Company registration number: 11796849
COMPANY INFORMATION
CONTENTS
GROUP STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The directors present their strategic report of the company and group for the period from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024.
The principal activity of the Group in the period under review was that of the provision of contract, permanent and temporary staff and related services.
The principal activity of the company is that of a holding company.
The principal activity of the company is that of a holding company.
The turnover for the period was £7,620,713 and operating loss was £612,838. The consolidated shareholder funds at the period end were negative £1,686,002. The EBITDA for the period was £260,012.
The directors monitor progress of the Group with reference to a number of key performance indicators, these include:
• Net Fee Income (permanent, temporary and contract revenue less temporary workers wages);
• Net Fee Income per full time equivalent employee;
• Consultant profitability (fees booked less direct costs to employ);
• Net Fee Income conversion (conversion of NFI into EBITDA);
• Recruitment metrics (including but not limited to fill ratios, job flows and margin).
The directors monitor progress of the Group with reference to a number of key performance indicators, these include:
• Net Fee Income (permanent, temporary and contract revenue less temporary workers wages);
• Net Fee Income per full time equivalent employee;
• Consultant profitability (fees booked less direct costs to employ);
• Net Fee Income conversion (conversion of NFI into EBITDA);
• Recruitment metrics (including but not limited to fill ratios, job flows and margin).
The Board remain committed to building on CMA Recruitment Group’s 45-year legacy, continuing to deliver successful outcomes for employers and job seekers across the South of England.
The challenges in the UK recruitment market remain. Accountancy & Finance job postings are now below pre-pandemic levels and UK unemployment is rising. Despite these headwinds, CMA has traded resiliently, and the Board remains upbeat about the business’s short- and long-term prospects.
The challenges in the UK recruitment market remain. Accountancy & Finance job postings are now below pre-pandemic levels and UK unemployment is rising. Despite these headwinds, CMA has traded resiliently, and the Board remains upbeat about the business’s short- and long-term prospects.
The primary risk faced by the Group is economic uncertainty driven by external macroeconomic factors, which have introduced volatility into job flows across all divisions.
A further risk is the attraction and retention of high performing consultants and support team members who embody our company values. With an average team tenure exceeding ten years, we believe we are providing an excellent workplace environment.
A further risk is the attraction and retention of high performing consultants and support team members who embody our company values. With an average team tenure exceeding ten years, we believe we are providing an excellent workplace environment.
This report was approved by the board and signed on its behalf.
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DIRECTOR'S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The director presents his report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.
The director is responsible for preparing the Group Strategic Report, the Director's Report and the consolidated financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
In preparing these financial statements, the director is required to:
∙select suitable accounting policies for the Group's financial statements and then apply them consistently;
∙make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
∙prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group will continue in business.
The director is responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and the Group and to enable him to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. He is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and the Group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The loss for the year, after taxation, amounted to £807,015 (2023 - loss £469,573).
The Director does not recommend the payment of a dividend.
The director who served during the year was:
Please refer to the Strategic Report.
There have been no significant events affecting the Group since the year end.
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DIRECTOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The auditor, Menzies LLP, will be deemed to have been reappointmented 28 days after these financial statements were sent to members or 28 days after the latest date prescribed for filing the accounts with the registrar, whichever is earlier. This is in accordance with section 485 of the Companies Act 2006.
This report was approved by the board and signed on its behalf.
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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF CMA RECRUITMENT GROUP LIMITED
We have audited the financial statements of CMA Recruitment Group Limited (the 'parent Company') and its subsidiaries (the 'Group') for the year ended 31 December 2024, which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, the Company Statement of Financial Position, the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity, the Company Statement of Changes in Equity and the related notes, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Group in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council's Ethical Standard and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the director's use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Group's or the parent Company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the director with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report other than the financial statements and our Auditor's Report thereon. The director is responsible for the other information contained within the Annual Report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF CMA RECRUITMENT GROUP LIMITED (CONTINUED)
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
∙the information given in the Group Strategic Report and the Director's Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
∙the Group Strategic Report and the Director's Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and the parent Company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Group Strategic Report or the Director's Report.
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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF CMA RECRUITMENT GROUP LIMITED (CONTINUED)
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an Auditor's Report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these Group financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
• The Group and parent Company are subject to laws and regulations that directly affect the financial statements including financial reporting legislation, and general regulations such as health and safety. There are no industry specific laws and
regulations which would be deemed to have a significant impact on the financial statements. We assessed the extent of compliance with the appropriate laws and regulations as part of our procedures on the related financial statement items.
• We understood how the Group and parent Company are complying with the legal and regulatory frameworks by, making inquiries to management, those responsible for legal and compliance procedures. We corroborated our inquiries through our review of board minutes.
• The engagement partner assessed whether the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence and capabilities to identify or recognize non-compliance with laws and regulations. The assessment did not identify any issues in this area.
• We assessed the susceptibility of the group and parent Company financial statements to material misstatement, including how fraud might occur. Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:
°Identifying and assessing the design effectiveness of controls management has in place to prevent and detect fraud;
°Understanding how those charged with governance considered and addressed the potential for override of controls or other inappropriate influence over the financial reporting process;
°Challenging assumptions and judgments made by management in its significant accounting estimates; and
°Identifying and testing journal entries, in particular, any journal entries posted with unusual account combinations.
∙As a result of the above procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the
organisation for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud in the following areas:
organisation for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud in the following areas:
°Posting of unusual journals and complex transactions.
°Misappropriation of funds through fraudulent purchase ledger and payroll activity.
°Manipulation of amounts subject to significant judgment or estimate.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Auditor's Report.
