Construction Accountants for Builders, Contractors & Trades
Get practical support with CIS returns, subcontractor verification, construction VAT, payroll,
bookkeeping and year-end accounts from a Wembley-based accounting team working with businesses across the UK.
The accounting and CIS work you need depends on how you operate. We start with your actual role,
records and HMRC obligations rather than forcing every construction business into the same package.
I pay subcontractors
CIS Contractors
If your business pays subcontractors for construction work, the contractor side of CIS can involve
registration, verification, deductions, payment statements and monthly returns.
Contractor CIS registration support
Subcontractor verification
CIS deduction calculations
Monthly CIS return support
Payment and deduction records
CIS is deducted from me
CIS Subcontractors
If contractors deduct CIS from your payments, we can help organise the records, reconcile deductions
and make sure they are treated correctly within your wider tax and accounting position.
CIS deduction reconciliation
Self Assessment or company accounts
Bookkeeping and expense records
VAT support where relevant
Review of repayment or offset position
Construction accounting pain points
The Admin Gets Complicated Long Before the Job Does
Construction businesses often have several moving parts at once: subcontractors, VAT, payroll,
supplier bills, project costs and HMRC deadlines. The aim is not to bury you in accounting language.
It is to keep the records and obligations organised so you can see what needs doing.
Verification and the correct CIS payment status need to be dealt with before the payment workflow gets messy.
Monthly CIS returns taking too much time?
We can help organise the records required for regular contractor reporting and keep the process consistent.
Unsure when reverse-charge VAT applies?
Construction VAT can depend on the parties, the supply and CIS treatment. We help review the facts and accounting workflow.
Bookkeeping always behind?
Supplier bills, labour, materials and project transactions are easier to manage when the bookkeeping routine is kept current.
Not sure which jobs are actually profitable?
Better bookkeeping and management reporting can give you a clearer view of project costs, margins and cash flow.
Construction accounting services
Accounting Support Built Around How Construction Businesses Operate
Start with the services you actually need. Your proposal should confirm the scope, responsibilities,
records required and fees before work begins.
01
CIS Returns & Contractor Support
Support with contractor CIS processes, monthly return records and the information needed to keep reporting organised.
02
Subcontractor Verification
Help with the information and workflow needed to verify subcontractors and apply the payment status HMRC provides.
03
Construction Bookkeeping
Regular bookkeeping for supplier costs, materials, labour, subcontractor payments, bank activity and day-to-day records.
04
VAT & Domestic Reverse Charge
Support with VAT records and reviewing when the construction domestic reverse charge may apply to relevant supplies.
05
Payroll for Construction Businesses
Payroll support for employees alongside the wider bookkeeping and CIS workflow where included in your agreed service.
06
Year-End Accounts & Tax
Limited company accounts, Corporation Tax and related year-end work based on the records and scope agreed with you.
07
Job Costing & Management Reporting
Where your records support it, reporting can be structured to help you compare project costs, margins and performance.
08
Cash-Flow Planning
Practical reporting and forecasting support for businesses dealing with uneven project timing, supplier costs and customer payments.
09
Switching Accountants
If you are moving from another accountant, we can explain the professional-clearance and records handover process before onboarding.
Why CIS needs a reliable process
A Few CIS Rules That Make Good Record-Keeping Matter
These are general HMRC rules, not a substitute for advice on your particular facts.
Verify before paying
Contractors generally need to verify a new subcontractor with HMRC before payment so HMRC can confirm their CIS status and deduction rate.
Monthly contractor returns
Contractors report payments made to subcontractors through monthly CIS returns. Accurate payment records make that process far easier.
Reverse charge may apply
The construction VAT domestic reverse charge applies to many qualifying building and construction supplies when the required conditions are met.
For the latest rules, always check HMRC guidance or ask us to review how the rules apply to your business.
Who we support
Accounting for Construction Businesses of Different Shapes and Sizes
Your accounting setup should reflect how you actually trade, how you get paid and whether you use subcontractors or employees.
BuildersGeneral ContractorsCIS ContractorsCIS SubcontractorsElectriciansPlumbersCarpenters & JoinersRoofing BusinessesDecoratorsProperty RefurbishmentGroundworksSmall Construction Companies
Already Have an Accountant but Still Chasing Them?
If you are considering a change, we can first review the work you need and explain the normal
professional-clearance and records handover process. Eligible switching clients can currently receive
30% off the agreed fee for their first 3 months, subject to Path Accountants' current terms.
Before any ongoing work begins, we first understand the business, records, deadlines and responsibilities involved.
1
Free Initial Call
Tell us whether you are a contractor, subcontractor or construction company and what is currently causing problems.
2
Review the Scope
We identify the records, CIS/VAT position, services and deadlines that need to be considered.
3
Agree the Service
You receive a proposal setting out the work, responsibilities and fees before deciding whether to proceed.
4
Begin Onboarding
Once appointed, we confirm the next actions and, where relevant, start the records handover process.
Construction accountant fees
What Does a Construction Accountant Cost?
There is no sensible one-price-fits-all answer. A subcontractor needing annual accounts has a very different
workload from a contractor with monthly CIS returns, payroll, VAT and regular bookkeeping.
We review the work first and confirm the agreed scope and fee before ongoing work begins.
Construction accounting FAQs
Questions Construction Businesses Ask Us
A contractor may need support with CIS registration, subcontractor verification, deduction records,
monthly returns and payment statements, alongside bookkeeping, VAT, payroll and year-end accounts.
The exact service depends on how your business operates and which responsibilities you want us to handle.
HMRC generally requires a contractor to verify a new subcontractor before paying them.
HMRC then confirms whether the subcontractor is registered for CIS and which deduction rate or payment status applies.
Contractor CIS returns are monthly. The return reports payments made to subcontractors for the relevant CIS period,
so it is important that the underlying payment and deduction records are kept organised.
No. The construction domestic reverse charge applies only when the relevant conditions are met.
Factors include the type of service, VAT registration, CIS treatment and whether exclusions such as end-user treatment apply.
We can review the facts and help you apply the correct accounting treatment.
Yes. Subcontractors may need help reconciling CIS deductions, keeping bookkeeping records,
completing Self Assessment or limited company accounts, and dealing with VAT where relevant.
Yes. Path Accountants is based in Wembley, London, and can provide remote accounting support to businesses elsewhere in the UK.
The first step is to confirm whether your records, deadlines and required services are a good fit for the team.
Yes. Once you decide to appoint Path Accountants, the team can explain the normal professional-clearance process,
request the records needed for the handover and confirm the onboarding steps based on your current position.
Construction businesses vary widely in CIS activity, payroll, VAT, bookkeeping volume and year-end requirements.
Path Accountants reviews the scope first and confirms the services and fee before work begins.
You can also review the current package examples on the main pricing page.
Need an Accountant Who Understands the Construction Workflow?
Start with a free conversation about your CIS, VAT, bookkeeping, payroll and accounts.
We’ll explain what needs attention, what we can help with and the likely next steps.