Choosing the right accountant can make or break your construction business. A great one will improve your margins, strengthen your cashflow, and give you industry-specific insights you can actually use.
A generic one will… file your tax return and hope for the best.
At Thomas Emlyn Ltd, we’ve seen the difference first-hand: construction firms with specialist support grow faster, avoid costly compliance mistakes, and make smarter decisions.
Here’s what to look out for when comparing accountants.
What are the red flags when choosing an accountant?
Watch out for accountants who describe themselves as “working with a variety of businesses” or having “expertise across a range of sectors.” These are generalists. They may handle basic compliance, but they rarely understand the unique financial pressures of construction — margins, CIS, VAT, retentions, or job costing.
Red flags include:
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Vague wording about who they actually serve
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No construction case studies or examples
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No knowledge of CIS scheme updates
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Slow responses during busy periods
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No understanding of retention tracking or WIP
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Offering every service to every sector
Generalists aren’t bad — they just aren’t built for construction.
Why is a generalist accountant risky for construction firms?
Construction is one of the most complex industries from a financial and compliance perspective. Generalist accountants often don’t understand CIS, VAT nuances, retention cycles, job costing, subcontractor structures, or construction cashflow rhythms. This leads to errors, stress, and missed opportunities to improve margins and profit.
Here’s the reality:
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Most generalists haven’t seen your type of business hundreds of times
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They don’t know where projects typically lose margin
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They don’t understand payment cycles or why cashflow swings wildly
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They can’t advise you on pricing, systems, or growth specific to the trade
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They often file CIS incorrectly (something we’ve seen repeatedly this year 🤯)
If you only want compliance, a generalist is fine.
If you want clarity, confidence, or growth… you need a specialist.
What does a specialist accountant actually do differently?
A specialist accountant understands your industry in depth — your margins, your risks, your cashflow challenges, and the systems that actually work. They don’t guess. They’ve seen it all, solved it all, and know what successful construction companies do differently.
What specialists bring:
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Industry-specific cashflow modelling
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Accurate CIS and VAT treatment
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Job costing systems that show profit in real time
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Advice on pricing, retentions, and payment terms
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Knowledge of construction software (SimPRO, Xero Projects, Tradify, Fathom)
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Insight into common pitfalls that destroy profit
They speak your language — not generic accounting jargon.
What should you ask before choosing an accountant?
Ask who they work with most, what type of construction businesses they specialise in, how many firms like yours they support, and what systems they use. You’re looking for proof they understand the trade — not a generic list of services.
Key questions:
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“How many construction firms do you work with?”
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“What systems do you set up for contractors?”
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“How do you manage CIS, job costing, and retentions?”
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“What weekly or monthly reports do you provide?”
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“Do you support both compliance and growth?”
Their answers will tell you everything.
What does Thomas Emlyn Ltd specialise in?
We’re upfront about this:
If you sell on Amazon, run an e-commerce brand in France, earn money on TikTok, or make a living selling pictures of your feet — we have no idea how those platforms generate revenue.
There are accountants who specialise in that.
But if you run a construction company, subcontracting business, maintenance firm, or any trade-based operation…
That’s our world.
That’s what we understand.
That’s what we’ve built our entire service around.
We specialise in:
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CIS
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Construction VAT
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Job costing
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WIP
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Retentions
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Cashflow planning
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Finance systems
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Team structure
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Growth strategy
So no — we’re not the only option.
But if you want an accountant who genuinely understands construction, compare the market and look for a true specialist.
Generalists keep you compliant.
Specialists help you grow.
FAQs
1. Are generalist accountants bad?
Not at all. If you just need compliance, a generalist might be perfectly fine. The issue arises when you expect industry-specific insights or strategic guidance — most generalists don’t have the depth of experience in construction to provide that.
2. How do I know if an accountant really understands construction?
Ask for examples of firms they work with, their approach to CIS and VAT, and how they manage job costing or retentions. If they can’t explain these clearly, they’re likely not specialists.
3. Why is industry specialisation so important in construction?
Because construction finance isn’t simple: CIS, VAT rules, fluctuating margins, payment delays, WIP, retentions, and complex project cycles all require specialised knowledge. A wrong setup can cost thousands or create months of stress.
4. Should I choose the cheapest accountant?
Cheap usually means “reactive” — end-of-year only, minimal support, slow replies, and no strategic guidance. A specialist accountant should deliver more profit and cashflow than they cost.
5. What mistakes do you see most often from generalist accountants?
Incorrect CIS filings, VAT misclassification, missed retentions, poor job-costing setup, no cashflow forecasting, and clients unaware they are underpricing work. All avoidable with specialist support.
Next Steps
If you’re comparing accountants right now, don’t just look at the fee.
Look at whether they understand your industry.
At Thomas Emlyn Ltd, we support construction companies with systems, insights, and strategic finance guidance built specifically for the trade.
If you want clarity, confidence, and a specialist in your corner — book a discovery call here.
Thomas Emlyn Ltd
Stronger Margins – Healthier Cashflow – Sustainable Growth
