Trusted Accountants in London

How can we helpyou today?

AI-powered answers, for general information only.For advice on your situation, .
What we do

Everything from the bookkeeping to the boardroom.

Compliance handled quietly in the background, and proper advice when the decisions get bigger. We work with owner-managed businesses, startups and property and trade businesses across the UK.

Accounts

Year-end accounts and Corporation Tax prepared early, filed properly and explained in plain English.

Tax

Self Assessment, VAT under MTD, R&D relief and planning that happens during the year, not after it.

Payroll

RTI, PAYE, statutory pay and auto-enrolment pensions, run accurately and on time every month.

Advisory

Management accounts, forecasting and a finance director on call, without the full-time salary.

Meridian by numbers

A firm built to be easy to deal with.

1 400+

Returns filed each year for UK businesses

96%

Client retention over the last three years

14 days

Typical turnaround on year-end accounts

1 partner

Named to your account, not a call centre

Who we work with

Specialists, not generalists.

Owner-managed businesses

Trading companies from first hire to eight figures, where the owner wants one number to call and no nasty surprises in January.

Startups & scale-ups

Incorporation, EMI share schemes, R&D claims and investor reporting: the finance function you need before you can justify hiring one.

Property, construction & trades

Landlords and developers, CIS contractors and subcontractors, and the reliefs and reporting that come with both.

How it works

Four steps, and we do most of them.

Step 1

A call

Twenty minutes to understand your business, your year end and what is not working with your current setup.

Step 2

A fixed quote

One monthly fee covering everything you need, agreed in writing before any work starts. No hourly billing, no surprise invoices.

Step 3

We handle the move

We write to your old accountant, collect the records and register as your agent with HMRC. You sign two forms and we do the rest.

Step 4

You get your time back

Deadlines tracked, filings early, and a named partner who answers the phone when something matters.

Our team

The people you’ll actually speak to.

Every client gets a named partner who knows their business, plus a second contact so you are never left waiting. No call centre, no ticket queue.

Priya Raghunathan
Managing Partner
JO
James Okonkwo
Tax Partner
AR
Aisha Rahman
Head of Payroll
SM
Sofia Marchetti
Client Services Director
Daniel Whitfield
Head of Audit & Assurance
WC
Wei Chen
Head of Advisory
Insight & news

What’s changing, and what it means for you.

Plain-English updates on the rules that affect UK businesses, written by the people who file your returns.

Tax2 August 2026

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: who it affects and when

Quarterly reporting is arriving for sole traders and landlords in phases. Here is how to work out which phase you are in and what to do now.

Read article
Owner-managed21 July 2026

Salary or dividends: how directors should take money out

The most common question we are asked, and why the honest answer is that it depends on your profits, your pension and your plans.

Read article
R&D9 July 2026

R&D claims: what HMRC expects to see now

Scrutiny has tightened considerably. A look at the evidence and narrative a claim needs before it goes anywhere near a submission.

Read article
Software

We work in whatever you already use.

Certified across the major platforms, so you do not have to change systems to change accountants. If you have nothing in place, we will set it up and train your team.

XeroQuickBooks OnlineSageFreeAgentDextHubdocBrightPayEmployment HeroStripeShopifyGoCardless
Common questions

Ask, and get an answer in seconds.

The questions we are asked most, answered instantly. Anything specific to your situation and we will get you on a call with a partner.

Let’s talk about your year end.

Ask a question here, or book a twenty-minute call with a partner. No charge, and no obligation to move.

Or email hello@meridian.example
Services

Everything from the
bookkeeping to the boardroom.

Most clients take a single monthly package covering the compliance work, then add advisory as they grow. Everything is included in your fixed fee unless we agree otherwise in writing.

Year-end accounts

Statutory accounts prepared early rather than in the final week, filed with Companies House and reconciled to your Corporation Tax return.

  • Statutory accounts
  • Companies House
  • iXBRL

Corporation Tax

CT600 preparation and filing, capital allowances, group relief and loss planning, with everything explained before it is submitted.

  • CT600
  • Capital allowances
  • Loss relief

Bookkeeping

Weekly or monthly bookkeeping in your existing software, with receipt capture, bank reconciliation and a proper month-end close.

