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Who am I?

I’m Chartered Institute of Tax (CIOT) qualified with over 25 years of experience in the VAT arena.  Initially working as part of assurance and fraud detection teams at HM Customs & Excise (as it was back then!), I moved into ‘the profession’ in 1995 and since then have worked in numerous senior management roles predominantly in Big Four indirect tax teams both in the UK and overseas.

When I’m at work

As a VAT specialist, I solve time-sensitive and often business-critical client issues whether that be unravelling and advising on a complex technical issue, unlocking a dispute with a transactional counterparty/tax authority or ensuring clients are compliant with existing or newly introduced legislative provisions.  Using technical updates, case law or best practice, I am also keen to add value by generating and securing VAT savings to increase a businesses’ bottom line or by using VAT to inject cash and improve working capital.  Over the last decade I have specialized in providing VAT services to the M&A, Private Equity and Real Estate sectors including VAT health-checks, due diligence projects, corporate/fund structuring to optimise VAT recovery on transaction costs, devising and implementing partial exemption methods and advising on the implications and compliance obligations of the Capital Goods Scheme (CGS).

When I’m not at work

When I’m not walking/chasing the family pooch (Flora) around the sand dunes of West Lancashire or being ‘dad’s taxi’ for my energetic teenage twin daughters (Isabelle and Naomi), I am a long-standing season-ticket holding Manchester City fan (with a Liverpool post-code!) and Lancashire County Cricket Club enthusiast.  When culture comes calling, I am an avid Radio 6 Music listener and get to as many live gigs as parenting allows. I am married to a Year 6 primary school teacher, Jude, and have recently been appointed chair of the audit and risk committee at a local secondary school.