Hillier Hopkins
Background
Hillier Hopkins began in 1933 as Lewis Hillier and 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 and 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 and 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.
In April 2023 the group merged with Minney and Co, a practice based in Dunstable and in July 2023 it merged with Berkhamsted based Colin Gray and Co and payroll bureau Priority Payroll Services.
Accounts and 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 and telecoms, travel and tour operators, service charge audits, grant audits and financial due diligence.
Customs and 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 and indirect taxes, stamp duty as well as land tax.
Financials
Hillier Hopkins reported a turnover of £19.5m for the year ended 31 March 2023 compared with £17.7m in the previous year.
The group also recorded operating profit of £4.39m and profit before tax of £4.37m.
Recent Coverage
Accountants Hillier Hopkins has announced its merger with Berkhamsted based Colin Gray and Co and Priority Payroll Services Limited.
This latest announcement follows the merger with Dunstable based Minney and Co in April of this year.
With these mergers, the Hillier Hopkins Group now has a team of 260 people across multiple offices in London and the home counties.
Alex Bottom, managing principal at Hillier Hopkins, said: “We are delighted to be joined by the team at Colin Gray and Co and Priority Payroll Services. We are looking forward to working alongside them to support the team and their clients with a broader range of services and specialist expertise.”
Hillier Hopkins has announced that Ruth Corkin, VAT and indirect tax principal at the firm, has been appointed to the committee of the International VAT Association (IVA).
In her new role, she will serve to ensure that the views and concerns of small and medium sized businesses in the UK are kept up to date with developments in the EU that may affect them.
The IVA has members from across 40 countries and provides a forum for discussion and the sharing of ideas between business, government and national tax administrations including HMRC.
Many of the UK’s trades are being excluded from installing goods and services in Europe, according to Hillier Hopkins.
The accountancy firm reports that businesses on the continents are preferring to use local contractors for installations in lieu of British services.
Furthermore, Hillier Hopkins notes this move is notable primarily in France, and affects businesses with shop and leisure fitouts, residential construction, exhibitions and arts installations.