Chartered Accountants, Tax & Business Advisers in Liverpool

Frank Murphy

Director

Since qualifying with PwC 30 years ago, and joining Haines Watts as a partner 25 years ago, Frank has spent his time in general practice with responsibility for supporting and advising a diverse portfolio of prestigious clients including OMB’s, professional partnerships and large charitable and not-for-profit organisations.

Frank acts as non-executive FD for a number of clients and is a Governor and Chair of Finance at an academy high school.

Providing both proactive and pragmatic advice to business owners, identifying opportunities to give them competitive advantage to strengthen and develop their business, eg through taxation, staff recruitment and retention, or business growth planning etc. Working “with” as well as “for” clients, adopting the objective of exceeding client expectations wherever possible !

If I wasn't doing this: Getting on with the list of jobs the wife has for me or walking in the local woods and sand dunes with the dog !

Favourite sports/person Or Book: Kenny Dalglish – sports person / Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks – book

Dream Location: Tuscany, California and NYC

Mike Forshaw

Director

Mike has over 30 years’ experience of working within the industry in a variety of national, regional and independent practices, having first qualified with KPMG. He became a Haines Watts Director in 2011. Mike aims to provide a pro-active, “hands-on” approach. He has the breadth of experience to advise clients on all aspects of business, taxation and regulatory matters in a wide range of sectors.

No two days are ever the same. I gain satisfaction from assisting clients through some tough times. Making a difference by working through problems to find solutions. Clients become friends, and ultimately it is very rewarding. The social side is enjoyable too.

If I wasn't doing this: Hopefully would be in a career that would be just as rewarding.

Favourite sports/person Or Book: Love watching WILTY,Brydon, Mitchell,& Mack.. great for chilling out for a laugh. Favourite film - Apollo13 , and The Martian stand out for overcoming all the odds

Dream Location: Vilamoura, Portugal -Conferences and holidays there were just the best.

Kate Taylor

Director

Kate is a passionate and driven qualified accountant with over 20 years’ experience in general practice. Kate works with a wide range of business owners across a range of sectors providing multiple services including statutory audit, accounts, business & personal taxation and business advisory. Kate also focuses a large amount of her time in developing and building a strong and versatile team to ensure that we are able to deliver a successful service to our clients.

I love the variety that my role provides me with day to day, both from a client facing perspective to internal . I enjoy the challenges that each day presents and working with like minded people to overcome these challenges successfully. I enjoy seeing clients and individuals achieve their goals whatever they may be.

If I wasn't doing this: An air hostess flying around the world

Favourite Sports/person Or Book: I don’t really get time to read my own book of choice but I do enjoy reading anything by Julia Donaldson to my 3 year old little girl!

Dream Location: Thailand or Indonesia

Tim Cherry

Director

Tim has wide and varied experience in accounts, taxation and audit having worked with a variety of clients and sectors during his career. Tim has a keen interest in owner managed business and their tax planning needs and also specialises in company audit and assurance and manages a portfolio of clients ranging from small owner managed businesses through to groups and large companies. Tim's aim is to provide a proactive audit approach which adds value to his clients

I enjoy the problem solving aspect of the work I do in trying to find solutions for my clients and gain a lot of satisfaction by helping solve any issues they have. I am always aiming to provide the best service possible to my clients and also to help my team, which brings a lot of enjoyment.

If I wasn't doing this I'd be: Busking playing blues to whomever will listen!

Favourite sports/person OR Favourite Book: George Foreman - great boxer!

Dream Location: America

Gillian Edwards

Associate Director

Gillian has a wide and varied role within the Liverpool practice and has considerable experience in relation to all tax planning aspects for individuals and SMEs. Her work includes Inheritance and Capital Gains Tax planning, preparing & reviewing business valuations, provide tax advice on an advisory basis for disputes, divorce and structures for retirement from the business. In addition, Gillian enjoys looking after a client base and maintaining client relationships.

The most enjoyable and rewarding part of the work is maintaining client relationships. Clients often want to achieve a number of goals which often overlap into different tax regimes or have different practical issues. Providing advice for the complete picture is rewarding and valuable for the clients.

If I wasn't doing this: Activities with my family: holidays, climbing a mountain, city breaks and keeping fit.

