Sedulo Brochure 2023

Sedulous

adjective

(Of a person or action)

Showing dedication And diligence.

Who we are, What we do, why we do it.

One of the fastest growing UK mid-tier business advisory firms,

for good reason

We help individuals, entrepreneurs and businesses to fulfil their potential and grow.

With experts across a range of financial disciplines and departments, we support every stage of your journey, from growth on to exit, and protecting your wealth for future generations.

Our work covers multiple sectors and industries, from large corporate entities to SMEs.

Audit · Accountancy · Tax · Mergers and Acquisitions

Financial Planning · Corporate Funding · Forensic Accounting

Attention

Our name is taken from the adjective ‘sedulous’, meaning a person or action showing dedication and diligence, so you know you get the attention to detail you need, when you need it.

Our approach integrates the latest innovations in financial services, with our stateof-the-art technology eliminating the hours needed to input data. Being able to accurately automate tasks means that we can focus on delivering advice that adds real value to your business.

Our work is regulated by the two main accountancy professional bodies; the ACCA and the ICAEW, as well as being recognised by leading software and technology providers in our fields.

to detail, it’s in our name.

That’s dedication, diligence and innovation, as standard.

The Wilson Club Liverpool, Exchange Flags

Nancy’s Lounge London, Shoreditch

The Regency Club, Manchester, Deansgate

The Ambler Club, Leeds, Park Square

NATIONAL EXPERTISE RELATIONSHIPS

local

With four offices nationwide, we pride ourselves on bringing national expertise to local relationships.

We work collaboratively with clients to offer a bespoke package of services across a holistic range of financial functions, putting us in a unique position to offer joined-up advice that identifies risks and opportunities relevant to your business.

Our city centre office locations in London, Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds mean we can allocate you a dedicated specialist in your city, who is also able to draw on the knowledge from our network of in-house experts across the country.

LARGE ENOUGH

ENOUGH TO

deliver.

Small enough to care.

AUDITS THAT PROVIDE ASSURANCE AND

add value

Specialist audit knowledge, specific to you.

Conducting an audit provides an opportunity for you to receive a comprehensive financial health check on your business and gain a clearer understanding of your position within the industry.

Today’s global marketplace is ever-changing and evolving, but our guidance will allow you to adapt effectively and respond to any situation that arises.

We offer a straightforward process that won’t get in the way of your day-to-day. With clear communication and realistic timetables, we’ll ensure you get the right strategy in place for your business.

PIN-POINT

COST-SAVING OPPORTUNITIES, IDENTIFY WEAKNESSES AND LEARN HOW TO MAKE VALUABLE IMPROVEMENTS TO BUSINESS. your

Solicitor’s Accounts Rules

During our audits, we offer detailed feedback on your systems and accounts. We’re focused on offering you assurance, clarity, and insight through our experience and sector knowledge, and also by identifying any weaknesses within the business. We want to provide lasting value to your organisation.

As well as external/statutory audit, our assurance services include:

Due diligence assignments

Grant audits

Funder audits

Assurance and internal compliance

We also undertake client asset (CASS) audits for FCAregulated firms

Audits marked by assurance, clarity and insight.

REWARDING YOUR INDUSTRY-LEADING R&D SUPPORT

Unlock your full R&D Tax Relief benefit, without the workload and risk.

With thousands of claims supported by the team in the past 10 years, our knowledge and expertise are at your fingertips.

The R&D tax scheme plays a vital part in rewarding innovative businesses. Our dedicated team of professionals consists of technical specialists and tax experts who are frequently in touch with HMRC.

With their complex and ever-changing criteria, we ensure that all the claims made are fully compliant and that all projects are considered for qualification to maximise results.

WHAT CAN

innovation largest

LARGEST DEDICATED R&D TEAM OUTSIDE OF THE BIG FOUR DO FOR YOUR BUSINESS?

THE

Support that works with your accounting and tax strategy.

Innovation is at the heart of everything we do. It takes a forward-thinking business to recognise a forward-thinking business, so we thrive when we’re working alongside others who hold shared values and ideals.

We understand that your time is valuable, so we want you to feel assured that we won’t give your team members another admin task or lengthy online form to complete. We believe in the value of in-person or virtual meetings, where we can capture the ins and outs of your claim, personably.

Our R&D team is made up of experts who have previously held notable positions at Grant Thornton, EY, and Deloitte, leading claims for major household names, from manufacturers and tech companies to pharmaceutical labs and construction businesses.

If your company has championed innovation, advanced a sector or invested in science or technology, you could qualify for R&D tax relief.

WE’LL HANDLE THE WORK, SO YOU CAN GET ON WITH YOURS.

