HMS Accountancy

30/09/2026

Last night I found out I'd been awarded Bronze for Fractional CFO of the Year at the Accounting Excellence Awards.

I won't pretend I didn't want to win.

I'm competitive. Of course I did.

But when I actually stopped and thought about it, I'm incredibly proud of this.

I left PwC in April last year to focus on building HMS Accountancy.

Since then, a big part of what I've wanted to do differently is go beyond the traditional accountant/client relationship.

I’ve wanted to build relationships with clients where I’m involved in the decisions that actually shape their businesses.

Not just looking backwards at the numbers, but helping them think through what comes next — whether that’s an investment, growing the team, expanding the business or taking on finance.

And sometimes, the most valuable advice I can give is telling someone when the numbers suggest they shouldn’t do something.

To be recognised nationally for that work, just over a year after leaving PwC, means a lot.

Especially in a category alongside some very experienced Fractional CFOs.

So no first place trophy this time.

But Bronze for Fractional CFO of the Year 2026 isn't a bad result at all.

Now I suppose I've got something to beat next year 😅






Accounting Excellence PwC UK

29/09/2026

24/09/2026

Everyone talks about the 31 January Self Assessment deadline.

But if you're new to Self Assessment, there's another date you need to know first:

5 October 2026.

If you need to complete a tax return for the 2025/26 tax year and you've never submitted one before, you need to tell HMRC by 5 October.

The mistake I see people make is thinking:

“My tax return isn't due until January, so I've got plenty of time.”

But if this is your first year, you need to get registered first.

Once you're registered, you'll receive your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) and can get everything in place well ahead of the January rush.

If you're unsure whether you need to complete a Self Assessment...

Don't wait until January to find out.

Check now.

And if you're not sure, speak to your accountant before 5 October.

22/09/2026

You can own a £2 million property portfolio and still make some very expensive financial mistakes.

One thing I’ve learned from working with property investors is that a growing portfolio doesn’t automatically mean a profitable one.

I’ve seen investors focus heavily on buying the next property without stopping to look at what’s happening across the ones they already own.

Is each property actually profitable?

What happens when you factor in mortgage costs, maintenance, management fees and void periods?

Is enough cash being put aside for tax?

And perhaps most importantly — was the structure properly considered before the property was purchased?

These things become even more important as a portfolio grows.

Because decisions around buying, selling, refinancing or transferring property rarely affect just one number.

They can have implications for tax, cash flow, financing and your longer-term plans.

I’ve put together 5 common financial mistakes I see property businesses make in this carousel.

Some of them sound obvious.

But they're surprisingly easy to overlook when you're focused on growth.

Swipe through and see how many you're already thinking about.