Accountancy

Yorkshire Chartered Accountants Supporting Owner-Managed and Family Businesses

Walter Dawson & Son have been providing accountancy services to businesses across Yorkshire since 1886. In that time the tax rules, the software and the reporting requirements have all changed — but the businesses we work best with haven’t changed much. They tend to be owner-managed or family-run, with turnover typically between £500,000 and £5 million, and they need an accountant who understands the business properly, not just the numbers on the page.

We are ICAEW regulated chartered accountants — not bookkeepers or unqualified practitioners — with six offices across West and North Yorkshire. Our accountancy services cover everything from statutory annual accounts and Companies House compliance through to monthly management accounts, bookkeeping, VAT returns and tax-efficient planning within the accounts themselves.

If your current accountant is reactive rather than proactive — producing accounts after the fact rather than helping you plan ahead — that’s the difference we aim to make.

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Our Accountancy Services

We provide a comprehensive accountancy service for limited companies, sole traders, partnerships and LLPs. Our work covers statutory obligations — the accounts you are legally required to produce — but goes considerably further, providing the financial information and insight you need to run the business well day to day.

Annual Accounts and Statutory Compliance

We prepare your annual accounts to the required standard, ensure they comply with current UK GAAP or FRS 102 as applicable, and file them with Companies House and HMRC within the required deadlines. As ICAEW chartered accountants, we are qualified to sign off accounts that unqualified practitioners cannot.

Management Accounts

Annual accounts tell you where you’ve been. Management accounts tell you where you are. We produce regular management accounts — monthly or quarterly depending on your needs — giving you an up-to-date view of revenue, costs, margins and cash position in a format that’s actually useful for making decisions.

Tax-Efficient Planning Within the Accounts

Accounts preparation isn’t just a compliance exercise — it’s an opportunity to plan. We look for legitimate tax efficiencies as part of the accounts process: timing of expenditure, treatment of assets, director remuneration structures, pension contributions and more. This connects directly to the advice your tax adviser is giving, so nothing falls between the gaps.

Bookkeeping Services

We provide bookkeeping support for businesses that don’t have the in-house resource to maintain accurate records throughout the year. Clean, up-to-date bookkeeping makes year-end accounts faster, cheaper and more reliable — and gives you better visibility of the business between year-ends.

VAT Returns and Compliance

We prepare and submit VAT returns for businesses on standard, flat rate and partial exemption schemes, ensuring accuracy and timely submission to HMRC. We also advise on VAT registration, scheme selection and any complex VAT issues that arise — including the requirements of Making Tax Digital for VAT.

Year-Round Support and Advisory

Many of our clients don’t just want accounts prepared — they want an accountant they can call when something comes up. We provide year-round advisory support as part of our accountancy relationship: answering questions, reviewing decisions and helping you think through the financial implications before you commit.

The Businesses We Work With

Our accountancy clients are typically established businesses rather than start-ups — owner-managed limited companies, family businesses, partnerships and sole traders with a track record and a degree of complexity to their affairs.

We work across most sectors, with particular experience in manufacturing and engineering, professional services, construction and property, retail and wholesale, agricultural businesses, and healthcare. We have six offices across Yorkshire — Bradford, Elland, Huddersfield, Leyburn, Northallerton and York — so we work with businesses throughout West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire, from the Dales to the city centre.

If your business has grown to the point where your current accountant no longer feels like a proper partner in the business — just someone who produces accounts once a year — that’s the gap we typically fill.

Why Established Businesses Choose WDS for Accountancy

There are a lot of accountancy firms in Yorkshire. The question worth asking isn’t whether they can produce your accounts — most can — but whether they bring anything beyond compliance.

At WDS, accountancy is the foundation of the relationship, not the ceiling. Because we also provide tax planning, audit, payroll, corporate finance and wealth management advice, the accounts we produce connect to a much broader understanding of your business and personal financial position. That means the advice you get is joined up — a tax planning conversation informed by the accounts, a management accounts discussion that feeds into your business planning, a corporate finance review that starts from a solid understanding of the numbers.

