Accountants in Derby
Willis Cooper is a firm of ICAEW Chartered Accountants based in Belper, a straight run up the A6 from Derby. We act for limited companies, sole traders, partnerships, landlords and individuals, covering accounts, corporation tax, self assessment, payroll, VAT, audit, R&D tax relief and cloud accounting.
Accountancy for Derby businesses and individuals
Derby has an engineering and manufacturing backbone, with a long tail of suppliers, contractors and professional services around it. Two things come up more often here than elsewhere: research and development tax relief, where genuine qualifying work frequently goes unclaimed, and contractor and consultancy arrangements that need structuring properly for tax.
Willis Cooper has been advising businesses and individuals across Derbyshire and the East Midlands since 2000. We are ICAEW Chartered Accountants, which means the firm is regulated and our work is held to the institute's standards. Whatever you need handling, you deal with the same small team rather than a new name each time.
Accounts and bookkeeping
Year-end accounts, bookkeeping and management figures you can actually use.
Tax
Self assessment, corporation tax and VAT, handled properly and filed on time.
Payroll
Payroll runs, RTI, CIS and auto-enrolment, off your desk entirely.
Cloud accounting
Xero setup, migration and support, including Making Tax Digital.
Business advice
A straight answer before the decision, not after it.
Audit
Independent statutory and voluntary audits where they are needed.
R&D tax relief
Identifying and evidencing claims that stand up to scrutiny.
Finance and funding
Cash flow, forecasting and support raising finance.
Getting to us from Derby
The office is on Derby Road in Belper, about twenty minutes up the A6 from the city, and Belper station is on the line from Derby. In practice most Derby clients deal with us remotely and come in when there is something worth talking through face to face.
Our office is Unit 6, Heritage Business Centre, Derby Road, Belper, DE56 1SW. We are open 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 2pm on Friday. If it is easier to talk than to travel, call 01773 881 045 or email info@williscooper.com.
Common questions from Derby
Do I have to come to your office in Belper?
No. Most of what we do runs by email, phone and shared access to your Xero file, so plenty of clients rarely visit. The office is in Belper, about 8 miles from Derby, if you would rather meet in person, and we run free Xero drop-in sessions there through the year.
How far is Willis Cooper from Derby?
Derby is about 8 miles south of Belper. Our office is Unit 6, Heritage Business Centre, Derby Road, Belper, DE56 1SW, open 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am to 2pm on Friday.
How do I know if our work qualifies for R&D tax relief?
The test is whether you are resolving genuine technical uncertainty, not whether the work feels innovative. It is worth a conversation before you rule yourself out, and equally worth caution: claims now face far more scrutiny than they used to.
Do you work with sole traders as well as limited companies?
Yes. We act for limited companies, sole traders, partnerships, landlords and individuals, and we are just as happy with a first self assessment as with a group of companies.
Thinking about changing accountants?
Moving is more straightforward than most people expect: we handle the professional clearance and collect what we need from your previous accountant. Have a chat first and see whether we are a good fit.
