Frequently Asked Questions
Questions we get asked most, answered straight. If yours isn't here, get in touch and we'll answer it directly.
Getting started and switching
How easy is it to switch to WCL, and do I need to do anything?
Easier than most people expect. We handle the professional clearance with your current accountant and put the HMRC and Companies House authorisations in place, so the process isn’t left to you.
Will switching disrupt my business or create extra cost?
No. It’s a standard process every UK accountant deals with regularly, and there’s no cost to you for making the move. We work around your reporting and tax deadlines so nothing gets missed in the handover.
Can I switch part-way through my financial year, or should I wait for year-end?
You can switch at any point. Timing it around your year-end or just after a filing deadline is often the cleanest moment, but it isn’t a requirement.
What information do you need from me to get started?
Not much to begin with. We’ll arrange a meeting to understand your business and what you need, then take it from there.
Fees and commitment
How much will it cost, and how do you charge?
Every quote is bespoke, built around what you need rather than a fixed package. We’ll talk through your business first, then give you a clear proposal.
Am I tied into a minimum contract?
No. Our terms are open-ended with a notice period, instead of a fixed contract. Clients stay because the relationship works, not because they’re locked in.
Working with WCL
Do I need to be local to work with you?
No. We’re based in Warmley, just outside Bristol, and work with businesses across the UK. Location has never been a barrier to how closely we work with a client.
Will I have a dedicated point of contact?
Yes. You’ll work with a named senior contact who knows your business, backed by the right specialist across accountancy, finance or legal whenever you need one.
Do I have to use Xero, or can you work with my current software?
We’ll work with what you’ve got. As a Xero Gold Partner, Xero is what we recommend and where our expertise runs deepest. But we’re not precious about it.
The integrated offer
Can you handle my accountancy and my legal work together?
Yes, and it’s where WCL is truly different. Your accountancy, finance and legal advisers sit under one roof and talk to each other, so nothing gets lost between separate firms.
What's the advantage of having finance, tax and business law in one firm?
Fewer handoffs and fewer blind spots. A legal question that comes out of a finance conversation gets picked up straight away, rather than waiting for you to brief a second adviser from scratch.
Outsourced FD and Finance Team
What's the difference between an accountant and an outsourced Finance Director?
An accountant keeps your compliance and reporting in order. An outsourced FD sits alongside that, reading what the numbers mean and helping you plan the next move: funding, growth, an acquisition or an exit.
We're too small for a full-time FD but need senior finance input. What are the options?
That’s exactly what our fractional FD and outsourced finance team services are for: senior finance expertise scaled to what you need, without the cost of a full-time hire.
What's the difference between a fractional Finance Director and an outsourced finance team?
A fractional FD gives you one senior individual for strategic input. An outsourced finance team is the whole function delivered as a service, from day-to-day bookkeeping through to reporting.
How much of the FD's time will we get, and how does that change as we grow?
It’s built around your business rather than a fixed number of days. As you grow, the level of support flexes with you, and some clients move from fractional input into a full outsourced finance team as their needs deepen.
Legal services
Is WCL a law firm?
No. WCL isn’t regulated by the SRA, though we are registered with them. Sarah Whittock, who leads our legal service, is a practising solicitor authorised and regulated by the SRA personally.
Who provides the legal advice, and are they regulated?
Sarah Whittock leads the service. She qualified as a solicitor in 2004 and is authorised and regulated by the SRA personally.
What kinds of legal work can you help with, and what would you refer on?
Commercial contracts, company secretarial work and employment law sit within WCL. For anything outside that scope, such as litigation, we’ll point you to a specialist we trust.
Is WCL the right fit
What size of business do you work with?
Most of our clients turn over between £3m and £10m, though we work with businesses from sole traders to £30m-plus groups. If you’re unsure where you fit, a quick call will tell you.
What makes you different from a typical high-street accountant?
We’re built to look forward rather than just reporting the past. That includes regular contact, senior input and a plan for what’s next
"As someone unfamiliar with creating contracts and T&Cs, I was worried before getting in touch with WCL, but they quickly made things stress free and easy for me."
– Frank West
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