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
Following conversion to LLP/ABS and putting in place succession plans we felt it was important that we partner with accountants with deep knowledge and experience of the legal sector to support our future strategy. We found this in abundance at Armstrong Watson and following a delightfully smooth transition we are already benefitting from a wide range of their services. Andy Poole and the AW teams provide proactive advice, are easy to work with and we would recommend them without hesitation.
Andrew Perry, Practice Manager, Russell & Russell Solicitors
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
I would like to acknowledge the huge contribution that Andy Poole made to the success of our business planning weekend in March 2019. Andy’s pre-meeting preparation, insight, experience and clarity of thought enabled us to achieve in just one working day what it would otherwise have taken us many working days to accomplish, over a much more protracted timescale. As a result of Andy’s overall contribution and willingness to challenge, we identified and unanimously agreed the strategic aims which will form the essential foundation of our business plan for the next five years. Andy made an invaluable contribution to our business planning process that was not only highly productive and outcomes focused but one that was inclusive and enjoyed by all who took part. I would recommend Andy to other law firms without hesitation or reservation.
Paul Bury, Managing Partner, The Endeavour Partnership LLP
When invited to acquire the Practice from the former Partners, we approached Richard Gibson and his Glasgow legal sector/Corporate Finance team to assist us with the purchase.
Richard and his team quickly demonstrated an excellent knowledge of the taxation and regulatory issues surrounding the purchase, and helped structure the transaction to ensure the acquiring business was structured appropriately, and benefited from the most tax advantageous structure when completing the purchase.
Richard built an excellent working relationship with our corporate legal advisor, our funders and the in house finance team to make the purchase and takeover as seamless as possible, and his ongoing involvement has allowed us to focus on the development of our own Practice.
Graham Craik, Managing Partner, Levy & McRae
Following a recommendation made to us, we have engaged the specialist Legal Sector team at Armstrong Watson for our accounts, audit and SRA Accounts Rules compliance requirement. We have been impressed by the breadth of their specific knowledge of the sector and how that helps them to proactively advise us. We greatly appreciate the consistent use of staff, and their interaction with our accounts team works very well indeed. Their advance planning makes everything work seamlessly and they have already spotted and enacted improvements that have helped to simplify our accounts and save us money.
Philip Browell, Director, Browells Smith & Co Solicitors Ltd
We used Armstrong Watson for the first time this year to conduct our SRA Audit. I was impressed; not only with their thoroughness and professionalism, but also with the efficiency of the whole process. The audit is an essential element of our compliance processes, but it also has the potential to be a major distraction for the business. The Armstrong Watson team gave us very clear guidance from the outset and used technology well to deliver a highly effective audit with no unnecessary work for us. We will be returning to them next year.
Nick Benson, Managing Director, Ortolan Legal Limited
Despite being the largest independent claims management company in Ireland, when we made the decision to move into legal services in England, we knew the process of applying to become an ABS could well be a time consuming and daunting task.
We wanted to make the ABS application process as smooth and efficient as possible from our point of view, and so decided to instruct the specialist legal sector team at Armstrong Watson to assist us with our application.
From our initial enquiry, and right throughout the process, I was impressed with the level of professional input and advice from Rosy Rourke and the team working with us.
The result was that our ABS application was approved very quickly, and we were very happy with the service that we received. I would recommend the team at Armstrong Watson to anyone else considering applying to become an ABS.
Alan Bailie, Director, MIS Legal Services Limited
We moved to Armstrong Watson due to their specific legal sector expertise and knowledge. We have been very pleased with the quality and efficiency of the accountancy, tax and financial advisory services provided by Andy Poole, Graham Poles and the rest of the AW team. We value the fact they truly understand our business and the legal sector as this enables them to provide us with pro-active valued added advice and suggestions to make our business and strategic business planning even better.
Carl Newton, Managing Partner, Myerson
The specialist legal sector team at Armstrong Watson has been instructed by Burnetts Solicitors to prepare the firm’s financial statements, tax returns and SRA Accounts Rules reports as well as the partners’ personal tax returns since 2011. I have been in a joint managing partner position since 1 January 2014 and have worked particularly closely with them since becoming sole managing partner on 1 January 2015. In that time, I have been impressed with their speed of response. When we need something actioned, it is always done within the agreed timetable. That is in part due to their attention to ensure that we provide them with everything that they need in order to help us. Initiatives have been established to ensure that timetables are adhered to and all costs are agreed in advance.
We benefit from their pro-active advice and suggestions; particularly recently regarding our trading structure, law firm alliances and ways to reduce our costs. In addition, they have presented to our people on cross-selling initiatives and improving their understanding of their impact on the success of the firm. They have also offered one to one tax surgeries with each of our partners in order for them to plan their personal affairs, which we will benefit from this year. Their benchmarking analysis of the firm allows us to have strategic conversations with them, and also with my partners internally.
All in all, they help us to improve our business.
Nick Gutteridge, Managing Partner, Burnetts