KJ Bookkeeping and Payroll Services

KJ Bookkeeping and Payroll Services Provision of a wide range of bookkeeping, accountancy and payroll services both remote and on site.
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How much cash is sitting in unpaid invoices right now?Many business owners tell me:"We're too busy to chase debtors."The...
10/06/2026

How much cash is sitting in unpaid invoices right now?

Many business owners tell me:

"We're too busy to chase debtors."

The problem is that unpaid invoices don't become easier to collect with time.

A simple routine works far better than occasional chasing:

👉 Send invoices as soon as the work is completed

👉 Get the payment date confirmed in writing

👉 Set aside one dedicated time each week to follow up outstanding invoices

The key is consistency, not confrontation.

Most customers expect a professional process.

The ones who pay late are usually the ones who notice when there isn't one.

A strong debtor routine improves cash flow, reduces stress, and helps you get paid for work you've already done.

Do you have a structured debtor process, or is it something that gets done when there's time?

09/06/2026

Is it time to rethink the traditional finance department?

With rising employment costs, changing employment legislation, and ongoing recruitment challenges, many businesses are finding it harder than ever to build and maintain an in-house finance team.

Recent research found that 34% of businesses struggled to recruit for finance and accounting positions in the last year, while finance skills shortages continue to be a major concern for employers.

For many business owners, the question is no longer "Who can we hire?" but "Is hiring the only solution?"

This is where a Virtual Finance Office can help.

Imagine having access to experienced finance professionals without the costs and challenges of:
✔️ Recruitment fees
✔️ Training and onboarding
✔️ Holiday cover
✔️ Pension and employment costs
✔️ Managing multiple finance roles in-house

A Virtual Finance Office can provide everything from bookkeeping and payroll to management accounts, cash flow forecasting, financial controls, and strategic finance support.

💬 We'd love to hear your thoughts.

Would you consider outsourcing part or all of your finance function?

What would be your biggest concern or biggest benefit?

If you're struggling with finance recruitment or want to explore a more flexible solution, we can help.

📞 Contact us today to discuss how a Virtual Finance Office could support your business and strengthen your finance function.

Profit is not cash.A business can be profitable on paper and still feel under pressure financially.Why?💡 Cash often gets...
08/06/2026

Profit is not cash.

A business can be profitable on paper and still feel under pressure financially.

Why?

💡 Cash often gets trapped in places that don't show up in the profit figure:

• Debtors increase → money tied up in unpaid invoices
• Stock or WIP grows → money invested in work not yet billed or sold
• Tax and VAT liabilities build quietly → then arrive as a large payment

One of the simplest cash-flow controls is this:

At month-end, reconcile the movement in your bank balance against changes in:
✔️ Debtors
✔️ Stock/WIP
✔️ Tax and VAT balances

If you can't explain where the cash has gone, you can't effectively manage it.

Profit tells you if you're making money.
Cash tells you whether you can pay the bills.

Need a simple monthly routine to make cash flow more predictable and remove surprises?

Book a call by dropping us a message today

Most “environmental” wins in a business are also profit wins. Less waste. Fewer repeat tasks. Tighter spend. For World E...
05/06/2026

Most “environmental” wins in a business are also profit wins. Less waste. Fewer repeat tasks. Tighter spend.

For World Environment Day, three places we look for waste that shows up in overheads:
• Duplicate tools and subscriptions nobody owns
• Rework caused by messy handoffs (sales → delivery → invoicing)
• Poor purchasing control (small spends compounding)

One simple habit: review your top 10 overhead lines monthly and assign an owner to each.

World Environment Day is 5 June. https://www.worldenvironmentday.global/

If you want us to run a clean overhead review and show you what we would fix first, book a call with us today.

04/06/2026

📢 The new Pensions Commission report has been released — and it highlights a growing retirement savings challenge across the UK.

According to the Commission's interim report:

⚠️ Around 15 million people are currently not saving enough for retirement.

⚠️ Many low and middle earners are at risk of reaching retirement with insufficient income.

⚠️ Self-employed workers remain one of the most affected groups when it comes to pension saving.

⚠️ Women continue to face significant pension gaps due to factors including career breaks, caring responsibilities and lower average earnings.

⚠️ The report warns that without action, future generations could face poorer retirement outcomes and increased reliance on state support.

So what should people be doing now?

✅ Review your current pension arrangements

✅ Check how much you're contributing

✅ If you're self-employed, consider whether you're making regular pension contributions

✅ Make sure old workplace pensions haven't been forgotten

✅ Understand what retirement income your current savings may provide

✅ Seek professional advice if you're unsure whether you're on track

The Commission's final recommendations are expected in 2027, but the message from the interim report is clear: the earlier people engage with retirement planning, the more options they may have in the future.

When you have a team, “good bookkeeping” is less about admin and more about control. Three things we would expect in a g...
03/06/2026

When you have a team, “good bookkeeping” is less about admin and more about control.

