The Friendly Team

From the taxman...to helping taxpayers

My career started with HMRC in London. Yes... I used to work for the taxman. Thankfully, I eventually saw the light and decided I'd much rather help taxpayers than collect tax from them! Some people ask whether that experience still helps today.

I spent three years with HMRC before moving into private practice and have now worked in tax for more than 30 years.

People often ask whether my time inside HMRC still helps today. Without doubt, it does.

It taught me how HMRC approaches tax enquiries, how inspectors interpret information and legislation. But, perhaps more importantly, the sort of things that are likely to raise questions.

That experience has proved invaluable over the years, particularly when helping clients through HMRC enquiries, voluntary disclosures and more complicated tax issues.

My time working in London also gave me the opportunity to meet and advise a number of well-known people in the entertainment and music industry. Whilst I’d love to share the really interesting stories, client confidentiality and the potential threat of legal action helps concentrate my mind wonderfully!

However, working with clients in these sectors did give me an early indication that not everybody earns their living via conventional means!

I like solving difficult tax problems

One of the nicest compliments I receive is when clients tell me: "It was just like talking to a real person." I take that as a huge compliment. Tax is complicated enough without accountants making it even harder.

I enjoy solving complex tax problems, but I enjoy explaining the answer in plain English even more. My job isn't to impress you with technical jargon. It's to make sure you understand your options so you can make the right decision with confidence.

Ultimately, the decision belongs to the client.

Over the years that approach has led me into some interesting areas of tax, particularly where the legislation has had to catch up with new industries, technologies and ways of doing business. Crypto is probably the best example.

From a Bitcoin exchange to the digital economy

Our involvement with crypto first began in 2016, when we took on our first client in the crypto sector, which was a Bitcoin exchange.

At the time, crypto was still a relatively new area for accountants and tax advisers. There was little or no UK guidance and many of the transactions we encountered raised genuinely interesting tax questions.

I was probably one of the first tax advisers in the UK to write publicly in detail about the tax treatment of crypto soon afterwards. Having made investments ourselves, we have remained closely involved with the sector as it has evolved into a more mainstream investment activity.

What began with Bitcoin and crypto exchanges has expanded into an entire digital asset economy involving investors, traders, businesses, staking, DeFi, NFTs, gaming and Web3.

The experience of being a crypto investor has been surprisingly useful professionally because I understand some of the practical realities behind the tax calculations: exchanges disappearing, transaction histories becoming incomplete, moving assets between wallets, market volatility and trying to make sense of activity spread across numerous platforms.

Over the years, our experience in this area has also given us the opportunity to discuss crypto taxation directly with HMRC’s specialist crypto team.

I find the whole subject fascinating, partly because it demonstrates one of the challenges of modern tax advice: technology can develop far more quickly than the tax legislation itself. Sometimes you’re applying legislation written years or even decades earlier to a business model or transaction that nobody contemplated when those rules were first introduced.

That same challenge exists across the wider digital economy. When I started my career there was no cryptocurrency, nobody earned a living from YouTube, SaaS wasn’t a commonly used expression and artificial intelligence wasn’t transforming established business models. Today, businesses built around those technologies are some of the most interesting clients we work with.

Music, media and the creator economy

My interest in music goes back much further than my professional interest in the modern creator economy.

Music has been one of my main passions in life. I have been to hundreds of gigs and festivals, plus for a number of years I wrote content for a music website. That involved corresponding with musicians and gave me an excuse to spend even more time talking and writing about a subject I’ve always loved. I was part of an editorial team which collaborated in producing one of the first downloadable music e-zines - an achievement we’re very proud of.

Professionally, it was my tax career in London that also gave me the opportunity to further indulge my passion for music by meeting and advising numerous well-known (and not so well-known) individuals in the music, media and entertainment industry.

Those experiences gave me an early understanding that creative people often have income and commercial arrangements that don’t fit neatly into conventional boxes.

Musicians and performers have long dealt with combinations of fees, royalties, appearances and other income. Today’s creators may instead earn from YouTube advertising, subscriptions, sponsorship, affiliate income, digital products and international platforms, often all at the same time.

