High-Level Accountant Recommendations?

[Al Gorithum]

OK does anyone have any personal recommendations for a firm of accountants willing/able to deal with an international group of companies with revenues in the $bns?

Don't really want to approach the big 4 but may have to.

[Countdown]

What is the specific service that you are after? Accountants provide a wide range of services - Tax, Audit, Management Consultancy. Asking for an Accountant recommendation without specifying WHAT you need from them is a bit like saying “Can anybody recommend a Lawyer” or “Can anybody recommend a Specialist Doctor?”,

[Al Gorithum]

Countdown said:

What is the specific service that you are after? Accountants provide a wide range of services - Tax, Audit, Management Consultancy. Asking for an Accountant recommendation without specifying WHAT you need from them is a bit like saying “Can anybody recommend a Lawyer” or “Can anybody recommend a Specialist Doctor?”,

Thanks. Setting up a company structure, and doing the auditing. All of the firms spoken to so far aren't interested, possibly to do with the value of the turnover in relation to their PI.

[PrinceRupert]

Surely any company with revenues in the billions is sufficiently sophisticated to already have accountants instructed, and if not has the nous to instruct some without asking on PH ... ?

[sleepezy]

You're likely pushed down the Big 4 route given international (therefore need auditing in different jurdisticions presumably with a consensus formed and reported via the topco country of registration) and size of the company/audit fee. I suspect they've declined so far as you'll give them concentration issues on fee size - firms have a duty to ensure they don't over concentrate income on a small number of clients to avoid those clients having undue influence on the firms impartiality.

In my experience the cross borders 'clubs' formed by smaller firms to try to service international clients do not work particularly well.

Edit - this should really be in business and may get a better response there if the mods will move it.

[Al Gorithum]

sleepezy said:

You're likely pushed down the Big 4 route given international (therefore need auditing in different jurdisticions presumably with a consensus formed and reported via the topco country of registration) and size of the company/audit fee. I suspect they've declined so far as you'll give them concentration issues on fee size - firms have a duty to ensure they don't over concentrate income on a small number of clients to avoid those clients having undue influence on the firms impartiality.

In my experience the cross borders 'clubs' formed by smaller firms to try to service international clients do not work particularly well.

Edit - this should really be in business and may get a better response there if the mods will move it.

Thank you

[ellroy]

Big 4 is the answer from the brief info provided.

It’s the international structuring piece that will need multiple input as much as anything.

[Al Gorithum]

ellroy said:

Big 4 is the answer from the brief info provided.

It’s the international structuring piece that will need multiple input as much as anything.

Thanks Jerry. Your help on the other matter could be a life-safer too. Hugely appreciated

[Unexpected Item In The Bagging Area]

I can put you in touch with a Big 4 audit partner in the UK. PM me if you like.

[Mr_Megalomaniac]

ellroy said:

Big 4 is the answer from the brief info provided.

It’s the international structuring piece that will need multiple input as much as anything.

I would echo this.
I know an ex-partner from EY who is now at Duff & Phelps who do some structuring work as well if that is what you're looking for specifically. He's really good.
Otherwise I can just refer you to someone in my old team as well if you want along with this recommendation

Unexpected Item In The Bagging Area said:

I can put you in touch with a Big 4 audit partner in the UK. PM me if you like.

[mikeiow]

PrinceRupert said:

Surely any company with revenues in the billions is sufficiently sophisticated to already have accountants instructed, and if not has the nous to instruct some without asking on PH ... ?

This is what struck me. Very strange!

[anonymous-user]

We used Mazars. We were a group structure (pvt ltd) and just UK/GBP based. They were very competent and not too expensive.

[Al Gorithum]

RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:

We used Mazars. We were a group structure (pvt ltd) and just UK/GBP based. They were very competent and not too expensive.

Thank you. I put a call into them so am waiting to hear back.

[leef44]

If you don't want to go Big4 then your next choice is Grant Thornton.

But depending on your needs, Big4 maybe better structured. They would have consistent methodology across their countries.

[NickCQ]

PrinceRupert said:

Surely any company with revenues in the billions is sufficiently sophisticated to already have accountants instructed, and if not has the nous to instruct some without asking on PH ... ?

This is the same poster that needed to transfer several hundred million quid but didn't have a bank account.
Definitely an NHS PPE supplier

[Al Gorithum]

leef44 said:

If you don't want to go Big4 then your next choice is Grant Thornton.

But depending on your needs, Big4 maybe better structured. They would have consistent methodology across their countries.

Thank you

[Al Gorithum]

NickCQ said:

This is the same poster that needed to transfer several hundred million quid but didn't have a bank account.
Definitely an NHS PPE supplier

Thanks, but you know what they say about assumptions.