+ more in the know - news from RfM Morecambe & Lancaster and RfM South Lakes

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in the know

NEWS FROM RFM LANCASTER & MORECAMBE AND RFM SOUTH LAKES

Meet the team Being a good accountant is not about having an aptitude for numbers or knowledge of tax legislation. It is about getting to know a client and their business so that you can give sound advice that adds value and supports their aims.

The RfM team in Morecambe and Windermere are committed to this approach (which we call + more). We introduce them here.

Autumn 2020

Gillian Telford, Partner (above left) Following changes to the senior team, Gillian now heads up the RfM Morecambe & Lancaster and South Lakes offices.

Gillian has been with the RfM group since 1998 and became Partner at RfM Preston in 2010. She oversaw the successful launch of the RfM brand in 2015 and is a driving force behind the group’s expansion into new locations and services.

Gillian is always looking for opportunities to offer more value to clients, leading to the development of Legal and Mortgage advice services in 2018 as well as an ongoing focus on digital technology. Her energy and passion have helped to solidify RfM’s position as a dynamic, forwardthinking accountancy firm. Continued on page 2.

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Meet the team

CONTINUED

Working together with her colleagues in Morecambe and Windermere, Gill has introduced new processes to keep the office running smoothly and ensure a high level of client service. But offices are not just about systems, they’re about the people who work there, and Gillian is committed to developing her team to be the best they can be.

“Kay, Sam and I all work in a similar way and I’m excited for what we can build together,” says Gillian. “I want to make sure our clients know about all the ways that RfM can help them with their business so that they see us as the go-to place for business support and advice.”

Kay Lee, Client Relationship Manager Kay’s career has followed an interesting and varied path which has taken her all over the world. She discovered a passion and aptitude for accountancy in her late thirties and committed to studying for her professional qualifications. Kay joined RfM in Spring 2016 and became Client Relationship Manager in 2019.

A key area of focus for Kay is client care. “It’s essential to provide clients with a consistent point of contact,” says Kay. “Clients value being able to speak with someone who knows their business and the story behind the numbers. This is especially important for larger companies who might have chosen RfM over a bigger firm because of the personal service and consistency we can provide.

“You only truly get the full picture of a business when you can put a face to a name and make a connection with a client. The better we know our clients, the better the advice we can give them.”

Sam Hargreaves, Client Relationship Manager Unlike Kay, Sam discovered her flair for finance at a young age and has held finance and accounting roles in a broad range of sectors from manufacturing and retail to e-commerce.

Sam joined RfM’s Morecambe & Lancaster practice in 2017 as an accounts assistant. Over time, she began working more closely with clients and became Client Relationship Manager in 2019.

“My role at RfM definitely plays to my strengths,” says Samantha. “I’m organised, proactive and a definite people person. I work well with Gillian and Kay – the office runs smoothly and things get done – so it’s a joy to go to work.

“Since Gillian joined the team, we feel more a part of the wider RfM group and can tap into the skills, knowledge and resources available from all the offices.

We can also refer clients for assistance with legal matters and mortgages through to high-level strategic advice from RfM Business Consulting.”

Here to support local people and businesses (in more ways than you might expect)

When life changes, so should your Will If you’ve already made a Will, you’re already ahead of the other 54% of UK adults with no plans in place. But when did you last check over your Will to make sure it is still valid and fit for purpose?

As your Accountants, you already know you can count on us to look after all your accounting, business finance and tax needs. You might be surprised, though, by some of the additional services we offer. + more for innovative businesses R&D tax reliefs, grant funding, digital technology transformation

+ more for ambitious businesses Business growth services

+ more for your employees HR support services

+ more peace of mind Legal services for businesses and individuals – Wills & Trusts, Lasting Powers of Attorney, inheritance tax planning, shareholder agreements

+ more forward thinking We are Xero Gold Partners and will give you all the support you need to move your accounts to the cloud. As a digital-first practice, all our services can be accessed online – though we are happy to meet with you in person if preferred!

For information about any of the services mentioned above, please call Kay or Sam on 01524 566190 or 01539 445412. Alternatively, email KLee@rfm-more.co.uk or SHargreaves@rfm-more.co.uk

RfM Legal Services Client Relationship Manager, Sharon Rigden, has reviewed many clients’ existing Wills to check they are legally valid and set out in the best way.

Common events that lead to a Will being invalid or unsuitable include: when a person marries or remarries (which voids the Will), the death of an executor, and Wills that leave everything to the other spouse (mirror Wills).

Take advantage of our free Will Review service Call Sharon on 07595 505793 or email srigden@rfmlegal.co.uk to arrange a consultation at a time and place to suit you.

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Putting our staff and clients first

We’ve made changes to prioritise the safety of our staff and clients without compromising on service.

Whenever possible, we will meet with you by telephone or video call rather than face-to-face. However, when the restrictions allow it, we have measures in place to ensure the safety of visitors to our offices.

We have provided hand-sanitising stations and screens between work areas and encourage the wearing of face coverings in meetings.

We brushed up our knowledge of best practice with COVID training (online, of course!) and collect data in line with the government’s Track and Trace system.

Both our offices in Morecambe and Windermere are manned every day to ensure we can support all our clients when they need us most.

Making the most of digital technology When the country went into the first COVID-19 lockdown and the government ordered all offices to close, we were able to move all our staff to remote working with very little disruption to client service. How? Because we have invested heavily in our IT infrastructure and embraced digital technology as a way to make life easier for our clients.

Making Tax Digital The government’s move to online systems for tax and VAT is now fully operational and businesses over a certain size are obliged to use MTD-approved software to record and submit their business accounting information. We highly recommend Xero which is fully compatible with Making Tax Digital.

Xero heroes We are Xero Gold Partners and have helped many clients to make the move to digital accounting from ‘offline’ systems such as Sage or spreadsheets. We can assist with getting you set up, and provide full training and ongoing support.

The end of the paper trail Our secure digital file-transfer technology means we can look after your affairs without ever needing to

send you a printed document. You can even sign and return confidential documents to us online!

Although we are largely a paperless office, you can still get your physical books and records to us should you need to. There are secure post boxes at both our Morecambe and Windermere offices. Please call in advance on 01524 566190 if your books are too large for the post boxes and we will ensure someone is there to meet you at either office.

Transform the digital future of your business Our partners at RfM Business Consulting recently launched a new service to help established businesses identify opportunities where digital technology can lead to better productivity and growth.

Please ask us for a referral.

39 Northgate, White Lund, Morecambe LA3 3PA

2 Windermere Works, Oldfield Court, Windermere LA23 2HJ

01524 566190

01539 445412 rfm-more.co.uk