Who We Work With
Our financial advisor accounting services are designed for:
- Independent Financial Advisors (IFAs) – Whether directly authorised or operating as an Appointed Representative
- Mortgage brokers – Including those handling both residential and commercial cases
- Financial planners – Fee-based or commission-based
- Protection advisors
- Multi-adviser practices – Partnerships and small limited companies
Whether you’re a sole practitioner just starting out or an established practice looking for an accountant who keeps pace with you, we can help.
Why Financial Advisors Need a Specialist Accountant
Your income structure is more complex than most. A generalist accountant may not fully understand the nuances, and that can cost you.
Fee and commission income
The way you earn matters for tax. Whether you’re charging fees, receiving trail commission, or a mix of both, your accounts need to reflect this accurately to avoid overpaying tax or falling foul of HMRC.
FCA authorisation and regulatory costs
Your FCA registration fees, regulatory levies, and compliance costs are legitimate business expenses, but they need to be handled correctly. We ensure these are treated appropriately in your accounts.
Professional indemnity insurance
PI insurance is a significant overhead for financial advisors. As a business expense, it should be fully accounted for. We make sure nothing gets missed.
Exam fees and CPD costs
Maintaining your qualifications is a condition of FCA authorisation. These costs are deductible, and we ensure they’re captured properly.
Limited company vs sole trader
Many financial advisors operate as sole traders when they’d be better served by a limited company structure, or vice versa. We’ll assess your situation and recommend the right structure for your income level and long-term plans.
Our Services for Financial Advisors
We offer a full accounting service for financial advisory practices, including:
- Self-assessment and personal tax returns
- Limited company accounts and corporation tax
- Tax-efficient salary and dividend planning
- Company secretarial duties
- Bookkeeping and payroll
- VAT registration and returns (where applicable)
- Business expense management
- Annual accounts submission to HMRC and Companies House
- Business advisory and growth planning
Everything is handled on a fixed fee basis. No surprise bills, no hourly rates you can’t predict.
Why Financial Advisors Choose APH
We understand your business model
We’ve worked with FCA-regulated businesses and understand the compliance landscape you operate in. You won’t need to explain the basics, we already know them.
Paul’s background
Our MD Paul spent nine years as a Management Accountant at Bristol Myers Squibb and three years as Group Financial Controller at Enron, at the time the largest company in the world. He’s since owned and managed multiple successful businesses. That depth of financial management experience underpins everything we do at APH.
Plain English, always
We work with people who are experts in their own field. We don’t talk down to clients, and we don’t hide behind jargon. You’ll always know exactly where you stand.
Fixed fees, no surprises
You’ll know what you’re paying from day one. No unexpected invoices, no hourly billing you can’t plan for.
Real Results for Regulated Businesses
“After seeking professional advice, Paul at APH re-organised our accounts and sorted out the errors that had previously been made very quickly and efficiently. APH have taken over our ongoing accounts including payroll. We were extremely impressed with the knowledge, help and advice.”
— BlackBear Financial Group Ltd, FCA Regulated Financial Services Firm, Cheshire
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your income level, how much you want to extract from the business, and your long-term plans. As a rough guide, once you’re consistently earning above £30,000 to £35,000 profit, a limited company structure often becomes more tax efficient. We’ll assess your specific situation and give you a clear recommendation.
Yes. Costs that are wholly and exclusively for the purpose of your business, including FCA fees, regulatory levies, and compliance costs, are generally deductible against your taxable profits. We’ll make sure these are captured correctly.
Yes. While we’re based in Wallasey, Wirral, we work with financial advisors and regulated businesses across the UK. Our service is fully accessible remotely, with video calls, phone, and email support as standard.
Absolutely. Whether you’re setting up as a sole trader or incorporating from day one, we’ll help you establish the right structure and make sure your accounting is set up correctly from the start.
We work on fixed monthly fees tailored to your practice. Get in touch for a no-obligation quote. There’s no commitment required.
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