The technology and terminology have changed enormously, but some of the underlying tax issues have remained largely unchanged. That’s one of the many reasons I find the modern creator economy so fascinating.

They can face complicated questions involving VAT, international customers, overseas platforms, intellectual property, research and development, investment, share structures, remuneration, profit extraction and eventually selling the business.

I'm particularly passionate about advising businesses operating in the digital economy, including:

• Cryptocurrency investors and businesses
• Content creators, YouTubers and social media influencers
• E-commerce and online retail businesses
• Gaming, esports and digital entertainment businesses
• Technology, software and artificial intelligence companies
• SaaS and subscription-based businesses
• Digital agencies and online entrepreneurs
• Internationally mobile founders and business owners

But before you can advise on the tax, you need to understand how the business actually works.

Where does the money come from?

Who is paying it?

What is actually being supplied?

Which platforms are involved?

Where are the customers?

What is the owner ultimately trying to achieve?

Those questions are often just as important as understanding the tax issues involved.

Every client has a different definition of success

One of the biggest misconceptions about tax advisers is that our job is simply to save tax. I don't believe that's true.

Some clients want to grow a business they can eventually sell.

Others want more time with their family.

Some want financial independence.

Others simply want peace of mind.

The best advice starts by understanding the person behind the business. Once we understand what you're trying to achieve, we can build a tax strategy that supports those goals.

Sometimes that's the most tax-efficient solution. 

Sometimes it isn't.

What's important is that it's the right decision for you.

A few achievements I'm particularly proud of

Those successes aren't about finding clever loopholes. They're about understanding the legislation properly, applying it correctly and giving clients advice they can trust.

Starting the Friendly Accountants with Lesley

The Friendly Accountants is a business I co-founded with my wife, Lesley, although our story started long before TFA.

We first met many years ago through mutual friends. Lesley is a Chartered Accountant and I’m a Chartered Tax Adviser, and over time it became obvious that our professional strengths, though very different, were complementary.

There was another important factor: Lesley hates tax and doesn’t like dealing with it.

Fortunately, I love it!

So, I naturally assumed responsibility for the tax function in our business, whilst Lesley focused on those areas where she excels (no pun intended!): accounting, systems, technology, processes and continually making improvements to our business model.

It’s a division of responsibilities that has worked remarkably well.

We also approach problems differently. I love getting involved with clients, discussing tax and working through unusual technical problems. Lesley is the visionary, constantly challenging how we can improve the business, embrace technology and build better systems that make life easier for both our clients and our team.

These very different strengths have played a big part in creating the practice we have today.

Neither of us would pretend we've built this business on our own. We're incredibly fortunate to have an exceptional team who genuinely care about our clients. The service people receive isn't down to one person.

Qualifications:
Associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation
Member of the Association of Taxation Technicians

Outside of the office: 

I’ve been invited to speak publicly on tax matters on a number of occasions. While it’s always flattering to be asked, I’ve deliberately turned down some of those opportunities. I’ve never believed success means being the loudest voice in the room.

For me, it’s about building a business we’re proud of, doing interesting work, looking after great clients and still having time to enjoy life outside it.

When I’m not immersed in tax, you’ll quite often find me on my bike. Cycling is my way of clearing my head, relieving stress and escaping the office for a few hours. Maintaining that balance has become increasingly important to me over the years.

Like Lesley, I’m an animal lover so when I’m not sitting down in front of the TV with a cat on my lap, I’m out with Lesley walking an increasingly diverse selection of foster dogs.

Music for me is another form of escape from the pressure of running a business. Queen remains my favourite band, though I’m also a huge fan of Foreigner, Journey and Toto and the whole ‘Yacht rock’ genre. However, whilst my tastes have become increasingly eclectic over the years, I’m basically old school. 

So, I’ll happily listen to anything from the 1960s through to the 1980s. That said, Maroon 5 and Bruno Mars are also guilty pleasures – much to our son’s annoyance.

And I will happily talk about music for considerably longer than anyone (especially Lesley!) has asked me to.

