ATM Advice

ATM advice is an accounting and tax firm on Beukenlei in Sint-Job-in-'t-Goor, part of the municipality of Brecht, in the province of Antwerp. The company is accredited by the ITAA under number 50.060.181 and presents itself as a team of certified tax accountants. It calls itself a "people-first" accounting firm: digitisation and automation are the means, advice is the goal. The firm promises each client a dedicated contact person who knows the business, clear reporting without jargon, and regular meetings to discuss strategy.

Digital bookkeeping relies on a set of partner tools, including Codabox, Silverfin, Exact, Clearfacts and Adminpulse. Administrative and repetitive tasks are handled by what the firm calls its "virtual colleagues", freeing up time for analysis. The firm also helps clients organise, streamline and automate their own administration with easy-to-use applications. The office is fully paperless.

Recurring work includes filing VAT, corporate income tax, personal income tax and withholding tax returns on time and correctly. The firm prepares the annual accounts, periodic financial reports and budgets. It uses these reports to talk with clients about their figures, plans and concerns, while keeping track of every deadline and legal obligation.

For start-ups, ATM advice advises on choosing between a sole proprietorship and a company and handles the formalities: VAT registration, registration with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises, the UBO register and the share register. It helps prepare a well-founded financial plan and cash flow plan, and plays a role in choosing the type of company and the provisions of the articles of association at incorporation. It also works on pay optimisation for directors, combining different sources of income to suit their needs and the tax and social security framework.

The legal side covers agreements between directors and their company, drafting general terms and conditions, minutes and statutory reports, and support with mergers, demergers and transfers. As accountants, the firm's members can assist partners exercising their individual right of inspection. Finally, the firm helps with wealth planning: articles of association, wills, gifts, marriage contracts and inheritance law, drawing on a network of specialist partners for complex cases.

Working together follows several steps: an introductory meeting to map expectations, a fixed-price proposal to avoid surprises, setting up the administration with the dedicated adviser, then an analysis of figures and processes to find efficiency gains. The team includes Michel Van Look and Tom Basstanie, along with accounting staff, one of whom has twenty-five years in the profession. The firm takes on ITAA trainees and students. Clients who give testimonials include a shop, a dog boarding kennel and a car garage.