Our firm has introduced new services to our client to meet their strategic challenge of our client within the competitive market. The services offers by Knowledge Base Associates (KBA) are as follows.

At Knowledge Base Associates we categorize broadly the three main facets of a commercial enterprise, namely Corporate Strategy, Organizational Set-up and Business Operations. By looking closely at these characteristics, which should give an organization a solid stance and prowess for competitiveness, we have chiseled our service list specifically.

Business Coaching

The ageing population reality is also affecting our business community and successful businessmen of yesteryear are now possibly looking more seriously at succession of their business to their siblings. The latter may not have the acumen and knowledge of how to properly run a business in today’s environment. Knowledge Base Associates has developed a training scheme for such people integrating economic, finance and management theories into the practical situations of the organization.

Business Process Reengineering

The ageing population reality is also affecting our business community and successful businessmen of yesteryear are now possibly looking more seriously at succession of their business to their siblings. The latter may not have the acumen and knowledge of how to properly run a business in today’s environment. Knowledge Base Associates has developed a training scheme for such people integrating economic, finance and management theories into the practical situations of the organization.

Turn Around Strategies

To get your business into difficulties is often easier than most people realize. A time of bad economic climate and an unexpected change in your business community can put you into uncomfortable situations, possibly with liquidity, solvency or bankruptcy problems staring hard at you. As time in these situations often is limited it can be beneficial to take in some new energy and a pair of fresh eyes to help take the company back on track.
Our firm has long experience in Business Turn-Around programs with small and medium sized enterprises in a broad spectrum of industries. We can help you get back on track by identifying the cause as well as develop and implement a rapid solution.

Corporate Governance

Corporate Governance can be defined as the ways and mechanisms by which organizations are directed, controlled and made accountable. A lot has been written and said about corporate governance in the aftermath of the large corporate scandals. But what are the practical implications for small and medium sized enterprises? Are corporate governance frameworks a necessary evil or can they improve bottom line results? In the case of owner-managed businesses, the distinctions of the roles of shareholder, director, manager are difficult to define where it is always the same person involved. However, in many cases, there will be a number of persons owning and managing.
Knowledge Base Associates therefore suggests that best practice governance procedures could be used to model and adapt systems of control within an organization.

Growth Strategies

The overall strategy of many firms revolves around growth. Growth is usually expressed in terms of sales, market share, profits and the size of the organization. Growth is either organic or external. Organic or internal growth is the expanding of the organization through increased sales and products. External growth comes through vertical integration either backwards or forwards in the value chain. Another form of external growth is by diversification usually involving a horizontal merger. Through meticulously scanning the internal and the external environment of the organization, Knowledge Base Associates can assist you in the formulation of your growth strategy.

Human Resources Management

Having the right people in the right place is according to some experts a key determinant to a successful business. Knowledge Base Associates can help your firm recruit, train, evaluate employee performance as well as assist you in the legal matters of employment. Knowledge Base Associates also assists organizations build and adopt Human Resources Manuals, defining within them all HR policies and procedures.

Mergers and Acquisition

Knowledge Base Associates has over the past few years been involved together with other professionals, in merger and acquisition activity. We offer the performance of due diligence processes, culture audits and gap analysis so as to facilitate the stitching together of two entities. We can also assist in the valuation of acquisitions in order to evaluate the synergy gains, normally described as 2+2=5. Our method of explaining the gains from merger activity is using the derivation 1=5-(2+2). The 1 represents the gain, the 5 represents the value of the merged firms and each of the 2’s represent the value of the individual firms before the merger. The merger negotiations will needless to say, determine which shareholders get what, of the 1. This should bring out the importance of the proper application of finance theory in the valuation procedures.

Risk Management

Organizations are becoming increasingly more aware of the uncertainties shrouding the future and are therefore taking a more formal approach to risk management. Knowledge Base Associates has been involved in operational, credit and financial risk management since its inception and has over the years trained a keen eye for risk identification and measurement. Within our own setup, risks are continuously considered and measured against the risk appetite of the organization. Wherever risks need to be hedged, various options are available. Knowledge Base Associates can help you in the whole process of risk management by actively participating in setting up, training and maintaining risk committees within your organization. We can also give you guidance on the various instruments available for hedging identified risks.

