Stephenson Smart & Co

Stephenson Smart & Co is a well established independent accountancy firm which has been operating out of Peterborough in Cambridgeshire since it was founded in 1882.

Our range of services has evolved from the traditional accountancy and audit practices to include an increasingly wide range of financial and business services to meet the changing needs of our clients, regardless of size, structure or field of operation.

Our philosophy is centred on providing a highly professional service that is distinguished by a friendly, personal approach. We pride ourselves on providing high quality advice and service, leading to the most appropriate course of action for any individual or business.

Your Team

Each of our Six partners and three managers, supported by highly skilled support staff, is committed to delivering the best possible advice and service at whatever level of involvement is appropriate to you or your business. All our partners and senior staff have grown with the firm, from their early training through to qualification and hands-on practice. This continuity of service and the opportunity it gives us to really understand your organisation, business or personal situation is of real benefit to our clients.

Your Needs
We provide a service that covers all aspects of personal and business accounting. Whatever your size or situation, we can work with you to ensure that you are in the best financial position possible and that your business operation is being managed efficiently.

Business Start-ups
Sole Traders
Partnerships
Limited Companies

Your Peace of Mind
Stephenson Smart & Co is regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants and is a Registered Auditor.

This firm is not authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 but we are able in certain circumstances to offer a limited range of investment services to clients because we are members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. We can provide these investment services if they are an incidental part of the professional services we have been engaged to provide.

Stephenson Smart Financial Services Limited

We provide objective, independent advice based on 30 years experience in the Financial Services sector to providing a broad range of financial guidance to businesses and individuals. Importantly we aim to ensure your money works hard for you giving you optimum rates of return in a tax efficient manner. We assist you in planning for a secure and comfortable standard of living both now and in the future for you, your family and those you employ.

Your Financial Services

Investment planning using the most tax efficient vehicles available
Inheritance tax mitigation
Pension planning for business or personal circumstances
Stakeholder pension advice
Keyman Insurance to protect your business in the event of the death of key personnel
Life assurance and long-term health care - to protect your income and cover your mortgage, medical and other personal costs
CGT mitigation and tax planning for companies and individuals
Savings to help you provide for special occasions, holidays, education for your children and grandchildren
Company schemes - pensions, healthcare and income protection plans for key personnel

Our advice is based on many years training and experience in the financial services market, employing quality IT business applications to quickly research and access the most suitable solution for your needs.

For more information about our Financial Services, please contact Martyn Voss on 01733 572200.

Registered in England No. 3869755.Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Authority No. 191340

Payroll Services
Managing staff payroll and the frequently changing complexities of PAYE requires specialist knowledge. For many employers, particularly owner/managers, this is just one part of the many administrative tasks required for the smooth operating of their business. Our service allows you to have an efficient and sympathetic department at your disposal without the need for investment in expensive technology, systems, training and management time.

Our Payroll Services department operates as an extension of your business. We build a close working relationship with our clients to manage this aspect of your business effectively and efficiently.

Your Payroll Services

Processing payroll
Production of payslips - standard or security - weekly, 2 weekly, 4 weekly or monthly
NI calculations for employee earnings and employer liability
NI calculations on cars, fuel and other benefits in kind
Payment via BACS or cheque
PAYE deductions and tax code maintenance
All P-forms and year end returns
Statutory sick pay and Statutory maternity entitlement, payment and recovery management
Pension scheme or share earnings scheme administration and management
Funding consultancy and management
Salary review and planning, including profit sharing

If you would like to discuss our Payroll Services in more detail, please contact
Stephenson Smart & Co Payroll Services Manager on 01733 311370

Specialist Services
We pride ourselves on offering a highly customised service that meets the needs of each individual client. During our years of providing a full range of accountancy services we have also established ourselves as specialists in the following areas:

Circulation Audits
For over 12 years we have worked with ABC, the official Audit Bureau of Circulations.
We can provide a returns completion service to this body, or we can provide an auditing service on the figures supplied.

For further details, please contact Ivan Walker at Stephenson Smart & Co.

Social Housing
We work with a variety of Registered Social Landlords (RSL's), large and small, which cover general needs housing, supported housing and shared ownership. Our specialist team can assist and advise on constantly changing housing legislation and good practice standards that regulate this sector.

Our services include:

Statutory external audit and financial accounting to ensure compliance with standards, legislation and good practice, as well as advice on accounting policies and presentation.
Internal audit, from general advice on implementing an internal audit function, internal audit needs assessments through to the provision of a full internal audit service by an independent team of auditors.
Taxation advice covering corporation tax, VAT and employee taxes.

For more information, please contact Paul Evans or Garry Wiles on 01733 343275.

Charities
We have considerable experience of supporting the `not for profit' sector in a variety of financial and accountancy practices.

