wood and disney
chartered accountants and business advisors

BUILDING BETTER FUTURES


BUILDING ~ BETTER ~ FUTURES


The Advisors to Ambitious Entrepreneurs

Let's start with WHY we do what we do ...

 Wood and Disney are chartered accountants and business advisors. We help our clients Build Better Futures for the next generation because for us family is the most important part of our lives.

We believe ...

Our mission is to provide our clients with proactive business advice and expert financial support to ensure their long term success and give them the time, confidence and freedom to enjoy their business and family life.


Wood and Disney passionately believe (yes, Accountants with passion) that a successful business owner needs:


  • “Real Time Financial Information” that is dependable and accurate, so you know the impact of yesterday's decisions, can make better decisions today and can plan for tomorrow AND

  • strong and close support and business advice from an adviser who really knows you and your business, understands the true impact of your numbers on your business performance, can guide you with strategic decisions, keep you out of trouble and be there when you need someone who understands your business and the pressures you face.


How we do it ...

Wood and Disney meet our clients at least quarterly, often monthly, to track progress, to make decisions and set new goals. We’re deeply committed to that. So, we only work with clients who commit to a minimum of quarterly meetings with us. 


We help our clients succeed by leveraging technology, using award winning cloud accounting systems such as Xero, Quick Books, Sage and FreeAgent, to provide them with up to date, reliable information to help them to properly plan for growth and to make better decisions. When they make better decisions, they get dramatically better results. 


We use a business toolkit, “Journey to Freedom” developed to give a structured approach to Build Better Futures, which ensures practical advice and help in delivering and implementing proven, workable solutions for your business.


Together we build a long term partnership with our clients giving them the advice and support they need to achieve their dreams and ambitions.

Are you thinking of changing your accountant?

Why Choose Wood and Disney?

TIME

The Wood and Disney difference is that we combine expertise and experience with TIME invested in your business. We do not have a business model based on maximising the number of clients. We are up-front that we only work for Ambitious Entrepreneurs. We work with clients who are serious about building a successful, resilient business for the long term. Clients who work with us, in partnership, to grow their business, achieve their goals, and build resilient, sustainable businesses. Because, with Wood and Disney, you are investing in your business not just paying for a set of accounts.

You are investing in:

  • TIME to get to know you and your business
  • TIME to deliver quality
  • TIME to deliver proactive advice
  • TIME to deliver success

Most accountants have a business model based on maximising the number of clients they have, to maximise turnover and profits. They will quote an attractive fee to gain your business, to add you to their client base, with the intention of delivering on their promises of business advice and support they make. In reality they are unable to give you the TIME needed to fulfill those promises. To cover their costs and make a profit at the fees they quote, it’s a numbers game. You can do the maths. Lower fees mean more clients are needed to deliver a profit, which in turn means less TIME per client, hence less advice and support.


The expertise and TIME we devote to our clients, is why Wood and Disney are sometimes a little more expensive. Wood and Disney limit the number of clients we take on, so that we can dedicate TIME to each client. That’s the Wood and Disney difference.


We are sometimes not the cheapest option, but we are the best investment you will ever make in your business!


And whilst we’re on the subject…

Here are 10 other Great Reasons to Choose Wood and Disney ...

We are Qualified Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors

Wood and Disney are qualified Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors, regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW) and qualified members of the ICAEW Business Advice Service. As qualified chartered accountants and business advisors, we are strictly regulated. Sadly not all of the accountants you meet will be qualified to the same level and some may not be qualified at all. The term accountant is not regulated at all so anyone can claim to be an accountant. Would you let an unqualified dentist drill into your teeth, so why would you risk your financial affairs in the hands of an unqualified person?

Regular training and professional development
As qualified chartered accountants all our team have to undergo ongoing training throughout the year, every year. This ensures we remain up to date on all relevant legislation, increases our experience and allows our expertise to continue to grow. Why would you use an accountant who cannot guarantee to be totally up to date with current tax legislation?
Professional development

Real world Business Experience - Advice that's Proven to Work

Wood and Disney  live and breathe all things to do with business, using real world experience gained over many decades. Yes, we are also professionally qualified business advisors and members of the ICAEW Business Advice Service. But, the quality of our advice is based on more than just letters after our names. Fundamentally we are business owners who happen to run the business of an accountancy practice. It’s not a sideline, or an after-thought, or pretty words to put on our website. It’s what we do day in and day out and that means practical advice that is proven to work. In 2023, Peter was named Top 10 Business Advisor of the Year in the Helm global awards. 
Trusted for 48 years
We’ve been doing this for ages. Since 1975 in fact. Some of our early clients are still with us although they may be a little greyer and more wrinkled now. One thing we have learnt over the years is that we’re pretty good at what we do. We don’t expect you to take our word for it though, so we offer you ten written guarantees to give you total peace of mind. In essence we’re so confident about the quality of our service that if at any time you are not completely happy with our work please discuss it with us immediately. Our ten written guarantees are on display in our office so come in for a coffee and be blown away.

Jargon free, friendly, no nonsense approach

We’re easy to work with. We are professionally qualified chartered accountants with all the technical knowledge and expertise that our qualifications encompass. We keep things simple and offer a friendly, practical and no nonsense approach to advice, accountancy and tax. We don’t use complicated language, keeping our office a “jargon free zone”. Even the mention of “debit” or “credit” in front of a client is a hanging offence.