Three things we would expect in a growing business:
• Bank reconciled weekly (so cash isn’t a mystery)
• Clear rules for coding common spend (so reporting isn’t random)
• A month-end close that happens on a date, not “when we get time”
If your numbers arrive late, you end up managing on instinct. That’s expensive as you build a team.

If you want your books to become decision-grade (without more effort), book a call, drop us message today and let us see how we can help you and your business.

02/06/2026

📣 Self Assessment 2025–2026 is now open

You do NOT need to wait until January 2027 to submit your tax return.

In fact, HMRC encourages taxpayers to file early, even though the payment deadline remains 31 January 2027.

✅ Benefits of filing early:

• Find out how much tax you owe sooner
• More time to budget and plan for your tax bill
• If you're due a refund, you can receive it sooner
• More time to check figures and correct mistakes
• Less stress and no last-minute rush in January
• A completed tax return can be used as proof of income for mortgages, loans, or benefit claims
• Reduces the risk of falling victim to last-minute tax scams and fraud

⚠️ Disadvantages of leaving it until January 2027:

• Increased pressure as the deadline approaches
• Less time to gather information and correct errors
• Higher risk of missing the filing deadline
• Late filing penalties can apply if your return is submitted after 31 January 2027
• Less time to prepare for potentially large tax bills or Payments on Account

💡 Filing early does NOT mean paying early. You can submit your return now and still have until 31 January 2027 to pay any tax due.

The earlier you know your position, the more time you have to plan ahead.

📞 Need help with your Self Assessment?

Whether you're self-employed, a landlord, a company director, or have other income to declare, we're here to help. Get in touch today and let us take the stress out of your tax return.

01/06/2026

🏠 Self-employed and working from home?

If you're self-employed, HMRC allows you to claim some of the costs of using your home for business purposes.

You have two options available:

✅ Simplified expenses (flat rate)
If you work from home for 25 hours or more per month, you can claim:
• 25–50 hours = £10 per month
• 51–100 hours = £18 per month
• 101+ hours = £26 per month

✅ Actual costs
You may be able to claim a business proportion of:
• Heating
• Electricity
• Council Tax
• Rent or mortgage interest

You must work out a reasonable split between personal and business use.

Remember: you can only claim the business portion of any costs, and if you use simplified expenses you cannot also claim actual household costs for the same expense.

Always keep accurate records or if you need any help, advice or guidance drop us a message and we can arrange a non obligation chat to see how we can help you.

📊 If your month-end is late… every decision in your business becomes harder.You wait longer to spot cash issues.You dela...
29/05/2026

📊 If your month-end is late… every decision in your business becomes harder.

You wait longer to spot cash issues.
You delay action.
And suddenly you’re making decisions based on last month’s reality instead of what’s happening now.

A smooth month-end isn’t about working longer hours — it’s about having the right process.

Here’s what actually makes the difference:

✅ Weekly reconciliations
Keep problems small instead of finding them all at month-end.

📅 Clear cut-off dates
Invoices, receipts and approvals need deadlines.

📝 Short commentary alongside the numbers
What changed? What needs attention? What action should happen next?

⚡ The goal is speed with accuracy — not perfection.

Good month-end reporting should give you confidence to make decisions, not create another admin headache.

If your month-end only gets done after three reminders and a lot of chasing… your process probably needs attention.

Want a month-end close process your team can run without you constantly following up?

Book a call with us today.

28/05/2026

📢 ACCOUNTING UPDATE | Key measures announced by Rachel Reeves on 21 May – what businesses and families should know

There’s been a lot of discussion around the announcements, so here’s a summary of some of the headline measures highlighted by the Chancellor.

☀️ Temporary summer VAT cut on family activities
The government announced a temporary reduction in VAT from 20% to 5% on selected summer attractions during the school holiday period.

The reduced VAT rate is intended to apply to:
✅ Ticket prices for adults and children at attractions including fairs, theme parks, zoos and museums
✅ Children’s tickets for cinemas, concerts, soft play and theatre
✅ Children’s meals purchased in restaurants and cafés

📅 The temporary VAT reduction is planned to apply across the UK from 25 June (start of Scottish school summer holidays) until 1 September (end of school holidays in England, Wales and Northern Ireland).

🚗 Mileage and transport measures
There has also been attention on travel-related announcements. The Chancellor highlighted changes to support costs and confirmed that fuel duty is not increasing this year, alongside updates affecting transport and household costs.
The Chancellor also announced that the tax-free business mileage rate will increase to 55p per mile — an increase of 10p per mile — and that the change will be backdated to April 2026.

🚛 Support for the haulage industry
To support hauliers, the Government announced a 12-month road tax holiday for HGVs, with a typical heavy lorry expected to save up to £912.

🚜🚆 Support for farming and rail freight
The Government also announced that red diesel duty will be cut by more than a third until the end of the year to support both farmers and the rail freight industry.

📌 Accounting takeaway:
Businesses with travelling employees, transport operations, hospitality, leisure or food service activity should start reviewing systems, policies and budgets early to avoid corrective work later.

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