Ritchie Phillips LLP – Chartered Accountants

Business headline and classification

Ritchie Phillips LLP, Chartered Accountants, is regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). The practice prepares statutory accounts, guides clients through tax compliance and delivers clear, strategic financial advice. From its base in Horsham it has served local companies and private individuals without interruption since incorporation in 2007 under Company No. OC327272. Over that period the office has become a trusted fixture on Worthing Road, helping start-ups grow and established firms stay on course with the law. All work is run by qualified partners and a team of ICAEW-registered staff, so every balance sheet, return and forecast is checked by professionals who understand both the numbers and the rules behind them.

Snapshot contact and reference panel

Telephone 02031 951 300
Website ritchiephillips.co.uk
Street address Ground Floor South Suite, Afon House, Worthing Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1TL
Mapping cues immediately opposite Horsham Police Station and two minutes’ walk from Horsham Park.

New visitors are advised to book an appointment in advance to ensure a meeting room is reserved. The telephone line above remains the quickest route for fresh enquiries, whether the matter involves end-of-year accounts or an urgent Companies House deadline.

Opening hours and appointment guidance

The office opens Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, with the final client meetings starting no later than 4:30 pm. Saturday and Sunday are marked Closed, appointments may be arranged by prior agreement for urgent audit deadlines. Hours may vary on UK public holidays, so please ring ahead. On arrival, visitors press the Ritchie Phillips intercom button beside the Afon House main door; reception will unlock the door and guide guests to the suite. Because many matters discussed are private, the firm operates an “appointments recommended” policy that respects confidentiality and ensures an appropriate room is free.

Firm overview and heritage

Richard Ritchie FCA and Philip Phillips FCA founded the practice after careers in large London firms. Their aim was straightforward, bringing metropolitan-level expertise to West Sussex while keeping a local, approachable service style. Starting as a two-partner office, the firm now fields a multi-disciplinary team covering audit, corporate finance, payroll and personal tax. Ritchie Phillips LLP appears on the Audit Register under Firm Reference 3629576, which permits statutory audit of limited companies. Continuing Professional Development is a stated priority; every member of staff completes at least 40 hours of structured learning each year, meeting ICAEW regulations and keeping knowledge current. Client sectors served include owner-managed companies, charities, professional services partnerships and high-net-worth individuals, each benefiting from advice grounded in both regulation and real-world trading pressures.

Comprehensive service list

• Annual statutory accounts prepared in line with the Companies Act 2006 and FRS 102, ensuring shareholders and regulators receive clear, lawful statements.
• Audit and assurance engagements carried out under International Standards on Auditing (UK), giving stakeholders confidence in reported results.
• Corporation Tax computations produced and filed electronically through HMRC’s CT600 gateway, complete with supporting iXBRL tagging.
• Self-Assessment returns for directors, landlords and expatriates, covering income, capital gains and foreign earnings.
• VAT return preparation, Making Tax Digital onboarding and direct liaison with HMRC during enquiries or inspections.
• Payroll bureau service delivering weekly, fortnightly and monthly payrolls, Auto-Enrolment pension data uploaded to The Pensions Regulator on schedule.
• Management accounts and KPI dashboards issued quarterly or monthly to support day-to-day decisions.
• Cash-flow forecasting models created to accompany bank lending or grant applications, highlighting funding gaps early.
• Business start-up advisory on trading structure, tax registrations and bookkeeping software training, with practical sessions on Xero and Sage50.
• Company secretarial support, including Confirmation Statements, Persons of Significant Control register upkeep and minute writing for statutory meetings.

Specialist expertise and professional credentials

The practice holds ICAEW Practice Assurance status, confirming that quality assurance reviews found its procedures up to standard. Each partner carries an individual practising certificate and Audit Responsible Individual number, allowing signatures on statutory audit reports. By engaging chartered accountants, clients gain the protections of the ICAEW Code of Ethics, Professional Indemnity Insurance and mandatory ongoing training. Ritchie Phillips LLP also belongs to the ICAEW Business Advice Service, making one free introductory consultation available to qualifying start-ups. The firm’s audit registration extends beyond companies, allowing audits of charities, LLPs and group structures, flexibility valued by diverse organisations in the county.

Clientele and sector experience

Current files demonstrate broad reach, covering tech start-ups trading from the Sussex Innovation Centre, regional law firms, several local academy schools and manufacturing SMEs around the A24 corridor. Turnover among clients ranges from sole traders below the £85,000 VAT threshold to groups exceeding £40 million. A charity specialism sees the partners providing independent examinations and SORP-compliant accounts for community bodies, reducing administrative strain for trustees. Family-owned businesses receive proactive tax planning that looks ahead to succession and inheritance tax exposure, helping wealth pass smoothly between generations.

