Free Business Advice Service Goes Nationwide

From today Monday 23 January, Chartered Accountants Ireland is pleased to announce that the Chartered Accountants Voluntary Advice service (CAVA) will extend its free business advisory service nationwide. This service extends to all sectors of the economy, including non-profit organisations.

Background to CAVA:

• CAVA is a free, confidential, independent and now a national organisation that provides advice to business people who cannot afford to pay for an accountant, and draws upon a panel of almost 150 experienced chartered accountants. Originally set up as the brain-child of Chartered Accountants Leinster Society in 2007, the service is now extending nationwide. This move is in response to the growing demand for advice from business people in financial distress. Typically this free service is used by sole traders, who are trying to survive against the odds, and who would not otherwise be able to afford expert financial advice. The service has since been rolled out in the South West and Mid West of the country and will be rolled across the rest of the country in the coming weeks and months.  
   
• Unlike the Citizens Information Service (CIS) or Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) which provide free and confidential information and advice on personal financial problems respectively, CAVA provides advice to business people in financial difficulty. It is the only charity service of its kind in Ireland that puts business people, who are in severe distress, in contact with a network of leading business advisors in Chartered Accountants Ireland. CAVA operates without any external or Government funding.  
   
• CAVA’s volunteers come from a range of backgrounds including major accountancy and smaller regional practices, industry and retired members. Volunteers give practical advice in a face-to-face consultation clinic, helping people to address their immediate problems and manage them into the future. The majority of requests for help come as referrals from other services such as CIS or MABS.

Orla Fisher, a chartered accountant employed with PwC in Dublin and the CAVA representative for Chartered Accountants Leinster Society said: “The typical user of the service is a small business owner struggling to keep their business running. Often it’s self-employed people in industries that have declined in the last number of years looking for business and tax advice, or trying to pull their accounts or cashflows together. It can often be very distressing for struggling business owners, and some guidance at a critical time can make a big difference.” 

Tony McQuinn, Chief Executive of the Citizens Information Board welcomed CAVA’s move to go national. “Ireland’s economic difficulties are now in their fourth year and the number of business people in distress who contact us continues to grow. The CIS and MABS receive hundreds of calls every year, from small businesses owners who find themselves unable to cope. In response, we are pleased to offer them access to a Chartered Accountant, who can provide expert advice. The feedback we have received from our clients referred to CAVA has been really positive. The Citizens Information Board looks forward to working with CAVA across the country in 2012.” 

Chartered Accountants Ireland president John Hannaway FCA said: “I know that it has been a long held ambition for CAVA to expand its footprint across the nation. What makes this service unique is that the CAVA service is rooted in the communities it serves. I congratulate the members of Chartered Accountants Ireland who give of their time and expertise. I would encourage any business person in genuine trouble to make contact with the service.” 

Anyone wishing to contact CAVA for a consultation can do so in complete confidentiality by calling (01) 6377218 or email cava@charteredaccountants.ie

http://www.charteredaccountants.ie