Technical accounting and IFRS compliance can present significant challenges for growing and listed businesses. Whether you are preparing for a public listing, already quoted on AIM, Aquis or the Main Market, or simply need specialist support for complex transactions and ongoing reporting, Westend Corporate provides dedicated IFRS expertise.
Our team of qualified accountants brings over 20 years’ experience in technical accounting and IFRS reporting. We work seamlessly alongside your finance team or can take full ownership of these areas, acting as an experienced extension whenever needed. Our specialists combine deep technical knowledge of IFRS with practical, commercial insight. We work directly with your internal finance team and auditors to interpret and apply the standards correctly, taking the pain out of complex technical issues, ensuring smooth audit sign-off, and freeing your team to focus on running and growing the business.
Complex Technical Accounting Advice and IFRS Application
We provide expert guidance across the full spectrum of IFRS standards. This includes revenue recognition (IFRS 15), leases (IFRS 16), share-based payments (IFRS 2), foreign currency translation (IAS 21), the upcoming implementation of IFRS 18 and many other areas. We prepare high-quality technical accounting memoranda, accounting policy recommendations and impact assessments to support management judgments. We work directly with your auditors and reporting accountants to ensure sign-off in these areas.
Share Option Valuations
Share options and other equity-settled awards are a common way for listed and growth companies to incentivise and retain key talent. Valuing these awards correctly under IFRS 2 can be demanding, particularly when schemes include market-based performance conditions, complex vesting criteria or multiple tranches. Auditors are placing greater scrutiny on the models, assumptions and supporting documentation.
We deliver specialist fair value valuations using the most appropriate methodology for your scheme. For standard options we typically apply the Black-Scholes model; for awards with market conditions (such as TSR performance or share price hurdles) we use Monte Carlo simulations that properly reflect the probability of vesting outcomes.
Our valuations include clear, well-documented assumptions (volatility, expected life, risk-free rate, dividend yield, etc.), sensitivity analysis and full supporting reports suitable for board approval and audit review. We work directly with your auditors to respond to queries and secure timely sign-off.
If you are planning to grant new options or refresh existing schemes, we can review the draft option agreements in advance. This lets you understand the likely profit or loss impact upfront and make informed decisions on scheme design and structure.
Business Combinations and Purchase Price Allocations (PPA)
Acquisitions trigger important accounting requirements under IFRS 3 Business Combinations. A Purchase Price Allocation (PPA) is required to fairly reflect the transaction in your financial statements. The PPA allocates the total purchase consideration to the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their fair values on the acquisition date, with any residual recorded as goodwill (or a bargain purchase gain).
We provide comprehensive end-to-end accounting support for business combinations. This includes preparing the full PPA report – identifying the acquirer, determining the acquisition date, valuing tangible and intangible assets (such as customer relationships, brands and technology) and calculating goodwill. We also prepare the necessary accounting journals for you to post into your systems so the acquisition is correctly reflected in your books.
We work closely with your internal finance team and auditors throughout the process to ensure the PPA is robust, well-documented and achieves a smooth, timely audit sign-off.
Convertible Loan Notes (CLNs) & Complex Financial Instruments
In today’s financing environment, companies often turn to convertible loan notes (CLNs) and other hybrid instruments because of their flexibility for both issuers and investors. However, the accounting under IFRS 9 and IAS 32 can be highly complex.
We specialise in the accounting for CLNs and other compound financial instruments under IFRS 9 and IAS 32. We provide clear, straightforward explanations of the accounting treatment in plain English, so you fully understand the impact on your financial statements and future P&L.
We prepare the appropriate accounting journals for initial recognition of the CLN (including equity/liability bifurcation) and work with you to identify and prepare any remeasurement journals required in future reporting periods. This covers subsequent measurement, fair value assessments (under IFRS 13 where applicable), impairment reviews, and ongoing compliance. We work directly with your internal team and auditors to ensure smooth and timely sign-off.
We can also review draft CLN agreements upfront and advise on the accounting consequences before issuance, helping you avoid unexpected surprises later. We support the accounting and valuation of a wide range of complex instruments, including embedded derivatives, warrants, and other hybrid arrangements.
Impairment Reviews & Valuations for Financial Reporting
Auditors are increasingly scrutinising impairment assessments, particularly for goodwill and intangible assets following acquisitions or in challenging market conditions. Under IAS 36, goodwill and indefinite-life intangibles must be tested for impairment at least annually. All other assets must be tested when there is any indication of impairment.
We support detailed impairment testing under IAS 36 for goodwill, intangible assets and other non-financial assets. This includes value-in-use calculations, fair value less costs of disposal assessments, sensitivity analysis and supporting documentation for board and auditor review. We work directly with your auditors to ensure the work achieves a smooth sign-off.
New Standards Implementation & Ongoing Compliance
We help companies assess and implement new or amended IFRS standards, including drafting detailed impact assessment reports that clearly quantify and explain the effect on your financial statements. We then work directly with your finance team to process any necessary adjustments, update accounting policies, and prepare transition plans.
Many clients retain us on a flexible, ongoing basis for ad-hoc technical queries, periodic reviews of significant transactions, and hands-on support during year-end and interim reporting cycles.
Ready to discuss your needs?
If you are facing a complex accounting issue, preparing for a listing or would simply like an initial call to discuss how we can support you, please feel free to reach out. We’re happy to have an informal, no-obligation conversation to explore the best way forward.