HERE TO HELP YOU BUY, SELL OR GROW BUSINESS.

We offer expert advice and guidance stretching across three key areas; Deal Advisory, Transaction Services and High Growth.

With an extensive network of professional and investor contacts throughout the UK, Europe and North America, our Corporate Finance consultants work with our in-house Accounting, Tax and Wealth Management teams to ensure that our clients receive fully rounded advice from specialists in all relevant disciplines of the practice.

DEAL ADVISORY EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE FOR OF YOUR TRANSACTION

every step

We offer a host of services to business owners at all stages of their professional journey.

We are industry-agnostic and benefit from our position within an holistic practice, allowing our clients to benefit from a suite of advice across accountancy services.

Our offering is centred around our model of preparing a business for sale or investment, implementing industry specific value drivers that will ensure a company is well positioned to attract the highest valuation.

Our corporate finance team are experienced in guiding our clients through the full lifecycle of a transaction process. From an initial meeting, we endeavour to fully understand your requirements and expectations to ensure we can provide world class service throughout the transaction.

Debt and/or equity investments

Disposals

Mergers & acquisitions

Management buyouts

Share transaction guidance

High growth planning to primeing a business for a transaction

STEP 1: PREPARATION

We create everything to accurately tell the story of your business, including an Information Memorandum (IM) describing the operation and future growth strategy, as well as a sophisticated set of historic accounts with future projections based on qualified assumptions.

STEP 2: MARKETING

From finalising an approach list, to creating and distributing a teaser document detailing the pertinent aspects of the opportunity, we take care of taking you to market.

STEP 3: ESTABLISH INTEREST

We liaise with interested parties on confidentiality agreements and the full IM, as well as manage the communication process with investors.

STEP 4: ARRANGE MANAGEMENT MEETINGS

We cover arranging the initial management meetings, providing additional information where necessary and receiving indicative offers from interested parties.

STEP 5: CONSIDER OFFERS

In preparation for due diligence, we establish the preferred offers, agree the Heads of Terms and instruct solicitors on the legal documents.

STEP 6: DUE DILIGENCE AND COMPLETION

The final step sees us prepare, circulate and review the legal and financial due diligence, before overseeing the signing of legal documents and completion.

ULTIMATE ON YOUR TRANSACTION, FROM START TO FINISH

peace-of-mind

WE OFFER A HOST OF TRANSACTION SERVICES TO BUSINESS OWNERS AS WELL AS PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDS, DEBT INVESTORS, LEGAL TEAMS, FAMILY OFFICES AND MORE.

We offer buy side assistance in the form of target approach and appraisal, financial due diligence and deal management services.

We work with banks, private equity, acquisitive clients and other providers of finance to give concise commentary and observations of potential transaction targets alongside potential recommendations highlighting the risks and rewards as we see them.

Financial Due Diligence

Company Valuations

EXCELLENCE

as default

Every month we welcome into our workplace high-profile names from the worlds of business and sport to talk with our team and share their personal experiences in these areas and how to harness them for growth and success. To date we have welcomed , Gary Neville, Eddie Hearn, Steven Gerrard, Sugar-Ray Leonard, Alistair Campbell, Karren Brady, Levi Roots and Green & Black’s co-founder, Jo Fairley, amongst others.

We also understand that supporting our team to maintain a healthy work-life balance is critical to create a high performance culture.

Our internal leadership programmes are designed to equip future leaders of Sedulo with the skills, knowledge and experience to grow businesses and their careers. As well as internal training, we give our team the opportunities to learn directly from some of the world’s highest achievers from all walks of life on areas such as mindset, self-awareness, physical health, mental health, nutrition and reflection.

Therefore, we’ve introduced several tools and initiatives to empower our team to be heard and make the best decisions for themselves. These include our weekly team Happiness Score, our smart working practices, the Sedulo Wellbeing programme which supports physical, mental, social and financial wellbeing, and simple workplace boundaries such as no internal emails outside of a 7am – 7pm timeframe.

We believe that to provide a world-class service, we need to create a highperformance culture by giving our team an environment that breeds excellence as default.

BE A OF QUALITY. yardstick

Apple Founder, Steve Jobs, spoke about people not being used to environments where excellence is expected. We believe in this so much that this quote currently adorns the wall of the Steve Jobs Suite in our Manchester workspace.

REDUCE COSTS, INCREASE PROFIT AND IMPROVE

efficiency

Our approach to accounting is simple; apply a commercial thought process whilst continually searching for ways to reduce costs, increase profit and improve efficiency.

Our accountants holistically work hand-in-hand with our teams in tax, audit, corporate finance, wealth management, payroll and more to give you a 360˚ financial service, in and out of your business.

