Tell us a bit about your career so far
I was flicking through the Farmer’s Weekly in summer 2015 and came across a job advert which is where my career started with Hazlewoods. I joined as an Association of Accountancy Technicians (AAT) apprentice and went on to study and become an Associate Chartered Accountant in 2020, studying for my final exams online and sitting the exams during Covid.
I then moved to a four-day working week, allowing time to support my own family’s farm and furnished holiday lets on a Friday.
What is it like being an accountant in the agricultural sector right now?
Following the Autumn budget, there are many questions and concerns on farmers’ and landowners’ minds around the changes to inheritance tax relief available for businesses. Tax is almost always in the forefront of our clients’ minds, which goes hand in hand with cash flow concerns.
The recent weather challenges and delays in many harvests this summer are another talking point, some clients will likely be seeking additional finance over the next year to balance the effects of the adverse conditions.
Why Hazlewoods?
The Farms and Estates team has such a great mix of interesting clients, from the smaller family farms to the larger estates with extensive diversification. I really enjoy building a personal relationship with my clients and being able to make a difference to their business is the most rewarding part of the job.
One of my favourite day-to-day elements is working with like-minded people and building relationships with other professionals in the sector. The Farms and Estates team has expanded greatly since I joined and is made up of people with, and without farming backgrounds. I really enjoy supporting new recruits and seeing them learn about the ins and outs of farming, and the challenges
facing the industry. The team has a vast expanse of knowledge which can play a part in supporting the future of farming, something I am hugely passionate about.
