Construction accountants in Belfast and Northern Ireland
Construction is the most paperwork-heavy industry on the books. CIS deductions, VAT reverse charge, retentions, applications for payment, and a workforce that flexes by the project. We work with NI builders, contractors, and subcontractors who need their accountant to know the difference between an application and an invoice.
Talk to us about constructionConstruction accountancy lives or dies on cash flow. Retentions sit on the balance sheet for months. Applications for payment turn into invoices turn into receipts on someone else's timetable. CIS deductions come off subcontractor payments and need monthly returns. The VAT domestic reverse charge changes who accounts for VAT on most building work.
We work with main contractors, subcontractors, mechanical and electrical specialists, joiners, plumbers, groundworkers, and developers across Northern Ireland. From sole-trader trades to limited-company contractors with twenty on the books, the financial dynamics rhyme: a project-by-project P&L, retentions tying up cash, and VAT and CIS rules that punish the unwary.
Our construction clients tell us two things matter: clean monthly CIS and reverse-charge handling, and an accountant who can show them which projects actually made money once costs were fully loaded.
What that looks like month to month: CIS returns and subcontractor statements filed on time, reverse-charge invoicing set up so it is right at source rather than corrected at the VAT return, retentions and work in progress carried properly through to year end, and a project-level margin report you can price the next tender from. Payroll, VAT and the year-end accounts run alongside it. The software sits inside one monthly fee, we keep it right, and the only thing we need from you is the bank feed.
What construction businesses ask us
CIS deductions and returns
Verifying subcontractors with HMRC, calculating gross or 20% / 30% deductions correctly, filing CIS returns monthly, and reconciling against subcontractor statements.
VAT domestic reverse charge
Knowing when reverse charge applies, getting the invoice wording right, and handling the cash-flow knock when output VAT disappears off the till.
Retentions and WIP
Retentions held by the client are an asset on your books. Application-for-payment work in progress sits alongside it. Getting both right at year end matters for tax and for your funder.
Project-level profitability
Job costing that compares contract value to actual cost. Spotting margin slip early. Producing a project P&L that informs the next quote.
Capital allowances on plant
Annual Investment Allowance on tools, plant, and vehicles. Full expensing on qualifying assets. Getting the timing right around accounting periods.
How we help construction businesses
Making Tax Digital
MTD setup, digital record-keeping, and quarterly submissions for sole traders, landlords, and partnerships.
View servicePersonal tax
Self-assessment, capital gains, inheritance, and personal tax planning across generations.
View serviceBusiness accounts
Year-end accounts, bookkeeping, and management information you can actually use.
View serviceVAT
VAT registration, returns, MTD compliance, and EU/non-UK supply advice.
View servicePayroll
Weekly, monthly, and four-weekly payroll with full RTI and pension compliance.
View serviceCompanies House Secretarial Services
ACSP-accredited company secretarial work: formations, confirmation statements, director changes, and identity verification.
View serviceDirector ID Verification
Companies House identity verification for directors and PSCs, done for you by a registered ACSP. In person at our Belfast office.
View serviceBusiness advisory
Strategy, financing, succession, and the conversations that move the bottom line.
View serviceFunding & finance
Bank, asset, and working capital finance, plus introductions to FCA-regulated mortgage and pension partners.
View serviceCorporate tax
Corporation tax computations, capital allowances, and HMRC support for NI limited companies.
View serviceFrequently asked about construction accountancy
Do you handle CIS for contractors and subcontractors?
Yes. We verify subcontractors, calculate deductions, file monthly CIS returns, issue subcontractor statements, and reconcile CIS suffered for limited-company subcontractors against PAYE. It is part of our standard payroll service for construction clients.
How does the VAT domestic reverse charge work?
For most building and construction services supplied between VAT-registered businesses, the customer accounts for the VAT, not the supplier. The supplier issues a reverse-charge invoice with no output VAT shown. We make sure your invoicing, your software, and your VAT return all line up correctly.
Can you produce project-by-project P&L?
Yes. We set your Sage file up with a tracking category per project, so you can see contract value, cost to date, and margin in real time. The reports inform pricing on the next tender and protect you from a project running away on cost. The software sits inside your monthly fee and we handle the setup; the only thing we need from you is the bank feed, and we organise that too.
I am a sole-trader contractor. Does MTD for Income Tax affect me?
If your gross self-employment income is over £50,000, yes, from April 2026. Over £30,000, from April 2027. Over £20,000, from April 2028. We handle MTD setup, software, and quarterly updates as part of the service.
Do you work with construction firms near me in Belfast?
Yes. We act for builders, contractors, subcontractors and trades right across Belfast and Northern Ireland, from the city out to the wider counties. Most construction clients work with us by phone, email and cloud software, so location is rarely a barrier; if you would rather meet in person, our office is on Suffolk Road in west Belfast.
Talk to an accountant who understands construction in NI
15-minute call. No commitment. We will answer your questions and outline how we work with construction businesses across Northern Ireland.
028 9508 4138Construction guides from our team
Companies House director ID verification: what NI directors need to do
Companies House identity verification is now the law for directors and PSCs. What it is, who it applies to, the deadlines, and the ACSP shortcut. Belfast accountants.
Tax updatesMTD for sole traders: complete guide for the £50k cohort
MTD for sole traders explained: thresholds, cash basis, software, quarterly updates. What changes for self-employed Belfast tradespeople and consultants.
Tax planningDirector's salary vs dividends in 2026/27: the most tax-efficient split
Find the optimal salary and dividend split for company directors in 2026/27. Worked examples, tax rates, and NI-specific considerations.
Tax planningCapital allowances explained: what your NI business can claim
A practical guide to capital allowances for NI businesses, covering AIA, full expensing, writing down allowances, and NI-specific considerations.
We also work with
Hospitality
Restaurants, cafés, pubs, and chain operators across NI.
Learn more Independent and multi-site retailers across NIRetail
VAT, stock, and margin discipline for NI retailers.
Learn more Engineering, food, and precision manufacturersManufacturing
Capital allowances, cost control, and grant accounting for NI manufacturers.
Learn moreNot in construction? We work with NI businesses across every industry. The accountancy principles are the same. Get in touch.