Meet the team
Meet the team...
Paul Sumpter - Managing Partner
Paul qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1972 and then went to work for Deloittes in their Paris office. After three years in the profession he moved into industry as Financial Director of the European Arm of a Major US Medical company. He moved back to the UK in 1984 to start his own accountancy practice and joined with Haines Watts in 2002.
Paul is really motivated by assisting the owners of small to medium businesses realise their own goals and to strengthen this undertook a two year course at the University of East Anglia where he obtained a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) in 1997. He is also a member of the Institute of Management Consultants.
Matthew Neale - Partner
Matthew has been with the firm for over 15 years, qualifying in 2001 and joining the partnership in 2003.
Matthew is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and the Association of Chartered Accountants and has a strong background in accounting systems, management accounts and provision of the firms auditing services. Matthews enjoys acting for the owners of small and medium sized businesses, assisting them in all areas of accountancy, business and tax advice.
Matthew is also increasingly involved in developing the practice in and around East Anglia to ensure that the firms clients have access to local offices and staff as and when required.
Matthew enjoys riding his motorbike in competitions when time permits!
Ed Stott - Accounts Manager
Ed has worked for Paul Sumpter for 11 years now, 8 of those for Haines Watts. Ed qualified in 2007 and has been working within the practice at management level for the last 6 years.
As senior client account manager Ed is on hand to advise and help our clients with management accounting, financial planning and forecasting, as well as training and advice on using sage and other accounting programs. He also takes an active role in the guidance and training of other staff lending his knowledge and experience to those who studying for their qualifications.
Anthony Brice - Audit Manager
After graduating from Loughborough University with a Masters Degree in Civil & Building Engineering in June 2000 Anthony worked as a graduate civil and structural engineer when he gained an appreciation of business and business systems.
Anthony joined Haines Watts in June 2005 to retrain as an accountant and worked initially in general practice before moving to commerce to work as a Management Accountant and Financial Coordinator within the manufacturing sector. Since then Anthony has qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant and rejoined Haines Watts in March 2009 as an Audit Manager.
Anthony specialises in the manufacturing and construction sectors and has a strong background in developing bespoke business tools using Microsoft Excel and Visual Basic.
Elaine Ray - Corporate Tax Manager
Elaine has joined us after having spent over 30 years specialising in Tax and can assist with planning and compliance advice for our complete range of clients from sole traders to directors of family trading companies through to high net wealth entrepreneurs.
She can advise on income and capital transactions to take full advantage of the relief’s available to individuals and companies.
Elaine can advise on tax planning for individuals arriving in and leaving the UK and on UK tax aspects affecting UK citizens living abroad.
She spent the first nine years of her career working for the Inland Revenue and specialised in enquiry work with a big 6 firm of accountants. In addition with her payroll and benefit in kind knowledge she is well placed to advise on remuneration packages and to manage Inland Revenue enquires into any aspect of business and personal tax.