Glass half-full

Tell us about your roles and your responsibilities

I am the managing director of Devonport Accountants in Essex, a small-to-mid-tier firm employing 24 staff, dealing with the day-to-day issues for small- to medium-sized businesses and their people. Alongside my role as branch ambassador for the IFA in Essex, I am also the chairman of the Members Advisory Committee and a board director of the IFA.

What’s the current business and economic environment like in Essex?

We know there are clients who are struggling because of COVID, but even with Brexit coming there’s also a lot of positivity. From both my point of view and my clients, there’s a lot of business activity, with them not just being busy with ‘the wrong stuff ’.

We continue to guide and support our clients, which includes help with raising finance and this leads on to assisting with business plans. In essence, we become the clients’ part-time finance director, a shoulder to support them.

We have recently set up our own research and development department – a very much untapped tax relief in England, with our clients already beginning to benefit from this.

It’s a difficult environment for a small or sole practitioner, but COVID has taught many about the digital age, with a realisation that you can’t do your job without it. Devonports has been digitised for several years and we encourage our clients to make use of the technology available, which in turn frees up their time to run their business and benefit from real-time information.

How does the IFA work with local businesses, people and the community?

We invite professionals along to speak, as its important for members to make contacts with local bankers, HR specialists and lawyers. We ensure that speakers are relevant to our members, ie that their own area of expertise can relate to those looking after the SME businesses that our members work for.

I encourage all members to make contact with their local community and establish good relationships with other professionals.