MHA Moore & Smalley expands digital team as new rules loom

North West accountancy and business advisory firm MHA Moore and Smalley has grown its digital solutions team as it helps more businesses prepare for new digital reporting rules. The firm has appointed Ben Dugdale as a digital solutions assistant taking the specialist team to eight members ahead of the new Making Tax Digital legislation that takes effect on April 1 this year. The government’s long-anticipated Making Tax Digital regime, hailed as the biggest tax shake-up in a generation, will require any business registered for VAT with a turnover over £85,000 to keep digital records for VAT purposes. They will also need to submit VAT returns to HMRC online through compatible software. Judith Dugdale, director and head of digital solutions at MHA Moore and Smalley, said: “At the start of 2018 we were a team of three, and we have now grown to a team of eight, with Ben being our latest appointment. “This gives our clients reassurance that we have the right advice and support as they move into cloud-based accounting and prepare for Making Tax Digital.” She added “Ben will play a big role in our digital services, providing technical support to clients using Quickbooks, Xero and FreeAgent. He will also be involved in rolling out software that enables integration between industry-specific applications and accounting software so that clients can use the same data across all their business applications.” Ben Dugdale, who studied at Nelson and Colne College before joining the firm, said: “This is an exciting time to have joined the firm with businesses having to get to grips with huge changes in the way they report their accounts. “I’m looking forward to supporting business owners and their teams as they prepare for the new rules and embrace new financial software and technology.” Judith Dugdale added: “We’ve heavily invested in growing the digital team and are well placed to offer clients trusted advice in this area. I expect there to be even more demand for our services as the first MTD deadline draws near. “We can support business start-ups, small businesses and owner-managed businesses prepare for MTD as well as providing solutions and support for contractors and consultants too.” MHA Moore and Smalley provides accounting, business advisory and wealth management services to clients across the North West and UK. The digital solutions team supports accounting packages including Quickbooks, Xero, FreeAgent, and SAGE and also provides bridging software to enable businesses using bespoke accounting software or even spreadsheets, to submit returns to HMRC online.