Beansprout's co-founders and directors Kevin Abranches and Helen Christopher.
'You can’t make good business decisions unless you truly understand your numbers.'
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Published in association with
TRADITIONALLY, accountants were the people you saw once a year, there to finalise your year-end accounts, tick the compliance boxes, and file reports to HMRC and Companies House.
But for Bedfordshire-based accountancy practice Beansprout, that model simply isn’t enough.
“For us, it’s all about relationships,” says Helen Christopher, Beansprout’s co-founder and director. “We’re not just here to handle the numbers. We’re here to go on the journey with our clients, to understand what they want to achieve in business and in life.”
That means stepping away from the stereotypical image of a distant, faceless accountant. Wherever possible, the Beansprout team prefers face-to-face meetings, building real connections rather than relying solely on remote conversations.
“People crave genuine connection,” Helen says. “I’m still amazed that people say their previous accountants were unapproachable or passive. That’s not us – we’re here to break that stereotype.”
Although Beansprout launched last March in the countryside setting of Wrest Park Silsoe, in Central Bedfordshire, the foundations are anything but new. Helen, a chartered accountant with 30 years of experience, and her co-founder Kevin Abranches, who has been advising businesses for over 25 years, bring decades of insight and practical expertise to the table.
Helen has spent much of her career supporting start-ups and small business owners, even setting up and managing other accountancy firms along the way. Kevin has worked with businesses of all shapes and sizes, giving him a wide commercial lens and a pragmatic approach.
Helen and Kevin have created a service that goes far beyond traditional accounting. It’s centred on what they call The Three Ns:
Numbers
Narrative
Nurture
The aims, says Helen, is to help businesses of all sizes to access exceptional financial business coaching, commercial insight, accounting, and tax advice. The NNN approach works alongside business owners helping them towards:
- Achieving their dreams.
- Growing their business.
- Overcoming their fears.
- Improving their financial confidence.
- Maximising profits.
- Finding financial freedom.
- Addressing their work-life balance.
- Ensuring their business can thrive without their constant presence.
“Of course, we deliver accountancy, payroll, and tax support,” says Helen. “But the narrative is what really sets us apart.
“You can’t make good business decisions unless you truly understand your numbers. That’s where we come in, not just as accountants but also as business advisers and mentors.”
“When we understand a client’s story – where they’ve come from and where they want to go – we can nurture them and help them build the business they’ve dreamed of.”
Beansprout’s approach is rooted in the idea of community and collaboration. Helen and Kevin have built a network of professional partners in complimentary industries, such as financial advisers, mortgage brokers, lawyers, HR and marketing experts who are always on hand to support their clients.
Business has been good in Beansprout’s first year of trading. The business has expanded to recruit part-time payroll and administration support and is in the process of recruiting its first full-time accountant.
The practice is also keen to play its part in the Bedfordshire community. It is well on the way to reaching its £2,500 fundraising target for the Dunstable-based charity Hospice at Home Volunteers. Helen also is treasurer to the Flitwick-based Flittabus Community Transport, which runs services between Flitwick, Bedford, Milton Keynes and villages en route and she is also the non-executive finance director for Bedford-based charity Food etc.
Beansprout’s plan for the future is to remain true to its founding principles.
“We do not want to become a huge faceless organisation,” says Helen. “Our plan is to grow the team with the right people so we can work with more clients who are ambitious, action takers who want to move things forward in their business, who are open to coaching and mentoring.
“We want to become an integral part of each client’s business.”
Find out more at
bean-sprout.co.uk | letschat@bean-sprout.co.uk | 01525 306920
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