Do you need a chartered, ACCA or ICAEW accountant in Brighton & Hove? Usually not, and here is why
Most people searching for a chartered accountant in Brighton, or an ACCA or ICAEW accountant, assume the letters are required for company accounts. They are not. The word accountant is not a protected title in the UK, and there is no legal requirement for the person preparing your accounts, tax return or VAT return to belong to a chartered body.
What the law does require is narrower. A statutory audit must be carried out by a registered auditor. Very few small businesses need one.
| Work | Who can do it |
|---|---|
| Bookkeeping, management accounts | Anyone competent. No membership needed |
| Statutory accounts and corporation tax return | Anyone competent. No membership needed |
| Self Assessment, VAT, payroll | Anyone competent. No membership needed |
| Statutory audit | A registered auditor |
| Insolvency appointments | A licensed insolvency practitioner |
| Regulated investment advice | An FCA-authorised adviser, not an accountant as such |
A small private limited company is exempt from audit if it meets at least two of these tests, for financial years beginning on or after 6 April 2025:
A typical Brighton owner-managed business is far below all three. Some charities, companies in regulated sectors, and businesses whose lender, investor or parent company asks for an audit are different, and you should check your own articles and contracts.
What matters more than the letters after someone's name is whether they are supervised for anti-money-laundering purposes, carry professional indemnity insurance, and have handled your kind of business before. Ask any accountant for those three things. See our fixed pricing and limited company accounts service.
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No. Preparing accounts, corporation tax returns, Self Assessment and VAT returns needs no chartered, ACCA or ICAEW membership. You only need a registered auditor if your company must have a statutory audit, which most small companies do not.
Chartered accountants are members of bodies such as ICAEW, ICAS or Chartered Accountants Ireland. AAT-licensed accountants are qualified through AAT and can do accounts, tax and bookkeeping work. Neither title is needed for ordinary small business accounting.
Not if it is a small company. For financial years beginning on or after 6 April 2025, a company is exempt if it meets two of three tests: turnover of £15 million or less, assets of £7.5 million or less, and 50 or fewer employees.
No. Fitzpatrick Co is not a chartered practice and we do not audit. James Fitzpatrick is AAT licensed with 31 years of experience, and the practice is supervised by HMRC for anti-money-laundering purposes.