Simon Read of Accountants for Sale shares how March is looking like for his businesses

It’s March! The first month of Spring and the month the clocks have just gone forward so it's lighter nights and less time asleep! It’s also the Budget this month! What does the world of business look like this week?

Today we’re talking to Simon Read. Simon Read is the Malmesbury-based Managing Director of Accountants For Sale & Financial Careers Ltd. Accountants For Sale is a newly established specialist business broker helping Accountants who are looking to sell their businesses, and those firms who are looking to grow through carefully targeted acquisition. Financial Careers is a specialist recruiter working within the finance and financial services industries covering roles across the UK.

How is March looking for you in your business?
As the dark winter months finally recede, we are seeing some uplift in business activity. Clients are once again turning their focus towards bolstering their teams, seeking out top talent to propel their enterprises forward. There is still some caution in the market, but there's a palpable sense of optimism taking root.

My new venture, Accountants for Sale, is rapidly gaining traction. We have buyers across the UK who are eyeing new opportunities to acquire accounting firms. We are starting to get some solid enquiries from firms who are looking to sell which as well is encouraging.

I am eager to forge new connections within the accounting profession, so I am on the lookout for events, having discussions around acquisition and sales. Our efforts have already borne fruit, as we've forged some valuable new partnerships with financiers, mentors, and industry experts.

Together, we're committed to enhancing firms' appeal in the market, whether by fine-tuning them for sale or offering expert guidance on acquisitions. The stage is set for an exciting journey ahead, and I am keen to seize every new opportunity.

Are you taking part in any wider events or business collaborations this month?
Networking is always high on the agenda and my involvement with Cotswold Networking will see me attending meetings in Bath, Cheltenham, Cirencester and Malmesbury. Since it started over two years ago, it has gone from strength to strength, and I have made some fantastic connections.

Hopefully, with the better weather, there will be some time to play some golf and I enjoy my membership of Fore Business Golf Networking very much. I also plan to visit the Festival of Accounting & Bookkeeping at the NEC later this month. So there will be lots going on!

The Budget takes place on March 6. Is this relevant for your business? What do you hope to see?
I think at the time of writing it is hard to say what the budget holds for businesses and it is frankly hard to see what the Chancellor will do given the IFS – BOE forecasts and the ever-growing debt mountain. There isn’t much money to play with. I don’t think the government has been particularly supportive of smaller businesses, or indeed very innovative in trying to stimulate growth which is of course very poor. I very much doubt that there will be anything radical.

This month it’s International Women’s Day, St David’s Day, National No Smoking Day. Is there an awareness day or week this month which is important to you or your business?
I lose track of all the awareness days that seem to have become so fashionable. However, International Women's Day serves as a powerful reminder of the progress made towards gender equality and highlights the work that still needs to be done to ensure that women and girls everywhere can fully realize their rights and full potential. My partner and I have four daughters between us so I had better say something positive about it!

Is it your business’s birthday this month or an anniversary of any kind?
It will be four years since I started Financial Careers at the end of this month. I don’t know where the time has gone but I have made it through the many trials and tribulations to get this far.

Would you like to share your thoughts about your mother, a mother figure in your life or your life with a mother?
Sadly, my own mother died after a short illness when I was 13, I have never really talked about it very much to be honest. In those days we were encouraged to get on with life and move forward without too much discussion. It wasn’t really until much later in life that I reflected on just how much effect it must have had on me at that age. My father did re-marry twice in fact! And I am pleased to say he is still married to my stepmother who has always been lovely and a great source of wisdom.  

Have you got any special offers for March or April that you’d like to mention?
We do have a spring offer on which is a 10% discount off our normal fees and a 3 month guarantee period. So before spending money on advertising come and speak to us first!

For more information visit https://accountantsforsale.co.uk/ or https://www.financialcareersltd.co.uk/