Sapphire Sussex Bookkeeping
Clear Numbers. Confident Business.
Bookkeeping that keeps you focused on what matters most.
Our Services
Bookkeeping📒
Accurate day-to-day bookkeeping including recording income and expenses, reconciling bank accounts, managing receipts, and maintaining clear, organised financial records for your business.
VAT Returns💷
Preparation and submission of VAT returns in line with HMRC requirements, ensuring accuracy and compliance while helping you avoid penalties and meet deadlines with confidence.
Self Assessment Tax Returns📝
Support for sole traders, landlords, and individuals with self assessment preparation, ensuring all income and allowable expenses are correctly reported and submitted on time.
Landlord Accounts🏠
Tailored bookkeeping support for landlords, helping you track rental income, expenses, and property-related costs to make tax reporting straightforward and efficient.
Xero & Cloud Accounting💻
Specialising in Xero, we assist with setup, ongoing bookkeeping, bank reconciliation, and training. Alternatively, we can take full control of your Xero account so you don't need to use the software yourself.
Payroll📊
Full payroll services including wage calculations, PAYE and National Insurance, RTI submissions to HMRC, payslips, pensions, auto-enrolment, and end-of-year reporting including P60s and P45s.
Making Tax Digital (MTD)📱
Full MTD compliance support including setting up digital record-keeping systems, managing quarterly submissions, and submitting VAT returns through approved software such as Xero.
About Us
Sapphire Sussex Bookkeeping provides reliable, accurate, and stress-free bookkeeping and payroll services to businesses across Sussex and the South East. We support business owners with clear financial management so they can stay organised, compliant, and focused on growing their business.
Our founder, Sarah Prouten, brings an ACCA-level qualification, a BA (Hons) in Accounting, and over 15 years of experience in finance and payroll — including complex payroll within the recruitment and healthcare industries.
Christopher Prouten, Bookkeeping and Payroll Assistant, supports client communications, administration, and day-to-day bookkeeping and payroll processes. With a background in customer service, finance, and running a small business, he brings a practical understanding of the challenges business owners face.
Having run a small local business ourselves, we understand first-hand the demands placed on business owners. Our approach is built on accuracy, transparency, and a friendly, jargon-free service — and thanks to cloud software such as Xero, we can support clients in Hailsham, across the South East, and remotely wherever you are based.
Making Tax Digital
Making Tax Digital (MTD) is HMRC's initiative to move tax reporting to a fully digital system. It requires businesses to keep records and submit returns using approved accounting software, with the aim of improving accuracy and reducing errors.
For VAT-registered businesses, MTD is already mandatory. VAT records must be kept digitally and returns submitted to HMRC using compatible software such as Xero, rather than spreadsheets or paper records.
From the 2026–27 tax year, MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) will apply to sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000. Affected individuals will need to keep digital records, submit quarterly updates to HMRC, and file an end-of-year final declaration by 31 January.
From 2027–28 the threshold drops to £30,000, and HMRC has indicated further reductions will follow. Most self-employed individuals and landlords will eventually be brought into the regime, so getting set up early avoids a rushed transition later.
At Sapphire Sussex Bookkeeping we ensure your records are fully MTD-compliant. We set up and maintain digital accounting in Xero, keep accurate real-time records, and submit VAT and ITSA returns directly to HMRC on your behalf, so you stay organised and confident ahead of every deadline.
Pricing
Every business is different, so we don't offer fixed packages. Instead, we provide a tailored service that reflects the work each client genuinely needs.
Our work is charged at a competitive hourly rate, agreed upfront before any work begins. The rate reflects the level of support required, the complexity of your bookkeeping or payroll, and the volume of transactions involved.
We use accurate time tracking on every job, so you only pay for the time actually spent working on your business. Records are available on request, with no hidden costs and no minimum commitment.
For payroll specifically, we're happy to provide indicative costs or a tailored quote based on the size of your team and the complexity of your payroll requirements.
If you'd like to find out more, please get in touch and we'll be happy to provide a personalised quote or hourly cost estimate based on your requirements.
