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Crucial Partnerships: The Role of Accountants in Sustaining Established Businesses

Welcome back to our series on the indispensable role of accountants in the lifecycle of businesses. In our previous posts, we explored how we support start-ups and growing companies, laying out the challenges they face and the strategies we employ to help them thrive. Today, we turn our focus to established businesses and examine how our comprehensive services at The MGroup Chartered Certified Accountants and Tax Advisors help these businesses not just sustain but excel in a competitive marketplace.

The Unique Needs of Established Businesses

Established businesses have unique challenges and opportunities that require tailored financial strategies. These businesses often have complex structures, diversified revenue streams, and a need for strategic planning to ensure long-term sustainability. This is where The MGroup’s holistic approach comes into play.

Our Holistic Approach

At The MGroup, we pride ourselves on offering a partner-led service for all clients across all requirements and services. This means that every client, regardless of their size or industry, receives personalised attention from a dedicated partner who understands their business intimately. Our partners are not just accountants; they are trusted advisers who bring a wealth of knowledge across various financial disciplines, ensuring that all aspects of a business’s financial health are meticulously managed.

Key Services for Established Businesses

1) Audit & Assurance

Audit & Assurance

One of the cornerstones of our service offering is Audit & Assurance. For established businesses, regular audits are essential to ensure accuracy in financial reporting and compliance with statutory requirements. Our audit process is thorough and designed to provide valuable insights into your business operations. We go beyond the numbers to identify potential risks and opportunities for improvement, helping you to make informed decisions that enhance operational efficiency and financial stability.

2) Tax & VAT

Tax Time

Navigating the complexities of tax and VAT regulations can be daunting for any business. Our expertise in this area ensures that your business remains compliant while optimising tax efficiency. We offer strategic tax planning and advisory services, tailored to the specific needs of your business. Our goal is to minimise your tax liabilities and maximise your profitability, all while ensuring adherence to the ever-evolving tax landscape.

3) Business Valuation

Understanding the true value of your business is crucial for strategic planning, whether for expansion, sale, or succession planning. Our Business Valuation services provide a comprehensive analysis of your company’s worth, considering various factors such as market conditions, financial performance, and growth potential. This invaluable insight allows you to make strategic decisions with confidence, knowing you have a clear understanding of your business’s value.

4) Financial Due Diligence

When it comes to mergers, acquisitions, or significant investments, thorough Financial Due Diligence is non-negotiable. Our team conducts exhaustive due diligence to assess the financial health and viability of potential deals. This process mitigates risks and ensures that you have all the necessary information to make strategic decisions that align with your business goals.

The Three Main Threats to Established Businesses

Even the most established businesses are not immune to significant threats that can undermine their success. At The MGroup, while we may not directly provide services around these issues, we consider them critically when working with our larger and more established clients.

1. Your Business Model Needs to Change

In today’s rapidly evolving market, even successful business models can become obsolete. Businesses must continuously evaluate and adapt their models to stay relevant. Failure to innovate and adapt to market changes can lead to stagnation and decline.

2. Your Culture

A strong organisational culture can be a double-edged sword. While it fosters alignment and efficiency, excessive alignment can make it difficult for the organisation to adapt to new, external information. This rigidity can prevent the business from responding effectively to market changes and emerging challenges.

3. Having a Linear View of Technology

Technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and businesses must understand the phenomenon of accelerating returns. A linear view of technology can lead to missed opportunities and an inability to keep up with competitors who leverage technological advancements. This compounded effect can significantly impact both business models and culture, leading to potential obsolescence.

The Human Element

What truly sets The MGroup apart is our commitment to the human element of accounting. We understand that behind every business are people with unique stories and aspirations. Our personalised approach ensures that we not only address the financial aspects but also consider the broader impact on your stakeholders. This personal touch is reflected in everything we do, from our initial consultations to our ongoing advisory services.

Trusted Advisers with Corporate Finance Expertise

Our expertise in corporate finance is another critical advantage for established businesses. Whether you are looking to secure funding, plan for an exit, or navigate complex financial landscapes, our team is equipped with the knowledge and experience to guide you. We take a proactive approach, anticipating challenges and opportunities to ensure that your business remains on a path to sustained success.

