The voice of business in the Tees region | 85
IN FOR A PENNY
Accountant Kathryn Halfpenny
is on a mission to take the fear
out of tax returns…
F
or many of us, the idea of a meeting
with our accountant is up there on
the list of necessary evils. It’s also
arguably one of a few situations – along
with a doctor’s prescription – where we
often have little idea of what’s been written
on the pages in front of us, but we sign the
documents and pay our money anyway.
Kathryn Halfpenny knows only too well
the fear that accountants can strike into
even the hardest business heart and is
determined to change the way we look at
her profession.
To begin with, the lady herself is
completely approachable, with a big smile
and gentle manner. She’s just moved into
new offices at Wynyard Business Park and
has taken on her first employee, Gillian,
who she is investing in and encouraging
to do the ACCA (Association of Chartered
Certified Accountants) qualification.
Most importantly though, she is offering
– along with the usual book-keeping, payroll
and self-assessment services - a guarantee
that she will explain, in layman’s terms,
exactly what’s happening with your finances
in terms of tax, and how best to handle
them.
Maybe Kathryn’s down-to-earth manner
has something to do with the fact that
she actually wanted to join the police or
fire service, not become an accountant.
“I even did a pre-uniform course,” she
laughs. “But it never worked out so I got
an apprenticeship doing admin and some
finance at Lionweld Kennedy.”
Within three months Kathryn had proved
herself an unlikely yet extremely talented
lady with figures. “The finance director
approached me and
said ‘Would you
not want to do a
finance course? I’ve
had a look and the
AAT starts tonight’.
So that was that.
I started that very
night and haven’t
looked back.”
The journey to
branching out on her
own started in 2017
when Kathryn was
made redundant
from her role as
finance manager
with Arriva – a
position she’d worked her way up to over
a decade with the company. “I loved that
job - and when you’ve been somewhere
for ten years, it’s scary to leave. I’d gained
my ACCA qualification in 2014 and when I
knew I was leaving Arriva I decided to apply
for my practising certificate, which I gained
just before the position ended.”
Kathryn soon started picking up clients,
as well as working for the charity Eleven
Arches in Bishop Auckland. A stint with a
large corporate company reinforced the
fact that she was much more comfortable
in a smaller set up with a more personal
and hands-on approach.“My whole work
ethos is to be a more approachable, more
friendly accountant. I want to be a trusted
business partner to my clients, someone
who is always there at the end of a phone.”
Mike Racz has been a constant source of
support for Kathryn as her company grows.
WORDS: JULIE BURNISTON
PICS: DOUG MOODY
Having worked for Racz Group as financial
controller, she still consults for them today.
“Mike gave me so much confidence, as did
those who run the NatWest Entrepreneur
Scheme, who have a hub in Newcastle and
who gave me one-to-one mentoring which
has started me thinking how I can expand
the company and employ more people.”
Meantime, with tax return season upon
us, it’s a good time to book in to see
Kathryn. “When it comes to finance, even
brilliant people sometimes look terrified,
but I promise to make things easier and
more understandable,” she smiles.
halfpennyaccountancy.co.uk
[email protected]
Tel: 07498-506475