Gemma Pryor, founder of Maidstone-based Trinity Accounting, has built a practice centred on people – providing supportive, jargon-free accounting for SMEs while also nurturing young talent through work experience
Gemma, for those unfamiliar with Trinity Accounting, how would you describe the business and the services you provide?
Trinity supports SMEs in a wide variety of sectors – from security companies and cleaning businesses to plumbers, hairdressers, influencers and consultants. So, we’ve got a broad range of clientele, and that’s what makes it so interesting because every business has its own way of working and its own set of challenges. We provide all accounting services, including bookkeeping, VAT returns, and payroll to self-assessments and year-end accounts.
You founded Trinity Accounting with a clear vision for supporting local businesses. What inspired you to start the firm and how has that vision evolved over time?
Having worked in and then managed accountancy practices, I saw firsthand how many business owners were treated as just another set of year-end accounts. They would often only hear from their accountant once and year, which is often too late to provide meaningful advice.
I wanted to change that. That’s why I founded Trinity with a simple goal: to make accounting clear, approachable and genuinely helpful for small businesses. We do this by creating a model built around monthly reporting and regular communication, so clients no longer feel overwhelmed by deadlines and jargon. I set out to build a practice that focuses on support and understanding, not just compliance.
How do you ensure clients feel supported and informed?
Something we really focus on is helping our clients understand their business figures properly, not just at year end, but throughout the year. This makes us different from other accountancy practices. We concentrate on monthly management accounts, even for the smaller companies and businesses.
Monthly management accounts help clients see exactly how their business is performing month by month in real time, with a look at their profit and loss, balance sheet, and what taxes they need to save for and when they are due. It keeps them organised, not just financially, but overall, because once they understand their figures, they can make better business decisions and plan ahead. We have had clients go on to acquire property, reinvest their profits and really grow their businesses.
You often take on interns and apprentices from local schools. What inspired this commitment, and how has it benefitted your business and the young people you support?
I’ve always been passionate about giving young people real opportunities to learn and grow. We regularly welcome local students for work experience placements, providing them with the chance to see what accounting is really like in practice. One of our recent work experience students has now been offered a full-time apprenticeship with us when he finishes school in April. Seeing the growth and confidence develop in the students is incredibly rewarding.
What does your training and mentoring process look like for interns or new recruits?
We’re dedicated to helping young people learn, grow and gain confidence in accountancy. From the very first day, our students get hands-on experience, real responsibility and support every step of the way as they work towards their AAT qualification. I make sure they work alongside me directly so that they get a true understanding of the day-to-day functions of an accounting practice.
Company culture is clearly very important to you. How would you describe the working environment at Trinity?
We have now got a lovely team and so many fantastic clients, and I feel proud that we’re helping local businesses across the country grow and understand their finances. We always pull together, support one another and tackle anything that comes our way as one team. Our office is a space where people feel comfortable, valued and inspired, surrounded by home comforts rather than a typical office environment.
What are some of the most common challenges your clients face, and how are you helping them adapt and thrive?
I think one of the biggest challenges businesses face these days is technology and knowing which software is right for them. There are so many options out there, and not all of them are a good fit.
We are a Xero Silver Partner and use this software for most of our clients now. We’re also trained on QuickBooks, FreeAgent and pretty much every other accounting software available. That’s really important because some clients already have a system they like and feel comfortable with, and we wouldn’t want to take that away from them.
The accounting sector continues to evolve with new technology and changing client expectations. How do you see those trends shaping the way you and your team work?
As technology evolves, especially with AI being introduced into accounting software, we make sure we stay completely up to date. For example, Xero now has Tap to Pay and its own AI assistant, JAX, which is brilliant for helping businesses streamline what they do.
We are constantly training and updating our knowledge so we are able to pass that on to our clients – showing them what tools can help them grow, save time or even save money. We’ve found things like free payment link options for some clients, which have saved them monthly fees. Little things like that can make a big difference.
You’ve seen steady growth in recent years. What do you see as the next phase in Trinity’s journey?
Our main goal is to be an accountancy practice that genuinely helps clients, not just one that hands over a tax bill once a year. We like to build relationships with them, understand their businesses and almost become part of their team. It’s rewarding to be able to say, “Why don’t you cut these costs?” or “Did you know you can put those expenses through?” and see that advice make a real impact on their growth.
Finally, what are you most proud of when you look at Trinity today and what excites you most about what’s still to come?
Looking at how far Trinity has come, I feel really proud. The business has grown so much and my original vision – to offer that monthly, hands-on service – has really come to life. It’s great to see clients now taking more control and understanding their figures because of it.
We are already in a strong position when it comes to the new Making Tax Digital quarterly submissions for the self-employed because most of our clients are already used to providing us with information monthly, so they’ll be completely ready when those rules come in next year.
On a personal level, I’m really proud of what we have achieved, especially as a working mum who started the business during lockdown. I didn’t have any experience running a business before, so building something from scratch with my husband and seeing it go from strength to strength has been amazing.
I also run startup and growth workshops around Maidstone, which I absolutely love doing –helping new entrepreneurs get off on the right foot. This includes explaining what type of business entity they should be, what tax thresholds they’ll fall into or what software will work best for them. I really believe that the first year of a business is crucial. Getting it right from the start makes such a difference and I love that we get to help people through that journey.
