Accounting and tax for recruitment businesses

Overview

Payroll, commission, VAT, contractor models and international expansion for recruitment firms.

Common situations we address

• Permanent placement fees earned in UK for UAE candidate placements
• Contractor payroll models spanning UK PAYE and UAE visa sponsorship
• Commission accruals for consultants split across London and Dubai offices
• VAT on recruitment services supplied cross-border to related entities
• Working capital tied up in contractor weekly pay versus client monthly terms
• Expansion of UAE desk selling into UK market needing local entity

Our approach

Recruitment firms combine payroll-heavy contractor businesses with high-margin permanent fees and international placement flows. We address commission accounting, VAT on services, cross-border employment models and expansion structuring between UK and UAE offices.

Typical deliverables

• Commission and fee recognition policy
• Contractor payroll and compliance review
• VAT analysis on UK and UAE placement services
• Working capital and debtor days reporting
• Intercompany recharge for shared recruiters
• Expansion entity and registration plan