Clear and Transparent Pricing - Award Winners

We promise to always be upfront about our fees. We don’t mean that vague “…you will be charged on an hourly rate dependent upon the experience of the member of staff…” rubbish either. Would you eat in a restaurant if you didn’t know the cost until dessert?? We wouldn’t either. That’s why you get a menu of services to choose from. No nasty surprises and no hidden costs. In fact, we were awarded a Clear & Transparent Pricing award by GoProposal.com in 2019.

Technology Leaders - Holders of 4 Technology Awards

We don’t like to brag but we are leaders in technology too with 4 technology awards under our belt including the 2015 “Most Innovative 2-4 Partner Firm” awarded by the 2020 Group of Accountants in 2015. We won the AVN Practice Differentiation award in 2017 and the AVN Changing Lives award in 2018. We are a paperless office and have been since 2003 meaning no lost files and immediate document recovery.

Constantly improving service
Wood and Disney never rest on our laurels and are always looking to improve the quality of our service. Your opinions are vital to us and we really do listen. We will always do our best to make the changes you need, if indeed you really need them. Ice cream Tuesdays never really caught on after all…

We are Cloud Accounting Specialists

Wood and Disney have been using cloud accounting software since 2008, in fact we were one of the first practices in the UK to see the potential of the cloud and start to move our clients onto cloud accounting systems. All of our staff are trained in cloud systems and cloud accounting solutions. 

Leveraging Technology
Wood and Disney are experts in many cloud accounting apps and use many apps to manage our own business, saving us both time and money. Wood and Disney will help you to identify the technology that will help you to achieve these goals including CRM, performance measurement technology, cloud financials and apps. Leveraging technology is currently where the most successful businesses are spending their money.

Your data is secure & safe with us

Continuing on the theme of technology, accountants hold masses of personal data about their clients yet few can offer guarantees about their security. GDPR still appears in the news with massive fines potentially bankrupting businesses. Cyber security breaches are constantly being recorded so why do most accountants ignore it? Wood and Disney felt so strongly about safeguarding our clients’ data that we reviewed our systems and processes to ensure they were in line with the highest standards of information security management. So that you can rest assured that you don’t have to worry about the security of your data.

Familiar Faces and Staff Retention

At Wood and Disney you will find familiar faces. We have been advising clients in Colchester, Essex, for over 45 years. We have been incredibly lucky to retain so many of our staff for such a long time. This means that you will continue to see the same faces for the many years you are with us. Three of our team have been with us for over 20 years so we must be quite nice to work for. You will get to know key members of our team and importantly they will get to know you and understand your business.

Find out more...

We get to really know you - excellent customer retention

Our client retention record is one thing that gives prospective clients complete peace of mind, helping them feel in the safest possible hands. We firmly believe that high levels of honesty, trust, and just following through with what we say is what keeps our clients from going anywhere. That and the ball and chain of course.

 Easy to find, park and awesome coffee

We are easy to get to and easy to find. Our offices are on the outskirts of Colchester, just off the A12 and so there is no need to queue endlessly to get into Colchester Town Centre. We have free parking for our visitors and awesome coffee.

Wood and Disney ~ 2023 Awards and Finalists

February 2023:

Peter Disney named Top 10 Business Advisor in Global Awards

Peter Disney, chartered accountant, business advisor and managing director of Wood & Disney, has been announced as Top 10 Advisor of the Year in the Helm’s annual global ranking of independent accountancy and business advisors. 


Find out why Peter is a Top Global Business Advisor

July 2023:

Wood and Disney finalists in the Small Firm of the Year 2023

(south of England)

Southern Finalist 2023

Accountancy Excellence Awards 2023

September 2023:

Wood and Disney finalists in the Business 2 Business category

Essex Business Awards

"For companies demonstrating as part of their business to business strategy a successful track record of adding value to their customers' business through an understanding of partnership, responsiveness and their customers' own business drivers." Essex Countywide Business Awards 2023

Take Part and Download for Free ...

Take our FREE, FUTURE BUSINESS ASSESSMENT to find out how future proof your business is!

  • only 40% of businesses last more than 5 years,
  • only 27% of companies are over 10 years old and 
  • only 10% are over 20 years old. 


It's multiple choice, easy and quick to complete and you'll receive a personal PDF report with detailed feedback on what we can do to improve your business longevity and resilience.


Take the Future Proof Business Assessment NOW and find out!

Tell me more about the Future Proof Business Assessment

The Wood and Disney New Business Kit 2023/2024 is now available for download

Starting a new business is not easy or risk free ~ 60% of start ups will fail within the first 5 years of trading (ONS). It’s not enough to be passionate about your new product or idea, or even commit every waking hour and your savings to keep it afloat.


But it's not all doom and gloom! With our guide to starting a business we show you the skills that you can learn to ensure that your business succeeds, grows and thrives.

 

So download your free copy today!

Download the 2023/24 New Business Kit

Are you ready to Build a Better Future for you and your business?

Give us a call now ~ after all, what have you got to lose?

5 minutes that could transform your business life


I want to contact Wood and Disney to find out more
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” Lao Tzu
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