Favourite film: It's a Wonderful Life - call me old fashioned but this always brings a lump to my throat.

Favourite band: Queen.

Favourite way to escape advising on tax : Getting out on my bike, listening to music (obviously!), travelling with Lesley and also assisting with her menagerie of foster dogs

If I was a fictional character I would be:  Atticus Finch from 'To Kill a Mockingbird' for displaying great moral courage  and standing firm in the face of adversity.

'There is nearly always a better way of doing something. You just have to find it'

I've always enjoyed understanding how things work - and, perhaps more importantly, determining how they could work better. That applies just as much to businesses and accounting systems as it does to everyday life.

I'm naturally organised. Frighteningly organised, according to Richard!

I like lists, processes and spreadsheets. I even have spreadsheets recording where things are stored at home, which I consider perfectly sensible. Richard apparently thinks this is slightly excessive.

He's wrong!

From practice to the boardroom

My career has given me the opportunity to see businesses from several very different perspectives.

I started in accountancy practice, working with businesses ranging from sole traders to large plcs, before spending time with KPMG developing and delivering professional training.

I then moved into industry, where my roles included Vice President of a division of a major bank and Finance Director of a subsidiary of a FTSE 100 company. 

Working in industry taught me something that has stayed with me throughout my career: accounts only tell you part of the story.

Understanding how a business actually operates - its people, systems, processes and commercial pressures - is just as important as understanding the numbers.

In one role, I helped transform a loss-making division into a healthy six-figure profit in less than two years.

Technology has always interested me

Long before accountants started talking about digital transformation, I've been fascinated by what technology can do.

When we first started the business, I built our original website myself from code.

I’ve also implemented all our systems and procedures in our practice management system using code - these are unique to our business. I tested it so much the software company even asked me to become a consultant!

Today I'd probably question why I ever thought that was a sensible use of my time, but it gives you some idea of how much I enjoy understanding technology rather than simply using it.

I've also been responsible for implementing an entirely new software system across a multi-million-pound group of companies - the sort of project where getting the technology right is only half the challenge. You also have to understand how people actually work and design processes that they will use.

At one point, a leading accounting software company even invited me to become one of its beta testers.

I declined, because there’s only so much excitement even I can derive from testing accounting software.

Finding a better way of doing things

At The Friendly Accountants, a large part of my role happens behind the scenes.

I'm constantly looking at our systems and asking whether there is a quicker, simpler or more reliable way of doing something. That might mean changing a process, introducing new technology, automating repetitive work or sometimes deciding that the latest shiny piece of software doesn't actually improve anything. Something about I don’t believe in change for change sake – only if it improves things.

Richard deals with much of the tax and enjoys solving the technical problems. I tend to look at the bigger picture: how do we build the systems around that expertise so our team can work efficiently, and our clients receive a consistently good service?

We have very different strengths, which is probably one of the reasons we've worked so well together.

We do have a few things in common. Neither of us has much interest in titles, status or being the loudest person in the room. We take our work very seriously, but ourselves considerably less so.

We also share a fairly dry - and occasionally rather dark - sense of humour. Fortunately, most of it stays out of client emails.

Organisation comes naturally to me it’s embedded in my DNA. I'm one of those annoying people (according to Richard) who can have multiple things happening at once and still know exactly where everything is.

Lists help.

So do spreadsheets.

Lots of spreadsheets!

That tendency to organise everything has undoubtedly influenced the way we've built The Friendly Accountants. Good systems aren't about bureaucracy. Done properly, they remove unnecessary work, reduce mistakes and give people more time to concentrate on things that actually require thought.

I'm fortunate to work alongside some extremely knowledgeable people, and I see an important part of my role as making sure they have the systems, technology and processes around them that allow them to do their best work.

Away from the spreadsheets

Despite numerous evidence to the contrary, I do believe there is life outside of spreadsheets.

I love reading and travelling, and Richard and I have been incredibly fortunate to travel extensively around the world together. Our online way of working has made that much easier and means we can occasionally work from somewhere considerably warmer than Dorset.

