The right kind of creative accounting

The History

Kate Levy, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales, is the driving force at Kalculus.

Kate’s accountancy career was launched at a successful Finchley firm. Having qualified, and after remaining in practice for several years whilst also being seconded to the firms’ clients to work in-house, Kate became the Finance Director for some well-known celebrity hairdressers who had opened a new salon. Kate excelled there, and after helping expand the business and launching the company’s first product lines (now selling globally), Kate realised she needed to work for herself. Kate started KJL Associates in 2013, her first accountancy practice, where she took on a growing raft of creative clients, including fashion designers, agencies, and music industry professionals. The evolution of this led to Kate establishing Kalculus in January 2018.

In 2024 Geraldine Tobias, Head of Added-Value Services and Zoe Tame, Head of Accounts & Tax, were promoted and became Kalculus Principals. Also in 2024, Kalculus became an ICAEW Authorised Training Employer, taking on their first trainee.

The Ethos

Kalculus is a female-led firm, offering clients a high-quality and personalised service, where trust, honesty, and respect are core values.

The Kalculus Principals’ business acumen and strong ethics underpin the company’s rapid success. Kalculus specialises in the creative industries, offering core accountancy services, bookkeeping, and tax advice, alongside strategic and business management support.

Kalculus clients appreciate that Kate has been where they are or are about to be… she’s started up and run businesses, so she understands the pressures and challenges that entrepreneurs’ face. Kate has sat on both sides of the table: she’s advised and also taken advice. She’s been the decision maker with sleepless nights and work-filled weekends. Something most creative industry professionals take for granted. Ultimately, Kate has a real grasp on business, and her advice can be invaluable.

The Kalculus team know that “any accountant can plug numbers into software, but not everyone takes the time to think about what will work best for the client, to advise and look after them.” Kate, Geraldine, and Zoe T expect everyone at Kalculus to adhere to this standard.

Kate’s inclusive and empowering values means she often gives talks to women’s organisations and business groups like Women Who and The Industry. These are often sessions with women who want to get into business on their own, want to start a business, or need guidance.

If you’d like to meet Kate, get in touch about the latest events.

The Team

The Kalculus team has always reflected Kate’s position as one of accounting’s leading women. Kate is keen to encourage return-to-work mums with their strong skill sets by offering flexible employment, saying they “get to do as much or as little work as they want. And it’s brilliant.”

Kalculus employ a growing team of Chartered and Certified Accountants, a Company Secretary, payroll technicians, and tax consultants. The firm is also an ICAEW Authorised Training Employer and in 2024 took on their first trainee.

Services

We provide general advice, strategy, and financial and tax planning services.