With a focus on you and your business, we’re perfectly placed and resourced to provide you with exactly what you need, when you need it.

The days of spending multiple hours inputting data, leaving just a single hour to advise the business are long gone.

Today those numbers are flipped, with cutting edge technology and app stacks cutting input time down and leaving business owners with multiple hours of efficiency-creating advice time to add value to their business, and achieving ambitious high-growth plans.

Cloud accounting enables both us and you to work faster, smarter and more efficiently. Gain access to real-time data and insights, allowing you to make better-informed decisions which can be communicated instantly.

So whether you’re managing invoices, obtaining sales figures or sending bills on the move, our suite of apps in bookkeeping, cashflow, reporting, invoicing, expenses and more do more, so you don’t have to.

FUSE EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR BUSINESS TOGETHER THROUGH EXPERTISE, EFFICIENCY AND TECHNOLOGY.

Up-to-date, secure and accurate accounting, at the touch of a button.

THE TO DETAIL YOU NEED, WHEN YOU NEED IT

attention most

Whether you’re involved in a dispute or have a matter that requires investigation, our big firm forensic accounting expertise adds to your case with complete clarity

Commercial Disputes

We provide forensic accounting and quantum services on a variety of civil matters, including commercial disputes and investigations, and criminal matters including POCA. Experts in our team regularly prepare reports and withstand cross examination in court.

Our range of experience is diverse – from working with small law firms and barristers up to major international companies on large disputes and investigations involving household names. Our team brings recent expertise from Kroll, Duff & Phelps, Mazars and Grant Thornton, where we’ve regularly worked on matters involving claims of £100m+, [often into the billions].

We can provide advisory services at the early stage of a claim or investigation work if you require us to examine a specific area in detail. If you decide to launch proceedings, our experts can act as a party appointed expert witness or single joint expert.

Matrimonial Disputes

Criminal and Civil Fraud Investigations

Criminal Proceedings (including confiscation proceedings under poca)

Personal Injury

Business Interruption

Professional Negligence

Business Valuations

A personable approach with a strong focus on quality.

MAXIMISE EFFICIENCY, MITIGATE THE RISK.

LET’S TALK ABOUTtax

PERSONABLE ACCESS TO INNOVATIVE TAX PLANNING

THAT DELIVERS FOR YOU, YOUR BUSINESS AND YOUR FAMILY.

experts

IN-HOUSE FROM THE BIG FOUR, A RELATIONSHIP THAT MEANS MORE.

Our Tax team contains dynamic professionals who have the deep technical skills and experience required to deliver comprehensive tax advisory and compliance services that support clients’ and their businesses – whatever the size, sector or stage of growth.

Today’s tax landscape poses significant challenges for businesses across all sectors. The complexities of domestic and international rules mean clear, informed, and considered guidance is required, and that’s exactly what we offer to our clients.

We act for individuals, privately owned, private equity-owned, listed and multinational businesses, corporate finance boutiques, accountants, law firms, family offices and all forms of investors and institutions, including private equity, venture capitalists, and angel investors.

And for our wealthiest of clients, our combination of Big Four-level tax expertise, innovative thinking and over ninety years of working alongside high-net-worth individuals, means we have the specialist advice you need to maximise the opportunities around your personal finances.

All aspects of tax, as specialist or as simple as you need it.

A TEAM OF FINANCE EXPERTS on your side

Our team of specialist funding consultants have over a century of combined banking experience. We can help you navigate the complex and competitive world of commercial finance.

Whether you’re looking to obtain funding to take on the next stage of business growth, access working capital to cover costs, or acquire another company, it’s important to have a team of experts on your side.

OUR PROFESSIONAL BANKING AND FINANCE TEAMS CAN HELP ARRANGE NEW FINANCE FOR YOUR BUSINESS OR REFINANCE EXISTING FACILITIES FOR MORE COMPETITIVE TERMS.

Full re-banking

Invoice finance

Commercial mortgages

Asset finance

Bridging

Unsecured business loans

Development finance

HMRC funding

Overdrafts and revolving credit facillities

Our expert knowledge

at your

We work with an unrivalled number of lenders, which gives our clients confidence that they’re getting the best deal.

Our funding experts operate out of each city centre office, including Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and London. We’re available to meet face-to-face so that we can better understand your business and talk you through your funding options, or we can assist over the phone. Whichever you’d prefer!

WE HAVE FUN AND GIVE BACK TOGETHER

HIGH PERFORMANCE FOLLOWS

happiness

Our aim is to create a workplace that people want to work from, which is why we invest heavily in our workspaces, initiatives and technology to support our team to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as give them the platform to make real change in their own communities.

