As well as leading a team operationally in their own business area day to day, they work as a group to use their wide-ranging skills and experience to deliver key strategic projects and initiatives for the network.
Digital Technology
Richard Washington - Head of Group Technology
After five years of working with one of the UK’s leading franchise consulting and recruitment companies, Richard joined TaxAssist in 2010, bringing with him a high level of technical knowledge in programming and database administration. Since joining, Richard has pushed forward the TaxAssist Accountants online presence, implementing a local website for each franchisee, rebuilding from scratch the TaxAssist Accountants Support Site and implementing a custom ticketing system for the Technical helpdesk. Richard is responsible for the relationship management with our recommended IT and partner, as well as for the continuing development of our global web-based systems. Richard's LinkedIn profile can be viewed here.
Software
Simon Hutchinson - Head of Group Software & Systems
Simon is responsible for the management of the core software estate in use by TaxAssist franchisees, including supplier management, training delivery, integrations, and escalations. Prior to joining TaxAssist in 2016, Simon spent 18 years working across IT Training, Service Delivery Management and Customer Relationship Management roles in the housing and health industries. Simon has project managed, as well as designing and delivering training courses for multiple software implementations and is customer-focused to ensure that the right solution is being delivered. Simon's LinkedIn profile can be viewed here.
Training
Sam Skyring FCCA, MAAT, ACIPP - Head of Group Learning and Development
Sam qualified in 2014 with a medium sized firm of accountants in Norwich and developed strong relationships with her clients, helping them with bookkeeping, tax returns, payroll, accounts preparation and tax issues. Sam joined the Technical Support Team in 2014 as a Technical Manager, assisted franchisees and their staff over the phone with technical queries, headed up training courses and undertook due diligence visits to franchisees. Sam took up the role of Franchise Development Manager in 2017 and was then promoted to Group Training & Communications Manager in 2019 with responsibility for looking after all of the training needs for the network, alongside preparing client-facing technical marketing material. Sam's LinkedIn profile can be viewed here.
Finance
Jo Nockels FCCA, FMAAT - Head of Group Finance
Jo is AAT and ACCA qualified and, before joining TaxAssist Accountants in 2010, looked after a range of clients in the small business sector at Larking Gowen. Formerly, Jo was the Senior Training & Technical Communications Manager and worked alongside the Business Development team, to ensure communications to clients were accurate, timely, relevant and easy to understand. The other part of her role saw her managing the TaxAssist Academy, as well as delivering courses herself. Now as Head of Group Finance, Jo is responsible for the day-to-day management and ongoing development of the Group finance team and functions for the TaxAssist Group of Companies. Jo's LinkedIn profile can be viewed here.
Technical
Andy Gibbs ATT, CTA - Head of Group Technical
Andy joined us from one of the big four accountancy firms where he looked after the affairs of high-net-worth individuals and private equity executives. Prior to this he worked at a local regional practice where he dealt with the affairs of owner-managed businesses and private individuals. Andy has dealt with both tax compliance and tax advisory projects across a range of industry sectors. Andy is a qualified Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) and holds the STEP Advanced Certificate in Trust and Estate Accounting. Andy manages the Technical Helpdesk supporting technical queries in respect of accounts, tax and payroll questions. He also writes technical articles for clients and supports the training needs of staff and franchisees. Andy's LinkedIn profile can be viewed here.
Tim Duffield BA (Hons), FCCA - Head of Group Compliance
Tim is FCCA qualified and originally joined us in 2009 from a large local practice, where his main experience was preparing annual and management accounts for small companies, as well as preparing value-added tax and corporation tax returns. Tim returned to us in 2019 after two years back in practice performing a VAT advisory role. Tim looks after all aspects of Group compliance and regulatory functions, as well as providing advice and support to the network. Tim's LinkedIn profile can be viewed here.
Marketing
Kelly Chick - Head of Group Marketing
Kelly joined the Business Development Team in July 2020, following an extensive agency background working for a number of national brands in both B2B and B2C environments. Reporting to the Group Business Development Director, Kelly oversees the Marketing, Social and Inbound teams, implementing the national and local marketing campaigns for the acquisition of network leads. Kelly's LinkedIn profile can be viewed here.
With a detailed plan for the growth and evolution of the TaxAssist brand, plus the addition of new products and services, these are exciting times for the TaxAssist network.
Franchisee Case Studies
Kully Sahota
Mike Melling
Gary Cullen
Jaz Grewal
Kam Aujla
Michael Sandys
Accreditations & ethics
The Group abides by the ethics of the British Franchise Association (bfa) and works closely with all relevant accountancy and tax professional bodies and institutions. The Group abides by the laws and ethics of countries in question, currently the Irish Franchise Association, the Franchise Council of Australia (FCA), the International Franchise Association (IFA) and the Canadian Franchise Association (CFA).
