Hi, I'm James Nicholson ACA.
Do things like filing deadlines, HMRC, and Making Tax Digital for Income Tax (MTD IT) make you just want to run away?
Good. Run to me.
As a toddler, I answered unrelated questions in numbers - your AuDHD Accountant since the age of 1, ladies and gentlemen. Since then, I only calculate in numbers (thank you, early years speech therapy).
Signs like this were what I now know to be hypernumeracy and hyperlexia, which led to a special educational needs (SEND) referral... Nothing came of it, as this was the mid-1990s, and children like me back then were just "bright" or "gifted". My strong numbers game continued into school, where I would lap my classmates at times tables and arithmetic tests. Spelling too. Speaking of lapping, I even won every sports day sprint race each yea... (okay James, enough with the infant school achievement flexes).
By 18, I was simultaneously working full-time at KPMG, and studying (if every word I read instantly falling out of my mind like a conveyor belt counts as studying) for both my ACA exams and a Durham University Accounting & Finance degree... Hello, burnout! I came out the other side with a chartered accountancy qualification. Realising the right environment in which to use that qualification? That took a little longer...
Result? Multiple "career breaks", or whatever the hell that means. Basically, my self-consciously generic placeholder for what could later be more accurately described as "AuDHD-burnout recovery periods". Working for myself, on my terms, in an environment that works with me rather than against me ensures this isn't the same problem with a different backdrop.
My brain thrives in numbers. In spreadsheets. In rules-based systems and structured processes. The accounting, the deadlines, the HMRC correspondence - that's where I do my best work, and where I can make the most difference to fellow ND sole traders who'd rather be doing theirs.
Every engagement kicks off with a one-off Money MOT, a fixed-price setup and review of your current situation. Alongside that, a monthly retainer starts, covering your accounting, bookkeeping, and tax so your books are regularly updated, not months behind when you need them most. If something needs informing or explaining, it'll be without judgement, and, where possible, without jargon. I'll always need some low-effort input from you (scanning and uploading invoices and receipts), but the high-thinking, stress-inducing parts are mine to own.
Some setups are immaculate; others are a shoebox. The time and effort required varies accordingly, but you'll have a fixed agreed price before anything starts. A one-off cost, typically in the region of £499–£999.
£499 / month
+£99 / month
If you're VAT registered or approaching the threshold, I'll handle your quarterly VAT returns and keep HMRC happy.
Every push to "increase efficiency" I witnessed in practice usually meant the same three things: more clients, same capacity, worse service. As a solo accountant, I know my limits and intend to keep my client list manageable. That may mean higher prices than a volume practice, but for an ND community where many have felt deprioritised, passed around, or like a low-value account, I'm making the call that it's a worthy trade-off.
You'll notice I don't tier by turnover. That's intentional. A £80k sole trader with clean records can be simpler to look after than a £25k sole trader with unreconciled transactions, unreliable delivery of information, and a side income stream. Turnover tells me what you earn, not how much work is involved. And for us NDers, a pricing matrix with more variables and thresholds is just another hassle to unpick. I'd rather not add to that pile.
I'm trying to operate on common sense rather than convention. If you think I've defaulted to standard practice where something better exists, I'm genuinely interested to hear your ideas - drop it in the AOB box in the contact form.
A note on scope and transparency
If your situation falls outside standard sole trader operations, or you need more contact than normal monthly scope covers, we'll agree any additional pricing before proceeding - no surprises.
Current pricing reflects my best thinking and may evolve as the practice grows. I'll always be upfront if experience tells me something needs revisiting.
I'd rather lose an enquiry here than on a call, or worse, three months in.
So here's the straight version.
No commitment, no pressure - just a conversation to see if we're a good fit.
Give me the essentials and I'll come back to you.
I'll look over everything you've provided, have a think about your situation, and we'll take it from there by email.