Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Trusted Chartered Accountants in Colchester
Wood and Disney are independent chartered accountants and business advisors with over 45 years of experience serving clients in Colchester, Essex. Since 1975, we have built a reputation for delivering strategic business advice to ambitious entrepreneurs, helping them create resilient, sustainable businesses that thrive through economic cycles. Our approach goes beyond traditional accounting, focusing on real-time financial insights, proactive planning, and holistic business strategy. We embed ourselves in our clients' operations through regular meetings, ensuring tailored advice that aligns with their unique goals.Recognised with the 2024 Accountancy Excellence National Award for Client Service, our team combines professional qualifications (ICAEW members) with practical business ownership experience, having navigated recessions and global crises firsthand. We prioritise transparency, technology leadership, and long-term partnerships, offering cloud accounting expertise since 2008 and maintaining a paperless office since 2003. Our commitment to client success is reflected in our 12.68-year average client retention rate, significantly exceeding industry norms.
Services
Accountancy Compliance
Tax Planning
Cash Flow Management
Cloud Accounting
Business Start-Up Support
Payroll Services
VAT Planning
Company Secretarial
R&D Tax Relief
Strategic Business Advice
Details
- Year established: 1975
Highlights and features
- Award-winning client service with 45+ years of experience
- Proactive business advice from qualified chartered accountants
- Real-time cloud accounting expertise since 2008
- Strategic cash flow management with proven results
- Technology leaders with 4 industry awards for innovation
Associations and certifications
- Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW)
- Client Service Award (Accountancy Excellence National Awards 2024)
What people say
Award-winning customer service
Proactive business advice
Technology leadership
40+ years experience
Strategic cash flow management
Services
Accountancy Compliance
Our accountancy compliance services ensure accurate bookkeeping, timely statutory filings, and real-time financial reporting. We specialise in cloud accounting systems that provide 24/7 access to your financial data, enabling informed decision-making. With qualified chartered accountants managing your compliance needs, we guarantee HMRC and Companies House adherence while optimising your financial processes for maximum efficiency and tax efficiency.
Strategic Tax Planning
We deliver comprehensive tax planning solutions that legally minimise liabilities across business and personal tax affairs. Our services include VAT planning, R&D tax relief claims, and inheritance tax mitigation strategies. By maintaining real-time financial records and anticipating regulatory changes, we help clients retain more profits while ensuring full compliance with evolving tax legislation.
Cash Flow Management
Our Strategic Cash Retention Programme builds business resilience through improved cash flow forecasting and working capital management. We implement proven solutions for invoice collections, supplier negotiations, and stock optimisation. With average client net asset growth of 582% over 10 years, our approach transforms cash flow challenges into sustainable financial success.
Cloud Accounting
As early adopters of cloud technology since 2008, we provide expert implementation of cloud accounting systems that revolutionise financial management. Our solutions enable real-time data access, automated reporting, and secure document sharing. We train clients in cloud accounting apps while maintaining strict GDPR-compliant data security standards.
Business Start-Up Support
We guide entrepreneurs through every stage of business formation, from initial planning to first-year operations. Our support includes financial structuring, compliance setup, and strategic forecasting. With 60% of startups failing within five years, our comprehensive guidance significantly improves your chances of long-term success through proper financial foundations.
People
Peter Disney
Managing Director
Peter Disney, a chartered accountant with over 40 years' experience, leads Wood and Disney's strategic advisory services. Recognised as Top 10 Business Advisor of the Year in the 2023 Helm Global Awards, he specialises in transforming business finances through innovative accounting solutions and proactive business strategy.
Questions
What accounting services do you offer?
We provide comprehensive accountancy compliance including bookkeeping, management accounts, VAT returns, payroll, and company secretarial services using cloud technology for real-time financial management.
How do you differ from traditional accountants?
We combine chartered accounting expertise with practical business ownership experience, offering strategic business advice through regular client meetings and proactive financial planning rather than just compliance work.
Do you work with startups?
Yes, we specialise in business start-up support including initial planning, financial structuring, and compliance setup, with a free New Business Kit available for download.
How do you handle tax planning?
Our tax planning covers business and personal tax affairs, including VAT, R&D tax relief, and inheritance tax strategies, focusing on legal minimisation of liabilities while maintaining compliance.
What technology do you use?
We've been cloud accounting specialists since 2008, using digital systems for real-time financial reporting and document access, with paperless operations since 2003.
How are your fees structured?
We offer transparent pricing with service menus showing exact costs, avoiding hourly rates or hidden fees, ensuring complete cost certainty for our clients.
Reviews (7)
Steven Jeffers
Jun 02, 2023
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I've dealt with Peter Disney a number of times throughout my business life and he has always provided clear insight and advice which has proved invaluable. His greatest skill is being able to break down complex issues into something much easier for the layman to understand which allows me to focus on my business. If you are about to start a business or looking to grow then I would engage with Peter and his team to save yourself a potential future headache.
Luke Oliff
Feb 01, 2023
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Virginia and her team were incredibly supportive during my initial self-assessment process. Dealing with HMRC was quite challenging, but their assistance made all the difference. I'm truly grateful to them for their help.
Amanda Cartlidge
May 16, 2022
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We have been working with Wood & Disney for over a decade and they have played an invaluable role in our journey. They feel a big (and friendly!) part of our small team and we trust and rely on them fully. Their accounting services are wide ranging and I would recommend them to anyone wanting to get the best out of their business.
Ben Seaman
May 06, 2022
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I was recommended Wood & Disney back in 2020, to help my company move to a new bookkeeping software. After meeting with Peter he helped us find a more useable software and we haven't looking back ever since. Along with lots of help from his staff and our account manager Becca Dodd. I can't recommend Wood & Disney highly enough.
David Lott
Jun 24, 2021
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Having formed our group of companies last year we carried out the task of finding the accountants which would best suit our operational needs. From the very first meeting with Peter we could see the positive impact his team would have guiding us along the journey of operating our business. They are not just our accountants they are an integral part of our team as they always ensure we receive the very latest information and are all ways on hand to advise, guide and generally assist us in moving our business forward. If you are looking for a professional and supportive, team of accountants then I would highly recommend Wood and Disney
John Palfree
Dec 20, 2020
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I cannot thank the team at Wood and Disney enough for there advice. I have never needed an accountant before and was blown away by the way the staff treated me from the initial enquiry through to the advice given. Too many company's exist to just take money from you without any care however Wood and Disney couldn't have been any further from this and I cannot recommend them enough. Thank you Brendon and the team
Kat Marketing
May 19, 2020
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Wood and Disney have been our accountants for a few years now. We moved to them because Peter Disney is innovative, supportive, helpful and informative. He runs an excellent team and always ensures that they are at the forefront of their industry, placing them in the very best position to advise and assist. Alongside their outstanding professional capabilities, they are also just genuinely lovely people and understand how to communicate very effectively. If you are looking for excellent accountants but are also after something 'more' from a company that truly understands how to do business, then I can heartily recommend them all round.
