With a change of name and new senior staff enhancing an already established reputation, A9 Accountancy is building from a position of strength.
Formerly known as The A9 Partnership (Highland), the firm has enjoyed consistent and continuing growth as part of the A9 Partnership “family”, providing reliable, effective support to a diverse range of clients across the Highlands and Islands. The name change reflects its wider and deeper local skill base and level of autonomy. The 14-strong Inverness team, based at Cradlehall Business Park, will be known by the new title and has added to its expertise with the recruitment of mergers and acquisitions specialist Michelle Stuart and Zoe Bailey, who specialises in financial services. Michelle qualified as an accountant in 1998 and as a chartered tax advisor the following year She has worked at a “big 4” firm as well as at a specialist corporate finance company and as an independent consultant Her arrival expands A9hs M&A capabilities and strengthens its all-round tax offerings.
Zoeh who qualified in 2003, was a corporate finance executive before becoming a senior financial analyst and subsequently a senior credit manager with a major bank. With her combined experience of both accountancy and banking, she brings to the Highlands an almost unique set of skills to assist clients in areas such as business plans and funding applications.
These new senior appointments further augment the broad spectrum of expertise for which A9 has become known at a time when the need for high quality advice tailored to individual requirements is greater than ever.
Heading up the team in providing a full range of accountancy and taxation services are directors Paul Capewell and Ernest Smart.
Both have backgrounds working for larger firms. Paul qualified in 1999 and worked in practice in both England and Scotland before joining A9 in 2008, being appointed a director two years later.
Ernest qualified in 1983 and has worked in many parts of the world as a tax partner in a “big-4” practice before moving permanently to the Highlands in 2002 to develop farming and property interests. He returned to practice in 2007, joining A9 three years later and was appointed a director in 2010.
“We are here to help people achieve what they want to achieve.” A9’s on-going development is helped by referrals from professional advisers such as banks and lawyers. Its client base ranges from individuals to large companies with turnovers running into tens of millions of pounds and subsidiaries of overseas multinationals.
Geographically its services reach all parts of the region, with clients in Wick and Thurso, the west coast and the Western Isles as well as Inverness. It also covers across section of the Highlands and Islands’ economy assisting the agriculture, hotel and leisure, construction, internet and research and development sectors.
Far removed from the traditional image of accountants as number crunchers, the team provides advice and information on Income Tax. Capital Gains Tax, Corporation Tax, Inheritance Tax, NIC, VAT and stamp duty, and also higher level planning advice in the areas of business structuring, advice to charities and the renewables industry in addition to statutory audits.
You can contact Paul Capewell or Ernest Smart at A9 Accountancy on 01463 791000.
