Rens Accountants

Rens Accountants is an advisory firm with 35 staff, headquartered in Mechelen with offices in Putte, Leuven and Vilvoorde. It calls itself a 'boutique accounting firm'. In early 2024 it took over Accountantskantoor Driessens in Putte and Fidabbo in Rotselaar, which expanded its team and expertise. Its services span five areas: accountancy, taxes and VAT, tax advice, consultancy and mediation. It follows clients from the initial concept to the handover of the business.

The client base is wide. Large companies add specialist advice to their in-house know-how, while SMEs and associations find generalists with access to a network of specialists. Partners take an active part in discussions with management and owners. A dedicated file manager follows each client from A to Z, joined by other staff depending on complexity. The firm also supports starters, growing businesses and established companies looking to optimise.

In accounting, the firm handles full processing, legal obligations and VAT. It prepares the operating accounts of the self-employed and the balance sheet and income statement of companies, and files the annual accounts. It also produces financial reports such as analyses, cost calculations and cash plans. Each year it drafts the minutes of the general meeting and the board, as well as the annual report, and monitors special procedures including the alarm bell procedure. Lastly, it optimises directors' pay and can manage their payroll.

For VAT, it deals with the optimal structure, formalities, returns, listings and intra-Community statements, and it assists clients during an audit. It also supports personal income tax, non-resident tax, corporate tax and the tax on legal entities for non-profits. Tax advice covers inheritance and wealth planning, property transactions, international tax, tax and legal screenings, and rulings.

The consultancy strand is aimed at owners who want to invest, grow or hand over: consolidation and budgeting, investment or financing files, buying or selling a business, wealth planning, valuation and management buy-outs. Here the firm acts as a sparring partner and objective adviser.

What sets the firm apart is mediation and court-appointed expert work. It is regularly appointed by the enterprise court and the police court, and also acts as an ad hoc mediator for companies or lawyers. Assignments range from reviewing a set of accounts to estimating economic damage, through to forensic investigation of accounting and bankruptcy fraud, money laundering or VAT carousels. Filip Diez, a former senior manager at EY and BDO, works there as a court expert. Partner Marjolijn Himpens brings 25 years of experience in reporting for Belgian and multinational companies.