arcus accountants & business advisers

Accountants in Oakham

Excellent | 4.7 | 27 reviews

Local Accountants Who Actually Know Oakham

Oakham is our home. Our office sits just off Gaol Street in the centre of town, and most days you’ll find one of the team grabbing a coffee on the High Street, walking past the Castle, or catching the Wednesday market on the way back from a client meeting.

Oakham isn’t a marketing outreach for us; it’s where we built the practice more than 25 years ago, and it’s where we still do most of our work today. We support Oakham business owners, directors, landlords and individuals with clear, proactive financial advice that goes well beyond filing accounts.

No jargon. No surprises. Just plain English, partnership-led accounting.

Our goal is simple: to give our clients peace of mind, financial understanding, and long-term success.

Why Oakhamians Choose Us

Oakham is a town that punches above its weight. The multitude of different industries need an accountant they can trust, we can provide:

Real local knowledge; we know Oakham and it's trading year patterns
Proactive advice, not just year-end paperwork
Certified Xero Advisor expertise (we're Silver Champion Partners)
A team you can actually call, answered by a real person
Plain-English explanations of your numbers
Long-term partnership, from start-up to exit

Whether you are a start up, scaling your business or managing your business finances, we tailor our advice to your situation

Who We Help in Oakham

We support a broad mix of Oakham clients, including:

Independent retailers and hospitality businesses around the High Street, Market Place and Mill Street
Farming, equestrian and rural enterprises across Rutland
Holiday-let and short-stay landlords near Rutland Water
Consultants and contractors working remotely from Oakham
Limited company directors and owner-managers
Property landlords with portfolios in Rutland and beyond
Individuals with complex tax affairs; including high earners, retirees and trustees

Whether you’ve just registered a limited company or you’ve been trading in town for decades, we tailor the support to where you are. Take a look at our case studies for details

Our Approach

At Arcus, we believe accounting should be proactive, understandable and personal.

We go beyond filing accounts or submitting tax returns. We help clients understand their numbers, plan ahead, and make confident decisions that support their business and personal goals.

Our work focuses on three core principles:

Clarity

Clear financial reporting so you always understand your position.

Compliance

Accurate, reliable accounting that meets HMRC and Companies House requirements.

Confidence

Strategic advice that helps you grow your business and protect your financial future.

Our Experience & Professional Standards

Arcus Associates Ltd provide professional accountancy and tax services to UK businesses and individuals, helping clients remain compliant with HMRC requirements and make informed financial decisions.

Our team includes tax advisers, bookkeeping specialists and business advisers with decades of combined experience in business accounts, personal taxation and consultancy support

We are proud to be Certified Xero Advisors and Silver Champion Partners, helping clients streamline finances with modern cloud accounting tools

We maintain strict confidentiality, continuous professional development, and up-to-date knowledge of UK tax legislation.

Our Services for Oakham Clients

Xero Bookkeeping

Clean books mean clear decisions. We move Oakham businesses onto Xero, keep the records tidy month-by-month, and make sure you can see your profit, cashflow and VAT position in real time. As Certified Xero Advisors, we’ll handle the migration, the training and the day-to-day.

Business Tax Planning

Corporation tax shouldn’t be a surprise in March. We forecast your liability through the year, plan the timing of investments and income, and structure things efficiently so you keep more of what you earn, legally and confidently.

Management Accounts

Monthly or quarterly reporting so you always know where you stand. Profit, expenses, KPIs and trends; explained in plain English so you can make confident decisions instead of guessing.

Payroll & PAYE

Accurate, on-time payroll for your Oakham team, whether that’s two part-timers in a shop or thirty staff across a growing business. Pensions, RTI, P60s, the lot.

Year-End Accounts

We prepare statutory accounts for Companies House and HMRC, and, more importantly, we sit down and explain what they actually mean for your business. No staring at a PDF wondering what “retained earnings” is doing.

Personal Tax Planning

Pension contributions, dividend strategy, allowances, capital gains timing, family income planning, we look at the whole picture, not just this year’s return.

VAT Returns

Making Tax Digital, partial exemption, flat rate, cash accounting, we’ll get your VAT right and submitted on time, every quarter.

Self Assessment

For directors, sole traders, landlords, high earners and anyone with income outside PAYE. We prepare your return, make sure every allowable expense and relief is claimed, and tell you what you owe with plenty of warning

Landlord & Property Tax

A specialist area for many Oakham clients with Rutland Water holiday lets, FHL properties, or buy-to-let portfolios. We handle MTD for landlords, capital allowances, Section 24 planning and capital gains on disposal.

Capital Gains Tax

Selling a property, shares or a business? We calculate the gain accurately, apply every relief you’re entitled to, and file within the HMRC reporting window.

HMRC Investigations & Enquiries

An HMRC letter on the doormat is enough to ruin anyone’s weekend. We deal with the correspondence, prepare the response and represent you professionally; and new clients get a year of HMRC tax enquiry fee protection included.

Advisory & Business Coaching

Through our flagship Financial Freedom Blueprint, Confident CEO Circle and 1:1 advisory work, we help Oakham business owners stop winging it. Pricing, profitability, cashflow forecasting, growth planning and exit strategy, guided by people who’ve done it themselves.

Meet the Team

Andrew Cross

Founder & Chief Profit Architect (CTA)

With over three decades of expertise as a Chartered Taxation Adviser and AAT member, Andrew Cross is seasoned in both personal taxation and business accounts.

His proficiency extends to advising clients on intricate business accounts, emphasising a keen passion for delving into the often avoided yet universally crucial topic of money.

Notably, Andrew’s enthusiasm transcends traditional boundaries, as he actively engages with personal tax clients.

