TLDR (too long didn’t read): What you need to know
We became a B Corp accountant to formalise something we already believed in, that good business is about balancing profit with responsibility. It doesn’t change the fundamentals of what we do, but it strengthens how we think, make decisions, and support our clients in building commercially strong, sustainable businesses.
You may have seen that Harland is a certified B Corp business.
We haven’t spoken about it much yet, and that’s probably on us. It matters more than we’ve communicated. Not because of the logo itself, but because of what sits behind it and how that shows up in the way we work with you as your accountant and business adviser.
Choosing an accountant: more than just compliance
When a business owner chooses an accountant, they’re not just choosing someone to file accounts or deal with HMRC. They’re choosing judgement. They’re choosing someone to sit alongside decisions are made about growth, cash, people and risk.
Those decisions are rarely straightforward, and they are not purely financial. That’s the context in which we decided to become a B Corp.
What B Corp certification means
The certification, run by B Lab, is rigorous. It looks in detail at how a business is governed, how decisions are made, how people are treated, and how impact is considered. It requires evidence, not intention, and it requires legal changes so that directors are accountable to more than just shareholders. In other words, it tests whether what we say about our business is actually true.
Why this matters for our clients
For us, that was important because of the role we play with clients. We see first-hand that most of the businesses we work with are already operating with a strong sense of responsibility, whether they would describe it that way or not. Many are local, owner-managed businesses who care about their team, their customers and community. They support other local businesses, create employment, and make decisions that balance profit with doing things properly.
Some are B Corps but many are not. But the underlying values are often the same. At the same time, we are very clear on something else: profit matters. Without profit there are no jobs, no investment, no resilience, no longevity, and lots of sleepless nights. The ability to employ people, to support families and to contribute to our community all depends on running a financially healthy business. That is not in conflict with responsibility, it is what enables it.
Balancing profit and purpose in business
Our role is to help our clients hold both of those things at once, to help them build a business that is commercially strong and sustainable, while also making decisions they are proud of. To challenge where short-term choices might undermine long-term value. To support them in navigating trade-offs, because there are always trade-offs. That is where B Corp becomes relevant.
Not as something they need to become, and not as a label we expect you to care about, but as a framework that shapes how we think when we are advising you. It gives us a clearer structure around governance, accountability and long-term decision-making. It holds us to a standard, particularly when things are under pressure.
Governance, accountability, and long-term thinking
You only have to look at the scrutiny around water companies and the pollution of waterways, highlighted in programmes like Dirty Business, to see what happens when governance and accountability fall short. These are not abstract issues. They are the result of decisions made over time, often prioritising short-term outcomes over long-term responsibility where negative impact reaches way beyond the boundaries of the business premises.
Equally, you can see positive examples closer to home. Businesses like Finisterre have shown that it is possible to build a strong, profitable company rooted in purpose, community and environmental responsibility. That balance is not easy, but it is achievable and we have many B Corp businesses doing great things in our own client portfolio. That is the space most of our clients are operating in.
What becoming a B Corp means for our service
Becoming a B Corp hasn’t changed our focus on the fundamentals. You still need us to be responsive, accurate and commercially useful. That will always come first. But it has strengthened the framework behind how we operate and how we advise. It means we are more deliberate about governance, more structured in how we make decisions, and more accountable in how we measure ourselves. It means we are thinking not just about what works now, but what will stand up over time. Ultimately, this is about helping you build a business that lasts.
Supporting your business at every stage
Whether you are focused on growth, stability, succession or eventual exit, the same principles apply. Strong financial performance, clear decision-making and a business that people want to be part of, as employees, customers and owners.
B Corp is simply one way of making sure we are holding ourselves to those principles as we support you.
As always, if you want to talk about any of this, whether that’s profitability, growth or the longer-term direction of your business, we are here to have that conversation.
About the author
Deborah Edwards
With over 20 years experience, Deborah is a Chartered Accountant and Harland Director. She is also a successful entrepreneur, finance director and our business transformation expert.
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