The Scrutton Bland Approach:Being market leaders in Suffolk and North Essex for providing accountancy services and business advice to transport firms and related industries, we pride ourselves on possessing a detailed knowledge of the sector. This expertise is used to assist in the production of business forecasts and management accounts. Our knowledge and experience is also applied in the tax and audit services that we provide to the sector. We have a thriving corporate finance practice and would be pleased to assist in your plans for succession or expansion. We believe that we have been involved in more corporate finance transactions in this sector in East Anglia than any other firm.
Service Features
We can assist with the development of your internal management information systems. We are accustomed to providing various levels of assistance to our clients, such as the production of detailed monthly management accounts and the creation of forecasts for presentation to the bank. We also assist with your personal tax and corporate tax. We are pleased to advise on the various sources of finance and collateral available to run a transport and logistics business. We recognise the problems currently being faced by the industry, such as the growing issue of driver shortage. The average age of truck drivers in the UK is 53 and is likely to increase. This situation will become more difficult as a result of the Working Time Directive. Issues such as these are likely to provide both challenges and opportunities for the sector in the next few years.
Making the difference
In our experience the best logistics and transport businesses are run with quality management information systems. We therefore advise many organisations on the development of their management information, so that they are able to monitor their performance and identify problems rapidly. For example, the collection of information on fuel usage by truck and the calculation of the other variable costs per mile is all part of this management information process. Likewise, the comparison of actual results against forecast is an important source of information. By fully understanding this marketplace, Scrutton Bland currently act for:
any of the hauliers based in Felixstowe, Ipswich and elsewhere who are engaged in the maritime trade of inland container haulage. These range from owner-drivers to businesses running large contracts with the shipping lines;
bulk hauliers, engaged in the transport of agricultural crops, and other bulk commodities;
warehousing and distribution businesses operating the transport and storage of palletised goods;
other ancillary businesses who provide support services to those companies engaged in the movement of goods by road.
Haulage businesses are accustomed to working with slender margins and we therefore appreciate the need for a tight control of all costs in order to maximise profits. We have advised in the purchase and sale of a number of transport and logistics businesses, with consideration ranging from £300k to £57million. Also, when the time comes to consider succession planning, we will be delighted to help with all aspects of this important transaction. The Scrutton Bland Group is unique in its field by offering a very wide range of financial services under one roof. As well as accounting, tax, audit and corporate finance services, we offer independent financial advice, insurance broking and risk management services. We believe that we are the only Group in East Anglia offering these combined services in-house.
Additional Group Services
Our independent financial advisors are always pleased to provide advice relating to pensions and personal investments. Insurance is a very significant cost to the transport and logistics sector and our Insurance Broking Services team will be pleased to talk to you about the management of these costs and to give you an alternative quotation.
What next?
For further information on how we can help you, contact: our following specialist via telephone or email:
Use the links below to explore our full range of services – from business advisory to personal taxation – to see the many ways that you can benefit by choosing Scrutton Bland.
