Independent Examination
To maintain public confidence in the work of charities charity law sets out the reporting, filing and external scrutiny obligations on trustees.
Software and Training
Are you using your accounting software to its full capacity? We can help you get the most out of your investment in QuickBooks cloud accounting by training.
Businessses have to adhere to financial and business compliance of some form, whether through payroll, workplace pension scheme, independent examination, audits, accounts, or annual return filing requirements.
Failure to comply with what can be seen as strict regulations could mean businesses and owners can be faced with heavy fines, penalties, and even imprisonment. Small businesses often may not have the personnel, resources, knowledge, or expertise to carry out these requirements themselves or would rather outsource the work to professional providers such as Blue Ridge Accounting Services Ltd. We can provide the up-to-date skills and knowledge you need with services to help keep you compliant with your duties as business owners.
About Us
Lorraine Brown MICB, ACIE - DIRECTOR
Practice Licence 23350
Hello!
I am Lorraine Brown, founder of Blue Ridge Accounting Services Ltd based in Battle, East Sussex
I am a qualified member of ICB, part qualified ACCA, associate member of the Association of Certified Independent Examiners (ACIE), and QuickBooks Online Certified ProAdvisor. Blue Ridge Accounting Services Ltd is the holder of Practice Licence 23350 and is regulated by the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB), the world's leading body of Professional Bookkeepers
I run a small friendly practice primarily serving small to medium sized businesses, offering a range of bookkeeping and accountancy services to suit all business types whether a charity, limited company, sole trader or partnership. I have many years experience in the field, originally trained as a manual bookkeeper balancing the books back then, progressing to computerised accounting and now cloud based accounting systems. Having mainly worked in small to medium sized companies and in many different industries, in roles ranging from Bookkeeper to Financial Director, you can be assured there is not much ground I haven't covered!
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide the best possible cost effective and affordable service to all our customers without compromising on quality and professionalism. We operate on a friendly and professional basis with the customer at the forefront of our business planning and operation. We will work with business owners to free them up- from the chore of 'doing the books' when they would much rather be carrying out the business of running their business where they will be more effective and productive.
We want to work with you, get to know your business, and provide you with an afficient and effective back-office support service that is equivalent to having your own in-house bookkeeper or accounts department.
Let us look after your books so you can manage your business
Why Use Us
If it's great service and attention to detail you are after, then look no further.
We have identified that many small businesses, charities, and community organizations do not have the financial capacity to take on staff to operate in the way they would like, to enable the organization to grow and improve. The idea of outsourcing work e.g., payroll, bookkeeping is not a new one, in doing so can free up business owners to concentrate on other aspects of the business, safe in the knowledge that those vital and important functions/tasks are being taken care of by professionals who are competent and experienced in those areas.
Whether your books are orderly and beautifully presented or whether your filing system consist of receipts in a box or carrier bag, we are not fussy we will be happy to work with you to get your books up-to-date and get your accounts straight. We use QuickBooks Online and Xero cloud accounting software but are happy to accommodate whichever system you prefer.
We offer a comprehensive menu of bookkeeping and accounting services from the day-to-day processing of invoices and financial transactions onto the system, through to production of management accounts and reporting. Up-to-date and accurate financial information at your fingertips is key to making successful business decisions.
Added benefits of using Blue Ridge Accounting Services Ltd:
- Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) qualified Member with Practice License
- Local business offering personal face-to-face service
- Confidentiality - drop off your ‘books’ and speak about any issues, problems, or queries.
- Quicker turnaround of the work.
- Cloud accounting service means we can work remotely, and you can be based anywhere
- More friendly and less intimidating dealing with a small firm.
Don’t hesitate to take advantage of our free one-hour consultation and find out how we can do business together. We’d love to hear from you and there is no commitment. Get in touch here
Get intouch
Practice Licence 23350
Our Services
Before engagement, we carry out a no-charge, no-obligation assessment of your needs and requirements. We build a bespoke package with a range of services around your requirements and prepare a fee proposal to suit your budget and the needs of your growing business.
We can provide the foundation to your financials so that your accountant can prepare the statutory accounts and tax return. If you don’t have an accountant, we will be happy to put you in touch with a trusted and reliable member.
We are accredited by the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB).