Succession or Disposal Strategies

Especially in the case of family businesses, Knowledge Base Associates has been involved in advising owners of such businesses as to when and how to package the organization for succession or sale. There may be various reasons why the owners may be postulating such a move. These may include increasing competition, tax advantages, retirement, lack of suitable family members willing to run the business, ill health, liquidity problems etc. Knowledge Base Associates believes that every family or owner managed business should seriously plan ahead and groom the business for succession or disposal in order to avoid getting only the break-up value of the entity.

Tendering

In tendering or bidding for any contract it is important that you:

• Evaluate correctly your true costs.
• Ensure full understanding of the tender conditions
• Understand properly all current market factors
• Present your proposal in a professional, yet easy to understand format

Our office can assist in:

• the completion of the tenders documentation,
• the negotiation of contracts once such tender is successful, and
• the financial monitoring of work in progress

Corporate Administration

Our office provides a comprehensive support to the Company Secretary and Directors in fulfilling both their statutory obligations and general administration.. Amongst the services we provide in this area, one finds: Drafting of

• Drafting of Memorandum and Articles of Association.
• Fully computerized company search facilities
• Electronic registers of shareholders and directors
• Share Capital changes and transfers procedures
• Changes to directorships and company secretary
• Annual Return procedure
• Nominee services
• Payroll Routines
• Client Representation with Government
• Staff recruitment
• Negotiation with clients and suppliers
• Application for finance and negotiations with financial institutions

Annual Filing Return

Filing annual returns for client promptly.

Book Keeping and Accountancy

We can provide an extensive range of services in order that we may release you from seemingly complex and time consuming chores, thus permitting you to concentrate on what you do best, generating business. These include maintenance of accounting records, compiling regular and ad hoc management reports and financial statements, VAT returns, budgets, cash flows and projections. We also provide non regular services such as compiling of plant registers, evaluation and implementation of computerized accounting systems and training of accounts related personnel.

Client Representation with Government

Throughout the life of your business, it is most probable that you will need to appear before Government departments for a variety of reasons. These could include:

• Application for assistance.
• Taxation matters.
• Work permit applications.
• Tendering.
• Labor related issues.
• Permit and Licensing issues.
• Arbitration procedures.

In all the above areas, our office has built up solid expertise through which we have assisted our clients in securing the best outcomes possible whilst at the same time permitting them to dedicate all their valuable time to the day to day requirements of their business.

Our office enjoys the highest reputation with all Government Ministries and Departments which reputation was built through long years of professional interaction and results.

Company Formation

If you wish to operate your business through a LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, it is most important that the formation process is handled by professionals who are conversant with the requirements of the Companies Act whilst at the same time sensitive to your particular personal and business requirements

Areas to which one should give deep thought before filing the company formation documentation include:

• Capital Structure.
• Share transfer rules.
• Succession to the original shareholders.
• Decision making process.
  

Company Liquidation

We offer advice from the very onset about a company’s future prospects as well as assist in carrying out the winding up and liquidation of a company, when the directors and shareholders elect so, at the minimum.

Company Recovery

Knowledge Base Associates has over the past few years been involved together with other professionals, in merger and acquisition activity. We offer the performance of due diligence processes, culture audits and gap analysis so as to facilitate the stitching together of two entities. We can also assist in the valuation of acquisitions in order to evaluate the synergy gains, normally described as 2+2=5. Our method of explaining the gains from merger activity is using the derivation 1=5-(2+2). The 1 represents the gain, the 5 represents the value of the merged firms and each of the 2’s represent the value of the individual firms before the merger. The merger negotiations will needless to say, determine which shareholders get what, of the 1. This should bring out the importance of the proper application of finance theory in the valuation procedures.

• Securing the best possible outcome.
• Ensuring a long term and stable relationship with your client/supplier.
• Providing a sense of achievement to both sides.
  

Payroll

Maintaining a good and up to date payroll system is an essential requisite for all businesses that employ people. Investing in good software and keeping up to date with the ever changing rules and legislation can be both time consuming and involve considerable expense. Non compliance today means hefty penalties imposed by the relevant Departments. So there could be a very strong argument in assigning this service to specialists such as Knowledge Base Associates. Such services include registration formalities with the Inland Revenue and ETC, assistance and preparation of payroll, monthly and yearly FS returns and provision of pay slips. Having accumulated years of experience in employment matters, we are also in a position to assist you with selecting appropriate prospective employees and maintaining good employee-employer relationships.