I'm also quite happy watching television that could never reasonably be described as intellectually challenging. After spending the day thinking about businesses, systems and accounts, sometimes trashy television is exactly what is required.

However, I draw the line at horror films.

Animals have also always been a big part of my life. After spending years surrounded by cats, I'm currently fostering dogs for a charity, although I've discovered that the concepts of ‘fostering’ and ‘not becoming attached’ aren't particularly compatible.

Richard and I also share a love of music. However we don't necessarily share a love of the same music. Some differences within a marriage are probably best left unresolved!

Qualifications:
Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
BSc (First Class Hons) in Accounting and Finance

Outside of the office: Reading, travelling, animals and watching television I'm unlikely to admit to professional colleagues.

Known in the office for: Systems, spreadsheets, finding a quicker way of doing something plus remembering where everything is!

Most likely to say: 'There must be an easier way of doing this'

Definitely not watching: Horror films. 

If I was a superhero I would be: Still Catwoman. The outfit is still out of the question, but the animal obsession hasn't gone anywhere!

From police stations to private practice

I started my accountancy career in 1986, aged 19. I was good at maths, so accountancy seemed a natural choice. That said, auditing police stations for a local authority probably wasn’t the most conventional introduction to the profession.

Since then, I’ve worked in a wide variety of finance, accounting and commercial roles, including Management Accountant, Commercial Administration Manager, Head of Finance and Interim Financial Manager.

Spending much of my career working inside businesses has given me a different perspective on accounts. The figures at the end of the year are the result of thousands of decisions and transactions taking place throughout the business. Understanding what sits behind those figures is often just as important as producing them correctly.

Commercial experience that goes beyond year-end accounts

My background includes management accounts, budgeting, cashflow forecasting, financial reporting, commercial administration and leading finance teams, alongside statutory accounts, VAT and year-end reporting.

That experience means I tend to look beyond whether the accounts are technically balanced. I want to understand what is happening within the business, whether the systems behind the figures are working properly. I also like to determine whether there is a more practical way of doing things.

Useful financial information should help business owners make decisions. It might show whether the business can afford to invest, recruit someone or change direction. It can also identify rising costs, cashflow pressures or parts of the business that aren’t performing as expected.

Smaller businesses rarely have their own finance department. The owner may be managing the accounts while also finding customers and doing the work. Additionally, they may be paying suppliers and dealing with everything else that running a business throws at them.

My role is to make the financial side more manageable and help clients understand what genuinely needs their attention.

Working with Lesley again

I originally worked alongside Lesley in industry, so we already knew each other professionally long before I joined The Friendly Accountants.

Anyone who knows Lesley will know that she has extremely high standards when it comes to accounts, systems and the quality of work produced. So when she approached me about joining TFA, I took it as quite a compliment!

Having worked together previously also meant I already understood the way Lesley thinks about accounting and financial systems. We both believe that good accounts start with good information and well-designed processes rather than trying to sort everything out at the year end.

Working with owner-managed and online businesses

At TFA, I work with limited companies, sole traders and owner-managed businesses across a wide range of sectors. These include professional services, consultancy, property, construction, retail, e-commerce, technology, gaming, content creation and other online businesses.

Many of the businesses we work with don’t operate in a traditional way. They may trade entirely online, sell through several platforms, receive income through different payment providers or deal with customers and suppliers around the world. Some combine physical products, digital services, subscriptions, sponsorships and several other sources of income.

I enjoy getting to know how each business actually works. Clients don’t need to understand every accounting rule. We do, however, need to understand their business well enough to provide advice that is both technically correct and useful in the real world.

First-hand experience of running an e-commerce business

As well as advising clients, I have first-hand experience of setting up and running a small e-commerce business.

This has given me an even greater appreciation of what happens behind what appears to be a simple online sale.

There are suppliers to find, stock to buy and manage, prices to set, payment fees to monitor, orders to process, parcels to pack, deliveries to arrange and customers to look after. Only after all of that can the business owner start thinking about the profit.

It also confirmed something I already suspected: software is wonderful when it works, but considerably less wonderful when several systems are supposed to communicate with each other and one of them has other ideas.

