Specialist Contractor Accounting

I started my company in 2023 with a solid understanding of my business but absolutely no experience on the finance side. After being let down terribly by my previous accountant, who did little more than register me for VAT, I turned to SG Accounting. Within days, I had my first meeting with Laura Hepworth, a Senior Client Director, who took me through everything step by step. Following that meeting, I was immediately contacted by various team members, gathering the necessary information and ensuring I was registered with the appropriate authorities. This highlighted just how badly my previous accountant had let me down. In no time at all, SG Accounting had everything up and running, and I was back on track with the relevant authorities. Laura and the team have been exceptional, and if I could give them a 10-star review, I would. Equally, Brandon Moody, an Accounts Associate, deserves his own 10-star review for tirelessly sorting through two years of accounts (once again, due to my previous accountant's negligence). He has patiently explained everything, chased after information, receipts, and invoices, and has been incredibly supportive throughout. If you're a contractor whose core business isn’t accounts, I highly recommend SG Accounting. They have gone above and beyond in getting my accounts sorted quickly, all for the same price I paid my previous "accountant." 5 stars all the way!

I have worked with SG for several years now and only leaving as I am retiring. They have been really good for me, sorting out all my tax returns and issues. My only regret is I used other organisations before SG and it unfortunately cost me a lot of money.

I recently signed up with SG Accounting to manage the accounts for my small limited company, and am very happy with the service I've received so far. My designated account manager, Laura, has been great - very responsive to my queries via email, and thorough in our introductory call. The compliance team have also been proactive and efficient with various filing obligations, which really helps take the weight off when you're juggling multiple other things as a small business owner. I spoke with a quite a few different firms (national, local and online) before I decided to go with SG, and felt they offered the best value for money, and a more personalised service.

SG Accounting provides access to FreeAgent as part of their services and the onboarding session their Accounts Consultant (Thomas A) provided was absolutely top tier. He walked me through each of the key areas step-by-step and pointed out useful information as we went. Even when I deviated the topic to some general accountancy queries linked to the FreeAgent tab we were discussing at the time, he answered my query with full knowledge & background information. He also followed up very quickly in an email a side query I had regarding VAT calculations and provided the numbers behind it. At the end of our call, not only do I feel fully comfortable with using FreeAgent, but I understood & learnt a lot more about managing my business accounts thanks to Tom. I'd also like to add that my new account director (Frances) has been wonderful with her introductory calls and answering all my self-assessment tax queries.

I've worked with SG Accounting for various years and am thoroughly impressed. Their efficiency, professionalism, and punctuality surpass previous firms we've partnered with. Notably, Thomas and Carlotte expertly handled a critical task of reviewing all our bills submitted just 2 hours before a deadline, showcasing their ability to prioritize and execute tasks swiftly without compromising on diligence. SG Accounting consistently goes beyond our expectations, proving themselves as not just a service provider but a valuable business partner. Sarah explains information relevant to us as required and provides valuable advice as needed. Their commitment and performance are exceptional, making them highly recommendable for any business in need of reliable accounting services.

Update Jan 2024: I have been with SG Accounting for almost 4 years now and would highly recommend them. They helped me with the initial process of setting up a limited company and they have done my company & personal tax returns ever since. SG Accounting are also great with ad hoc tax questions, such as my most recent query on purchasing an EV via my limited company. Olivia Stevens and Alex Gould were really helpful via phone & email and gave me all the info I needed to make an informed decision. Review from 2020: I switched to SG Accounting this year and I wish I had done it much earlier! I really feel appreciated as a client and I find them very responsive and approachable. Laura talked me through the process of setting up my own limited company and all the tax implications that come with that. The team then helped me with all the initial admin, even setting up a business bank account, which was a huge help and saved me a lot of time. I terms of day-to-day assistance, I can always email with questions and typically get a response the same day. There is a handy spreadsheet that the accounts team tally with my business bank account whenever I want, which is great. I also like their structured pricing with the different packages. I can really recommend this firm to anyone!

I highly recommend SG Accounting. They are very professional and very helpful. Most importantly of all, they are always on time for filing returns and meeting all deadlines required. Been with them for more than a year and hope for it to stay this way for years to come.