Training

A business needs to train staff to effectively operate each facet of an accounting department, be it a single or a multi-staffed department. The best way to do this is through the assistance of technical and experienced staff who have practical knowledge of the profession. We have tested this concept on innumerable occasions and our clients bear testimony to our effective approach. We can also offer business coaching sessions to top management and directors in order that they may be able to meet today’s complex business requirements.

Corporate Finance

Decisions about what to invest in and how to finance these investments are key determinants of your business success. A complete analysis of the external and internal situation as well as a clear strategic vision will help you to achieve best returns on your capital. At Knowledge Base Associates we have a holistic view when approaching corporate finance. Our analysis and recommendations always encapsulate both hard and soft factors derived from theory

Business Valuation

See Mergers and Acquisition and Investment Appraisals

Company Restructuring

In circumstances where a company is going or has just gone through a difficult period, but where, good opportunities exist of recovery and survival, then we can assist the company to reconstruct its operations and finances it such a way that, it eliminates its financial and liquidity problems. This would enable it to face new challenges and increase its wealth and growth potential. In doing so, we analyze a company’s structure to ensure efficiency, effectiveness and economy as well as assist the company to improve its liquidity, manage its repayments and control and strengthen the company finances.

Debt Finance

See Financing Decision.

Due Diligence

See Mergers and Acquition

Financial Strategies

One can debate endlessly about the relationship between financial goals and strategy and which should come first. In practice we believe that strategy both shapes and is shaped by financial goals. Various questions are commonly asked, such as, should the firm reinvest its earnings or should it pay dividends? When the firm needs more money, should it issue more shares or should it borrow? Should the firm borrow long-term or short-term? There are countless financing trade-offs that the firm has to decide upon. Using sophisticated financial modeling tools and quantitative techniques, Knowledge Base Associates can help you formulate finance related strategies by addressing performance analysis, trend analysis, forecasting models, cost of capital, sensitivity analysis, net present values, company valuations, financial risk management, lease versus purchase, amongst others.

Financing Decision

Naturally to follow a decision to invest in a venture is how to finance the project. It is helpful to separate investment and financing decisions even though there are similarities in the criteria for making them. These similarities however distil into the net present value computation. Projects are financed by raising cash through share-issues or through debt-capital. The mix of these options affects the rights over the entity. An owner manager who has no debt will have complete cash-flow rights and control-rights. As soon as the company borrows, then these rights are split up and reallocated between the owner and the lender. Knowledge Base Associates will assist your team in evaluating the effects and feasibility of the different options of raising finance.

Investment Appraisal

Undoubtedly, every business manager will postulate on whether or not his or her organization should take up a proposed investment in a new venture or project. There is always the principle that the management should invest in ventures that add to the value of their shareholders’ shares. Traditionally, the project’s payback period and its book rate of return would have determined whether the project should be taken up or not. Modern Finance Theory ropes in another important aspect namely the time-value of money which basically states that a pound today is worth more than a pound tomorrow because it can be invested to start earning interest immediately. Therefore, any investment appraisal method that does not recognize and fuse in the time-value of money cannot be sensible. Knowledge Base Associates can assist you in evaluating the net present value of the investment proposal by determining the appropriate opportunity cost of capital that reflects both the time value of money and the risks involved, to ultimately discount the future cash flows of the projects in mind. This should result in a more educated decision as to whether to invest in the venture or not.

Payroll

Maintaining a good and up to date payroll system is an essential requisite for all businesses that employ people. Investing in good software and keeping up to date with the ever changing rules and legislation can be both time consuming and involve considerable expense. Non compliance today means hefty penalties imposed by the relevant Departments. So there could be a very strong argument in assigning this service to specialists such as Knowledge Base Associates. Such services include registration formalities with the Inland Revenue and ETC, assistance and preparation of payroll, monthly and yearly FS returns and provision of pay slips. Having accumulated years of experience in employment matters, we are also in a position to assist you with selecting appropriate prospective employees and maintaining good employee-employer relationships.

Software

The accounting profession is evolving at an incredible pace, with increasing service complexities, a changing competitive landscape and clients who need and expect more. While the rest of the business world is racing ahead with IT development, are we still bolted on to spreadsheets and word processors, devising make-shift applications to sort out our administration? As businessmen, are we in full control of our costs and recovery rates? Are we continuously and persistently updating compliance checklists, assurance techniques and other technical development issues?

Knowledge Base Associates is considered by many to be a local leader in software-assisted techniques for the professions.