Fortunately, I’m very comfortable with technology and enjoy understanding how different accounting and business systems fit together. That is increasingly important for the online and technology-based businesses we work with at TFA.

My own business experience also helps me appreciate that advice needs to be practical. There’s no point designing a process that looks perfect on paper if it’s completely unrealistic for a small business owner to follow.

Gaming, streaming and online content

I’ve been a gamer for years, so the terminology, platforms and communities surrounding gaming are already familiar to me.

Two of my daughters also streamed gaming content for a while and built up small followings, so I’ve seen how much time and work goes into producing content, keeping to a schedule and engaging with an audience, even before it makes any meaningful money.

It demonstrated how quickly a hobby can become something more commercial. Income may begin with advertising, subscriptions or sponsorships, sometimes across several platforms, and even relatively small amounts can create accounting and tax questions that the creator hasn’t considered.

My own interest in gaming, together with what I’ve seen through my daughters, means gaming businesses and content creators don’t have to explain everything from scratch, and I’m genuinely interested in how their business works.

Helping clients solve problems

The part of my role I enjoy most is untangling problems for clients.

Clients who have worked with us for a long time will often contact me directly when something unusual arises. More involved accounting queries from within the team also tend to find their way to me.

Sometimes the answer requires quite a bit of investigation. Sometimes I need to bring together information from several different places. On other occasions, the client simply needs someone to explain what has happened and what they need to do next.

I’m naturally quite calm and difficult to faze, which is useful in accountancy because clients don’t generally contact us in a panic when everything is going perfectly.

Accounting and tax can feel intimidating especially when something has gone wrong. I prefer to establish the facts, avoid unnecessary jargon and work out a sensible way to find a solution.

My role at TFA 

As Practice Manager, I help oversee the day-to-day running of TFA whilst simultaneously remaining closely involved in client work.

My role includes preparing and reviewing accounts, overseeing year-end reporting, dealing with VAT and HMRC correspondence, providing technical accounting support and helping the team with more unusual queries.

I’d describe my management style as approachable, proactive and supportive. I want our team to feel comfortable asking questions and to know that I’ll support them when a difficult situation arises, and the same applies to our clients.

Being technically good at accountancy is important, but people also need an accountant they feel comfortable talking to. I think that is particularly important at The Friendly Accountants. The name sets the bar very high!

I like getting to know our clients and their businesses, and I want them to feel that they can contact us when something doesn’t make sense or they need help.

Qualifications: Association of Accounting Technicians, BSc (Hons) in Engineering Business Development

Outside of the office: Outside work, I’m a keen PC and PlayStation gamer, with tastes ranging from story-based role-playing games and horror to puzzles, indie games and the occasional round of Call of Duty.

I also enjoy photography, trading card games and LEGO. I have a particular interest in Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering, from the artwork and collecting side to following new releases and tracking down harder-to-find products. When I need something slightly quieter (and more conventional!), I enjoy reading, cross-stitch and crochet.

I have two dogs, Luna and Willow, who make sure I spend at least some of my free time away from a screen and walking in the Dorset countryside. Luna has a very typical Basset Hound personality and enjoys singing, or howling, along to Psycho Killer by Talking Heads. Willow adores Luna, is rather more skittish and will attempt to eat virtually anything.

Favourite games: The Last of Us and the Fallout series

Currently playing: The Resident Evil series and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Favourite band: Guns N’ Roses – I've been lucky enough to see them live a couple of times!

Terrified of: Insects, especially swarms of tiny ones – I would not do well in the Jungle!

If I was an animal I would be: A sea otter – because I love the sea not because I eat 25% of my bodyweight a day!

My career started in a rather different field to accountancy. I graduated from Bournemouth University with an Advanced Diploma in Midwifery and went on to work in healthcare for a number of years..

During that time, I developed a strong interest in supporting people and understanding their individual needs. Eventually, I felt ready for a change of direction and discovered a real passion for administration and accounts, leading me to move into a different career path.

