Knight Corporate Finance has launched a new company to help channel businesses gain Government funding for research and development.
The new enterprise, Knight R&D, is headed up by Australian Rupert Mayo, a former scientist who spent over nine years leading teams in KPMG's R&D tax practice both in his home country and in the UK.
The new business helps ICT companies claim for Government R&D tax credits, an initiative that rewards UK companies for investing in technology development and associated innovation.
Companies that spend money developing new products, processes or services (or enhancing existing ones) are often eligible for a cash payment and/or corporation tax reduction.
The Government sees the initiative as an important contributor to the UK's efforts to keep R&D in the UK, particularly post-Brexit.
Mayo believes that passion and common sense are key to a successful outcome for claims, which can lead to a 33p in the pound payback on qualifying project expenditure.
"All too often I saw the 'Big 4' accounting firms hire people with extensive qualifications but litte enthusiasm," he said.
"With Knight R&D I have been able to build my own team based not just on their competencies but on their passion for technology and desire to help companies get their full entitlements."
Mayo claims his team also has a strong practical understanding of how companies undertake their R&D in the 'real world', outside of university style environments.
"We have good minds capable of rapidly grasping the concepts of our clients and we have software and electrical engineers who lead the technical side of our TMT claims.
"We take almost all the effort out of the company's hands. There may be some grey areas in the qualifying criteria but we help businesses to apply the rules as objectively as possible, ensuring there is always a fair and reasonable case for claiming while leaving the final decision in what to include with the claimant company."
Mayo says Knight R&D will only invoice on agreed success fees once the company receives its benefit.
"If required, we will also respond to any enquires from HMRC within the success fee," he added.
"However, to date this has not been required as our reports have served the purpose of providing HMRC with all the information it needs."