SG Accounting has been taking care of my business for a year now. They are extremely professional, giving the best advice, and sending multiple reminders if needed to submit any documents. Respond to every question very fast. 11/10

I have known Rich Murray and so many of the team for about 12 years or more, before SG, and when Rich moved to SG, I moved my accounts over to them too. Everyone has always been so friendly and helpful - extremely personable and professional, they're all like a family - I cannot recommend SG Accounting enough. Nothing is a problem for anyone - fantastic communication, so responsive and flexible to my needs whether I am contracting or taking a break. Huge thanks to Alex for a really helpful discussion recently too. SG team - you are all awesome!

Amazing response time, a brilliant team and a really helpful account manager. What else do you need? The overall value considering the overall quality of service, including the free accounting software, is more than anywhere else.

Really excellent service and a great company to work with. They always respond to my queries promptly and helpfully. I've been contracting for about 8 years now and very happy with SG's service in that time. Thoroughly recommend.

A great service - have used them for years and have referred them to colleagues.

Highly helpful and very responsive, often going above and beyond. Would very much recommend.

I had a complex setup, with a non-trading Limited Company that was essentially mothballed for 10yrs, so when I started to take on Contract work again, I had no idea where to start. A lot of Admin was required to bring the accounts up to date, new registrations for VAT and PAYE completed and Bank and Business management taken care of with FreeAgent and Tide. SG have been absolutely brilliant, on every level, from Customer engagement, understanding the requirements, practical advice and solid delivery they have stuck with the task of bringing me back online, which has frankly saved my sanity and put me in a great position to move forward. I highly recommend their services on a personal and professional level!

SG has looked after us and our company for the past 5 years. Throughout the service has been first class; an attention to detail with a friendly approach, with very reasonable fees.

SG have made my accounting very straightforward for me. They have set me up in the best way for my circumstances and manage all of my queries very efficiently. I feel as though SG have my accounts in hand very well and I do not need to worry about them. I get given clear guidance and options to make decisions with. I would and have recommended SG to friends and family.

My business was with SG Contractor Accounting for 16 years, and in all that time I've found them very helpful, and great to work with. Throroughly recommended.

SG Accounting have provided me with an excellent and professional service for my limited company.

Great team and great service. I dealt with several individuals from SG Contractor Accounting, they are constantly professional, helpful,and kind.

I have been a very satisfied client of SG Accounting for over 20 years and am happy to give them a hearty recommendation. SG have managed my professional accounting needs in an exemplary manner throughout and I have had no issues with their work. They have always been extremely professional in their dealings with me while feeling more like friends than suppliers. Now I have retired it will be sad to lose contact with them. If you're just starting out contracting and you need an accountant, or if you're fed up with your existing accountants then give SG a call.

Exceptional service and very knowledgeable. Got me setup in no time and helped greatly with my tax and pension affairs as well. Very impressed and would highly recommend

I have been with SG for more than 5 years and I can freely say that their service is top notch: professional, no delays, they always find the time with short notice when I have questions. They truly understand their customers.

Having used SG for over 15 years, I thoroughly recommend them. They're very professional, efficient and have kept my company accounts (and me!) "inline". They always send timely reminders to ensure all the necessary actions are taken - very useful when running your own business. They represent very good value for money for the complete range of services they provide. If you're looking for a good accountant, look no further.

SG Accounting are a great team, always in hand to make tax related questions easy. I am 100% confident in them and would not look to go anywhere else. Thank you Sarah & Team.

If you want a friendly, efficient and caring service from your accountant look no further. I have been a client of Stilwell Gray for almost 20 years and it has been a great relationship. They respond quickly to requests for advice and never miss a deadline. Highly recommended.

I was them over 3 year and the are lovely bunch of people. I have used them on two occasions and always find the team helpful especially Sarah. I wish them good luck and keep the service as is. Thanks

I have been using SG since 2010 and they have been very helpful. They have a good team with deep knowledge and always respond quickly to any queries/issues.

SG accounting have a superb team who make the whole world of accounting seem really easy, they have great knowledge and are extremely passionate about customer support. I've used them before when I was contracting and didn't hesitate to use them again, top top team

I moved from SJD accounting to SG last year and the difference in levels of service, efficiency and professional communications is like night and day. I'm having a really great experience with SG. What a relief after years of pain!

