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Hillier Hopkins

Who are Hillier Hopkins?

Hillier Hopkins began in 1933 as Lewis Hillier & Co accountants in Luton, expanding into Hemel Hempstead soon after. Its founder John Hillier was soon joined by Len Hopkins and the firm became Hillier Hopkins & Co.

The current incarnation of the firm is the result of the merger of the original firm with several others, with the most significant of which Badger Hakim.

The most recent merger for the firm took place in 2017 with Tung Sing & Co who have a strong foothold in the hospitality and creative sector.

Alex Bottom, managing principal says: “Since our beginnings, Hillier Hopkins has expanded
steadily in size and geographic reach to become one of the region’s leading independent
firms.

“We are very fortunate in that throughout our growth we have been able to attract a
hugely talented team who continue to deliver our ethos of ‘friendly expertise’. Our focus is
on preserving this ethos and working hard to ensure that our clients prosper above all else.”

In 2020, the firm became the UK member of international network, TGS, recognising that, while the UK is an island, no business can be.

The firm is an LLP with 15 Principals and has 197 staff across its three offices. The day to day is run by a board of four, chaired by Bottom and principal’s Jonathan Franks, Simon Speller and Meeten Nathwani.

What do they do?

Accounts & support – As part of this service, the firm offers support with outsourced finance, payroll, company secretary, the firm’s services also extend to a finance department with tax, VAT, payroll, and finance direction.

Advisory services – The firm can offer advice on raising finance, seed EIS, business structure, tax efficient remuneration and profit extraction, business property ownership, company cars, patents and R&D tax credits, pensions and investments.

Audit & assurance – The team have specialist audit teams for charities and not for profit, FCA regulated businesses, golf clubs, pension schemes, professional practices, property & construction, restaurants & retail, schools, technology, media & telecoms, travel & tour operators, service charge audits, grant audits and financial due diligence.

Customs & excise – The service offers help with customs and import and export checkers.

Taxation – Within this service, the group offer advice on making tax digital, VAT & indirect taxes, stamp duty as well as land tax.

Financial results

For the year ended 31 May 2020, profit before tax dropped to £3.9m from £4.5m the previous year. However, despite the drop in profit, group turnover rose to £16m from £14.5m in 2019.

In the news

The group recently strengthened its VAT and indirect tax team through the promotion of Ruth Corkin to principal.

Corkin previously sat on the government’s alternative arrangements for Northern Ireland committee and is the technical chair of the VAT practitioners group.

She said: “It is an honour and privilege to have been given this promotion following such a challenging year in terms of tax compliance following the end of the transitional arrangements with the EU and the coronavirus pandemic.”

The firm also announced that Alpa Adatia has joined the company as an assistant VAT manager. Adatia spent 11 years working for HMRC as a higher executive officer, she brings to the firm a detailed knowledge and understanding of VAT and the workings of HMRC.

Bottom added: “I would like to extend the entire firm’s congratulations to Ruth on her well-deserved promotion.

“The past 12 months have been a challenging business environment with VAT and indirect taxes very much at the front of mind for businesses. Ruth’s professionalism, dedication and understanding of the needs of business is at the heart of her success.”

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