Joining The Friendly Accountants 

I have been part of the team at The Friendly Accountants since early 2017, working in an administrative role and now as Administration Manager.

My role is quite varied, and no two days are ever quite the same! I help keep the day-to-day running of the practice organised, from dealing with client enquiries and welcoming new clients to managing administrative tasks and keeping on top of deadlines.

I'm often one of the first people prospective clients speak to, so I believe making people feel welcome, listened to and comfortable is an important part of my role.

I'm often one of the first people prospective clients speak to, so I believe making people feel welcome, listened to and comfortable is an important part of my role.

I enjoy getting to know our clients and helping them through the process of joining TFA, as well as supporting them with queries and administration along the way.

My background in healthcare has certainly influenced how I approach my work. I've always believed that everyone is an individual, with their own circumstances, needs and priorities, and that taking the time to listen and understand those differences can make a real difference.

I think that approach fits particularly well with The Friendly Accountants, where we want clients to feel comfortable getting in touch and asking questions.

Outside of work

Alongside my work in accountancy, I am also a holistic health practitioner, working across a range of complementary wellbeing therapies. The same person-centred approach sits at the heart of that work, and it carries through into how I look after clients at TFA. It keeps me very busy but allows me to pursue another area I'm passionate about.

I also have a keen interest in tarot and oracle cards, numerology and the wider world of divination, which I enjoy exploring and learning more about. I'm someone who loves discovering new things and exploring different subjects, as I like to keep my mind active.

I'm also a keen podcast listener and enjoy a wide variety of topics, from podcasts relating to holistic health and wellbeing to true crime stories, which are probably my guilty pleasure!

I used to enjoy playing World of Warcraft online with friends and family, although these days finding the time for gaming is a little more difficult.

When I'm not busy with work or learning about something new, I enjoy spending time with my family. We also have three cats at home who certainly keep us entertained!

A few of my favourites

Favourite music: I enjoy all kinds of music and have quite eclectic tastes, ranging from classical to rock.

Favourite books, TV and films: I'm a big fan of fantasy, adventure and science fiction, with favourites including Star Wars, Marvel, The Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, The Witcher and The Last Kingdom.

Favourite hobby: I find history fascinating and particularly enjoy genealogy and researching my family history whenever I get the opportunity.

From hospitality to accountancy

After graduating, I continued working full-time in a hotel, organising events and working in the bar and restaurant, while studying towards my AAT qualification.

After completing my first year, I secured a role in the accounts payable department of a company supplying books to schools, universities and libraries.

The company was part of a larger international group, which gave me valuable experience of how a sizeable business operates, from managing stock and dealing with suppliers to understanding the financial processes and reporting requirements involved.

It was a great introduction to the commercial side of finance and helped me appreciate how the different parts of a business fit together.

I completed my AAT qualification in 2014 and worked my way up to Assistant Financial Accountant before deciding to take my studies further and begin my ACCA qualification.

I then joined Aster as an Assistant Management Accountant, which is also where I first met Julia, our Practice Manager.

After qualifying as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 2017, I moved into further management accounting roles, gaining experience in financial reporting, budgeting and helping businesses understand their financial performance.

Working in industry taught me that accounts are about much more than producing figures. Understanding what's happening behind those numbers is just as important.

Joining The Friendly Accountants

My move into practice came about thanks to Julia.

Having worked together at Aster, when an opportunity arose at The Friendly Accountants, she recommended me for the role.

Moving from industry into practice was quite a change, but one I've thoroughly enjoyed.
Rather than working within one business, I now get to work with clients across a wide range of industries, each with their own accounting and tax challenges.

My experience in industry has proved invaluable, as I understand the practical challenges businesses face and the importance of having accurate financial information to help make decisions.

I also really enjoy the variety of work and the opportunity to get involved in more complex technical matters.

Accountancy, tax and crypto

Since joining TFA, my role has developed considerably. I've built on my accountancy background and expanded into personal taxation and crypto.

Alongside preparing and reviewing company accounts, I oversee our personal tax compliance function working closely alongside Richard, on more complex tax matters.

