Our Story
Crimson Owl Accountants began when our founder, Claire, decided she wanted to offer the kind of accountancy service she would want for herself. After many years working in larger practices, she noticed that small businesses and landlords were often treated as an afterthought, handed from person to person and charged for every phone call. She set up on her own with a simple idea: give small clients the same care and attention as big ones, at a fair and fixed price.
What started at a kitchen table with a handful of local clients has grown steadily, mostly through word of mouth. Today we look after a few hundred sole traders, small limited companies and landlords, but we have deliberately stayed small. We want to know every client by name and keep the personal service that made people choose us in the first place.
Our Approach
We believe accountancy should be clear, calm and completely free of jargon. Our job is not just to fill in forms but to help you understand your own finances. When we prepare your accounts or tax return, we sit down with you and explain the numbers, what they mean and what you might want to think about for the year ahead.
We are proactive rather than reactive. That means sending reminders well before deadlines, flagging changes that might affect you and checking in when something looks different from last year. We would much rather prevent a problem than fix one, and our clients appreciate knowing that someone is keeping an eye on things for them.
We also embrace sensible technology. Secure online portals, cloud bookkeeping and electronic signatures save everyone time, but we never force them on anyone. If you prefer paper and a face-to-face chat, that is absolutely fine with us.
Meet the Team
Claire leads the practice and looks after many of our limited company clients. She enjoys getting to grips with how a business works and helping directors plan ahead with confidence. She also reviews every set of accounts before it leaves the office.
Our senior accountant, Raj, specialises in self assessment and landlord accounts. Clients often say he has a knack for turning a confusing pile of paperwork into something that actually makes sense. He is also our in-house enthusiast for Making Tax Digital and loves helping people get comfortable with new software.
Hannah runs our bookkeeping and payroll services, making sure staff are paid correctly and VAT returns go in on time, every time. Sophie, our practice administrator, keeps the office running smoothly, books appointments, chases missing paperwork politely and is usually the first friendly voice you will hear when you call. We are also supported by a trainee who is studying while working with us, bringing fresh energy to the team.
Our Office
Our office is a bright, comfortable space with a private meeting room where you can talk openly about your finances. There is a secure drop box for paperwork outside opening hours, the kettle is always on and parking is close by. Of course, many clients never need to visit at all, as we can do everything by phone, email and video call.
Our Values
Honesty sits at the heart of everything we do. We tell you what we think, even if it is not what you hoped to hear, and we never recommend a service unless it will genuinely help. We value reliability, which is why we treat every deadline as our own. We believe in fairness, which is why our fees are fixed and agreed upfront. And we value kindness, because money worries are stressful, and nobody should feel embarrassed about asking for help.
Part of the Community
Crimson Owl Accountants is proud to be part of the local business community. We support local events, sponsor a junior sports team and regularly run free drop-in sessions for people thinking about starting a business. Many of our clients are neighbours, and we enjoy seeing local businesses grow and thrive. Where we can, we use local suppliers ourselves and recommend trusted local tradespeople and professionals to our clients.
What's Next
Looking ahead, we plan to keep growing gently while protecting the personal service our clients value. We are investing in training for the team, improving our online portal and adding more evening appointments for busy clients. Whatever changes, our promise stays the same: friendly, reliable accountancy at a fair price, from people who genuinely care about your business.
