Over the past few months Jessica Rafferty-Smith and Larking Gowen have been key to helping me understand my businesses’ financial position.

 “When I first moved to Larking Gowen, my records were inaccurate, and I didn’t have a good understanding of what direction my group was heading in due to there being multiple companies over different countries and with many different currencies.

 “Within weeks, my records were completely brought up to date and I started to get an understanding of where my companies were at.

 “Although I was using Xero when I moved over to Larking Gowen, I was not using technology as efficiently as I could have been. Jessica’s team set me up with Receipt Bank for all of my companies so that I could get information over to the team as soon as possible. This means that my bookkeeping is now processed on a daily basis.

“As a result of this, Larking Gowen is now providing me with monthly management reports as well as cashflow forecasts and budgets so that I have a full understanding of my companies before making any business decisions.

“If you are a business owner that needs some clarity with regards to how your business is performing then I would recommend getting in contact with Jessica at Larking Gowen.

Larking Gowen have been the Practice's Accountants for a considerable time. The partnership has benefited from a highly personalised level of service from Mr Andrew Burwood of Larking Gowen with direct access for advice - a rarity today. He has an excellent team to support him who develop a clear understanding of our business and its idiosyncrasies. The responses are rapid helping the practice and its partners to navigate the increasingly difficult mine field of running a NHS GP Practice and a NHS Pharmacy. Accounts are well presented and delivered personally in a formal meeting to discuss performance and to target areas that may be improved along with metrics to allow comparison with other practices using anonymous data. There is excellent resources in the firm for other businesses. Probably not the cheapest accountants available but possibly the best.

Preparation of annual accounts and tax returns for partnership. Any accounting and partnership queries. Always helpful and responsive.

Have worked with Andrew Burwood at LG for a number of years. Professional, efficient and personable - I would highly recommend him.

Excellent service over the years, always very helpful especially Andrew Burwood and Lizzy. Timely response for all queries. Thank you for all your brilliant accountancy services.

Larking Gowen prepare our practice accounts and also those of our hybrid pharmacy. They are always efficient and thorough. They are always quick to respond to queries and also provided much needed support when we were without a financial manager for a few months. They provided invaluable support and advice for our new financial manager. They were most helpful and gave us sound advice when appointing a new partner

Andrew Burwood is extremely knowledgeable in our area of GP partnerships and the NHS. He provides total support and guidance to our practice and I could only highly recommend him.

Andrew has a really collaborative approach, and has an understanding of what its like to start out in a profession, with its uncertainties and risks. He helps me manage my business and personal accounts with a professional, friendly and caring manner.

I want to mention that the whole Larking Gowen team is just incredible!

I mainly contacted Jamie Butcher and I was really impressed with her knowledge and very kind and friendly approach.

Jamie also managed to submit my Type 2 certificates before the deadline, so I am very pleased!

I will highly recommend Larking Gowen to my GP friends and colleagues, if they need any help in the future.

GP, Cambridgeshire

I have been so impressed with Larking Gowen. Throughout my medical career, I have never found a more responsive, helpful accounting team. I have worked closely with Emily Griffiths, Assistant Manager, who has gently guided me through a myriad of pension and tax queries, with such competence and ease. She has been so quick to respond whenever I have had a query, and is always to willing to help. She really has gone above and beyond. I would highly recommend their services. 

Desira are a multi-franchise dealership with sites throughout East Anglia and in London. Larking Gowen have been our auditors since 2009 and since then have provided us with additional services including the valuation of, and how to account for, a new share option scheme as well as tax planning advice and systems reviews. 

We chose Larking Gowen for their professional service and competitive pricing.  We feel we have received excellent advice through the years and really value the personal relationship we have developed through regular meetings.

Founded in 1976, Stebbings Car Centre Limited has become one of the most respected and successful Car Supermarkets in the UK recently opening our latest site in Norwich. We chose Larking Gowen to be our auditors and business advisors because of the depth of their technical and practical experience in helping growing businesses like us achieve our business goals.

We have developed a close working relationship with the team at Larking Gowen who are always on hand to assist us with any queries or opportunities which arise big or small, providing us with peace of mind and guiding us through the technicalities and potential pitfalls. 