Conclusion

Oxford City Skyline

In conclusion, sustaining an established business requires a multifaceted approach that addresses financial, strategic, and human elements. At The MGroup, our partner-led service model ensures that you receive expert advice and personalised attention, tailored to the unique needs of your business. Our comprehensive range of services, from Audit & Assurance to Business Valuation and Financial Due Diligence, are designed to support your business at every stage. Trust us to be your dedicated partners in achieving long-term success.

Stay tuned for the final post in our series, where we will delve into Exit and Succession Planning, and how we can help ensure a smooth transition when it’s time for new leadership or ownership in your business.

For more information or to discuss how we can support your established business, please get in touch with one of our partners today.

Testimonials

What our Customers Say

★★★★★
The MGroup have really been there for me and my business through the good times and the more difficult ones. Their advice has always been spot on, and has really ...
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Jessica Harvey-Smith
Debate Chamber Limited
★★★★★
The MGroup have really been there for me and my business through the good times and the more difficult ones. Their advice has always been spot on, and has really helped me to plan ahead and to consider angles on decisions which I might not have thought about otherwise. As well as being admirably clear and straightforward, everyone I have dealt with there has been friendly, patient, and thoughtful, and has really taken the time to get to know my business.
Jessica Harvey-Smith
Debate Chamber Limited
★★★★★
Mark has given me excellent Corporate Finance advice and support for 3 years and I would thoroughly recommend him. He is very tenacious in finding suitable companies to acquire and then ...
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Mark Swaby
Management Buy In client
★★★★★
Mark has given me excellent Corporate Finance advice and support for 3 years and I would thoroughly recommend him. He is very tenacious in finding suitable companies to acquire and then good at negotiating and putting deals together, including the all important funding. He is also very innovative in finding solutions to issues arising along the way.
Mark Swaby
Management Buy In client
★★★★★
Without a doubt, I recommend speaking with The MGroup. They are very knowledgeable, very understanding, have a good feel for our business and accommodate us quickly when we need help. ...
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Peter Mace
Managing Director, TT Concrete
★★★★★
Without a doubt, I recommend speaking with The MGroup. They are very knowledgeable, very understanding, have a good feel for our business and accommodate us quickly when we need help. We frequently get approaches from other accountancy firms and I tell them that we have no need to look elsewhere as everything is catered for very efficiently by Peter Smith and his team. I couldn't fault them.
Peter Mace
Managing Director, TT Concrete
★★★★★
I have nothing but admiration and respect for Geoff, Sandie and Lesley, the team at MGroup Corporate Finance who led us through the sale process - they are...
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Dan Graham
co-founder of F45 Training Stratford
★★★★★
I have nothing but admiration and respect for Geoff, Sandie and Lesley, the team at MGroup Corporate Finance who led us through the sale process - they are true professionals. Our key contact was Partner, Geoff Pinder, who took us under his wing, asking the right questions to help us make sensible decisions and protect our best interests. From the very first conversation it felt like they cared as much about our endgame as we did. We were both under a lot of pressure to close the deal and move on with our lives, so having a team we trusted by our side as we navigated game-playing, time-wasting potential buyers, was incredibly helpful. They are all wonderful people, and I would highly recommend you talk to them if you’re planning to exit your business.
Dan Graham
co-founder of F45 Training Stratford

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Jordan Lyne

Partner

Jordan has worked with various client’s over his ten years at The MGroup. The services provided range from bookkeeping, VAT returns, annual accounts and management accounts. He has been involved in recruitment of new staff members and helped move the firm on with it’s systems by creating and improving internal controls and procedures.

Jordan manages his resources efficiently to meet deadlines and where clients have specific requirements, he works closely with them to ensure these are both feasible and met in a timely manner. Jordan has clients in various sectors, ranging from international companies to smaller locally based businesses.