Financial Statement Production

Practices need to be proactive and offer their clients with up-to-date management information and regular accounts. The year-end process for corporate clients is made up of both the production of statutory accounts and the audit. It is vital that this and the production of f/s can be achieved painlessly and effortlessly. Clients expect a high quality of accounts presentation, data to be compared with budgets, graphical representation of results, and information to be produced on time! Clients are putting firms under pressure for these to be provided at little or no extra cost. Modern software solutions today enable the automatic and instant production of financial statements as soon as the trial balance is entered or imported. Smart templates ensure that amendments due to technical changes and legislative requirements are reflected in f/s produced. Automatic page referencing, note numbering and cross-referencing. Intelligence to decide when specific notes are required and whether for example reference to the single female director should be changed to “She is…” in the director’s report. If you are interested in accounts production software, kindly contact Knowledge Base Associates and someone from our office will gladly see to your requirements.

Practice Management and Customer Relationship Management

It is estimated that 65% of our letters are standard It is the norm in our profession to cost clients’ jobs based on time Storage space for documentation is becoming a costly luxury In the world of today, when everyone is accustomed to real-time responses, retrieving information from archives is making us sluggish with our clients Retrieving telephone numbers, e-mail and mailing addresses, is not always synchronized with our clients’ database holding important information on agreements reached, conversations etc.

Knowledge Base Associates can assist small and medium-sized practitioners in implementing practice management systems and customer relationship management systems so as to harness control on costs and debtors and also improve customer service.

 

Taxation Advises

In today's global economy, effective tax advice and planning can give your business a competitive advantage. KBA offers a range of Tax services which are designed to offer clients innovative tax planning. With the new economy developing rapidly, your business deserves high quality tax advice. KBA is committed to delivering this and surpassing your expectations. Our office is committed to providing you with best practice in the field of taxation. This is ensured through our commitment in keeping abreast of all developments in the field of taxation, both local and international, and notifying our client with any news that is of relevance to them.

Our specialists in direct and indirect taxation will assist you, our client, in:

• Best tax planning.
• Full compliance with local and international fiscal legislation.
• Representation with various tax authorities.

Corporate Tax Administration

Through state of the art software our office can ensure:

• Timely compliance with your corporate tax obligations.
• Up to date taxation data, fully reconciled with the relevant department.
• Expert representation on your behalf with Inland Revenue, Value Added Tax and Social Security Department.

Corporate Tax Planning

Our tax professionals aim at building an in-depth knowledge of your business which, when coupled with their many years’ experience in this area, they can assist your company to plan its activities so that it obtains the maximum benefits provided under various legislations in Knowledge Base Associates.

Fiscal Incentives

Companies operating in and from Knowledge Base Associates enjoy various fiscal incentives that are earmarked at attracting investment to our island and once here, assist in their competitiveness on the International Markets.

The Business Promotion Act provides a large range of fiscal incentives to those persons and companies operating in the target industries whilst companies trading solely outside our shores are subject to a special tax regime aimed at making Knowledge Base Associates a leading international trading centre.

International Taxation

With the world becoming one market place and with Knowledge Base Associate’s accession to the European Union, International Taxation is becoming even more relevant to anyone whose operations have a global dimension.

Personal Tax Administration

With taxation becoming more honorous every year, it is becoming increasingly important that even in the field of personal taxation, one should to seek professional advice.

Our office ensures that our professional staff keeps constantly up-to-date with the latest changes to our fiscal laws in order to provide you with the best:

• Personal tax planning.
• Succession planning.
• Capital Gains advice.
• Social Security contributions computation, settlement and advice.
• Tax return completion and submission.
• Representation at the Income Tax Department.
• Pension planning.

Tax Compliance and Investigation

Complying with numerous tax obligations is becoming difficult for everyone, especially the busy entrepreneur. Our office can assist you in complying with all your fiscal obligations, by preparing the necessary paperwork and sending reminders to you well in advance of the statutory deadlines.

We can also assist you when your affairs become the subject of a tax investigation through the:

• Preparation of all necessary paperwork.
• Representation with the investigating department.
• Negotiating a final settlement.
• Overall advice.

VAT & Customs

Through our team of professionals we provide the full range of VAT (Value Added Tax) related services, including new registration of business, deregistration, preparation of VAT returns, assistance during tax audits and investigations, international VAT issues and VAT defense. Through our knowledge of the legislation and mechanics of tax authorities we can provide the business person with advice to better manage the risk associated with today's complex VAT regime.