Yvonne Wood

Managing Director

Looking back over the years since I started in practice on my 30 birthday I wonder where the years have gone. What I then lacked in experience I made up for in boundless energy and enthusiasm. Whilst I may not quite have the same amount of energy I have certainly gained experience.

I love my job and am fortunate to work with a great team of people and some wonderful clients. One of the reasons for starting out on my own was to be able to choose who I worked with and for and I have never regretted the decision.

Many of my clients are law firms, a sector I have specialised in since I started my training. However, I also have a portfolio of general practice clients, including manufacturers, farms, contractors and retailers. I also spend a great deal of time in managing our own practice and looking for ways to make us both a great employer as well as a practice that delivers exceptional client service and high technical competence.

Claire Patterson

Associate Director

Claire has been a valued member of our team for nearly 20 years. As the Audit Manager, Claire oversees work produced within the corporate department. Dealing mainly with audits, Claire has the skills and expertise to liaise closely with clients to ensure that systems are in place to meet the statutory requirements. In addition to audits, she also deals with a diverse client portfolio from small owner- managed businesses to more complex groups. All aspects of personal and corporate taxation are considered, to provide tax planning at every level.

Doing as much or as little as clients require, Claire brings a personalised service, giving clients peace of mind that all deadlines will be achieved.

When Claire is not managing the audit staff, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, having two young sons. She also plays an active role as treasurer of voluntary associations, including two school PTAs.

Annette Handley

Payroll

Annette has been with Fearns Marriott Ltd for 10 years during which time she has established an exceptional working relationship with clients, undertaking a wide variety of payroll applications. Annette’s responsibilities include:

• processing weekly and monthly payroll and subsequent reporting to HM Revenue & Customs
• providing documentation for new starters and leavers
• providing payslips for clients’ employees
• processing direct bank transfers
• statutory maternity and paternity calculations
• holiday pay and sick pay calculations
• attachment of earnings calculations
• auto enrolment compliance
• processing and submitting monthly CIS (Construction Industry Scheme) returns and providing subcontractor statements
• providing dividend documentation

In her spare time Annette enjoys socialising, family time and travelling.

Gill Meredith

Manager

Gill has been with Fearns Marriott Ltd for over 30 years and has developed an expertise in agricultural matters. She works with her clients to optimise their income tax and capital gains tax positions as well as helping them to plan for the future.

In her role as office manager, Gill’s approachable personality leaves staff feeling supported in all aspects of their employment and this is reflected in the high quality of work that we produce on a daily basis.

In her spare time, Gill is an active member of Endon Methodist Church and is a Methodist Local Preacher in the Staffordshire Moorlands Circuit. She also swims regularly.

Joanne Titley

Senior Accountant

Recently joining us from another Leek based accountancy firm, Joanne brought with her over 20 years of knowledge, experience and skill that have been a real asset to our firm. Taking a keen interest in all aspects of clients’ businesses, Joanne is able to assist her clients with everything from personal tax returns and tax credits to limited company accounts and annual returns.

When Joanne is not working, Joanne leads a healthy lifestyle swimming, running, cycling and walking her beloved labradors. She also enjoys travelling, concerts and shows.

Clare Simms

Accountant / Personal Tax Advisor

Clare has been part of our team for 25 years. Dealing with a variety of clients and offering a range of services, Clare’s knowledge and expertise are invaluable. Clare feels that it is important to build strong relationships with her clients to enable her to gain a good understanding of their businesses and assist them accordingly.

Married, with one son, Clare enjoys foreign holidays with her family.

David Bales

Personal Tax Expert / Limited Company Advisor

Having been with Fearns Marriott Ltd for over 30 years David has developed his skills to a very high standard. Specialising in the complex world of doctors and dentists, David is able to provide an all round service, giving clients peace of mind.

David also deals with limited companies, dealing with corporation tax, dividends and management accounts.

In his spare time David enjoys orienteering with his family and has recently retired from playing hockey after 45 years of playing for clubs in South Cheshire.

Shirley Johnson

Senior Accountant

Shirley has developed a varied client portfolio in the many years she has been with Fearns Marriott Ltd and has established excellent relationships with her clients. Although Shirley deals mainly with sole traders and partnerships, looking after their accounts, tax returns, and VAT returns, she has a wide variety of skills enabling her to work competently in most areas of accounting.

During her leisure time, Shirley enjoys travel and time with her family.