  • Xero
  • QuickBooks
  • Dext

Company secretarial

Confirmation statements, share transfers, director changes and the registers, kept up to date so nothing lapses.

Audit & assurance

Statutory audits where required, plus independent reviews for lenders, investors and grant funders.

Management accounts

Monthly or quarterly numbers with commentary, so you are running the business on current figures rather than last year’s.

Self Assessment

Personal tax returns for directors, landlords, sole traders and partners, prepared well ahead of the January deadline.

VAT & Making Tax Digital

Registration, scheme selection, MTD-compliant filing, and reviews of flat rate, margin or partial exemption where they apply.

R&D tax relief

Claims prepared with the technical narrative and cost breakdown HMRC now expects, including the additional information form.

CIS

Contractor and subcontractor returns, verification, monthly filing and reclaiming deductions properly.

Capital gains

Property and share disposals, including 60-day CGT reporting, plus the reliefs that are easy to miss.

Inheritance & succession

Planning for passing on a business or property, worked through alongside your solicitor and IFA.

Payroll

RTI submissions, PAYE, statutory sick and maternity pay, P60s and P11Ds, run on time every month without chasing.

Auto-enrolment

Pension assessment, uploads, declarations of compliance and re-enrolment handled as part of the payroll run.

EMI share schemes

Option scheme design, HMRC valuation agreement and annual reporting, so equity actually does what you intended.

Virtual finance director

Monthly management accounts, KPIs and a standing call, so decisions are made against numbers rather than instinct.

Cash flow & forecasting

Rolling forecasts and scenario planning for hiring, funding, equipment purchases and growth.

Business planning

Budgets, funding applications, valuations and exit planning, with numbers a lender or buyer will take seriously.

Fees

Fixed monthly fees,
agreed before we start.

No hourly rates and no invoice for picking up the phone. We quote one monthly figure covering everything you need, and we only revisit it if your business changes. The packages below are where most clients land.

Essentials

Sole trader

Self-employed and landlords

£95 / month
from, plus VAT
  • Self Assessment return
  • Bookkeeping software & setup
  • Quarterly check-in
  • Unlimited questions
Most popular

Limited company

Owner-managed trading companies

£280 / month
from, plus VAT
  • Year-end accounts & Corporation Tax
  • VAT returns under MTD
  • Payroll for up to 5 people
  • Directors’ Self Assessment
  • Companies House filings
  • Named partner & unlimited questions
Growth

Scale-up & FD

Funded or fast-growing businesses

£850 / month
from, plus VAT
  • Everything in Limited company
  • Monthly management accounts
  • Cash flow forecasting
  • Board pack & standing call
  • R&D claim preparation

Why fixed fees rather than hourly?

Because hourly billing punishes you for asking questions, and the questions are usually where we add the most value. A fixed fee means you call when something matters rather than watching the clock.

What if my business changes during the year?

We tell you before anything changes. If you take on staff, register for VAT or start a new venture, we agree a revised fee first, in writing.

Is there a tie-in?

No. Our engagement is monthly and you can leave with 30 days’ notice. If you go, we hand over your records promptly and professionally.

Do you charge for the first meeting?

No. The first call is free, and if we are not the right fit we will say so and point you somewhere better.

What about one-off work?

Things like a company valuation, an EMI scheme or an HMRC enquiry sit outside the monthly fee. We quote those separately and in advance, never after the fact.

Switching to us

Changing accountants is
easier than you think.

Most people stay put because they imagine a painful handover. In practice you sign two forms and we do the rest, including the awkward conversation with your current accountant. You can move at any point in the year, not just at your year end.

Step 1

A quick call

Twenty minutes on your business, your year end and what is not working. We will tell you honestly whether moving is worth it.

Step 2

You sign two forms

An engagement letter and a 64-8 authority so we can act for you with HMRC. Both are electronic and take a couple of minutes.

Step 3

We contact them

We write the professional clearance letter and request your records. You do not need to have an uncomfortable conversation, though a short email from you helps things move.

Step 4

We take over

Records reviewed, software connected, deadlines mapped. We flag anything that needs correcting before it becomes a problem.

Do I have to wait until my year end?

No. We take on clients at any point in the year. If a filing is due imminently we will tell you honestly whether it is cleaner to let your current accountant finish it first.

What if my old accountant will not release my records?

