Accountants for pharmacies and pharmacists

An independent pharmacy, a pharmacy company and a pharmacist taking locum shifts need different accounts. Tell us which describes you, how many premises or engagements you have, and whether your records are up to date. We can agree a practical scope rather than assume one package fits everyone.

• Community pharmacy owners: business accounts, supplier balances, stock records, VAT and payroll.
• Owner-managed pharmacy companies: statutory accounts, Corporation Tax and directors' personal returns where agreed.
• Self-employed and locum pharmacists: income records, allowable-expense review and Self Assessment.
• Pharmacists with mixed employment and locum income: review PAYE documents alongside separate business records.

If you work shifts rather than own the pharmacy, start with our locum pharmacist accounting page.

For an English community pharmacy, we can help match the NHSBSA Schedule of Payments to the books, distinguish receipts from the period they relate to, and document differences for follow-up. Bring your schedules, claims summaries and any available Prescription Item Reports. The NHSBSA makes these reports available through its Information Services Portal to authorised users.

Our reconciliation work can cover NHS reimbursements and fees, service-payment records, adjustments and the associated bank receipts. We can help organise Pharmacy First income alongside other services without assuming every receipt has the same accounting or VAT treatment.

We review financial records; we do not certify that every clinical claim is eligible or act as your dispensing system. Read the NHSBSA explanation of electronic pharmacy payment records and our pharmacy VAT and NHS accounts guide.

A useful pharmacy bookkeeping system separates the income streams instead of treating the whole business as a single sales figure. We can review the chart of accounts, EPOS summaries, wholesaler invoices and credit notes, bank feeds and VAT coding with you.

• Stock and suppliers: reconcile wholesaler statements, capture credit notes and agree a documented year-end stock process, including expired or obsolete stock.
• Payroll and staffing: organise PAYE reporting, staff payroll and the accounting records for locum invoices. Employment status needs a separate factual review.
• Management accounts: agree reporting on sales mix, gross margin, staffing costs, supplier commitments and cash available for tax.
• Cash-flow planning: map expected receipts against wholesaler payments, wages, rent, borrowing and tax dates so pressure points are visible earlier.

Pharmacy VAT can include taxable and exempt activities. We review the actual supplies and contracts, not just whether the customer is the NHS. HMRC's health-professionals and pharmaceutical-products guidance is a starting point, not a substitute for reviewing your own business.

Before taking on a pharmacy, agree the financial review you need. We can discuss historic accounts, management figures, debtors, creditors, stock, finance assumptions and a cash-flow forecast. A transaction may also need a solicitor, specialist valuer, lender and regulatory adviser; an accounts review does not replace their work or guarantee funding.

If you are switching accountant, send the latest accounts, tax filings, bookkeeping access details through the secure onboarding process, and a list of upcoming deadlines. We will agree the handover, outstanding work and responsibilities with you before starting. Do not share account passwords in a contact-form message.

VMK is based at 17 Hunters Grove, Kenton, Harrow HA3 9AB. Pharmacy owners and pharmacists in London and Central London can work with us remotely using secure document exchange, cloud accounts, telephone and video meetings. We do not claim a pharmacy office in each area.

Explore our service areas: Harrow, Kenton, Kingsbury, Wembley, Central London and London. Discuss your location, business structure and records with us before agreeing a service.

• Business structure, number of pharmacy premises and the services you want help with.
• Latest accounts, tax and VAT returns, plus any filing deadlines or HMRC letters.
• NHS schedules, sales summaries, bank statements and wholesaler balances, shared securely after onboarding.
• Staff and locum arrangements, payroll summary, stock process and existing accounting software.

Start with a short enquiry describing your business and priorities. VMK will discuss the scope and quote before work begins. Ask about accounting for your pharmacy.

Service information prepared on 23 October 2026. Tax treatment depends on your contracts and circumstances. Our NHS payment guidance concerns community pharmacies in England; arrangements elsewhere in the UK need a separate review. Accounting support is not clinical, GPhC regulatory, legal or investment advice.