Professional Services

We provide specialist accounting, tax and business advisory services to professional services firms across the North East and Yorkshire, including legal, consultancy, advisory and partnership-based businesses.

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Professional services accountants and business advisors in the North of England

We provide specialist accounting, tax and business advisory services to professional services firms across the North East and Yorkshire, including legal, consultancy, advisory and partnership-based businesses.

Professional services organisations are unique. They vary in size, structure and operating model, and face increasing pressure from regulation, competition, pricing challenges and changing client expectations.

We work with you to provide clear, practical advice that supports growth, improves financial performance and ensures compliance.

Specialist support for professional services firms

We understand the challenges faced by professional services businesses, including law firms, accountants, consultants and other fee-based organisations.

Our support goes beyond year-end compliance. We help you manage your business effectively throughout the year.

We advise on:

  • Year-end accounts and financial reporting
  • Tax planning and compliance
  • Cash flow management and forecasting
  • Profitability and performance improvement
  • Business structure and incorporation
  • Succession planning and exit strategy
  • Mergers, acquisitions and consolidation

Our role is to give you the financial clarity and strategic insight needed to run a more efficient and profitable practice.

Professional services advisory and growth support

The professional services sector is changing rapidly, with increasing consolidation, regulatory requirements and the growing impact of technology on how firms operate.

We provide proactive advice to help you adapt and grow, including:

– Strategic planning and business modelling
– Financial management and performance reviews
– Management accounts and KPI reporting
– Cash flow forecasting and funding support

SRA compliance and legal sector expertise

We have extensive experience supporting law firms and legal practices with regulatory and financial compliance.

Our legal sector services include:

  • Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Accounts Rules reviews
  • SRA compliance support and guidance
  • COFA (Compliance Officer for Finance and Administration) support
  • Training for partners, fee earners and finance teams
  • Virtual Finance Office support for month-end processes and reporting

We help ensure your firm remains compliant while operating efficiently and confidently.

Tax services for professional services firms

Tax planning is essential for professional services businesses, whether you operate as a sole practitioner, partnership, LLP or limited company.

We support you with:

  • Income tax and business tax planning
  • Corporation tax compliance
  • Capital gains tax planning
  • Partner remuneration and profit extraction strategies
  • Long-term tax and succession planning

We also work closely with private client specialists to help partners manage personal tax obligations and improve cash flow planning.

Professional services firms we support

We work with a wide range of professional services organisations, including:

  • Law firms and solicitors
  • Barristers and chambers
  • Accountancy practices
  • Management and business consultants
  • Financial advisory firms
  • Specialist professional partnerships

We understand the commercial and regulatory pressures across each of these sectors and tailor our advice accordingly.

Strong financial management is critical for professional services firms, particularly those with partnership structures and variable billing cycles.

We support you with:

Cash flow forecasting and planning
Working capital management
Funding applications and lender support
Management accounts and financial reporting
Profitability analysis by partner, team or department

A trusted advisor to the professional services sector

We are proud to have built strong relationships across the professional services community, working closely with firms to provide ongoing support, insight and strategic guidance.

We stay up to date with regulatory and market changes so we can help you respond quickly and confidently.

Speak to our professional services specialists

If you are looking for experienced accountants and advisors for professional services firms in the UK, we are here to help.

Contact our team today to find out how we can support your firm with expert compliance, tax planning and strategic business advice.

True words
Real clients

Andy Brown

The best thing about working with Clive Owen LLP is that they are both proactive and reactive and I feel as if we in fact work in partnership with them. Academy accounts are very complex and I have found Clive Owen LLP are leaders in their field and I have the upmost confidence in the advice and support that they give.

Ad Astra Academy Trust

The Forum Darlington

Allison Mckay, CEO and Founder Director, said:
“The Forum is a live music venue and community arts hub in central Darlington. It has rehearsal rooms, a recording studio, and delivers educational services and creative activities. The venue operates as a social enterprise in the form of a Community Benefit Society.
We needed investment to support our growth plan, including ambitious capital improvements to our Borough Road building. We approached the Clive Owen LLP grants team to help with the financial modelling and forecasts needed for a grant application. Their expertise was crucial for our investment bid.
Eleanor Kay from the Clive Owen LLP was assigned to support us. She took great care in understanding our needs and business model. This resulted in a comprehensive set of financial assumptions and forecasts.
I highly recommend Clive Owen LLP, particularly Eleanor and the grants team. Their support has strengthened our business case and growth plan, giving us confidence in our ability to raise investment and achieve our ambitions.”
To find out more about the grants team, click here.

Darlington Forum

We’ve enjoyed an excellent working relationship with Clive Owen LLP since early 2022 in the key areas of audit & accounts, tax planning and payroll processing services. 

The co-owners and directors of 22 Yards greatly appreciate the work of Jonathan Doyle and Shirley Lamb, along with their colleagues in the York and Darlington offices.

Both teams have a very collaborative approach to looking after us and are very thorough, efficient, professional and knowledgeable. Likewise, always available to answer queries or provide support when needed in timely manner.

Needless to say, we are in safe hands with Clive Owen and have absolutely no hesitation in recommending the firm to any business, big or small, looking for great service.

22 Yards Wine Bar & Merchants

“We have used Clive Owen LLP for the last 4 years and have used them across a range of services. Initially using them for transactional support and then more recently they have been our auditors and we have used them for our payroll services. The firm has worked very closely with us over the past 4 years as we have looked to grow the business.”

Everflow