Accurate, compliant accounts, prepared by people who actually pick up the phone.
Accounts preparation is the process of compiling and presenting your financial information in the form of financial statements, typically including the profit and loss account, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. It provides a clear and structured view of the business’s financial performance and position over a specified period, usually a financial year.
Sound accounts, without the headache
Pulling a year’s worth of figures into a set of accounts that satisfies HMRC and Companies House is rarely anyone’s favourite job. Get it wrong and you risk penalties, awkward questions, and decisions made on numbers you don’t fully trust.
That’s where we come in. Bevan Buckland is Wales’ largest independent chartered accountancy firm, and we’ve been preparing accounts for businesses since the 1890s. Our accounts preparation services give you statements that are accurate, fully compliant, and genuinely useful, so you can see how your business is really doing.
You’ll work with a named accountant who knows your business, not a call centre and not a different face every year. Whether you’re a sole trader, a growing limited company, or running a group structure, we make the process straightforward and keep you informed at every step.
Here’s exactly what that involves.
What our accounts preparation services include
We handle the whole process, from the raw figures through to the finished, filed accounts. You hand over your records; we turn them into clear, compliant financial statements and deal with the submissions for you.
Statutory accounts preparation and filing
For limited companies, we prepare full statutory accounts in line with UK accounting standards (FRS 102 for most companies, or FRS 105 for micro-entities). That includes your profit and loss account, balance sheet, and the supporting notes, plus the director’s report where it’s required.
We then file them with Companies House and align everything with your corporation tax return, so the two tell the same story. Where your company qualifies for small or micro-entity reporting, we’ll make sure you take advantage of any reduced disclosure or filing options you’re entitled to.
Final accounts preparation for sole traders and partnerships
Not every business is a limited company. If you’re a sole trader or in a partnership, we produce final accounts that feed directly into your Self Assessment or partnership tax return. You get a proper picture of profit, drawings, and where the money’s actually going, rather than a shoebox of receipts and a vague sense of how the year went.
Preparation of annual accounts you can rely on
Annual accounts are more than a compliance exercise. Prepared well, they show you the trends that matter: which lines are growing, where margins are slipping, and whether last year’s plan actually worked. We build them to be accurate first, and useful second, with every set checked internally before it goes anywhere near a filing deadline.
Preparation of management accounts
If you only look at your numbers once a year, you’re steering by the rear-view mirror. Our preparation of monthly management accounts (or quarterly, if that suits you better) gives you regular, real-time insight, covering performance against budget, cash position, and the figures you need to make decisions with confidence. For businesses seeking funding or planning growth, this kind of reporting is often what lenders and investors like to see.
Cloud accounting and software support
As a Xero Gold Partner, among other system we work with, we help you get the most from cloud accounting software, from setup and training through to ongoing support. Good software makes accounts preparation faster and far less painful, and it keeps you ready for Making Tax Digital as the rules continue to widen. If you’d rather we handled the bookkeeping behind it too, we can do that as well.
Because each business is different, none of this is one-size-fits-all. We shape the service around how you work, the deadlines you face, and the level of involvement you actually want.
Who our accounts preparation services are for
Why choose Bevan Buckland
There are plenty of firms that can put a set of accounts together. Far fewer combine genuine scale, deep local roots, and a service that treats you as a person rather than a number. Here’s what sets us apart.
You get a dedicated, named accountant.
One person who understands your business and is your point of contact all year round. When you need specialist input, they draw on the wider team for you, so you get the depth of a large firm with the feel of a local practice.
Over 125 years of experience behind every set of accounts.
We’ve supported Welsh businesses since the 1890s, through every kind of economic cycle and legislative change. That’s not history for its own sake; it’s the reason we spot issues early and get things right first time.
Everything under one roof.
From accounts preparation and Self Assessment to audit, R&D claims, insolvency, and business exit planning, our team covers it all. You won’t have to brief another firm from scratch when your needs change.
A free, no-obligation first consultation.
The best working relationships start with a conversation. We’ll understand your situation, answer your questions, and let you decide whether we’re the right fit before you commit to anything.
Transparent fees, with no clock-watching.
We agree your annual fee upfront, and it covers your day-to-day calls and emails at no extra charge. You’ll never hold back from asking a question because you’re worried about the bill.
Chartered, regulated, and independently verified.
We’re ICAEW Chartered Accountants with registered auditors and a licensed insolvency practitioner, and we hold Cyber Essentials Plus certification to keep your financial data secure. These are credentials you can check, not just claims.
