A FIRM of chartered accountants and business advisers has created a new division to help small and medium businesses struggling with new legislation.

The changes relate to payroll, auto enrolment and accounting standards, and have led many business owners to look to outsource those functions to external bodies.

Penalties and guidelines mean it is becoming increasingly challenging for business owners to ensure they meet the deadlines, while focusing on running their business.

Consequently, Clive Owen LLP, a leading regional firm has made appointments to its senior team and re-structured its business to create Clive Owen Managed Services.

The new division will help clients meet these demands and ensure quality, clarity and compliance in relation to reporting matters.

Two new senior managers have been appointed to spearhead the payroll and auto enrolment services.

Carole Wilson has joined the team from Vantec (UK) Ltd. She has 30 years’ experience in payroll, including 20 years at North-East firm Sage where she headed up its payroll bureau. Debbie Frei is the new payroll manager who will oversee a team of five payroll administrators. She has many years experience handling multiple payrolls for clients, and also has experience in personal tax.

The pair join Ian Jarvis, the new associate director of Clive Owen Managed Services, who will oversee the link between payroll, auto enrolment and financial reporting.

Kevin Shotton, partner at the firm who is heading up the team, said: "The Auto-Enrolment survey we carried out among our clients last year showed that more than half of businesses had yet to enroll in the Government’s pension legislation and that 41 per cent didn’t even know their re-enrolment date."

Firms who fail to pay pension contributions under Auto-Enrolment face fixed penalty notices, and escalating daily penalties of up to £10,000 per day. Civil penalties for failure to pay contributions can also be issued to individuals of £5,000 and up to £50,000 for organisations.