If you're looking for an accountant who handles your affairs (from accounts to personal tax returns, yearly reports and review of financial position...etc), very professionally and with genuine trustworthiness, then SG is the one for you. Had flawless service from them for over 2 years now and I don't think I will be going anywhere else anytime soon!!

I first started using this company back in 2009, and haven't regretted it for a second. My only regret is that I left the UK and had to close my UK Ltd company. Like everything else they've done for me over the years, they handled it swiftly and efficiently. I can't recommend them highly enough! Questions are answered quickly and fully, and often at unusual hours (in one case, I got a reply to an email at 3:30am, and when i asked him if he was working from abroad, he just explained that he couldn't sleep, so decided to do some work!). Until you've dealt with accountants in another country, you won't realise just how good SG are! I miss them so much. They're not the cheapest, but absolutely worth every penny.

Couldn’t recommend SG highly enough. They made my SE tax return process so easy and it was done in no time at all. Top marks.

I have now been with SG Accounting for 2 months and I do not regret the move. Their service so far has been prompt, clear, and accurate. Right from the first conversation with Laura I felt like I was in good hands, and Amanda has been a great support with any questions or guidance I might need as well. I would highly recommend SG Accounting to any other contractor looking for a reliable accountant.

I have found SG Accounting very easy to work with, and the relationship has made managing my company efficient and straightforward.

I have been working with SG for a few years now and I must say that they have proved themselves to be very professional and reliable. Laura is always very quick to respond to any request. Highly recommended!

Good contractor accountant. You get a personal point of contact and an easy smart spreadsheet which you can use to track your business ins and outs, calculating what you can spend. Laura has always been very friendly, helpful and quick to reply to any questions even small ones, and the accounts team in general have been the same

I consider myself lucky to have come across SG Accounting by sheer chance. I was looking for a contractor in my area which is Reading and I looked on FreeAgent's website and I accidentally clicked on SG's contact details - who are definitely not even near Reading - and that's how I came into contact with them. They were so welcoming during the first conversation that I have decided to go with them and I am very pleased I did. Every person I have been in contact with so far have been wonderful and they all offer impeccable service. This is a rare treasure in today's world and if it was up to me I would set this as the gold standard for all companies and I'd refuse to do business with anyone not hitting this standard. I fear 90% of companies would not live up to this expectation... If all - or at least more companies operated like SG, the world would be a much more pleasant place. This is my genuine, unsolicited opinion and I can only wish to find service providers half this good in other walks of life as well. I am looking forward to continue working with the SG team.

I found Nadeem and his colleagues quickly respond to any questions,queries that I have had and have been very helpful. I would thoroughly recommend SG Accounting to anyone starting a business as it takes away the hassle of the bureaucracy and worries allowing more time to concentrate on other things .

I found this accountant by chance when doing a Google search for more local contractor accountants, who also provide FreeAgent access. What a find! They may not have been as local as I was originally looking for, but their good reviews and impressive website were enough to tempt me to give them a call. Right from the very first contact with them, I have been nothing but impressed with their helpfulness and professionalism. We were assigned Laura to be our main contact. We had an initial Zoom video meeting with her, and any further questions have been dealt with really quickly by email. I've found Laura to be friendly, professional, knowledgeable, helpful and efficient. Nothing seems too much trouble, and I'm left feeling really confident that all of our accounting needs will be taken care of in the best possible way. We previously used a different contractor accountant for 8 years, and immediately after starting to use SG Accounting, it became apparent just how little help and support my previous accountant gave us over the years. They always used to make me feel like it was an inconvenience if I phoned them, and every service used to incur an extra add-on charge, such as incorporating a new company, having access to FreeAgent, using their business address, etc. Using SG Accounting has been like a breath of fresh air. There's a great support team, who all seem to be helpful and good at what they do. Everything we need is included in a set monthly price, so no hidden extras. All those things I used to pay extra for, and more, are now part of our package. It even includes a really good level of business insurance, so it works out cheaper than having to buy separate cover. All in all, a great success. I'm really glad to have found SG Accounting, and would wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone. And no, I haven't been paid for leaving this review, or been given any discounts with them. I just think this great business deserves recognition, and I wanted to share what my user experience has been like.

