Accountants in Carlisle (Victoria Place)

“Since taking over from a Big 4 firm, Armstrong Watson have been a breath of fresh air. We have been with a Big 4 firm for 34 years and we have had a lot better and closer working relationship with Andrew Kennon and Armstrong Watson. They impressed us from the outset with their sector knowledge and this has shown through in all the advice we’ve received. Helping make our ideas and goals reality. I would have no hesitation in recommending Armstrong Watson as anyone’s auditors and advisers.”

George Harrison, Harrison Leisure

During the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic it became apparent that the bookkeeping and management accounts were potentially going to be problematic logistically.

Sharon was proactive in providing possible solutions in advance of our scheduled quarterly timetable and was available at several opportunities to test our preferred option of working remotely. Microsoft Teams proved to be invaluable in ensuring we could adapt to a rapidly changing working environment with relatively short notice. Armstrong Watson were instrumental in bringing about this change and ensuring, not only the work getting done on a timely basis but also, staff safety being prioritised.

Karen Walsh, Director, Paramount Legal Costs Limited

Armstrong Watson have been the appointed external auditors for Cumbria CVS for the past 4 years. Throughout this time, we have always found them to be professional, knowledgeable and reasonable.

We have been able to meet all of our filing deadlines whilst they have been appointed.

Both the auditing staff and managers are friendly but professional and very understanding of organisational need. The staff possess good communication skills and have been very helpful and approachable giving advice, especially through times of transitions within our organisation.

Armstrong Watson are also very knowledgeable of charity accounts which makes the audit process much smoother and discussions around organisational need and improvements much easier and applicable.

We have been very satisfied with the service from Armstrong Watson.

Jo Collin, Finance Manager, Cumbria CVS

Armstrong Watson has been the school’s preferred Payroll service provider since April 2002.

During that time we have developed a very strong working partnership built on mutual respect and trust. I have found them to be extremely efficient and professional in all aspects of payroll. 

There is always a member of their payroll team on hand, whether it be via email, telephone or face to face, to provide advice and support when needed. This, together with their continued efforts to maintain a high level of customer service whilst providing a bespoke payroll service for each of their clients, is a great strength.

This high level of customer service and the continual self-evaluation of that service ensures they provide value for money.

Mabyn Goodfellow, School Business Manager - Inglewood Junior School,

Armstrong Watson have provided our payroll services for a number of years.  The team there are excellent; the whole process is user friendly, extremely efficient and very cost effective – everything I need.  Any questions I’ve asked have been answered straight away (even daft ones) and they are terrific at dealing with last minute amendments!

I would thoroughly recommend the payroll team at AW to businesses of all shapes and sizes and look forward to continuing to work with them.

Scott Garson, Practice Manager, Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors

We approached Armstrong Watson for strategic business advice about one year ago. We like the fact that Nick keeps things simple and doesn’t bombard us with jargon. We have found the process to be a great help in lots of aspects of future planning. The quarterly process can feel a bit daunting, ensuring that our 90-day objectives are met on time. Our team of three owners feel the investment has been worth it as we have a more efficient business and can look to the future with more enthusiasm. We would recommend this service to business owners and leaders alike.

Link Recruitment, Carlisle and Dumfries

Selling your family business and family home of over 40 years is not an easy decision to make and is a life changing event. Having never sold a business before there are so many unknowns and uncertainties, not to mention the doubts that enter your mind. Andrew and Darcie guided us all throughout the entire process and invested their time to ensure we had a clear understanding of the process and what things meant. Cutting through the jargon and liaising with the legal advisers made things even easier for us and without their guidance and support we may have never completed the sale. We can now enjoy our retirement and are very much looking forward to the next chapter for us all. We would have no hesitation in recommending Andrew, Darcie and team at Armstrong Watson.

The Quinion Family, formerly of Farlam Hall

We were undertaking a review of our pension scheme, a benefit which has been much valued by the members and felt that to provide the additional support during the transitional period, we needed to bring in the services of a professional financial adviser firm.  It was important to us that the firm was local to Cumbria and able to create a trusted relationship with our colleagues who were trying to understand how the proposed changes would or could affect them.

The feedback from our members has been extremely positive; they valued the independent, professional and considered advice and support the team at Armstrong Watson were able to provide.  Matt and his team were able to accommodate meetings on site, at home or in one of their local offices; nothing seemed to be too much trouble and the advice given to the members has been critical in allowing informed decisions to be made.

Working with Armstrong Watson has been a positive experience and we hope to continue to build on this relationship for future initiatives.

Innovia Films, UK

“If Bruce and I come up with an idea, Armstrong Watson is like a sounding board. Grant will sit down and he’ll say ‘what about this?’ I used to see accountants as a bit up-tight, a bit beige – they’re not like that.  A lot of accountants you’re just a number, but Armstrong Watson understand the people behind those figures and the passion they have for what they’re doing.”

Bruce and Luke, Carlisle

I was looking to retire and needed advice on my options. Matt analysed our circumstances and gave professional and timely advice. He went above and beyond our expectations and as result I have now retired with confidence following his advice and recommendations.

David, Carlisle

We engaged the Armstrong Watson legal sector team to provide outsourced FD services and to assist us through a period of transition following the departure of our previous in-house FD.  Their knowledge of the issues and bespoke recommendations have helped to refocus our management thought process and implementation of our strategy.  Armstrong Watson has refreshed the output of our accounting function and that has allowed our management team to focus attention where necessary. We use their user friendly KPI focused management information and this allows for a joined up approach with our strategy and informed management decisions.  All in all, we are delighted with our decision to outsource our FD function and wish that we had done it long before.

Peter Stafford, Managing Director & Head of Business Services, Cartmell Shepherd

For over 30 years Armstrong Watson has brought genuine independence, rigour, professionalism and wise advice to the audit of the Society’s arrangements and its reporting to the Board and its membership at the AGM. Not just in respect of the statutory accounts, but also in respect of its management and compliance arrangements. I would have no hesitation in commending Armstrong Watson to any prospective client whose aspirations, ideals and principles on behalf of the community which it serves, are similar to those which the  Society has adopted and benefited from over many years. 

Douglas Thomas, Vice Chairman

We engaged the Armstrong Watson legal sector team to provide outsourced FD services and to assist us through a period of transition following the departure of our previous in-house FD.  Their knowledge of the issues and bespoke recommendations have helped to refocus our management thought process and implementation of our strategy.  Armstrong Watson has refreshed the output of our accounting function and that has allowed our management team to focus attention where necessary. We use their user friendly KPI focused management information and this allows for a joined up approach with our strategy and informed management decisions.  All in all, we are delighted with our decision to outsource our FD function and wish that we had done it long before.

Peter Stafford, Managing Director & Head of Business Services, Cartmell Shepherd