This additional facet underscores his dedication, blending extensive experience with a genuine commitment to guiding individuals through the intricacies of personal financial matters, solidifying his reputation as a trusted and passionate advisor.

Nicola Cross

Founder & Chief Financial Strategist

With more than two decades as a Management Consultant, specialising in Process and Change Management, Nicola Cross is dedicated to coaching clients in realising their personal and business goals.

Her passion is evident in the creation of The Financial Freedom Blueprint, a bespoke signature system designed for Business owners seeking clarity, financial confidence, and freedom from accounting intricacies.

Nicola ensures that this tailored service aligns with clients’ long-term financial success, emphasising the identification and achievement of business goals. Through her extensive experience, she actively guides individuals towards a future marked by financial prosperity and strategic accomplishments in their professional endeavours.

Gill Brand

Client Accounts Manager

Gill Brand, a proficient Xero Bookkeeper with a wealth of expertise is our Client Accounts Manager. Specialising in Xero bookkeeping, payroll, VAT, and accounts production, Gill brings a dynamic skill set to streamline your financial operations.

Her mastery extends beyond the basics, making her a true Xero whizz. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to accuracy, Gill ensures your financial records are not just managed but optimised for efficiency.

Trust in her dedication to delivering excellent bookkeeping solutions that go beyond the numbers. Experience the convenience of having a seasoned professional like Gill on your team, making your financial management seamless and stress-free.

Rachel Copley

Accounts & Bookkeeping Specialist

Her expertise extends to Xero bookkeeping, and Iris Accountancy where she navigates the cloud technologies with ease, bringing efficiency to your financial processes. Rachel is well-versed in VAT and payroll, rounding out her comprehensive bookkeeping skill set. Rachel also works with accounts production and year-end accountancy.

With a dedication to accuracy and a passion for financial excellence, Rachel is the reliable professional you need to optimise your accounting operations and ensure that your financial records are in expert hands.

Jo Clarke

Accountant

Jo Clarke is an ACA-qualified accountant with over 30 years of experience supporting businesses with their accountancy and tax affairs. She works closely with our limited company and personal tax clients, providing clear, practical advice to help them stay compliant and make confident financial decisions.

Jo also works with personal clients on their Self Assessment tax returns and manages a portfolio of bookkeeping clients, ensuring records are accurate, up to date, and ready to support effective financial management.

Annie Galt

Office Administration

Annie is our Office PA and plays a key role in keeping the practice running smoothly. She supports the accounts and tax team with day-to-day administration, helping ensure work is organised, deadlines are met, and clients receive a seamless service.

Annie also focuses on optimising internal workflows and managing client relationships, making sure communication is clear and that both our team and our clients are well supported.

Our Process

1 Clarity Call

Understand your needs and goals

2 Onboarding

Assess current systems and accounts

3 Bookkeeping

Implement Xero bookkeeping and financial management processes

4 Quarterly Review

Business Snapshots & insights to help you understand your financials

5 YE Review

Accounting & Tax Planning for the future

We aim to be more than Accountants — we aim to be your trusted Advisers.

What Makes Arcus Different

Many accountants focus only on compliance.

Arcus focus on partnership.

Proactive Advice

We help clients plan ahead, not just react at tax time.

Personal Service

You work with real people who understand your business and goals.

Clear Communication

We explain financial matters in plain English.

Modern Tools

Cloud accounting gives you real-time visibility into your finances.

Long-Term Thinking

We help clients build sustainable businesses and personal wealth.

Properly Local to Oakham

Most accountants who claim to “serve Oakham” are an hour up the A1 with a Google Maps pin. We’re around the corner. That means:

You can drop your records in physically if you’d rather

We know the local landlords, lenders, solicitors and IFAs, and can refer you to people we trust

We understand the seasonal patterns of Rutland businesses; from agricultural cycles to summer trade around Rutland Water

Meeting in person is genuinely easy, whether that’s our office, a coffee in town or on your premises

If you’re looking for an Oakham accountant who’ll explain your numbers in plain English, plan ahead with you, and treat your business like it matters; Arcus would be delighted to help.

Book a free Clarity Call on 01572 770552 or email hello@wearearcus.co.uk.

Begin your journey to financial clarity today.

What our clients say

I’m happy to be working with Andrew, his guidance simplified complex matters, providing peace of mind. Trustworthy, efficient, and highly recommended..

-Louise, Leicestershire

Arcus have been managing my personal Tax for a number of years now and I always find they are helpful and support me with my complex tax affairs.

-Thomas, Stamford

Very friendly, approachable and attentive to my needs of submitting my personal taxes. Andrew is very knowledgeable on taxes and I have recommended him to a few colleagues at work.

-Eric, Rutland

Frequently Asked Questions About Arcus

1. Where are you based in Oakham?

Our office is in the town centre, just off Gaol Street. Off-street parking is easy and we’re a short walk from the Market Place.

2. Do I need to come into the office to be a Client?

Not at all. Many Oakham clients prefer in-person meetings; others run everything through Xero and email. We work whichever way suits you.

3. Can you help me move from another local accountant?

Yes. We handle the switch end-to-end, professional clearance, paperwork and migration of records. Most clients tell us they wish they’d moved sooner.

4. Do you work with sole traders and small businesses, or only limited companies?

Both. We support sole traders, partnerships, limited companies and individuals, from start-up through to scale and exit.

5. Are you a Xero Specialist?

Yes. We’re Certified Xero Advisors and Silver Champion Partners. If you’re not yet on cloud accounting, we’ll get you there cleanly.

Let’s Work Together

If you are looking for an accountant who understands your goals, explains your numbers clearly, and supports your long-term success, Arcus would be delighted to help.

Contact us today to discuss how we can support your business or personal finances.