Team

Sam Leach

Trainee Accountant

Olly Drew

Trainee Accountant

Freddy Slatter

Semi-Senior Accountant

Genny Coutinho

Admin Assistant

Sharon Pryor

Reception Manager/Secretary

Chris Somerville

Senior Accountant

Charlotte McGrath

Senior Accountant

Charlotte Sansum

Semi-Senior Accountant

Bethan Baker

Semi-Senior Accountant

Tara Gale

Payroll Assistant

Lisa Hilton

Payroll Manager

Lois White

Senior Manager

Qualifications: I’ve been FCCA certified since 2007. 

Joined PBA: 1997 

Responsibilities @PBA: My work spans tax and accounts.  

Superpower at work: Working with sole traders, partnerships and small, owner managed companies to help them feel more in control of their future. 

Interests outside of work: Learning to play the saxophone, spending my time with the family and our dogs. 

Greatest personal achievement: Helping one client piece together and disclose to HMRC 10 years of previously unreported capital gains tax. 

Chrissie O'Farrell

Accounts and Tax Manager

Joined PBA: July 2007

Qualifications: ACCA certified in 2016, fellow in 2021 and qualified with the Chartered Institute of Taxation in 2018 to become a Chartered Tax Adviser.

Responsibilities @PBA: My role as an Accountant manages a portfolio of limited companies and sole traders within a variety of industries. As a Chartered Tax Adviser, I also manage a portfolio of personal tax clients including HNW individuals, providing both compliance and advisory work including Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance tax advice and tax planning.

Superpower at work: My ability to build good working relationships with my clients and navigating the complex world of tax by keeping on top of relevant changes to ensure financial success of my clients. Plus I make a great cup of tea!

Interests outside of work: I am a co-owner of a pole and aerial studio so that keeps me busy teaching and makes sure I stay strong and healthy. In my spare time I enjoy learning to play guitar and spending time with friends and family.

 Greatest personal achievement: Becoming qualified (twice) and jumping out of a plane to raise money for Cancer Research

Michelle Ward

Senior Manager

Joined PBA: 2003 

Qualifications: I’ve been ACCA qualified since 2010 and have gone on to become a Fellow. I also have a BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting.  

Responsibilities @PBA: I manage a portfolio of clients and provide accounting and tax return support – including VAT returns from time to time.  

Superpower at work: Working with SME’s, owner-managed business and sole trader, with extensive experience in hospitality, construction and working with consultants. 

Interests outside of work: I love 1950s era fashion and culture. I’m a big fan of the music and cars of the time, especially. 

Greatest personal achievement: Aside from my degree and professional qualifications, I volunteered at a dementia care home for seven years while doing my full-time job. 

 

Cathy King

Tax Manager

Joined PBA: 2002  

Qualifications: I’ve worked in tax since 1988/89 and been ATT qualified since 1996 (and a Fellow since 2006). I’m an associate of the Federation of Tax Advisors and have also passed my HMRC exams and PwC internal exams as part of my training during my time working for them. 

I have a combined honours degree in English Literature & Latin from the University of London and a PGCE from the University of Southampton.   

Responsibilities @PBA: I manage a portfolio of all sorts of personal tax clients, provide ad-hoc advisory support and prepare P11D benefits forms.  

Superpower at work: Expatriate tax, helping people navigate through entering or leaving the UK tax system and legislation around international tax compliance, drawn on my 7 years as an expat tax consultant for PwC. 

Interests outside of work: The theatre, concerts, reading, cooking, walking the dog, and a special mention for The Times Crossword! 

Greatest personal achievement: My children and my marriage. 

The one thing I’d like more control over is…time! I juggle a lot of balls and it would be great to be able to have more time to catch my breath. 

Ruth Pennington

Owner & Director

Joined PBA: 2002 

Qualifications: I have a HND in Business Finance (2000) and have been ACCA certified since 2007 and a Fellow since 2012.  

Responsibilities @PBA: I help clients stay compliant and make plans to take their business to the next level. I also have a whole host of responsibilities for our own business as well, including looking after staff, onboarding new systems, etc.  

Superpower at work: Straight talking advice to help businesses in the tech sector in particular, working with consultants, start-ups and limited companies.  

Interests outside of work: I love walking my dog and spending time with my husband. 

Greatest personal achievement: Becoming a director of the company I did most of my training in. 

The one thing I’d like more control over is…the weather – dry dog walks are so much better than wet ones! 

Paul Pointer

Owner & Director

Joined PBA: 1991 

Qualifications: I’ve been ACCA qualified since 1997 and am now a Fellow of the organisation.  

Responsibilities @PBA: Helping business owners navigate through their compliance needs and to take control of their future financial success.  

Superpower at work: Helping SME and owner managed businesses in the construction and development sector and engineering industries. 

Interests outside of work: I love to be outdoors and especially at the coast, spending time with my family. I’m also a keen armchair fan of Rugby and the NFL. 

Greatest personal achievement: I’m still really proud of the fact I passed all of my professional exams at the first time of asking, getting the join highest mark in the world that year for the Audit and Accounts papers. 

The one thing I’d like more control over is…Time! 

Ben Rivers

Accountant/Accounts manager

Joined PBA: 2004 

Qualifications: AAT qualified since 2010  

Responsibilities @PBA: I prepare year end and management accounts, VAT returns and provide clients with advice on accountancy software tools, as well as a wide range of other ad-hoc things!  

Superpower at work: Limited company accounts 

Interests outside of work: I love being outdoors, whether it’s running, walking the dog, away on holiday or chilling in the garden 

The one thing I’d like more control over is…the weather! You can never have too many hot, sunny days! 

Get in touch

We love it when the phone rings or the inbox pings so drop us a line, at whatever time of day or night, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.