I would recommend SG as a contractor accountant. Excellent customer service and very professional.

Been with them for nearly two years and they've been professional, helpful and accurate. Thumbs up.

Setting up my new venture was made so much easier by SG. From initial advice, through setting up the limited company, to getting my accounting package prepared and bank account set up. Now that I have been up an running for a while they have been a great support with the day to day issues, so that I can get on with MY business

I was referred by my family to SG and they are the best. I am glad I switched over. I am on the top package which works nicely for me with less to do.

Just started 2 months ago my work relationship with SG accounting. The setup of my business has been very quick and smooth, communication has been great, and SG professionals are very knowledgeable and helpful! Really happy of my choice, and would recommend SG to anyone looking for a reliable accountancy partner.

SG have been my accountant for over 20 years. I have seen them grow and develop into the amazing service they provide today. They still retain their personal service, and have always gone above and beyond to offer any additional assistance I needed. I have recommended SG to many colleagues and will continue to do so.

I've recently signed up with SG Accounting and have to say their on-boarding, their explanation of what is required and how and when things need to happen has been superb. They have ensured we have had both a telcon and met face to face and I feel confident I am in very safe hands.

Very happy with SG's knowledge and service. Highly recommended!!!

I have been really happy with SG. They were recommended by a friend, and have been excellent. They always respond to questions quickly and are all really helpful and friendly.

I've been working with the SG Accounting team for a few years now. I was new to contracting & was quite daunted initially. Richard Murray was my initial point of contact and helped set up my business. Richard is very good at explaining things in a simple way. Their accountancy process is simple, and support for any queries is dealt with promptly.. I would personally recommend SG and Rich Murray, he's a very adept and professional. I look forward to continuing to work with you all. Thanks to the rest of the team.

Good and professional accounting services. They are always prompt in responding to our queries. Using them for 8 years and always awesome.

Fantastic support always from SG. Responsive, knowledgeable and nothing is too much trouble. I came to them via a recommendation and would recommend them to you, too

I have been with SG since starting contracting in 1996 and was impressed from the start when Richard Stilwell travelled to Warrington from Winchester to introduce himself and the company. SG have always delivered excellent service and I would not hesitate to recommend them to others.

I've been with SG for about 22 years now, I initially dealt with Sarah and Richard directly, but SG have grown a lot in recent times. I have recommended them to many colleagues and they remain good value, offering a timely, personal service.

An excellent service, with very helpful staff who are always on hand to promptly answer my questions and get the job done. I had no idea what to expect when I first started contracting but the guys at SG made it easy and took care of everything for me. I would highly recommend their services to any contractor currently looking for an accountancy firm.

I couldn’t recommend SG Accounting Winchester enough. There is no question about their professionalism, knowledge and friendly service. Since joining SG Accounting I can confidently say that I am now in tune with my business accounts and have benefited from the proactive (rather reactive) advice and service which they provide. It’s reassuring to know that the SG team are always on hand and happy to help with any accounting enquiry big or small. Having peace of mind on your business accounts is priceless... thank you SG Accounting!

Great experience dealing with SG Accounting, made everything very easy and idiot proof for somebody who has never been a contractor. Resolved any queries and issues swiftly, with a minimum amount of fuss. Highly recommend SG Accounting

Great service from the team at SG. Personal, responsive, can explain things to someone with zero accounting knowledge! I especially like dealing with Lee - he has answered so many of my last minute questions. Highly recommend.

SG have been efficient, proactive and responsive in the 2 years that I have used them as my company accountancy service. My questions are always answered in a timely manner and the team I deal with are always courteous and professional in their communications.

I’m new to contracting and doing my own financials was a bit daunting, but Laura and the team at SG have made it really simple. Easy process and always very prompt to answer any questions.

I found SG Accounting to be extremely structured in their overall approach. The service they offer is very good as they not only have robust processes to support you but they have a good breadth of skillset to cover both accounting, tax and legal related discussions. All of this coupled with online tools makes them a very good firm to support you. On the whole I would very much recommend their services.