Our extensive list of services include:
Bookkeeping
Luckily, we are here to do just that! We can take care of your MTD VAT returns, bank reconciliations, handle suppliers, and so much more. Contact us to find out how we can help you and your business.
Independent Examination
Charities with a gross income of £25,000 and over must have some form of external scrutiny of their accounts. We have the skills and experience necessary to carry out Independent Examination of charity accounts.
Software and Training
We can provide you with your own QuickBooks Online licence at a discounted price, if you don't already have one. We offer expert training delivered by our QuickBooks Online Certified ProAdvisor, giving you and your staff the skills to become more confident and efficient at operating the system and helping you to benefit from the full capabilities of your investment in the cloud accounting system.
Cash Flow Forecasting
Involves estimating sales and expenses for a set period in the future, determining the timing of cash inflow and outflow. It will indicate periods of shortfall in cash, prompting appropriate decisions to be taken at the right time
Fixed Asset Register Maintenance
We will maintain your register of fixed assets, keeping the list up-to-date with all the assets owned by the business to ensure the balance and status is reflected accurately in the accounts.
Outsourced Accounts Department
We can offer a customised package of services, allowing owner managers to spend more time concentrating on other aspects of the business safe in the knowledge that the vital financial function is in the care of competent, experienced professionals.
Reviewing Internal Systems, Procedures and Control
We can review your internal systems and work with you to create and implement sound financial processes and procedures that will strengthen your organisation, minimise financial risk and lead to operational efficiencies in your business.
Management Accounting Services
We can create and update timely reports and forecasts on the profit & loss, balance sheet and cashflow to help you monitor and manage the financial performance of your business.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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What does a Bookkeeper do?
Bookkeepers maintain financial records, helping companies to understand their finances and manage their cash flow. They record financial transactions and ensure financial records and statements are accurate and up-to-date. This work involves using specialised software, including accounting programs and spreadsheets. Some Bookkeepers also track business income and spending. Bookkeepers who work at large companies often work for departments or on special projects. Bookkeepers at small to medium firms may work on financial records throughout the company. Bookkeepers may need to spend a portion of their day making phone calls to vendors or clients to settle balances owed.
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Why is hiring a Bookkeeper important?
A Bookkeeper makes sure your financial records are complete, accurate and organised. When you need financial information, the Bookkeeper will make sure you can locate it and can help analyse your business. The information they maintain can help you monitor and examine your company’s financial performance and identify areas where you may be overspending.
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What is the difference between a Bookkeeper and an Accountant?
A Bookkeeper’s role concerns recording and maintaining financial transactions and is one part of the accounting process. An Accountant on the other hand works in all areas of the accounting process but usually spend more time analysing financial records in the performance of company audits, and can provide strategic advice and help with tax planning and tax filling. Many businesses employ both Bookkeepers and Accountants.
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What are management accounts?
Management accounts are a type of financial report, providing insight on the financial performance of your business. They’re called management accounts because they’re typically used by business owners and management to inform strategic decision making. For the best results, management accounts are usually produced monthly or quarterly, so that you can more accurately gauge how well you’re doing and make timely course corrections.
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What are the benefits of keeping management accounts?
Management accounts are a detailed, more regular look at your financial information, going beyond the numbers to reveal key insights about your business performance. Some of the benefits of keeping regular management accounts: Monitor your growth You can compare your management accounts monthly, quarterly or yearly to accurately monitor not just your financial growth, but your performance as well. For example, looking at your accounts receivable over time, have you developed your client base from late-payers into on-time payers? Plan for the future Looking for patterns in income and cash flow means you can more accurately forecast your future revenue, or make allowances for doubtful accounts. You might even spot seasonal differences in cash flow, so that you can plan around slower months in future. Motivate for funding A good set of management accounts backs up your business plan, and investors love to see them. You can approach investors confidently, ready to answer all their questions about your business performance – whereas failing to show any will usually result in a swift ‘goodbye’. Optimise your processes When you understand your cash flow, you can make any needed improvements. For example, if clients take a while to pay, you can improve your collection process, or make other credit decisions quickly. If you know which customers pay regularly, you can develop loyalty programmes and attractive offers to reward them.
Please use the form below to contact us. We will be in touch to arrange an informal chat with you to gather more information and to answer your questions. The form can also be used for enquiring about employment opportunities with Blue Ridge Accounting Services in the first instance.