Preparing for the Autumn Budget: How Accountants Can Stay Ahead
As autumn begins, accountants enter one of the busiest periods of the year. September through December brings events, awards, budgets, and client deadlines – all of which shape the conversations we have with clients. This year, the Autumn Statement looms large on 26 November, and speculation is already swirling about potential changes to property tax, inheritance tax, and other measures that could significantly impact clients.
For accountants, the challenge is clear: how do you prepare clients for the unknown? And how do you turn those regulatory requirements into opportunities to build stronger, deeper advisory relationships?
From KYC to RKYC – Really Knowing Your Client
Every accountant is familiar with KYC obligations – ID checks, AML compliance, and risk assessments. But too often, this becomes a tick-box exercise rather than a meaningful process.
At All In Place, we talk about moving from KYC to RKYC – Really Know Your Client. That means going beyond the surface to understand their goals, aspirations, and pressures. When you know what matters most to your clients – paying off a mortgage, funding education, retiring at a certain age – you can shape your services to meet those needs.
The upcoming Autumn Statement is a perfect reminder of why RKYC matters. If the Chancellor announces new property or inheritance tax measures, can you immediately identify which of your clients will be affected? More importantly, do you know enough about their situation to help them plan effectively?
Using Data to Stay Ahead of the Budget
“We never know what’s coming from the budget. But the question is – can we interrogate our systems quickly to identify which clients might be impacted, and can we have those conversations early?” Will Farnell
This is where All In Place makes the difference. Our platform helps accountants build personal balance sheets and client dashboards that capture financial and personal objectives in one place. With that information at your fingertips, you can proactively contact the right clients as soon as changes are announced – or even prepare them in advance.
All In Place is designed to give you:
Visibility into which clients are affected by legislative changes.
Advisory insights grounded in data, not guesswork.
A structured way to change the conversation.
Advisory is About Relationships
The profession has been talking for years about moving “from compliance to advisory.” But what does that really mean?
As All In Place Chief Commercial Officer, Will Farnell puts it, true advisory happens when every client feels comfortable picking up the phone to ask every question they’ve got. That kind of relationship isn’t built overnight – it requires meaningful touchpoints, trust, and a clear demonstration that you understand the client’s whole picture, not just their accounts.
Head of Client Solutions, Claire Evans highlights the opportunity:
“MTD for Income Tax is going to give firms four new touchpoints with clients. That’s a chance to reinforce your role as a trusted advisor, but only if you really know your clients and capture the right data now.”
Don’t Wait for the Budget
Client Director, Richard Brewin offers a clear challenge:
“It’s not enough to wait for the budget and send out a summary the next day – everybody does that. If your clients are worried now, this is your chance to show you’re by their side, that you understand their concerns, and that you can help them plan.”
By engaging early, you can ease client concerns, position your firm as proactive, and open up valuable tax planning and financial planning opportunities.
September – The New January
September feels like a reset moment in the accounting year. Clients return from summer, firms ramp up, and attention shifts to year-end planning.
With the budget date set, now is the time to:
Re-energise your team for the months ahead.
Gather deeper client insights through balance sheets and RKYC conversations.
Prepare to respond to budget announcements with confidence and clarity.
As Brewin notes, leadership in this period is critical. It’s about setting the right energy and focus, making sure teams are ready to have the conversations that matter most.
A Call to Action for Accountants
The Autumn Budget will bring uncertainty, but it also brings opportunity. Accountants who act now will be ready to:
Identify at-risk clients quickly.
Provide reassurance and clarity in uncertain times.
Strengthen relationships that move them from compliance to true advisory.
At All In Place, our mission is simple: to help accountants become the trusted advisor their clients turn to first. Whether through personal balance sheets, client dashboards, or the three key questions that spark better conversations, our tools are built to support you in making advisory real.
Now is the time to act. Don’t wait until November – start really knowing your clients today.