We are ICAEW regulated, which means we are held to professional standards that unqualified practitioners are not. We have been advising businesses in Yorkshire since 1886 — which means we have seen businesses through recessions, legislative changes, sector shifts and generational transitions. And we operate from six offices across Yorkshire, so there is almost always a WDS office within a reasonable distance of your business.

We don’t work with every type of business — we’re not the right fit for very early-stage start-ups or micro-businesses with minimal complexity. But for established, owner-managed businesses that want a proper accountancy partner rather than a compliance service, we think we offer something genuinely different.

Regulated, Qualified and Accountable

Walter Dawson & Son are regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). This means:

Our accountants hold recognised professional qualifications — ACA or ACCA — and are subject to continuing professional development requirements
We are required to carry professional indemnity insurance
We are subject to ICAEW’s code of ethics and disciplinary procedures
We are qualified to prepare and sign off statutory accounts and audit reports that unqualified practitioners cannot

When you appoint an ICAEW regulated firm, you have a level of protection and recourse that you do not have with an unqualified or unregulated bookkeeper or accountant. For established businesses with complex affairs, this matters.

Accountancy That Connects to Everything Else

Accountancy doesn’t sit in isolation. The annual accounts feed into your tax position. Your management accounts inform your business planning. Your bookkeeping connects to your VAT returns and payroll. At WDS, all of these services are available under one roof — which means the information flows properly and the advice is consistent.

Services that connect directly to our accountancy work include:

Tax — business tax, corporation tax, personal tax planning for directors and owners
Audit — statutory audit for companies that require it, ICAEW registered auditors
Cloud Accounting — Sage, Xero and QuickBooks setup and support, MTD compliance
Payroll — outsourced payroll, PAYE, auto-enrolment
Corporate Finance — business acquisitions, MBOs, business sales
Wealth Management — personal financial planning for business owners

Accurate Financial Review

Gain a clear understanding of your business’s financial position, helping you make confident decisions.

Save Money

Our proactive approach to tax-efficient planning and financial management can help you reduce costs and maximise profits.

Future Planning

We provide insights and strategies to help you prepare for growth, expansion, or unexpected challenges.

Earnings Strategy

Optimise your income with tailored advice that aligns with your financial goals and business objectives.

Stay Compliant

We ensure your accounts meet all statutory requirements and deadlines, giving you peace of mind.

Save Time

Focus on what you do best — running your business. Let us handle your accounts, reports, and tax returns efficiently and accurately.

How do I get started with your accountancy services?

Getting started is easy! Simply contact us, and our team will be in touch to discuss your needs and tailor a solution that fits your business.

Can I get a custom solution for my unique business needs?

Absolutely! We understand that each business is unique. Our team is ready to tailor our services to meet your specific requirements, ensuring you get the most out of our expertise.

What sets your accountancy services apart?

Our dedicated team, with almost 140 years of experience, goes beyond traditional accounting. We offer personalised solutions, proactive insights, and a commitment to excellence in client service.

How can I save money with your accountancy services?

We provide proactive advice on reducing business costs and increasing profits, helping you save money and improve overall financial performance.

How do your services ensure compliance with regulations?

Our team is trained to ensure your accounts comply with the latest legislation and HMRC requirements, helping you meet statutory deadlines effortlessly.

What is tax-efficient planning within the accounts?

Tax-efficient planning is embedded within our accountancy services to provide strategic advice aimed at optimising your tax efficiency and maximising potential financial benefits.

Can you help with month-end reports?

Yes, we offer timely and comprehensive month-end reports to keep you informed and in control of your financials.

What is included in the annual accounts service?

Our annual accounts service involves thorough preparation of financial statements, ensuring compliance with the latest regulations and providing strategic insights for your business.

How can I benefit from your accountancy services?

Our services offer a range of benefits, including accurate company reviews, cost savings, strategic future planning, and compliance assurance. We focus on optimising tax efficiency and saving you valuable time on producing your tax return.

What accounting services do you offer?

At WDS, we provide a comprehensive range of accounting services tailored for sole traders, partnerships, and limited companies. Our offerings include year-end accounts, month-end reports, and tax-efficient planning.