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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF CMA RECRUITMENT GROUP LIMITED (CONTINUED)
This report is made solely to the Company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an Auditor's Report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company's members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
for and on behalf of
Chartered Accountants
Statutory Auditor
3000a Parkway
Hampshire
PO15 7FX
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the board and were signed on its behalf by:
The notes on pages 15 to 31 form part of these financial statements.
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COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the board and were signed on its behalf by:
The notes on pages 15 to 31 form part of these financial statements.
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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CONSOLIDATED ANALYSIS OF NET DEBT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
CMA Recruitment Group Limited is a private company limited by shares, registered in England and Wales. The address of its registered office is disclosed on the company information page. The registered address is also the principal place of business.
2.Accounting policies
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention unless otherwise specified within these accounting policies and in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland and the Companies Act 2006.
The preparation of financial statements in compliance with FRS 102 requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires Group management to exercise judgement in applying the Group's accounting policies (see note 3).
The Company has taken advantage of the exemption allowed under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and has not presented its own Statement of Comprehensive Income in these financial statements.
The following principal accounting policies have been applied:
The consolidated financial statements present the results of the Company and its own subsidiaries ("the Group") as if they form a single entity. Intercompany transactions and balances between group companies are therefore eliminated in full.
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the results of business combinations using the purchase method. In the Statement of Financial Position, the acquiree's identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities are initially recognised at their fair values at the acquisition date. The results of acquired operations are included in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income from the date on which control is obtained. They are deconsolidated from the date control ceases.
In accordance with the transitional exemption available in FRS 102, the Group has chosen not to retrospectively apply the standard to business combinations that occurred before the date of transition to FRS 102, being 30 January 2019.
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the results of business combinations using the purchase method. In the Statement of Financial Position, the acquiree's identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities are initially recognised at their fair values at the acquisition date. The results of acquired operations are included in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income from the date on which control is obtained. They are deconsolidated from the date control ceases.
In accordance with the transitional exemption available in FRS 102, the Group has chosen not to retrospectively apply the standard to business combinations that occurred before the date of transition to FRS 102, being 30 January 2019.
As at the balance sheet date the Group and Company have net current liabilities and a balance sheet deficit. The Director has reviewed the position and considers that it is appropriate to prepare the accounts on the going concern basis.
Revenue from temporary hires are recognised in the period the services are provided to the client. In the case of permanent hires, revenue is recognised when the placement is unconditionally accepted by both parties. A provision is made for any cancelled placements made within 3 months.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
2.Accounting policies (continued)
The fair value of the award also takes into account non-vesting conditions. These are either factors beyond the control of either party (such as a target based on an index) or factors which are within the control of one or other of the parties (such as the Group keeping the scheme open or the employee maintaining any contributions required by the scheme).
Where the terms and conditions of options are modified before they vest, the increase in the fair value of the options, measured immediately before and after the modification, is also charged to profit or loss over the remaining vesting period.
Where equity instruments are granted to persons other than employees, profit or loss is charged with fair value of goods and services received.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
2.Accounting policies (continued)
Goodwill
Other intangible assets
All intangible assets are considered to have a finite useful life. If a reliable estimate of the useful life cannot be made, the useful life shall not exceed ten years.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
2.Accounting policies (continued)
Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives, on a straight line or a reducing balance basis.
Depreciation is provided on the following basis:
The assets' residual values, useful lives and depreciation methods are reviewed, and adjusted prospectively if appropriate, or if there is an indication of a significant change since the last reporting date.
Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount and are recognised in profit or loss.
Provisions are measured as the best estimate of the amount required to settle the obligation, taking into account the related risks and uncertainties.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
2.Accounting policies (continued)
The Group has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 “Basic Financial Instruments” of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the Group's Statement of Financial Position when the Group becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets
Basic financial assets, which include trade and other debtors, cash and bank balances, are initially measured at their transaction price (adjusted for transaction costs except in the initial measurement of financial assets that are subsequently measured at fair value through profit and loss) and are subsequently carried at their amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any provision for impairment, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest.
Discounting is omitted where the effect of discounting is immaterial. The Group's cash and cash equivalents, trade and most other debtors due with the operating cycle fall into this category of financial instruments.
Financial liabilities
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the Group after the deduction of all its liabilities.
Basic financial liabilities, which include trade and other creditors, bank loans, other loans and loans due to fellow group companies are initially measured at their transaction price (adjusting for transaction costs except in the initial measurement of financial liabilities that are subsequently measured at fair value through profit and loss). When this constitutes a financing transaction, whereby the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest, discounting is omitted where the effect of discounting is immaterial.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at their amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods and services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Trade creditors are classified as current liabilities if the payment is due within one year. If not, they represent non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are initially recognised at their transaction price and subsequently are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Discounting is omitted where the effect of discounting is immaterial.
Impairment of assets
Determine whether there are indicators of impairment of the group's tangible and intangible assets, including goodwill. Factors taken into consideration in reaching such a decision include the economic viability and expected future financial performance of the asset.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
11.Taxation (continued)
There were no factors that may affect future tax charges.
The Company has taken advantage of the exemption allowed under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and has not presented its own Statement of Comprehensive Income in these financial statements. The loss after tax of the parent Company for the year was £1,388,349 (2023 - loss £134,176 ).
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The interest charged on the loan notes is 2.5%.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
Profit and loss account
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The Group operates a defined contributions pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Group in an independently administered fund. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the Group to the fund and amounted to £92,840 (2023 - £89,418). Contributions totalling £17,118 (2023 - £14,279) were payable to the fund at the reporting date and are included in creditors.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
The ultimate controlling party is Mr N F C Clarke, the director.
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