Recruitment is one of those businesses where the finances can get complicated very quickly. You might be paying contractors and temps on a weekly basis, chasing client invoices that are thirty or sixty days overdue, managing commission structures for your own team, and trying to keep track of whether your cash position can support your next hire. All of this happens at pace and there is very little room for error. We work with recruitment agencies and independent recruiters across the North West who need an accountant that understands how their business operates.
We cover all the financial and compliance tasks that take time away from placing candidates and growing your desk.
We run your weekly or monthly payroll for every worker type, handling PAYE for employed temps, making sure contractor payments are processed correctly, and managing commission calculations for your consultants. Everything goes to HMRC on time.
We keep a clear record of all contractor payments, making sure they are correctly classified for tax purposes and that any IR35 considerations are identified and dealt with properly rather than left as a potential liability.
We track your invoices and payments throughout the month, so you always have a clear picture of what is outstanding, what is overdue and whether your cash position is healthy enough to support your commitments.
We help you keep on top of your client billing, making sure invoices go out promptly after placements are made, that payment terms are tracked, and that you always know which clients owe you money and how long it has been outstanding.
We prepare and submit your VAT return each quarter and handle your corporation tax, making sure all your income is reported correctly and that you are claiming every legitimate expense against your profits.
We give you regular reports showing your gross profit by desk or division, your consultant performance against targets, and your overall business profitability, so you can make informed decisions about where to invest.
A real time view of your cash flow so you are never surprised by a shortfall
IR35 managed correctly so your contractor placements do not create a tax liability down the line
Payroll that runs reliably every week, so candidates are never let down by a late payment
Clear profit reporting by desk or division so you always know which parts of the business are performing
Someone who understands recruitment finance, not a generalist learning your business as they go.
The gap between paying your contractors and temps and receiving payment from your clients is the defining cash flow challenge of the recruitment sector. You pay out wages every week. Your client pays their invoice thirty or sixty days later. If you are growing quickly and placing more candidates, that gap gets wider before it gets better. If a client pays late or does not pay at all, it can put serious pressure on your ability to meet your own obligations.
We help recruitment businesses keep a close eye on their cash position throughout the month, not just at the end of it. We track what has been invoiced, what has been paid and what is outstanding, and flag anything that is starting to look like a problem before it becomes one.
Something we see regularly: recruitment agencies that are winning business and growing their placements but finding themselves under cash flow pressure because the gap between paying candidates and collecting from clients has widened faster than expected. The business looks profitable on paper, but cash is tight in practice.
Understanding this gap and planning around it is one of the most valuable things a good accountant can do for a recruitment business.
Beyond payroll and VAT, this is where a specialist accountant earns their fee.
IR35 status assessments and support for contractor placements, so risk is identified and managed even though the end client makes the formal determination.
Weekly payroll runs for temps and contractors that never miss a Friday deadline, however many workers are on your books.
Aged debt tracking so you know exactly which client invoices are 30, 60 or 90+ days overdue, and can chase before it becomes a cash flow problem.
Cash flow forecasting that models the gap between weekly candidate pay runs and 30–60 day client payment terms.
Desk and division-level profitability reporting so you know which parts of the agency are actually making money.
Our recruitment packages start at £195/month for an agency doing up to £250k turnover, covering weekly payroll for your temps and contractors, quarterly VAT, monthly bookkeeping and year-end accounts. Agencies running multiple desks, higher contractor volumes or needing IR35 support typically sit in the £350–£850/month range. Fixed fee, no hourly surprises.
Yes. Since 2021 the end client is usually responsible for determining a contractor’s IR35 status, but your agency can still carry liability in certain circumstances if the rules are not followed correctly. We help you understand your obligations, make sure the right processes are in place, and advise if a client’s determination affects an existing placement.
Xero as the core ledger, integrated with your recruitment CRM or payroll software so placement, timesheet and invoicing data flows through without double entry. If you’re on spreadsheets and want to modernise, we handle the migration end-to-end.
Yes. Weekly payroll is standard for us, not an exception. We handle PAYE for employed temps, correctly classified contractor payments, and consultant commission calculations, with everything submitted to HMRC on time, every week.
We handle the handover directly with your current accountant and time the transition so there is no gap in your weekly payroll runs or VAT filings. Most agencies are fully switched over within two to three weeks.
Yes. Rapid growth widens the gap between paying candidates weekly and collecting client invoices, which is exactly when agencies run into cash pressure. We build forecasts that flag this early so you can plan for it rather than be caught out.
Yes. R&R is regulated by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). All work is signed off by an ACCA-qualified accountant.
Our head office is in Blackburn, and we work with recruitment agencies and independent recruiters in Preston, Burnley, Accrington, Chorley, Leyland, Bolton, Wigan, Bury and Manchester. Being cloud-based means weekly payroll runs and real-time cash flow reporting work the same wherever you are, but face-to-face meetings are available at our Blackburn office when you want them.
Related specialities: Owner managed businesses · Marketing & creative agencies · Construction & engineering · Payroll · VAT returns & MTD
Book a free consultation. We’ll review your last VAT return, your payroll set-up and the gap between your candidate pay runs and client payment terms, and give you three concrete things to change — whether or not you switch to us. Call 01254 839543 or book online.
Expert Chartered Certified Accountants helping North West businesses protect and grow their income.
Friendly support from a local team that understands your business. Book your free consultation today and take the first step towards financial clarity and peace of mind.
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74 St James Road, Blackburn, BB1 8ET
We work with clients in Blackburn and across the North West, so you can get support wherever you are.
