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.

Dave Waddington

Consultant

Dave qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1993 and has specialised in taxation ever since then. Having worked mainly in the owner managed business sector, he specialises in tax planning for owner-managed businesses and HNWI’s, including remuneration planning, R&D Tax Credits, CGT, IHT, succession planning and corporate restructuring, and business acquisitions and disposals. In addition to tax planning and advisory work, he also deals with a wide variety of Tax Investigations, including specialist investigations and Code of Practice 9 cases.

Providing innovative, successful tax optimising solutions for clients and solving problems that they never knew they had. Being thanked and appreciated by grateful clients.

If I wasn't doing this: Being anywhere with my wife, Amanda.

Favourite sports/person Or Book: Football - Aston Villa FC

Dream Location: A beach in Greece

Michael Needham

Tax Director

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

What do you enjoy most about your job?

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

Vikki Wynne

Director

Vikki works with a wide range of individuals and owner managed businesses in many sectors operating throughout the UK. Her aim is to understand a business and identify the personal goals of business owners to advise them in ways they understand. She will not only ensure they meet their statutory requirements but in addition, confirm they are paying the right amount of tax, assist to grow and improve the value of their business and personal wealth.

My job is so different day to day, I’m always learning and never bored. I get to work with creative, passionate business owners and contribute to their success.

If I wasn't doing this: Visiting new and exciting places, reading lots of books & eating out with a nice glass of red wine.

Favourite book, person: The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt

Dream Location: Australia

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

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.

Gary Loughlin

Tax Manager

Gary entered the world of taxation in 1989, joining HM Revenue & Customs, where he worked for nine years, before joining the tax department of an established firm of Chartered Accountants in Liverpool. In 2006, Gary joined the tax team at Haines Watts. He has a diverse portfolio, dealing with clients across a wide variety of sectors, from sole-traders to directors of multi-million pound companies.

I genuinely enjoy working with clients and providing support and advice for them. It’s nice to know that I have helped them in some way, and to know that they appreciate the work we do here.

If I wasn't doing this: Browsing in a record shop

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

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