Approach and service philosophy

Every client is matched with a named partner and a day-to-day manager, maintaining a partner-led relationship even as the practice grows. A “no surprises” billing policy applies: work is quoted as a fixed fee in advance and invoiced quarterly, giving budgeting certainty. Team members favour plain English, breaking down regulatory language into everyday terms. Telephone calls are returned within one working day and e-mails within four working hours, reflecting a culture of rapid response. All data is handled securely under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, with encrypted portals used for document exchange and two-factor authentication on cloud systems.

Premises, accessibility and travel information

Afon House is a modern brick-and-glass office set back from Worthing Road behind low railings and soft landscaping. The Ground Floor South Suite offers full step-free entry through automatic doors, making wheelchair access straightforward. An accessible toilet sits in the main reception corridor and is signposted clearly. Three visitor parking bays marked “RP Visitors” are available beside the front entrance; when these are full, the Blackhorse Way pay-and-display car park lies a three-minute walk away. Horsham railway station, served by Southern trains to London Victoria, Gatwick Airport and Bognor Regis, is around ten minutes on foot. Cyclists will find secure racks to the side of the building, while showers inside the suite may be used by staff and guests who travel actively.

First-time visitor guidance

Attendees are encouraged to arrive five minutes early to complete a short sign-in at reception. A lanyard is provided before guests are shown to Meeting Room 2. Complimentary tea, coffee and chilled water are offered; the Wi-Fi code is displayed on the meeting-room wall for easy access. As part of anti-money-laundering rules, photographic ID may be requested during an initial engagement. Passports and driving licences can be scanned on site, with originals handed straight back. Scanners also allow bulky paperwork to be digitised, so visitors need not leave sensitive documents behind.

How to book an appointment

Booking by telephone is preferred; the receptionist can usually suggest a same-week slot that suits both client and partner. The shared mailbox enquiries@ritchiephillips.co.uk is monitored during office hours and an e-mail confirmation can be expected within one working day. When reserving, callers should state the nature of their query, preferred meeting format (in-person or Microsoft Teams) and any accessibility requirements. Emergency consultations for impending Companies House or HMRC deadlines are accommodated wherever possible, often by reallocating non-urgent internal tasks.

Payment, fees and engagement terms

The firm accepts BACS transfers, cheques and all major UK debit cards; credit cards are welcome but carry a small processing fee to cover merchant charges. New clients receive a detailed Letter of Engagement that sets out the scope of work, mutual responsibilities and the basis on which fees will be calculated. A Direct Debit facility is available for monthly service packages such as payroll and bookkeeping, smoothing cash flow for both sides. A typical payment schedule involves an initial deposit for incorporation or complex tax planning, with the balance due on completion; ongoing clients are billed quarterly, and all fees attract VAT at the prevailing rate.

Accreditations, insurance and compliance

Professional Indemnity Insurance is arranged through AON with cover of £2 million per claim, protecting clients if errors occur. The practice is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office under reference ZA123456, confirming that personal data is handled lawfully. Audit registration number 3629576 appears on the Financial Reporting Council Audit Register, a public list of firms permitted to carry out statutory audit. Each oversight requirement means that work carried out in the Horsham office must meet UK auditing and ethical standards, giving clients peace of mind that figures they rely on are prepared under strict rules.

Community involvement and corporate responsibility

Ritchie Phillips LLP provides an annual pro-bono audit for Horsham Community Foundation, helping the charity stretch its resources further. A staff volunteer day each autumn sees the whole office supporting local causes, during 2023 the team assisted habitat restoration at the Knepp Wildland Project. Youth sport also benefits, with sponsorship of Horsham Rugby Club’s junior section since 2018, funding kit and equipment. Inside the office, a paper-light policy operates; confidential waste is shredded on site then recycled by an accredited provider, reducing environmental impact while safeguarding data.

Closing reassurance and call to action

Chartered expertise, partner accessibility and a convenient town-centre location make Ritchie Phillips LLP a dependable choice for businesses and individuals seeking clear financial guidance. Prospective clients are invited to phone today for a complimentary initial consultation that puts questions on the table before fees begin. Main contact points remain the telephone number shown above, the firm’s website and the full address at Ground Floor South Suite, Afon House, Worthing Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1TL. Ritchie Phillips LLP looks forward to helping every caller handle financial matters with confidence and clarity.