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Working with us remotely
Most of what we do never needs anyone to be in the same room.
We are a high-street practice in Levenshulme and we like people coming in. But the work itself — bookkeeping, a tax return, a set of company accounts, a VAT return — does not need you to take a morning off to sit in an office. Most of our clients send us their paperwork and never visit at all.
If you are outside Manchester, or you simply have not got the time, nothing changes about the service: the same fixed price agreed in writing, the same named person doing the work, and the same rule that nothing is filed until you have seen it.
How it actually works
A conversation
Phone, WhatsApp or video call, whichever suits you. Five minutes is usually enough for us to understand the job and price it.
A fixed price and a date, in writing
Before any work starts. You get an engagement letter to sign electronically from your phone, and we register as your agent with HMRC so we can deal with them on your behalf.
You send the records
Photographs of receipts, PDF bank statements, platform remittances, an export from your accounting software — whatever you actually have. For anything sensitive we send a secure upload link rather than asking you to email it.
We do the work, and ask as we go
Usually a handful of short questions about particular payments, rather than one enormous list at the end.
You read it, approve it, we file it
You get the numbers explained in plain English, not just a PDF. Nothing goes to HMRC or Companies House until you have said yes.
Keeping your information safe
Your financial records are about as personal as documents get, so it is worth saying plainly how they are handled.
- WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted and is a perfectly sensible way to send photographs of receipts and documents.
- Ordinary email is not encrypted in transit. For anything showing full account numbers, ask us for a secure upload link and we will send one.
- We will never ask for your online banking password, your card PIN, or your HMRC Government Gateway password. Nobody legitimate ever will. If you get a message asking for any of those, it did not come from us.
- We register as your agent with HMRC, which lets us deal with them directly without ever needing your login.
- Records are kept for at least six years because tax and anti-money-laundering law require it. Our privacy notice has the detail.
Identity checks are not us being awkward
Before we can act for you we have to verify who you are, with photo ID and proof of address. Every accountant in the UK is required to do this under anti-money-laundering rules, and it applies whether you walk through the door or we never meet at all. You can do it from your phone in a couple of minutes.
Anywhere. Tax is the same in Manchester as it is in Margate, and none of it needs us to be local to you. The Levenshulme office matters if you want to sit down with someone — and if you do, we will arrange a Saturday.
Common questions
Working with an accountant you have never met
Do I ever have to come to the office?
No. Plenty of our clients have never been. Everything from the first conversation to the filed return can be done by phone, WhatsApp, email and video call. The office is there if you want it, not because the work needs it.
How do I get my paperwork to you?
Whatever is easiest for you. Photograph receipts on your phone and send them by WhatsApp. Forward the PDF statements your bank emails you. Post the lot if you would rather. We do not require you to use accounting software, and we will not send you away to get it into Xero first.
Is it safe to send bank statements by WhatsApp or email?
WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted, so it is a reasonable channel for documents. Ordinary email is not encrypted in transit, so for anything showing full account numbers we will send you a secure upload link instead. Never send anyone your online banking password or card PIN - we will never ask for those.
How do I approve and sign things?
We email you the accounts or the return to read, you tell us it is right, and you sign electronically from your phone. Nothing is filed at HMRC or Companies House until you have approved it.
How do I pay if I am not coming in?
Bank transfer, or a card payment link we send you. Monthly arrangements are usually a standing order or Direct Debit.
How long does it take?
We agree a date when we agree the price, and we tell you straight away if anything threatens it. A tax return built from clean bank statements is usually days rather than weeks. A company year end from a bag of receipts takes longer, and we will say so up front rather than at the end.