Darnells is a firm of ICAEW-regulated chartered accountants with more than 70 years of experience advising businesses, families and individuals from offices in Newton Abbot, Totnes and Exeter.
Our roots are firmly in Devon, but our client base reaches right across the UK. We serve them from whichever of our offices is best for the relationship, usually with one main point of contact who knows the business very well.
Many of the people we work with have been with Darnells for decades, often passing the relationship down through their families or businesses as they grow. A significant number of new clients still come to us through professional recommendation, something we take as the clearest measure of the service we provide.
8:30am - 5pm Monday to Friday
8:30am - 5pm Monday to Friday
8:30am - 5pm Monday to Friday
All of our services are available from each of our three offices. The full range covers tax advisory, accountancy, audit and assurance, healthcare accountancy, payroll, bookkeeping, probate and financial and strategic planning.
Within those, the team has developed particular depth in healthcare accountancy for GPs, dentists, consultants and care providers, in property tax for landlords and developers, in CIS compliance and contractor accounting for the construction sector and in the ongoing accounts and tax compliance that keeps hospitality businesses and professional services firms running smoothly.
If you are unsure where to start, a call to any of our offices is the easiest route in. The team will arrange a conversation with the adviser who is best placed to help.
We advise clients across the whole of Devon, covering the South Hams, Teignbridge and East Devon, and serving businesses and individuals in Paignton, Brixham, Ivybridge, Dartmouth, Kingsbridge, Tiverton, Honiton and surrounding areas. Beyond the county, our reach extends into the wider South West, taking in clients in Somerset, Dorset and Cornwall, as well as a steady and growing number of businesses in other parts of England.
Most of our day-to-day communication takes place over phone, email, our secure client portal and video calls, and many client relationships run entirely that way. In-person meetings are always available for the occasions where they would add value, but they are never a requirement.
Each office is open from 8:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. We ask that meetings be booked in advance so the right adviser is available and prepared. We are equally comfortable meeting at the office, joining a video call or visiting your premises, with the approach often guided by what is being discussed. Documents, returns and records can be exchanged through our secure client portal, by post or in person, and the team is happy to talk through which option best suits your preference.
Contact whichever office is most convenient by phone, or send an email to info@darnells.co.uk with an outline of what you would like to discuss, and a member of the team will be in touch to confirm a date and time.
Yes, you can move your accounts to us easily, and we will handle most of the process for you. Once you decide to come across, we write to your existing accountant requesting professional clearance. Under ICAEW rules, they are obliged to release the working papers, accounts files and tax history we need to pick up where they left off. We will walk you through the engagement letter and the practical work of transferring software access, HMRC agent authority and payroll records to us, with timing usually planned around your year-end so nothing important is missed.
When you first get in touch, the initial conversation is informal and free of charge. We will take a few details about your situation and what you are looking for, then arrange a longer meeting with the adviser who fits the work. That meeting tends to cover your current accounting setup, your year-end, the software you use and any tax position you are working with.
Yes, the team is comfortable working across all the main cloud accounting platforms, including Xero, where Darnells holds Platinum Partner status, alongside Sage, QuickBooks and FreeAgent. If you already have a system in place, we will work with it rather than asking you to switch. Where the setup is causing problems or holding the business back, we can review it and suggest changes that suit your size and sector.
Each of our three offices is easy to reach by car or by public transport, with parking available either on site or in nearby public car parks. If there is anything specific you need to make your visit easier, please mention it when you book so the team can have it ready for you.