Larking Gowen have been our key business advisor for over 30 years. They really take the time to understand us and our business. I know that they are on hand when I need them. They not only take away the stress and burden of Government red tape, so I can get on with running the business, but they are always there offering advice just when its needed.

"We have been working with Larking Gowen, and in particular Becky Ames, for a lot of years now and they have seen us grow over the last 5 years since our move to a new purpose-built store.

They have advised and supported us on various accounting subjects such as tax/tax returns, family partnerships, management accounting and our plans for the future growth of our business.

In recent months we have been discussing yearly budgeting and with Becky’s help we will be putting this into practice shortly.

We have a very good relationship with Becky and her team, she is a pleasure to work with and we would not hesitate to recommend her or Larking Gowen."

"Having previously used a small Accountants Company that merged with Larking Gowen, we were somewhat nervous of dealing with a larger Company, and losing the very personal approach we had been used to previously.

However over the past 10 years, there is no doubt we would not been able to focus on our business growth without the ongoing advise and personal support from Larking Gowen. Our growth from a relatively small business to where we are today came with several challenges from payroll to HMRC queries and all departments have provided us with accurate and professional advice for us to deal with all these issues.

Thank you for all your invaluable help thus far and look forward to the next 10 years."

Over the past few years, our business has grown and developed quite extensively which has brought various issues with it along the way. Whilst the majority have been positive, it is without a doubt as a result of working with Larking Gowen, that we have been able to grow and develop the business to where it is today.

We feel that Larking Gowen really understands our business and works with us in helping us achieve our goals and, together with their all round knowledge, we now do not have to seek advice from various sources.

All in all, we are delighted with the professionalism and advice we have received.

We started working with Larking Gowen in the summer of 2017, they helped to form our business and provided a huge amount of support and guidance throughout the process. The team at Larking Gowen currently work with us to provide ongoing monthly bookkeeping, accounting and payroll services which is all run through QuickBooks. Their knowledge of this accounting platform is second-to-none and the help they have provided us has been invaluable. We have plans to significantly grow our business and Larking Gowen will play a pivotal role in supporting us along that journey.

Paul Mayne – Director

Over the past few years Martin Bugg and Larking Gowen have been a key part of my business helping me in the decisions I have taken. It is without doubt that the help that Martin has offered has resulted in assisting me in getting my business to where it is today. I feel that Martin understands my business and helps me in achieving my goals. 

If you are a driven and ambitious business owner whose business is growing and taking up an increasing amount of your time, you need to get in touch with Martin at Larking Gowen. 

We would like to acknowledge our appreciation for the very professional and efficient manner in which Larking Gowen achieved probate of the Wilson Estate at such an early date. We were particularly impressed by the calm and concise manner in which the various accountancy and administrative issues were handled. Please extend our thanks to your team for their success in achieving such a positive early resolution.

"It is such a relief to know that we are sorted and are not going to be hit with a big bill!

I am from an accounting background but would not know where to start with Capital Gains, you have made the experience a joy - thank you!"

After my father died, I was in need of some tax advice. As I knew of Larking Gowen from my days working on a large farm estate, I went to them.      

I have used their services to sort out my tax affairs and, since my husband became self-employed in 2000, we have had his books audited annually by them as well.

In all this time we have been treated with great courtesy and respect from Mr Tim Angell, who deals with our affairs. His letters/telephone calls are always informative and to the point and his advice most helpful. I have never felt intimidated by him or talked down to. He is a pleasure to deal with on all matters.

I would have no hesitation in recommending him, or indeed Larking Gowen to deal with any tax or accounting matters.

We have utilised the Larking Gowen payroll services for 5 years and have never regretted the decision to outsource this area. The efficiency, accuracy and cooperation of Larking Gowen staff is excellent and all at a true value for money rate.

Andrew Kitchen
ERAS Ltd

Following the recent completion of the Timchris reorganization, I just wanted to place on record our appreciation of the advice and assistance provided by you and your colleagues at Larking Gowen. 

This was a transaction of very great importance to the family, with substantial amounts involved and difficult legal and taxation issues including a very challenging international dimension.

Your role in guiding the transaction to a successful conclusion was invaluable, and we are very grateful.

Yours sincerely,

Tim Place

I am Damien O’Connor MD of one US and several small UK companies.

