Moments of Distinction: Celebrating awards, community spirit and expert guidance

Ellis & Co is delighted to announce a significant achievement. Proudly named the Financial Services Company of the Year 2025 at the prestigious Cheshire & North Wales Business Awards, this was received by directors John Farrell and John Moorhouse at a fantastic evening at Chester Racecourse.

This award is a powerful testament to the hard work, dedication and expertise of their entire team, who consistently go above and beyond for their clients. This recognition from the regional business community highlights the trust clients place in Ellis & Co and their unwavering commitment to excellence.

Not only that, but being more than just accountants, community engagement and expert guidance are at the heart of Ellis & Co’s approach. Extending beyond traditional accountancy, their commitment was recently showcased through their annual golf day, an insightful session for start-ups and the release of a vital new resource for businesses.

Community spirit on the green

The Ellis & Co Annual Golf Day 2025, held on July 10th at the picturesque Pryors Hayes Golf Course in Chester, was a resounding success. The event, played in a Texas Scramble format, fostered friendly competition and camaraderie among participants. More importantly, it served as a powerful platform to support and raise crucial funds for The Hospice of the Good Shepherd, a cherished local charity.

Overall, the day was filled with brilliant golfing highlights and sunny weather, including a warm welcome and tailored gift bags that contained refreshments, Ellis & Co golf balls and their latest 2025/26 tax card. It concluded with an award ceremony and a successful charity collection and raffle, which further boosted contributions to the Hospice. Thus, underscoring the strong community spirit championed by Ellis & Co.

Empowering the next generation of businesses

As industry experts, the team at Ellis & Co are also dedicated to sharing their knowledge to foster growth within the business community. On June 5th, Director John Farrell and Senior Accountant Leon Stowell delivered an educational session to an enthusiastic group of aspiring entrepreneurs, providing invaluable accountancy insights designed to help new businesses establish strong financial foundations and navigate early challenges. This initiative highlights their proactive approach to supporting economic development by equipping start-ups with the essential financial knowledge needed for success. Your guide to a seamless audit

Additionally, in their ongoing effort to simplify complex financial processes, the team have released a free, comprehensive Audit Checklist. Designed to help businesses of all sizes ensure their financial records are perfectly in place and ready for scrutiny.

"An audit doesn't have to be a source of stress," says John Farrell, Director at Ellis & Co. "Think of it as a health checkup for your business—an opportunity to refine processes, identify opportunities and strengthen stakeholder confidence. By being 'audit-ready' at all times, it means you'll be running a more efficient, transparent and resilient operation yearround. And at Ellis & Co, we believe in making this process constructive, not disruptive."

With this checklist, users will be guided through essential steps, from embracing digital record-keeping and meticulously tracking income and expenses, to maintaining detailed payroll and HR records, and formalising internal controls for larger corporations. It offers universal best practices applicable to everyone, along with specific guidance for SMEs, self-employed individuals and larger businesses. This resource aims to turn your next audit into your smoothest yet, allowing businesses to achieve complete peace of mind.

To download your free Audit Checklist and take the first step towards perfect financial record-keeping, visit the Ellis & Co website at www.ellis-uk.com.

Whether it's through fostering community spirit, sharing expert insights or providing essential resources, Ellis & Co continues to demonstrate their commitment to supporting businesses and individuals across Chester, Wrexham and beyond.