Member Article

Global shipping specialists appoint Langricks as accountancy partners

Wilmslow-based international shipping and freight forwarding business Banks & Lloyd has gone local for professional accountancy services and appointed neighbouring business Langricks.

The decision follows the successful completion of a management buyout last year, led by Managing Director Vincent Verzijl and the need for a fresh accountancy perspective to support an exciting new era for the business.

Banks & Lloyd has been established in the North West for over 40 years, moving from Manchester city centre to Wilmslow 18 years ago.

Predominantly involved in imports and a specialist customs broker, the company manages all aspects of in-bound shipping from primary markets Spain and Italy, but also China and the Far East, India, Pakistan and the US.

It has an enviable reputation for negotiation skills and customer service to get best results for clients. The company is a dominant force in the global ceramic tiles sector – with significant market share – but also operates in markets including other building materials, fertilisers, textiles and electronics.

It has a workforce of 36 people in its Wilmslow HQ and a team of seven operating out of an office in Valencia.

Langricks, led by Director Mike Bowker, is helping to produce quarterly and year end management accounts and providing payroll support currently, but the plan will be to extend the brief in due course.

Vincent commented: “I am a hands on person so the local relationship with Mike and his team is important. They are currently focused on the basics, but as we emerge from some of the MBO constraints we will be looking to Langricks for wider tax planning advice and more general business guidance. I have been impressed to date.”

Chris Langrick. Managing Director, commented: “Banks & Lloyd is an ambitious business in a new phase of development and we are delighted to have them on board.”

Chris acts as a ‘trusted advisor’ to a number of other clients, which extends way beyond the basics of accountancy practice, advising on mergers and acquisitions and business growth strategy for a range of Cheshire and UK clients.

Mike leads a team working on Langricks key client service offerings including bookkeeping, monthly management accounts with KPIs, payroll, VAT returns, year-end accounts, corporation tax, company secretarial compliance and personal tax. He also looks after reviews into financial controls in larger businesses and the building of bespoke forecast models and management information systems.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sue Souter .