I have an accounting firm UK. I am looking for a consultant who can help with below requirements.
Objectives
The consultant will assist in:
1. Designing a structured equity allocation plan for employees, ensuring fair distribution based on contribution and performance.
2. Implementing a KPI-driven compensation model for key roles, particularly the Group & Branch Partner & Sales Team, linking salary, profit-sharing, and potential equity to measurable growth metrics.
3. Creating a legally compliant framework that protects the company's interests while offering competitive incentives to key employees.
4. Ensuring tax efficiency and legal structuring of share issuance in the UK.
Scope of Work
1 Equity Structuring & Share Issuance Plan
The consultant will:
• Define an optimal shareholding structure to allocate up to 15%-20% equity among key employees while ensuring the founders retain control.
• Develop a vesting schedule (e.g., 3-5 years) to prevent early exits from benefiting unfairly.
• Set eligibility criteria for employees to receive shares (e.g., performance-based, tenure-based).
• Design different equity instruments (e.g., growth shares, phantom shares, profit-sharing) to cater to different employee levels.
• Establish a buy-back mechanism if an employee leaves or underperforms.
• Provide legal and tax advisory support on implementing the structure under UK company law and HMRC guidelines.
2 Performance-Based Compensation & KPI Structure
The consultant will:
• Develop strict KPIs for leadership roles (e.g., Group Partner) linking their salary, equity, and bonuses to measurable business growth.
• Create a structured performance review system (e.g., quarterly assessments with financial targets).
• Align salaries and profit-sharing percentages with performance metrics.
• Suggest necessary role adjustments (e.g., transition Group Partner to a “Practice Growth & Operations Head” with clear revenue targets).
• Implement a reduction or elimination of profit-sharing if KPIs are not met.
• Provide recommendations on incentive alternatives (e.g., bonuses instead of shares for non-revenue-generating employees).
3 Legal & Compliance Support
The consultant will ensure:
• Share issuance complies with UK laws and HMRC tax-efficient schemes (e.g., EMI Share Scheme if applicable).
• Legal agreements are drafted covering share issuance, vesting conditions, and buy-back clauses.
• Employment contracts reflect the new performance-linked equity structure.
• Confidentiality and IP protection clauses are included for offshore employees.
Deliverables
The consultant is expected to provide:
1. Equity & Share Issuance Framework – A structured plan detailing eligibility, vesting schedules, and allocation percentages.
2. Performance-Based Compensation Plan – A report outlining role-specific KPIs, compensation adjustments, and accountability measures.
3. Legal & Compliance Documentation – Draft agreements for share issuance, performance-linked contracts, and any necessary tax/HR policies.
4. Implementation Roadmap – A step-by-step guide for rolling out the new structure over the next 6-12 months.
5. Consultation & Review Sessions – At least 3-5 review meetings with management to refine the proposed structure before implementation.
Consultant Requirements
Interested consultants should have:
✅ Proven experience in equity structuring and employee incentive plans for SMEs or professional services firms.
✅ Expertise in UK corporate law and tax-efficient share schemes (e.g., EMI schemes).
✅ Strong background in HR, performance management, and compensation frameworks.
✅ A track record of working with multi-location firms and offshore teams.
✅ Ability to provide practical, legally sound, and financially viable solutions.
Proposal Submission Requirements
Consultants should submit a proposal covering: |
