Accounting and bookkeeping in Jersey

A Jersey company has to keep proper accounting records from its first day, and the directors answer for them. The Jersey Financial Services Commission states that directors must prepare accounts for a period of not more than 18 months. For a founder based abroad, the work is usually ordinary bookkeeping, year-end accounts and a tidy set of records that the board can sign off without flying in.

When you compare profiles, check which entity types a firm handles, whether it works with companies owned from abroad, and which sectors it names. A firm used to fund vehicles will run a trading company differently from one that mostly serves local small businesses. Ask also whether bookkeeping, accounts and tax return are quoted together or separately.

Accountanty shows 52 firms offering accounting in Jersey: 28 corporate services providers, 21 accounting firms and 3 law firms. Small practices number 20, large networks 18 and medium firms 14. English is the working language of 49, while 23 describe foreign owners as clients. Real estate comes up at 27 firms, funds at 26 and family offices at 20. Most of the firms sit in St Helier, and the Jersey guide explains the setup steps that come before the books.