A year ago, we wrote about what makes this firm tick - the blend of decades of experience and a fresh perspective on where accountancy is going. Twelve months on, it feels like the right moment to share what we've been building, and what's coming next.
A Firm That Doesn't Stand Still
The accountancy profession is moving faster than it ever has. Regulation, technology, client expectations - all of it is shifting, and the firms that will serve clients well in five years' time are the ones investing in keeping up today.
At Donaldson Ross & Co, that means being deliberate about making space for the big picture alongside the day-to-day. One area we've committed real time to over the past year is artificial intelligence. It's no longer a topic on the periphery of the profession - it's firmly in the room. Understanding it properly, beyond the headlines, puts us in a far better position to work efficiently and give clients sharper, faster advice.
But understanding AI also means knowing its limits. We're making vital decisions about when to use it - and equally as important, when not to. Accountancy is a profession built on trust, accuracy and judgement. Technology supports that. It doesn't replace it.
Investing in the Right People
A practice is only as good as the people in it, and we're proud of the team we're building at Donaldson Ross & Co.
This year, one of our team members completed her AAT Level 4 and is now fully AAT qualified - a brilliant achievement and a real asset to the firm. Another AAT-qualified member of the team is now taking the next step, embarking on the ATT-CTA pathway to specialise in tax. Watching people grow and develop their careers here is one of the most satisfying parts of running a practice like this.
We've also welcomed a new trainee bookkeeper, and it reflects something we care about deeply: developing local talent properly. We regularly take on work experience students from the local college, and we believe in training people from the ground up - studying AAT whilst working in practice, learning the craft before being trusted with more. It's the same path that shaped the people who run this firm today, and it builds the kind of judgement and instinct that clients ultimately rely on.
There's no shortcut to that grounding. And we're not looking for one.
MTD Is Almost Here - Is Your Business Ready?
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is no longer a distant deadline. From April 2026, sole traders and landlords earning above £50,000 will need to be filing quarterly through compliant software. The threshold drops to £30,000 the following year, and £20,000 the year after that.
We've spent a significant part of this year helping clients prepare - not just technically, but practically. For many, it's a shift in mindset as much as anything else. The businesses and individuals who engage with it early will find the transition far smoother than those who leave it late.
If you're not sure where you stand, it's worth a conversation sooner rather than later.
The Firm We're Building
Donaldson Ross & Co has been serving clients since 1993. That's over thirty years of trust built up, one conversation at a time. The foundations are solid and what we're focused on now is what the next chapter looks like.
A growing team with real ambition. Technology used thoughtfully, not blindly. And the same commitment to clear, honest advice that has always defined this firm.
We're proud of where we've come from. We're more excited about where we're going.
Thinking about switching accountants, getting more proactive with your finances, or just getting MTD-ready? We're always happy to have a straightforward conversation. Get in touch to arrange a chat.