Advice on the most appropriate constitution for the charity
Assistance in ascertaining the reporting requirements of the individual charity, supporting with the preparation of the accounts to ensure the requirements of the governing body are satisfied
Act as independent examiner for smaller charities where there is no audit requirement
Specialist advice on VAT, corporation tax, gift aid and other areas of specific concern to charities
Assistance with the implementation requirements of the Charities Act of 1993 and the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) 1995 and 2000
Advice and recommendations for improving internal controls to further protect the assets of the charity and its trustees
Advice on the use of trading subsidiaries and implementation of the procedures necessary to covenant any surplus profits to the main charity to gain the most tax advantageous position

For more information, please contact Paula Lawson on 01733 343275.

Computerised Bookkeeping Service

Keeping on top of bookkeeping records and accounting transactions is a necessary but time-consuming activity for most businesses. We provide a complete bookkeeping service, either at your premises or ours, to regularly up date and maintain your bookkeeping records. This can be done weekly, fortnightly, monthly or quarterly, dependant on the needs of your business, and can fit in with your current bookkeeping system whether computerised or manual.
Our aim is to help you manage your business more effectively by providing regular, accurate and up to date figures that help you make the right decisions for your business.

Your Bookkeeping Services

Bank and cash reconciliation
Sales Ledger maintenance, including the issue of sales invoices and statements if required
Purchase Ledger maintenance, including liaison with creditors to aid reconciliation
Nominal Ledger completion
Raising creditor cheques
Production of management accounts
Cash flow forecasts
VAT returns

We are also able to help and advise on improving your accounting function, spending time with you to help in the selection and installation of appropriate software and providing on or off-site training.

For more information on our Bookkeeping Services, please contact on 01733 343275.

Accounts & Tax Planning Service

Whether you are operating your business as a sole trader, partnership or limited company, your focus will be on developing a solid and
profitable business. We can support you in this by providing the expertise required to ensure your business operates efficiently, leaving you to concentrate on what you do best - drive your business forward.

Our broad range of accountancy and tax planning services can help your business succeed, from its initial start-up through to business planning. We can also help you as an individual, providing advice on all tax matters affecting you personally.

Your Accounts & Tax Planning Service

Advice for New Business Start-ups, including assessing the most suitable structure for your business, registration procedures with Companies House, Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise.
Support in preparing a business plan, cashflow projections, budgets and trading forecasts
Preparation of regular management accounts
Year end accounts and financial review
Income tax returns and dealing with Inland Revenue enquiries
Tax planning - income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax
VAT planning, control and administration - we will also negotiate with Customs and Excise on your behalf and represent you at VAT
tribunals if necessary

For more information on our Accountancy and Tax Planning services,
please contact Stephenson Smart & Co on 01733 343275.

Corporate Accounts & Audit
The production of accurate corporate accounts on time is fundamental to business operation and is one of our most essential roles. The production, management and review of company accounts and financial performance provide the basis on which your business operates. We can help you as a company owner and/or director to fulfil your legal obligations under the Companies Act as well as supporting you in the development of your business. Stephenson Smart & Co is a Registered Auditor incorporating qualified professionals to provide a full audit and accountancy service. We can also undertake business investigations and help in the financial management of mergers, management buyouts and takeovers.

Our approach in undertaking this highly regulated duty is one of complete support. We can help transform this onerous duty into an opportunity to improve your business, to establish new procedures and to present your company in the best possible light.

Your Corporate Accountancy & Audit Services

Advice on company formation
Efficient year end audit and preparation of annual report & accounts
Corporation tax planning and self assessment
Statutory records maintained
Advice on group structures, including takeovers, mergers and buyouts
Internal auditing to assist in assessing needs and recommending
procedures to improve company performance and controls

For more information about our Corporate Accounts and Auditing service,
please contact Stephenson Smart & Co on 01733 343275.

Financial Computing & Training

Keeping financial records up to date and having information readily available are key factors in the smooth and efficient running of your business. Computerised systems can greatly assist in this, but finding the right software package to complement and run alongside the mainstream network system can be frustrating and time consuming for many people in business.

We can help from selection to installation, supporting you all the way with careful training by experts who understand what you need to achieve.

Your Computing & Training Services

Consultancy service to assess and recommend the most appropriate computer system and software to meet you business needs.
Installation and training in a number of accountancy packages, including among others:
- SAGE Instant, Line 50, Line 100
- PEGASUS Opera, Capital Lite
- TAS BOOKS
On-going programming support to create report writing and file layouts that meet your business needs
Advice and assistance on intergrating your accounting data with leading software packages to give even greater flexibilty to your accounting reports.
Bespoke database design services to meet specific process and procedual needs.

For more details on our Computing and Training Services, please contact Stephenson Smart & Co on 01733 343275