How It Works
Working with us is straightforward. Get in touch by email or telephone and we'll arrange a quick conversation to understand your business, the level of support you need, and any specifics around bookkeeping or payroll.
From there we'll provide an estimated cost based on the time the work is likely to take, factoring in the complexity of your records and the volume of transactions.
Once you're happy, we agree a clear scope of work before anything begins, so there are no surprises about what's being delivered or how it's being charged.
Work is then billed at a transparent hourly rate with full time tracking in place. You only pay for the time actually spent working on your business, and clear records are available on request.
As your business grows or your needs change, we adjust the scope and confirm any change in approach upfront, keeping the service flexible without surprises on cost.
Payroll
Payroll is time-sensitive, detail-driven, and unforgiving of mistakes. Outsourcing it removes a significant administrative burden from your business and gives you the reassurance that calculations, RTI submissions, and reporting are handled accurately and consistently every pay cycle.
It also saves valuable time. Instead of dealing with changing legislation, pension requirements, and ongoing processing, you can focus on running and growing your business — knowing that one of your most important responsibilities is managed correctly behind the scenes.
Outsourcing also gives you access to specialist knowledge, which matters most when pay structures get complex. We have extensive experience in fast-moving payroll environments including recruitment and healthcare, where precision and compliance are critical.
Our service covers the full payroll cycle — wage and salary calculations, PAYE and National Insurance, statutory payments (sick, maternity, holiday), RTI submissions to HMRC, auto-enrolment pension setup and management, payslip preparation, and end-of-year reporting including P60s and P45s. Whether you have one employee or a growing team, we keep payroll running smoothly every period.
To discuss your payroll requirements or request a tailored quote, please get in touch by email or telephone. We'll be happy to talk through your needs and provide clear, straightforward pricing based on your business.
Why Choose Us
Good bookkeeping is the foundation of a financially healthy business — and ours comes at a competitive hourly rate with costs agreed upfront. No fixed packages, no hidden fees, just clear, transparent pricing where you only pay for the time actually spent working on your business.
Over 15 years of experience in finance and payroll
ACCA-level qualified with a BA (Hons) in Accounting
Real experience running a small business — we understand your challenges
Friendly, jargon-free service with complete transparency and no hidden costs
Fully MTD compliant, specialising in Xero cloud accounting
Local to East Sussex with remote-friendly services available
Saves valuable time, reduces stress, and keeps your finances fully compliant
Get In Touch
Ready to take the stress out of your bookkeeping? Get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
We provide a full range of bookkeeping and financial support services including day-to-day bookkeeping, VAT returns, Making Tax Digital (MTD) support, self assessment tax return preparation, landlord accounts, cloud accounting (specialising in Xero), payroll services, and financial reporting.
Yes. We specialise in supporting sole traders, freelancers, landlords, and small businesses across a wide range of industries.
We are based in Hailsham, East Sussex, and provide services across the South East of England. We also work remotely with clients using cloud accounting software such as Xero.
Not necessarily. While we specialise in Xero, we can fully manage your bookkeeping and accounts for you, meaning you don't need to use the software yourself. Alternatively, we can provide training and support if you prefer to stay involved.
Making Tax Digital is HMRC's requirement for businesses and landlords to keep digital records and submit tax information using approved software. We ensure your records are fully MTD-compliant and handle submissions on your behalf where required.
Yes. We provide full payroll services including wage calculations, RTI submissions to HMRC, payslips, pensions, and support for both simple and complex payroll structures.
We charge a competitive hourly rate, with time tracked accurately for full transparency. We provide clear, upfront cost estimates and tailor pricing based on your specific needs. Payroll pricing can also be provided on request.
Yes. We work with landlords to track rental income, expenses, and prepare records for tax reporting and self assessment.
Simply contact us by email or phone to discuss your requirements. We will talk through your needs and provide a tailored, no-obligation quote.
You can reach us by email at info@sapphiresussex.co.uk, by telephone on 07468 418264, or via Facebook.