Favourite Sports/person Or Book: Watching Wigan Warriors RLFC (my husband has converted the whole family). I also enjoy watching cycling.

Dream Location: In the Isle of Man, with my family and a sea view.

Michael Needham

Tax Consultant

Michael brings over 30 years of experience in both corporate and personal tax. Michael heads up the regional tax team with the aim to further develop and enhance the Haines Watts brand and tax advisory business. Michael has the experience and knowledge to provide tax advice in many different areas of taxation. He specialises in:

• property taxation (including tax efficient extraction of funds and property from companies, property taxes, capital allowance claims and stamp duty land tax),
• capital gains and inheritance tax planning,
• remuneration planning,
• company restructures, demergers and sales

I enjoy meeting clients, understanding what is required and delivering quality tax advice that adds value and saves clients money.

If I wasn't doing this I'd be: Dreaming of being a professional footballer….and of late working on my large golf handicap. I love socialising with friends and family

Favourite sports/person OR Favourite Book: I love football, therefore Lionel Messi. I sometimes get around to a John Grisham book on holiday.

Dream Location: Hawaii (although more locally, I love spending time in Krakow having visited often.

Ros Hughes

Senior Accounts Manager

Ros joined Haines Watts in 2015 after having worked at a number of small and medium local firms. She has worked her way up from senior accountant to manager, now responsible for overseeing the accounts team. She works with a range of clients, predominantly owner managed businesses, to ensure that all of their accounting, VAT and taxation compliance needs are fulfilled. Ros qualified as a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in 2013 and became a fellow in 2018

I enjoy working with a varied portfolio of clients and getting to know about how their individual businesses work. I also enjoy getting to know the people behind the businesses and developing those relationships. Working with people, whether it be clients or colleagues, is what makes this job interesting.

If I wasn't doing this: Working with animals

Favourite Sports/person Or Book: The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood

Dream Location: Buenos Aires

Emma Molyneux

Senior Accounts Manager

Emma is a Chartered Certified Accountant, having worked in accountancy practice for 18 years. Emma manages a large and varied client base of owner managed businesses, providing advice and support on all accountancy and taxation matters. As well as ensuring that her clients comply with their statutory obligations, Emma is there to assist in the day to day financial aspects of her clients’ business to ensure that they can concentrate on nurturing and growing their business.

Getting to know my clients on an individual basis and understanding their goals, so that I can provide advice that aligns with their goals.

If I wasn't doing this: Spending time with my daughter, Olivia.

Favourite sports/person Or Book: Too many to mention, but my top two are ‘The Foundling’ by Stacey Halls and ‘Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine’ by Gail Honeyman

Dream Location: Here: York , Abroad: San Francisco

Terry Cheesman

Regional Head of R&D Tax

Progressive, North West based, chartered accountant, tax specialist and business owner with a passion for helping companies of all sizes. Terry successfully delivers this by sharing his extensive knowledge of R&D Tax Relief, combined with thought leadership, strategic business and tax planning to assist business owners retain wealth and effect exponential growth. He leads two specialist teams based in Altrincham and Liverpool: together they have achieved tax savings of £34m in the last 29 months alone helping companies to dream big, innovate, grow and succeed.

I enjoy being a problem solver for established and aspiring entrepreneurs alike. Building enduring business relationships based on trust. Leading and developing teams by example and with passion and purpose.

If I wasn't doing this I'd be: Exploring the last true wildnernesses of the world

Favourite book: The Dancers at the End of Time by Michael Moorcock

Dream location: Lake District

Richard Lewis

Senior Technical Consultant, R&D Tax

Richard talks to our R&D clients to understand their projects and then uses his broad sector knowledge to present their technology to HMRC - in language that explains how it meets the guidelines. His goal is to minimise the risk to clients and to reduce the time spent defending claims at enquiry. He brings 25 years of technical writing experience to the role, along with five years of prior R&D tax experience.

I'm here for the extraordinary technology. Our clients' work is always interesting and constantly pushing the boundaries, which is what the tax relief scheme exists to reward. No two claims are alike so my days are very varied. Nothing beats the moment when a client realises you understand their work!

If I wasn't doing this: I'd be playing the guitar.

Favourite sports/person or book: On Becoming a Person, Carl Rogers.

Dream Location: The Maldives.