I can honestly say that for the first week of lockdown I hardly slept, probably like many others in the country.
Then the Chancellor started announcing ways in which the government was going to help businesses: VAT liabilities could be deferred; Self-Assessment could be delayed; banks were going to lend money; and, most importantly, the Job Retention Scheme was announced.
All of a sudden, my phone was red hot. Clients wanted to know if they could take advantage of the schemes, and if so, could I assist them in making the claims…….or rather
New clients popped up. So many of them hadn’t filed their 2019 tax returns and these needed submitting if they were to take advantage of the Self Employment Scheme. Within a few days, my work appeared to have trebled with the additional elements. That’s ok, I thought. I had planned for expanding anyway, with additional staff.
...is not something I thought to ask at interview! Several frantic calls to IT Support later, and all staff are suddenly working remotely.
Now, as we enter June, I look back over the first three months or so of Octave Accountants…… with a smile on my face. Clients have received the support they have needed and are slowly returning to trading. Claims have been made to the various Covid schemes, overdue tax returns have been filed and clients have been advised on their tax positions now and going forward.
Lots of businesses must adapt to new regulations on how they operate. Government support will slowly be withdrawn. And banks will go back to being miserly in their lending!
One constant, though, is that Octave will be on hand to assist and advise. And, in these different times, which demand different business practices and approaches, it may well be that you will want us to assist you in different ways.
Annual information is probably no longer enough – now, monthly accounts and regular cashflow forecasting can help you to keep a constant eye on costs and profitability – and to help you to plan for the future from a more informed position.
Maybe you want to gain yourself more management time by outsourcing your payroll and/or bookkeeping functions to us. Is now the right time to harness all the benefits of a cloud-based bookkeeping system like Xero, Quickbooks or Sage? We can assist you with the transfer, providing training if required. Away from accountancy, we can offer you the help of our trusted HR contacts and the business turnaround experts with whom we work.
If any of the above sounds interesting to you, please just give me a call – obviously, without obligation and in compete confidence.
Firstly, a huge thank you to my clients who have been fantastic. Yes, it’s been stressful for us all but you have been wonderful, and your kind comments have helped me through these unusual times. Secondly, to my fellow accountants whom I have spoken to during this period: we may work for different companies but the mutual support and the ‘sounding board’ we have provided for each other have been invaluable. And lastly, thank you to my family and my staff who have been understanding, supportive and conscientious in equal measures. Thank you all.
At Octave you can expect friendly and professional customer service with simple and transparent pricing, meaning no hidden costs or nasty surprises. We are based in Southampton but work with businesses across the UK of all sizes to manage their accounts and tax.
We have over 20 years experience in the industry and we will offer you the most expert advice and guidance on what is best for you and your business, allowing you to make the most informed decisions possible.
We are more than just an Accountant, we can act as your very own Financial Director, your knowledgeable tax expert and trusted bookkeeper. At Octave we won’t use jargon or try and confuse you. We have a relaxed but professional approach and are always available if you have any questions or concerns.
If you have any questions or would like to arrange a no obligation meeting then we'd love to hear from you
Simply fill in the form below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. If you'd rather speak right away give us a call on 02380 176190.
Your enquiry is very important to us, and as always, we’ll get back to you as soon as we possibly can. A member of our team will be in contact with you shortly.