Wendy Tatham

Partner

Wendy joined the firm in 2015, after starting in finance for the NHS and then qualifying with another local firm of accountants. She brought with her experience across all areas, having previously managed payroll support, corporate and personal tax compliance and planning alongside other general practice elements.

Wendy works with clients across a range of sectors and enjoys supporting them with their statutory reporting, internal financial processes, corporate and personal tax planning and business advisory services. A key area of interest is working closely with her clients to support them with growing and restructuring their businesses to align with their long term goals.

In her spare time Wendy is the lead volunteer for Oxfordshire Scouts, supporting 95 Scouts groups across the county to deliver a fun programme of activities to young people aged 4 to 24.

Geoff Pinder

Corporate Finance Partner

Geoff has operated in the Mergers & Acquisitions and the corporate finance arena since 2004. He has held Executive roles leading and managing the performance and productivity of cross functional teams focused on delivering a high quality service to clients across complex portfolios.

Selling a business is a life changing event, and Geoff’s passion is working with businesses owners to help them explore the various exit options and strategies available to achieve their objectives, leading to excellent results for all stakeholders.

Geoff has been involved in over 500 deals across multiple industry sectors, working predominantly on the sell side of transactions, including sales to strategic buyers, private equity, and MBO’s.

Darren Green

Partner

Having grown up in North Oxfordshire, Darren joined The MGroup in 1999 as a trainee, qualified in 2003, and became a partner in 2010. Darren is best known for his ability to ‘go the extra mile’ for clients; even changing a flat tyre outside the office when it was discovered after a meeting, helping his clients to safely make their way home.

Aside from changing tyres, Darren enjoys helping clients to grow their varied and interesting businesses, and gaining insights into a wide range of sectors. In particular, he likes working within the corporate finance team, assisting with financial projections and due diligence for prospective buyers. Darren enjoys the challenging and pressurized nature of this type of work. Many of his clients are from manufacturing, technology or start-up backgrounds.

In his spare time Darren is a family man and he also enjoys sport, including football, skiing and running. He has taken part in a 26 mile walk for a cancer charity with colleague Geoff.

Peter Smith

Partner

Peter joined The MGroup in 1990 and became a partner in 1996. Originally from Wiltshire, Peter is a member of the Oxford Chamber of Commerce where he has been a Chamber council member for over 20 years.

Helping to provide a complete finance solution to companies is one of Peter’s key focus areas. He believes this to be a service that sets the partnership aside from its competitors, alongside The MGroup values and employees.

Peter provides financial mentoring, support with strategy and planning, solutions to increase profitability and improve cash flow, and help with expansion/diversification plans. His specialist interest areas include not-for-profit, healthcare and international organisations.

Peter enjoys the opportunities and challenges he is faced with every day at The MGroup and making a difference to clients’ lives. He is also a keen local charity supporter, regularly helping to raise funds and awareness for SeeSaw and SpecialEffect where he is an ambassador.

Outside of work, Peter is a Chelsea Football Club season ticket holder. He likes walking in the local area, especially if there is a pub or café at the end of the walk, and enjoys holidays in Devon, in particular to a secret escape in Dartmouth.

Richard Clayton

Partner

In 1984 Richard became the youngest ever partner at The MGroup at the age of 27 and is now the longest serving partner. Richard is a true team player, having been a prominent local footballer in his early years. He very much brings the team ethos to The MGroup who like to work as an integral part of their client teams.

Richard qualified in 1982 and has worked with many of his clients for decades, evidence of the excellent service provided by both Richard and the firm. Richard is proud of the firm’s exceptional reputation. He continues to develop new strategies and explore improvements to the services they provide and remains highly ambitious and committed. Outside of work Richard enjoys golf, football, spending time with his family and the very occasional glass of wine (normally accompanied by too much food!).

Richard has a depth of knowledge and experience in all areas of the construction industry and also deals with most of the firms agricultural clients. He also deals with a wide range of other clients which include a substantial number of UK subsidiaries of overseas companies together with a number of high profile local businesses. Richard is a firm believer that the role of a trusted accountant is to provide clients with the best possible advice and support. The client does not always have to follow advice but he believes they must have all options on the table to form a meaningful decision.