We engaged Larking Gowen as our accountants and our board was ecstatic to at last find what every business dreams of – an accountancy firm who gets to grips with and contributes first hand in making a positive difference.

One of the main issues we were involved in was an Inland Revenue investigation that had inexorably mashed us to pulp over a two year period with a £90,000 assessment. LG took over with the quiet confidence of true professionals and proceeded to position their expertise and exert influence.

Entirely due to the refreshing intervention of LG, led by partner Ian Fitch – this assessment has been whittled down by more than two thirds the original amount, along with implementing an imaginative and creative ‘one off accounting charge’ that has provided ongoing future benefits stored for the years ahead.

LG also got their crack team to grips with our book keeping, budgeting and business planning, analysis and forecasting with vigour and enthusiasm.

For the first time in fifteen years of being in business, I and my fellow directors are able to concentrate on what we are good at, selling and improving the service we offer, while confidently knowing we are supported by total, caring and professional financial expertise.

Only through deserving companies being proposed for and winning industry awards, will other client businesses see deserved recognition and thereby convey outstanding ability behind the scenes that could possibly otherwise go unnoticed. When excellence exists it should be held high as the example. If there are publicly identifiable standards and awards of meaning and value, these serve the business community at large.

Settling for mediocrity at best and total frustration at worst – when instead business leaders could have their accounting expectations exceeded and work with complimentary expertise as real partners, is the distinction of meritorious award.

I wholeheartedly propose Larking Gowen and am happy to do so in writing and or in person.

Damian O'Connor

At Capron & Helliwell we pride ourselves on offering a truly professional service with excellent advice to all our clients. We are equally committed to ensuring our business processes and computer systems operate to the highest standards. With cyber risk ever increasing and GDPR legislation introduction it becomes ever more critical to protect both our clients and our business systems data.

When approached by Martin Bugg at Larking Gowen to stress test our current systems using their independent Rizikon Assessment programme we felt this was a golden opportunity to enhance our overall Corporate Governance strategy.

The online questionnaire was not unduly complicated and, where necessary, we worked with our third party computer services supplier to complete the questions relating to the more technical aspects of our computer operating systems .

The results confirmed that we were not best in class in certain areas which has allowed us to review and make improvements as suggested. Are we happy with the outcome? “Certainly”.  Have these recommended changes enhanced our business processes and strengthened our protection systems?  “Certainly”.

We feel by carrying out this audit our exposure to business risk has been minimised, our compliance with GDPR has been enhanced and the whole experience will reinforce the continued success of the practice.

David Loombe

Business Adviser, Capron & Helliwell

Whilst undergoing a review of my supplier and having met Ian Fitch and Becky Ames at several networking events I explained that like so many, time is of the essence for me, and I needed a provider that would holistically manage this crucial element of my business. Becky responded saying “we will take the headache away from you” and Julia White and all the team have certainly done that!

It is a real pleasure to work with them and without exception every member of the Larking Gowen team are responsive and professional, I look forward to a long and mutually successful business partnership.

Sue Tasker, Founder and Director

Larking Gowen has been a fantastic help since starting my business in 2016. I have felt supported in all aspects of growing my business, providing a bespoke service that has been tailored to my needs. The team are very friendly and are always available to answer my calls should I require any assistance. Where possible the Larking Gowen Team have helped me develop my own accounting skills, advising me on areas to improve my current processes and in particular assisting in my learning and use of QuickBooks Online for the Making Tax Digital deadline. From my experience, I would thoroughly recommend Larking Gowen to small business owners and start-ups in particular.

Harrison Pardoe, Director

Guiding us through the structure of a limited company, shares and director roles since launching in January 2019, Larking Gowen have provided invaluable support for Form Creative. Our company has been through a transition period whereby two directors became one with myself becoming the sole owner and director of the company. Larking Gowens support, prompt responses and friendly nature has guided Form Creative through changes with ease and direction. With Larking Gowens knowledge and experience, Form Creative is building financial foundations for the future. 

Lindsey Churchill 

Owner & Director 

www.formcreative.co.uk

Larking Gowen are a very professional company, they are friendly and willing to help in any way.

We have been with them for many years and have always been looked after wonderfully well.

We would certainly recommend them.

Susan Fisher