Some of our board members think that we should go with a big name firm not a boutique practice. How do you respond to that?
Lenards founding partners, associates and senior management staff left big name firms to run a specialist boutique firm offering a more personal, client focused approach service. This remains our ethos today. We are committed to combining professionalism with proactive added value service. Our business clients tell us how much they appreciate the ‘joined up’ approach of our Audit and Tax teams and all clients enjoy the easy and regular access they have to our partners and senior management staff. Large corporate may need and prefer the kudos of working with big name firms. But why pay ‘big boy’ fees if you really don’t have to.

As regional accountants, are you more expensive than a national accountant?
No. We believe that we charge fairly and competitively for the high quality work we perform and the service we give. We offer fixed all-inclusive annual fees for our Audit Service, and upfront transparent quotes for other services. You will never receive a ‘surprise’ bill from us! All our clients receive unlimited telephone and email support and we are always happy to act as a sounding board for you or your business. Should any issue require the undertaking of specific extra work, advice or specialist Support Service, we will tell you in advance and agree costs. Moreover, we frequently identify money saving opportunities for both our business and personal clients. Why not give us the opportunity to provide you with a no obligation, proposal for your consideration?

Do I have to use all your services or can I pick and mix as I choose?
We can be as flexible as you like. You can consult our highly praised Tax Team on a business or personal level, with or without an Audit service, use us as Business Advisors for one-off projects, or simply become a Personal Client with our Financial Planning division. The choice is yours.

I am worried about how I actually go about changing auditors. How hard is this to do practically?
This is very simple and straight forward. Simply advise your current auditors and leave the rest up to us. We will correspond with your previous auditors and obtain all the necessary information we need according to standard accountancy industry practice. You don’t need to worry about any embarrassment or handle this by yourselves.

How long will I be tied in for if I move my annual audit to you? What fee increases might I expect annually?
Technically you can disengage us at any time, so you are not tied in at all. However, we rarely lose clients. Fee increases will be modest, reasonable and pre-agreed with you, subject, of course to the nature of our work remaining similar and your business structure staying the same.

Will there be continuity in the relationship I have with the people handling my company’s affairs?
Yes. The better we know you and your business, the more we can help. All of our directors are fully accessible to you for advisory matters. And we fully appreciate the importance of continuity in day to day relationships for you at all levels. Your company’s Audit will be assigned to one of our Senior Auditors and they will personally liaise and coordinate the Audit with you and your team annually. We try to send the same Audit team members into your offices each year to build up friendly and professional relationships with you and your staff. Our Tax and Financial Planning Teams take the same highly personalized approach. You will always know who is looking after you and your business and can rest assured that they are fully up to speed on all your issues at all times.

Does it matter where we are based?
No. We are very happy to come and talk to you wherever you are located. Although many of our clients are based within or just outside the major cities and towns, we have others located all over the East Africa Region and, indeed, some which are run from foreign shores. Located in the heart of the two major cities, just minutes from Central Business Districts, clients from outside our offices often make other business or social engagements around visits to us and, subject to availability, are welcome to use our office for their own meetings too.

How do I know that my business affairs will remain confidential?
As a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK), Lenards is bound by the strictest rules of client confidentiality. You can rest assured that neither you nor your business would ever be discussed with any third party. If we breached your confidence and trust, we would have at least as much to lose as you, so we are highly mindful of this.

How do I know that you do as you say and deliver a really good service?
Most of our clients have come to us through word of mouth recommendation and we have worked very hard to build up the excellent reputation which we enjoy today You can rest assured that we will do everything in our power to ensure that you are delighted with our service and we want you to become one of our industry fans. If you still have doubts, read what some of our clients have to say about us on our website or request us for recommendations from some of our happy clients.