- CIPFA REGULATED
Trusted Chartered Public Finance Accountants in Greater Manchester and St Helens
Expert tax, accounts and advice for local businesses and charities.
Regulated, Accredited and Trusted
Who we help
Accounting Built Around Your Business
Support shaped around your business, whether you’re a sole trader, a growing limited company or a charity across Greater Manchester and St Helens.
Limited Companies
Accounts, tax and strategy to help you grow with confidence.
Dentists, GPs & Professional Practices
Tailored advice for busy practice owners.
Sole Traders & Self Employed
Simple, fixed fee support that keeps you compliant and stress free.
Charities & Not for Profits
Charities & Not for Profits Specialist charity accountants and independent examiners. Charity governance specialist and long term charity Trustee experience.
Outside IR35 Contractors
We help outside IR35 contractors maximise tax efficiency, stay compliant, and focus on growing their business with confidence.
Trained to the Standard That Defines Chartered Accountancy
ICAEW is the professional body behind the chartered accountant qualification, and it sets the bar for the whole profession. ATS is an ICAEW Authorised Training Employer, which means ICAEW itself trusts us to train the next generation of chartered accountants. That tells you something simple but important. Your accounts, your tax and your advice come from a firm vetted against one of the most respected standards in UK accountancy, not someone who set up last week. When your money and your name are on the line, that difference is everything.
Our services
What We Do
Everything you’d expect from a chartered firm, delivered by a team that actually picks up the phone.
Accounts & Compliance
Year end accounts, bookkeeping, VAT, payroll, CIS and self assessment, handled accurately and on time.
Tax Planning
We meet before your year end to cut your tax bill, not scramble after it.
HMRC Investigations
Facing an enquiry? We become the face of your business and deal with HMRC for you.
Virtual Finance Director
Board level financial strategy for a fraction of a full time FD.
Outsourced Finance Team
From bookkeeping to management level support, without the cost of hiring.
Business Advisory
Cash flow, scaling, acquisition due diligence, business valuationand exit planning - from people who've run businesses themselves.
Management Accounts
Quarterly reports your director presents in person, with clear recommendations.
Charity Specialists
Expert charity accountants helping trustees and leadership teams strengthen governance, compliance and financial sustainability.
why choose us
Why businesses choose ATS
Four reasons owners across Greater Manchester and St Helens move to us and stay.
No surprise tax bills.
We plan with you before your year end, not nine months after. That’s how you keep more of what you earn.
You always speak to a decision maker.
No call centre, no junior. You deal with senior chartered people who know your name and your numbers.
Advice from people who've run businesses.
Our directors have run companies and advised organisations from £0.5m to £250m turnover. We get the pressures because we’ve faced them.
Fixed fees, agreed upfront.
You’ll know exactly what you’re paying before we start. No hourly clocks, no surprise invoices.
Testimonials
Trusted by Businesses Across the North West
4.8 / 5
average rating
86+
client reviews
£0.5m to £250m
Clients advised turnover
CIPFA & ACCA
chartered
Let's Talk. It's Free, and There's No Pressure.
One short conversation. We’ll show you where you could save tax and plan ahead. No jargon, no obligation.
Where to Find us
Local Accountants You Can Meet in Person
We’re based in Rochdale, with a presence in Chadderton (Oldham) and Rainford (St Helens). Prefer to meet face to face? Visit us during business hours. Prefer everything online? That works too.
why choose us
Insights to Help You Run a Smarter Business
Practical guides on tax, cash flow and running a business, written in plain English. Search by topic, service or industry to find what matters to you.
NEED SOME ANSWERS?
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about working with an accountant? Here are answers to some of the most common queries we receive from business owners, sole traders and charities. These FAQs will help you understand how we work and what to expect.
Most UK small businesses pay between £100 and £250 a month for a full accountancy service that includes accounts, tax and ongoing support. At ATS you’ll get a fixed fee agreed upfront, based on your size and the services you need, so you always know the cost before we start. Anything much cheaper is usually compliance only, with no advice attached.
You can file your own accounts, but most business owners find a good accountant saves them more than they cost. Beyond filing on time and avoiding penalties, we spot tax you can legally save, keep you compliant as the rules change, and free up hours you’d rather spend running your business.
It depends on your profit, your goals and how much risk you want to carry. A limited company can be more tax efficient once profits grow and protects you personally, while sole trader status is simpler to run. We’ll look at your numbers and tell you which makes sense for you, not give you a one size fits all answer.
It’s easier than most people expect and takes very little of your time. Once you give us the go ahead, we contact your current accountant, request your records and handle the professional handover for you. You’ll barely have to lift a finger.
A bookkeeper records your day to day transactions. An accountant takes that information further, preparing your accounts and tax returns, keeping you compliant and advising you on how to save tax and grow. At ATS you get both under one roof, so nothing falls through the gap.
We’re a Xero Silver Partner and set most clients up on Xero, which gives you real time figures on your phone or laptop whenever you need them. If you already use another system such as QuickBooks or Sage, we’re happy to work with that too.
Very likely, yes. We support limited companies, sole traders, the self employed and charities across a wide range of sectors, and we have particular experience with charities, dentists and professional practices. If your work has its own quirks, we’ll already understand most of them.
Yes, legally and safely. The saving comes from planning ahead, which is why we meet before your year end rather than after it. We make sure you claim every relief and allowance you’re entitled to and structure things sensibly, so you keep more of what you earn.
Yes. ATS is regulated by CIPFA, an ICAEW Approved Training Employer, an HMRC authorised agent, supervised by HMRC for anti money laundering, and authorised by Companies House as an ACSP. In plain terms, your work is handled by a properly qualified, properly supervised team.
We’re based in Rochdale, with a presence in Chadderton (Oldham) and Rainford (St Helens), and we work with clients across Greater Manchester and St Helens. You’re welcome to meet us face to face during business hours, or keep everything online if that suits you better.
Ready to Work With Accountants Who Plan Ahead?
Book a free, no obligation consultation and see the difference proactive advice makes to your business and your tax bill.