They are professionally obliged to pass on your books and records, although they can hold their own working papers if fees are outstanding. In practice it is rarely a problem and we deal with it directly.

Will you tell me if my previous returns were wrong?

Yes, and plainly. If something needs amending we will explain the options, the cost and the likely consequences before you decide anything.

How long does it take?

Most moves complete within two to three weeks, and you are covered from the moment your engagement letter is signed.

Will HMRC need to know?

Yes, and we handle it. The 64-8 authorisation registers us as your agent, which lets us deal with HMRC on your behalf and see your filing position directly.

Already thinking about it? Ask the assistant what moving would involve in your situation, or book a call and we will map it out with you.
Insight & news

What’s changing, and
what it means for you.

Plain-English updates on the rules that affect UK businesses, written by the people who actually file the returns. No jargon, no scaremongering, and no advice we would not give a client.

Featured

The Budget, decoded: what actually matters for owner-managed businesses

Every year the coverage runs to thousands of words and almost none of it changes what you should do on Monday morning. Here is the short version: the handful of measures that genuinely affect a typical trading company, what they mean in pounds, and the two or three things worth acting on before your year end.

Written for directors of owner-managed companies, updated after each fiscal event.

Read the breakdown
Tax2 August 2026

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax: who it affects and when

Quarterly reporting is arriving for sole traders and landlords in phases. How to work out which phase you are in, and what to put in place now.

Read article
Owner-managed21 July 2026

Salary or dividends: how directors should take money out

The most common question we are asked, and why the honest answer depends on your profits, your pension and your plans for the business.

Read article
R&D9 July 2026

R&D claims: what HMRC expects to see now

Scrutiny has tightened considerably. The evidence and narrative a claim needs before it goes anywhere near a submission.

Read article
Payroll24 June 2026

Payroll year end without the panic

A short checklist for getting P60s, P11Ds and the final RTI submission out of the way early, plus the errors we see most often.

Read article
Property11 June 2026

Landlords: holding property personally or in a company

Incorporating a portfolio is not the automatic win it is often sold as. The costs, the reliefs and the questions to ask before you move anything.

Read article
Property28 May 2026

CIS: the deductions contractors keep getting wrong

Verification, gross payment status and the reclaim process, explained for construction businesses on both sides of the arrangement.

Read article
Tax14 May 2026

Approaching the VAT threshold: what to do next

Registration is not just a form. How to plan the timing, choose a scheme, and price your work so the change does not eat your margin.

Read article
Owner-managed30 April 2026

EMI options: giving your team equity without the headache

Why EMI remains the most effective way to reward key people in a growing company, and the valuation and reporting steps that come with it.

Read article
Firm news15 April 2026

We’ve added an assistant to the website

You can now ask our site a question and get a straight answer immediately, at any hour. What it can help with, and where we still insist on a human.

Read article
About Meridian

The clue is in
the name.

A meridian is a fixed line you navigate by. That is roughly the job: keep the numbers straight, tell you where you actually are, and make sure you can see what is coming. We are a firm in the City working with owner-managed businesses across the UK.

We answer the phone. Every client has a named partner, not a ticket number. If something matters you speak to the person who already knows your business, rather than starting again with whoever picks up. You can .

We file early. Deadlines are the floor, not the target. Getting your accounts done well ahead of time means you can still act on the numbers while there is something to be done about them.

We say what we think. If a plan will not work, or a claim is weaker than someone has told you, we will say so before you commit rather than after it has gone wrong.

Predictable fees

One monthly figure agreed up front, so asking a question never costs you anything and nothing lands unexpectedly.

Proactive, not reactive

We flag opportunities and problems during the year, not eight months later when the accounts finally get prepared.

Plain English

We explain what the numbers mean and what to do about them, without hiding behind technical language.

Established 2009London basedXero & QuickBooks certifiedFixed monthly feesNamed partner for every client
Contact

Book a call with
a partner.

Twenty minutes, no charge, and no obligation to move. Tell us a little about your business and we will come back with some times.

Priya Raghunathan
Managing Partner
SM
Sofia Marchetti
Client Services Director
+4
Meet the team
Who you’ll be working with

Telephone

+44 20 7946 0100

Office

18 Finsbury Circus
London EC2M 7EB

Our team

The people you’ll
actually speak to.

