I would like to share some positive feedback about your payroll services, particularly Georgie. Georgie has been fantastic during the onboarding process and what we thought might be complicated, with the help and support of Georgie, who responded quickly at all times, offering helpful advice and ideas has resulted in making our processes so much more efficient and error free first time.
OES Group Ltd
One of the challenges in a law firm is getting everyone to understand the business and approach things from a commercial perspective. Lawyers are focussed (rightly so) on client service and often don’t appreciate the value of the support they provide. The training we had with Armstrong Watson really helped us to focus the team’s minds on the value they were creating and as a result we now have an effective pricing policy that provides clients with choice and certainty whilst recognising the value that we create through our services. The training was delivered in a way that everyone understood and could relate to by Andy who is a true expert in professional services management and finance. We all came away feeling like we’d had a morning well spent.
Gill Hunter, Managing Partner, Square One Law
As a well established and profitable electronic components manufacturer based in the North East , the shareholders had reached a stage in life when it was apparent a company sale was required. They approached David Wilson who was very responsive in finding potential buyers. Agreement with the first potential buyer chosen did not progress due to the final terms of their offer being insufficient. The second buyer, a private equity company, had a prolonged due diligence process which required considerable tenacity and astute negotiation to navigate. David and his team were admirable throughout and successfully concluded the sale.
Tony Hemming, Chairman (until May 2024), Isocom Components 2004 Ltd
The session was really useful and thought provoking. Some courses simply flag issues to us and tell us what we should avoid doing. Andy's approach means not only were we made aware of potential pitfalls with things such as billing and fee quoting but he gave us solid guidance on what we can do to not only avoid the pitfalls but to turn those potential pitfalls into positive experiences for us and the clients.
Andy's knowledge and delivery inspires confidence in his recommendations.
Steve Redmond, Gateley plc
Brampton Rural Housing Society (BRHS) is a small charitable housing association, but plays an important role in the community of Brampton and its surrounding villages. BRHS is managed by a Members Board represented by a range of professional disciplines, including Accountancy, Architecture, Banking, and Housing, supported by key staff with appropriate experience in the field of housing, finance and administration.
The Board and its staff seek to comply with the highest standards of governance and accountability to its tenants, contractors, regulators, and the community it serves. And most importantly the Board wants the discharge of its functions and services to be challenged and judged externally and independently against those high standards.
This has been achieved by the appointment of the premier regional accounting and audit practice, Armstrong Watson, as it auditors, for a period extending beyond the 30 years involvement of the writer. Throughout that period 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.
Principals and lead audit staff are rotated at appropriate intervals and there is a strong liaison at Director level between the Practice and the Society, with informed meetings preceding the audit and after its conclusion. The field work supporting the audit is carried out on site to a pre-agreed timetable with a prior and full understanding of the documentation required to be made available and which is prepared for inspection by the Society staff in advance of the audit.
As one who has been a Board member since 1989 and voluntary treasurer of BRHS from 1995 to 2017, 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, Brampton Rural Housing Society
The service provided by Armstrong Watson, and in particular the support and advice from Karen, Lauren and their colleagues to support us through this process has been immensely helpful.
Their knowledge of charity sector financial regulations and reporting requirements, and the professional way in which they approached this important work made the whole process much less challenging for us than we anticipated. I would, without reservation, endorse and recommend your services.
Tynedale Hospice at Home
Tony Bullock and his team have been our accountants since 2018, and during that time we have built a close working relationship. They have an excellent understanding of both our business and the leisure and tourism sector in general.
As a micro business, bookkeeping falls to our small management team. Tony helps to ensure that we adopt best practice, and that our tax position is optimised.
It is never too much trouble for Tony to work through our concerns with us, and he is always prepared to clearly explain things. We are very comfortable dealing with Tony and his team and look forward to dealing further with them in the future.
Alastair Hunter, Managing Director, Brown Rigg Lodges & Guest Rooms
Working with Armstrong Watson on our financial forecast has been very useful over the past few years. They developed a very comprehensive model which allows us to track our performance over 5 years and plan future investments and impact on profit and budget accordingly. They customised it to our needs and have been responsive to our feedback – adding or amending things as needed.
Andy, Jordan and the team are easy to deal with, provide always a timescale and deliver their work on time. I would recommend them to other firms who are looking into improving their profitability and keeping their finances organised.
Antonio Deban Valles, Profitability Officer, Scullion law
We have used Michelle Malone and her team for well over ten years. She has always been the most helpful and courteous person I have worked with in the field.
Her and her team do our business and personal tax and we find them to be brilliant and knowledgeable in the whole complicated automotive tax world. They have helped us through various vat queries and always been so supportive, professional and her attention to detail is excellent.
I would have no hesitation in recommending her and her team to any Motor Trade organisation who are looking for any tax advice or help.
Jim Manson, Jims Garage in Shetland
I have instructed Matthew Geale and Claire Prideaux to act as expert forensic accountancy witnesses in a number of complex and high value claims in recent years, across the whole spectrum of accountancy related heads of loss. Invariably the issues will exceed £1m, often very substantially so, and regularly require a nuanced approach, which I have found Matthew and Claire particularly adept at dealing with. I hold their work in extremely high regard, and as do the leading counsel who I work alongside on these cases. Their technical knowledge, understanding of the legal principles and case law is second to none, but their ability to work and think flexibly in respect of what can often be rather dynamic calculations is a point of difference in my experience.
Matt Perkins, Keoghs