We’re not the cheapest option, and we’re upfront about that. Our clients stay with us because the advice and accuracy we provide deliver real, measurable value. That’s a fair trade.
How it works
- Get in touch to book your free consultation. We get to know your business and your needs.
- Hand over your records. Securely, and with clear guidance on exactly what we need.
- We prepare and check your accounts. Every set goes through internal review before filing.
- You review, we file. You see the finished accounts before anything is submitted, and we deal with HMRC and Companies House for you.
- Ongoing support. We’re here through the year, not just at deadline time.
Clear, transparent pricing
We believe you should know where you stand before you commit. That’s why we work to fixed fees, agreed in advance, with no hidden costs and no surprise invoices for a quick phone call. Your fee reflects the size and complexity of your business, and we’ll explain exactly what it covers at your first meeting. Because that fee includes your everyday queries by phone and email, you can pick up the phone whenever you need to, without watching the clock.
Account Preparation FAQs
Accounts preparation is the process of turning your financial records, things like sales, purchases, and bank transactions, into formal financial statements. For a limited company that usually means a profit and loss account, a balance sheet, and supporting notes. These statements show how your business has performed over the year and form the basis of what you file with Companies House and HMRC. Done properly, they also give you a clear view of profitability, cash, and the trends shaping your business, so they’re useful for decision-making as well as compliance.
Statutory accounts are the formal, year-end accounts that limited companies are legally required to prepare and file in a set format. Management accounts are internal reports, usually monthly or quarterly, that show how the business is doing right now. They aren’t filed anywhere; they exist to help you make decisions. Many of our clients use both: statutory accounts to stay compliant, and preparation of monthly management accounts to stay in control between year-ends.
A private limited company normally has to file its annual accounts with Companies House within nine months of the end of its financial year. Your first accounts after incorporation get a longer window. Corporation tax is usually payable nine months and one day after your year-end, and your company tax return is due within twelve months. Deadlines do vary by circumstance, so always check the exact dates for your company on GOV.UK, or ask us and we’ll confirm them for you.
Companies House charges automatic late-filing penalties that increase the longer accounts are overdue, and persistent failure can lead to further action against directors. Late or inaccurate records can also create problems with HMRC. The simplest way to avoid all of this is to prepare early. We build in time for you to review the accounts before filing, and we track your deadlines so nothing slips.
Legally, you can prepare your own accounts. In practice, the rules around accounting standards, allowable costs, and disclosure are detailed and change regularly, so it’s easy to make a costly mistake or miss a saving. A qualified accountant makes sure your accounts are accurate and compliant, and often identifies tax efficiencies that more than cover the fee. You also free up your own time to run the business.
We’re a Xero Gold Partner, so we have deep experience with Xero, and we work with other major cloud platforms too. Good accounts preparation software keeps your records tidy, makes year-end far quicker, and helps you stay ready for Making Tax Digital. If you’re not using cloud software yet, we can help you choose the right package and get set up, then train you to use it confidently.
Yes. We carry out over 150 charity and housing association audits every year and prepare accounts in line with the relevant Charities SORP. The not-for-profit sector has its own reporting requirements, and our charity and not-for-profit specialists understand them in detail, so trustees can be confident their accounts are both compliant and clear.
This is a common search, and it refers to a unit within the AAT Level 3 accounting qualification rather than a service. The unit teaches students how to prepare final accounts for sole traders and partnerships, including from incomplete records. It’s a useful grounding in the same principles our qualified accountants apply in practice every day. If you’re a student looking for study resources, the AAT website is the best place to start; if you’re a business owner who needs your final accounts prepared, that’s something we’re happy to take care of.
Smaller companies and micro-entities can often prepare simpler accounts under FRS 105 or the small companies regime, with reduced disclosure. The thresholds and filing options do change, and Companies House reform is gradually altering what smaller companies must include and how they file. We’ll assess whether your business qualifies and make sure you meet the current requirements, taking advantage of any simplifications you’re entitled to.
It’s more straightforward than most people expect, and we handle the heavy lifting. Once you decide to join us, we contact your previous accountant for the necessary information (this is standard professional courtesy), agree the scope and fee in writing, and guide you through a secure handover of your records. From there, your dedicated accountant takes it forward. Most clients are surprised by how little they have to do.
Yes. As part of the service, we prepare and file your accounts and handle the related submissions and correspondence on your behalf. You see and approve the final accounts before anything is submitted, and you stay informed throughout, but the legwork and the deadline-tracking are ours to manage.