Every client is assigned a named partner and a second point of contact, so there is always someone who knows your business without needing the background explained again. No call centre, no ticket queue.

Priya Raghunathan

Managing Partner

Priya founded the firm in 2009 after a decade in mid-tier practice, frustrated by how long clients waited for answers. She leads on corporate tax and works with our larger owner-managed clients.

Ask about
JO

James Okonkwo

Tax Partner

James handles the technical tax work: R&D claims, share schemes, reorganisations and the occasional HMRC enquiry. He is the person who tells you honestly when a scheme is not as clever as it sounds.

Ask about
AR

Aisha Rahman

Head of Payroll

Aisha runs payroll for clients from two employees to two hundred, covering RTI, auto-enrolment, statutory pay and benefits reporting. Her team has never missed a submission deadline.

Ask about
SM

Sofia Marchetti

Client Services Director

Sofia looks after onboarding and the day-to-day relationship, which in practice means she is the one who makes switching painless. She handles the clearance letters so you do not have to.

Ask about

Daniel Whitfield

Head of Audit & Assurance

Daniel leads statutory audits and independent reviews for clients approaching the thresholds, and for those whose lenders or investors require them. He also handles business valuations.

Ask about
WC

Wei Chen

Head of Advisory

Wei acts as virtual finance director for our scale-up clients, producing the management accounts, forecasts and board packs that make funding conversations considerably easier.

Ask about

A named partner

One partner owns your relationship from the first call onwards. You have their direct line and they know your business without a briefing.

A second contact

Every client also has a second named person, so holidays and busy periods never leave you waiting for an answer.

Specialists when needed

Your partner brings in the right specialist for payroll, audit or a technical tax question rather than guessing at it themselves.

Not sure who you need? Ask the assistant what you are trying to sort out and it will point you to the right person, or book a call and we will make the introduction.
Privacy & cookies

What we do with
your information.

Short version: this website sets no cookies and does not track you. If you use the assistant or the contact form, we receive what you send us so we can reply. Nothing else.

Please note. This is a demonstration website. Meridian Accountants is not a real firm. The site is operated by Recruitico Limited to show how an answer engine works, and any information you send through it is handled as described below.

We do not set any cookies. There is no analytics, no advertising pixel, no session tracking and no third-party script following you around. That is why you have not been shown a cookie banner: under UK law consent is only required for non-essential cookies, and this site sets none at all.

The only third-party request the page makes is to Google Fonts, which loads the typefaces used here. Your browser contacts Google to fetch those font files, and Google may log the request as part of serving them.

What happens when you type a question. Your message, and the earlier messages in that conversation, are sent to our server and passed to Anthropic, which provides the AI model that generates the reply. The answer comes straight back to your browser.

Please do not enter personal or confidential information. The assistant is designed for general questions about the firm, so there is no reason to include your tax reference, financial details or anyone else’s information. If a question depends on your own figures, book a call instead.

Conversations are not saved to an account. The thread lives in your browser for the length of your visit and disappears when you close the tab. Your IP address is held briefly on our server purely to limit how many messages can be sent per minute, which stops the assistant being abused, and it is discarded shortly afterwards.

On a live site, a contact form would collect the name, email address and details you provide, used only to respond to your enquiry. It would not be sold, added to a marketing list without asking, or shared with anyone not involved in replying to you.

On this demonstration site the form does not submit anywhere, so nothing you type into it is transmitted or stored.

The newsletter signup on this demonstration site does not submit anywhere and collects nothing. On a live site, an email address would be used only to send the update, with an unsubscribe link on every email and the address deleted as soon as it is used.

Under UK data protection law you can ask what information we hold about you, ask us to correct or delete it, object to how we use it, or ask for a copy. We will respond within a month. If you are not satisfied with our response you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk.

Because this is a demonstration site, the data controller is Recruitico Limited, not Meridian. To make any of those requests, or to ask anything about this page, contact:

Recruitico Limited (company no. 11507660)
41 Burlington House, 369 Wellingborough Road, Northampton NN1 4EU
Email: hire@recruitico.com
Telephone: 01604 312104

Recruitico’s full privacy policy is available at recruitico.com/privacy-policy.

If we change how the site handles information, we will update this page and change the date below.

Last updated: 13 August 2026.