I’ve joined Buzz, and I’m still your accountant
I am still your accountant, on the same phone number, and the Buzz team now works with me on your accounts.
A note from Tony
Some of you I’ve looked after for years. You’ve rung me when things were going well and when they weren’t, and you’ve trusted me with the numbers that keep your business and your family going. Thank you for that trust, which is why I took this decision carefully.
When an accountant joins a bigger firm, clients often get passed to someone new and see their fees rise. I made sure that would not happen to you.
I agreed to join Buzz on one condition: I stay as your accountant, with the Buzz team working alongside me.
What stays the same
You still get me
I’m still your accountant and I still know your business. I now have a team around me, so your work keeps moving when I am busy and you get answers faster.
Your fee stays the same
Joining Buzz does not change your fee. If anything ever needs to change it’ll be because your business has, and I’d talk to you first.
Your records and deadlines
Your records, history and deadlines carry on as normal. Accounts, tax, VAT and payroll continue without a break. There’s some paperwork later, and I’ll walk you through it.
Why I joined Buzz
Over the years many of you asked me reasonable questions that sat outside what I could help with on my own.
You asked whether to take more salary or more dividend and what that does to your pension, what to do with the money after a good year, where to start with funding for a new machine, and how to work fewer hours while the business keeps running.
On my own I could only answer those questions in part.
Now I can answer them fully, with specialists at Buzz to help, and you still ring me.
Other services through Buzz
Each of these is optional and charged separately, and you can ask me about any of them whenever you want.
Your accounts and tax
Accounts, corporation tax, self assessment, VAT, payroll, CIS and bookkeeping carry on as before, with the Buzz team and systems behind me when it gets busy.
See what’s included →Deeper tax & planning
Tax planning, forecasting and work on improving profit, done before the year end.
Tax planning explained →Business coaching
Coaching for owners who want the business to depend on them less.
Visit Buzz Coaching ↗Money coaching
Coaching on your own finances as well as the company’s, with a plan for what you want to achieve.
Visit Buzz Money Coach ↗Regulated financial advice
Advice on pensions, investments, mortgages and protection for you and your family.
Visit Buzz Financial Planning ↗Business funding
Introductions to lenders for growth, equipment, property or uneven cashflow.
How funding works →The team behind me
You deal with me, and this team works on your file with me. If I am out, one of them can help.
- Andy JacksonCo-Founder & Operations Director
Co-founded Buzz and runs the systems, software and support behind it.
- Peter AllenCo-Founder & Finance Director
Brings 20+ years in finance to the numbers side — profit, cashflow and the planning behind it.
- Tony McClementsSenior Accountant & Business Coach
Your accountant, now working with the rest of this team.
- CandiceSenior Accountant
Reviews and delivers client accounts and tax work.
- RochelleSemi-Senior Accountant
Prepares accounts, tax returns and management figures for owner-managed businesses.
- MarySemi-Senior Accountant
Works across accounts preparation and tax, keeping the detail straight on day-to-day client work.
What happens next
Right now — carry on as you are
Your contact, deadlines and way of working stay as they are, and work in progress carries on.
Soon — you’ll see the Buzz name
The Buzz name will start appearing on emails, letters and invoices.
At some point — a bit of paperwork
Updated engagement terms so everything’s properly documented, and possibly some ID to re-confirm for the usual money-laundering rules. I’ll explain it when it comes.
Whenever it’s useful — meet the others
I’ll introduce you to the people behind me, so you know who’s there if a bigger question comes up.
Questions about the move
Are you leaving, Tony?
No. I’m staying, I’m still your accountant, and I still know your business. That was my condition for joining, and it is why I chose Buzz. What has changed is that a team of six or seven other people works with me, so when I’m on holiday or very busy, your work keeps moving. You still ring the same number and you still get me.
Is my fee going up?
Joining Buzz does not change your fee. If your fee ever does need to change, it’ll be because your business has changed — you’ve taken staff on, you’ve registered for VAT, the work has genuinely grown — and I’d talk to you about it first. If your fee ever changes without that conversation, ring me and I’ll sort it.
Do I need to do anything?
You do not need to do anything yet. Your accounts, tax, VAT and payroll carry on exactly as they are, with the same deadlines and the same way of working. There are two bits of paperwork coming at some point: updated engagement terms so everything is properly documented under the Buzz name, and possibly some ID to re-confirm for the money laundering rules that every accountant has to follow. I’ll walk you through both when they arrive.
What happens to my records?
They come with me and they stay held securely, handled under UK GDPR. They’re not sold, and they’re not passed to anyone outside the work being done for you. They move onto Buzz’s systems and software, which have backups, access controls and a record of who has looked at what. Some of the day-to-day processing is done by the Buzz team in Pretoria.
Am I going to get sold things I don’t want?
No. Each extra service is charged separately and starts only when you ask for it. The extra services are there because clients kept asking me for help I couldn’t give on my own, such as what to do with the money after a good year, whether to take salary or dividend, and where to start with funding for a machine.
Will I still get a person on the phone?
Yes. You ring me and I answer. When I’m not there, people who know your name and can see your file will help. If it ever feels like a call centre, tell me.
Can I just deal with you and ignore all the rest?
Yes. Your accounts, tax, VAT and payroll carry on with me as before. The other services are there if a bigger question comes up. Ring me with any questions.