Julie Torr

Payroll

In her many years with Fearns Marriott Ltd Julie has worked in a variety of different roles. Julie now implements this wealth of knowledge in preparing payroll for a large number of clients with whom she has developed excellent relationships. Julie’s responsibilities include:

• weekly and monthly payroll submissions
• reporting under the RTI scheme
• providing documentation for new starters and leavers
• processing payslips for clients’ employees
• processing direct bank transfers
• maternity and paternity calculations
• holiday and sick pay, notice pay and redundancy calculations
• attachment of earnings calculations
• auto-enrolment obligations

Julie also prepares accounts, VAT returns and tax calculations.

In her spare time Julie enjoys walking, keeping fit and relaxing with family and friends.

Lucy Cooper

Senior Accountant

Lucy has been with Fearns Marriott Ltd for nearly 10 years. Starting as a trainee accountant, Lucy qualified as an ACCA professional accountant in 2011. She has now built a strong client portfolio of varying backgrounds dealing with Limited Companies and Unincorporated businesses. Lucy has experience in all aspects of accountancy including computerised book keeping, VAT, payroll, accounts preparation and the completion of both personal and company tax returns. Having the experience in all these fields Lucy can tailor her services to the individual needs of her clients and is able to offer a more personalised approach to her work.

In her spare time, Lucy enjoys the outdoor country life. Walking, baking and regularly attending keep fit classes are passions of hers.

Hayley Chadwick

Receptionist

Our receptionist, Hayley, takes care of the administration of Fearns Marriott Ltd making sure the company can run efficiently on a day to day basis.

Working closely with all clients for over eight years, Hayley has developed excellent relationships with them, ensuring clients feel confident in our work. Hayley takes pride in taking care of clients and is always willing to go beyond the call of duty to ensure clients get a personalised service.

Hayley’s main passion is reading but also enjoys watching TV and babysitting her nieces.

Russell Williams

Limited Company Advisor

Russell has been with the firm since its formation in 1992. Since then, Russell has developed a wide range of expertise regarding limited companies and owner managed businesses, catering to a widely varied client portfolio and has a genuine interest in client businesses. Taking care of everything from company secretarial to projected profit and loss figures, Russell is able to bring a step by step approach to limited company accounting and auditing, ensuring that a complete clarity of service is delivered.

However, Russell covers a wide range of services including:

• Statutory accounts preparation
• Audits
• Audits under the Solicitors Accounts Rules
• Charity audits
• VAT compliance
• Corporation tax returns
• Income Tax returns

When not at work, Russell’s main passion is for road running. As a long serving member of Cheadle Running Club, Russell enjoys road racing and has been a competitor in the London Marathon on a number of occasions. Russell also enjoys dining out, socialising and travelling abroad including going on cruise holidays.

Mike Ball

Software Support

Mike has been with the firm for over 30 years. As well as preparing accounts and tax returns Mike assists clients with their accounting software including Sage 50, Quickbooks and other software. He will also visit a number of clients on a regular basis to produce monthly management accounts.

If a client requires financial projections for a lender or to accurately plan for the future then Mike will also prepare these.

Outside of work, Mike has a keen interest in photography and computers.

Liz Bennett

Accountant/Tax Advisor

Three years into her AAT course Liz has been working closely with the Audit Staff assisting them in their day to day work. As Liz develops she is now dealing with more complicated tasks such as monthly book keeping and VAT preparations.

Liz also studies at Babington Business College once a week to further develop her qualifications.

In her spare time, Liz does a lot for the charity ‘Breast Cancer Now’ as well as being an adult leader in the Brownies.

Richard Barlow

Trainee Accountant

Richard has recently joined our team at Fearns Marriott. He is AAT qualified and is currently attending University to gain his CIMA qualification. Over the past 4 years he has been working in a corporate environment, dealing with Management Accounts, Purchase Ledger and Bank Reconciliation.

At Fearns Marriott Richard prepares accounts for incorporated and unincorporated businesses as well as VAT returns.

In his spare time, Richard enjoys his country lifestyle, basketball, mountain biking, attending the gym and socialising.

Lucy Evans

Trainee Accountant

Lucy joined Fearns Marriott in August 2019 after gaining 4 years of practice experience at another firm.

Lucy is AAT qualified and is currently studying towards the ACCA qualification. In addition to this she also studies for a Bachelors Degree in Business Management and Accounting via The Open University.

Lucy has experience in all aspects of accountancy including Accounts Production, Personal Tax returns, Company Tax Returns, Bookkeeping, VAT Returns and Audit. Lucy is also a Xero Certified Advisor and a QuickBooks ProAdvisor.

In her spare time, when she is not studying, Lucy enjoys baking and spending time with her partner and dog.