We’ve introduced several initiatives to empower our team to be heard, make the best decisions for their careers and bring their full selves to work. These initiatives include regular team engagement surveys, our smart working practices, workplace perks such as free breakfast, a dedicated Diversity and Inclusion team, a packed social calendar building up to Christmas parties abroad, and a wellbeing programme supporting physical, mental, social and financial wellbeing. These are all pulsemonitored with our weekly team Happiness Score; Happy teams create high-performance.

The Sedulo Foundation also enables our team to positively impact their own home communities throughout the year, with examples including the rebuild of a derelict playground at a primary school in Warrington, the refurbishment of a reward room in a school in Stockport and providing laptops and tablets to support 70 children in Hackney facing digital poverty.

The Cadbury Suite, Leeds

Drawing inspiration from John Cadbury’s Bournville site, set up in the 19th century to provide the workers at Cadbury’s a better standard of living to build their careers and lives upon.

FINANCIAL PLANNING FOR PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES

PLAN

for life

Financial planning and wealth management is what we do, but it’s how we do it that defines us. Our vision is a service that is more professional, more personal, more efficient. A service that is delivered by talented, highly qualified people who share this vision. Always aiming to reduce your stress and raise your peace of mind.

Whether you’re a successful entrepreneur, business owner or you’re starting out on your own, it’s never too early to seek sound advice. Whatever stage of your business journey you’re at, we’re here to support you.

Whether you’re accumulating or preserving wealth, we will help you feel more moneyconfident for life’s big moments, for you and your family – now and in the future.

WE KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO SUSTAIN WEALTH FOR THE FAMILIES AND DESCENDANTS OF WEALTH CREATORS.

We exist to be different. Sedulo Wealth was created from a vision of financial services truly aligned to the needs of clients.

CONSULTANCY TO EVOLVE, AUGMENT AND supercharge

We are fully aware that management make good decisions based on excellent information. Solid financial and statistical information, backed by automation, gives our management accountants and business consultants time to deliver advice beyond the numbers.

We recognise the world moves quickly, and we assist our clients in moving with it. From disaster recovery strategies through to penetration testing, our technology strategists are onhand to assess, maintain, and develop your IT capabilities.

It is widely recognised that people are your greatest asset, and we believe that too! Our People & Culture team develop holistic assessments and strategies, to create lasting company culture change.

SAAS Implementation

Technology plays a pivotal role in all good businesses. We are always looking to improve ourselves and overcome challenges; that’s why we have an internal development team that build our own software products to conquer some of our own business problems. Once tested, we roll out these solutions to the market, with recent software innovations including our pulse Team Happiness Score and Client Happiness Score, as well as the 360˚ Appraisal tool.

Leadership Mentoring

We believe that leaders should develop at the same pace as any fast-growing organisation, so our Be The Standard leadership club is for business leaders that value self-development. Be The Standard is a joint initiative between Sedulo and sporting legend Kevin Sinfield OBE, with a focus on providing the support to individuals in business that would be provided within the high-performing sports environment.

positive

CREATING IMPACT FOR COMMUNITIES, THROUGH PEOPLE AND BUSINESS

The Sedulo Foundation is the result of years of working with our local communities to alleviate the devastating effect of poverty on children and young people across London and the north of England.

We work with regional charities and youth organisations to identify where and how we can make positive change for young people and utilise their delivery mechanisms to maximise our impact.

The Sedulo Foundation provides school essentials, food vouchers, seasonal gifts, and sanitary products delivered in conjunction with local partners. In the last year alone, we’ve reached nearly 20,000 children and young people with around £XXX,000 of benefit through 3 key campaigns.

Christmas Toy Appeal

Bespoke sacks of presents for children and young people based on their individual needs and preferences.

Period Poverty

Annual supply of sanitary products to support poor or otherwise disadvantaged young women.

Back to School

Back to school essentials distributed at the beginning of the school year, including school bag, stationery, food vouchers etc.

GIVING BACK HAS BEEN A PART OF OUR DNA SINCE

From the origins of five people buying an extra present at Christmas in 2009, to hundreds of people coming together in 2022 to provide thousands of gifts and life essentials - as well as create numerous community projects - the Sedulo Foundation is a platform for our team to make a real impact on the causes close to their hearts. day one

www.sedulofoundation.co.uk

LEEDS HUB Park Square

LIVERPOOL HUB

Exchange Flags

Old Street

Personably delivered financial services for SMEs, corporate entities, not-for-profits and private clients.

or ours YOUR PLACE YOUR PLACE? or ours?

This brochure is made using 100% recycled material as part of our carbon neutral initiative.

If you do not require this brochure, please contact us and we’ll arrange to have it collected.