I'm also currently studying towards my Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification to further develop my tax expertise. I let Richard think I'm trying to emulate him as he's disappointed no-one else in the firm loves tax as much as he does!

Crypto tax has also become a particular area of interest for me. I regularly deal with crypto-related tax matters for both companies and individuals.

It's an interesting and often complex area of taxation, with numerous different transactions - this presents its own challenges! 

One case that particularly stands out involved reviewing several years of cryptocurrency transactions where the client had reported seven-figure capital gains and was facing an HMRC enquiry. I carried out a detailed review of the transactions and calculations, helping to identify errors in the original figures. The enquiry was resolved without penalties, and the client received a significant tax repayment. It was particularly satisfying to see such a positive outcome after all the work involved.

I particularly enjoy the technical side of the work, understanding how the tax rules apply but equally importantly helping clients make sense of their tax affairs.

With crypto  continuing to evolve, it's also an area where there's always something new and exciting to learn, which is something I really enjoy.

Getting the details right

I've always been naturally organised and enjoy the technical side of accountancy. I like getting into the detail, understanding how things work and making sure everything is correct.

One of the things I love about accounting is that there's usually a right answer. I much prefer things to be black and white, with as little grey area as possible! 

Of course, working in tax, particularly crypto, has taught me that unfortunately there are still many grey areas!

Whether it's researching a complicated tax issue, handling an HMRC query or investigating discrepancies in a set of accounts, I find it very satisfying to piece everything together like a proverbial jigsaw and see the big picture.

I'm also aware that what seems straightforward to an accountant can be very confusing (and dare I say it intimidating) to someone who isn't a born again accountant!

I try to keep explanations clear and concise, without overwhelming clients with technical jargon - something I've learned from Richard.

For me, getting the details right is important, but equally so is making sure the client understands what those details actually mean.

Qualifications:

• Member of the Association of Accounting Technicians

• Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) – qualified in 2017
• Currently studying towards the Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification

Outside of the office:  Outside of work, I'm a mum to a daughter who certainly keeps me on my toes! We love going out on adventures together, and there's rarely a dull moment. When I get some time to myself, I love reading and Latin and Ballroom dancing. Dancing is a great change from spending my working day dealing with numbers on spreadsheets, although there's still quite a lot of counting involved!

Favourite band: Muse, I have loved them since 2003 when their Absolution album came out!

Favourite film: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers or Carousel. I love a good old fashioned musical!

My go-to comfort-binge TV show: Gilmore Girls. It's my ultimate feel-good series, and I love starting it all over again when autumn comes around. There's something about the cosy autumn atmosphere in Stars Hollow that makes it the perfect comfort watch!

How I found accountancy

While on maternity leave with my first child in 2012, I started looking for a career that would fit around family life. I discovered bookkeeping and, rather unexpectedly, loved it. I’ve always enjoyed solving problems and making sense of things that don’t quite add up!

I studied with the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers while raising my family, began working in bookkeeping in 2014 and joined The Friendly Accountants in 2021. I’ve since gained my ICB Level 4 in Advanced Bookkeeping and Accounting and a Level 3 Diploma in Payroll Management.

What I do at TFA

I’m a main point of contact for bookkeeping and payroll, helping clients with everything from VAT returns and day-to-day records to payroll and accounting software problems. I particularly enjoy a tricky reconciliation. There’s something very satisfying about finding the missing piece and getting everything to balance.

I like getting to know how each business works and finding practical ways to make life easier for clients. We take accuracy seriously here, but that doesn’t mean we have to make accountancy sound complicated.

Outside of the office:  I’m mum to six boys, so home life is rarely quiet. We also have two dogs: Bingo, our sensible Border Collie cross, and Penny, a Greyhound cross who seems to think she’s in charge. She may have a point.

When I find a little time to myself, I enjoy painting and drawing, gardening, growing vegetables and cooking from scratch. Ideally something involving cheese.

Favourite food: Cheese. Even better with a glass of wine!

Favourite film: The Accountant or Unbreakable — I still can’t choose

Favourite band: BBlink-182. I’ve always loved their sense of humour.