The Indispensables

Well not quite, but…

For anyone who doesn’t know us, we wanted to give you an outline profile of who we are, what we have done, and a feel for the sort of people we are.

James’ best asset is having a broad, modern business skill base, grounded in an international and corporate business environment, which he now uses to help small (and not so small) businesses.

Talk to James 01273 424225 j.mason@fifthelement-brighton.com

James Mason - Managing Director

James is responsible for all things related to client support, tax issues, client business reviews, solving client problems, client business development and dealing with HMRC when the need arises.

He is also responsible for developing the practice and keeping staff morale optimised, which he executes brilliantly through an excellent repertoire of comedic verbal exchange!

Four years' training with a firm of Chartered Accountants, five years in Private Banking, six years in International Retail, one year overseas, one year as a windsurfing instructor, followed by eight happy years (and many more to come) back in practice helping businesses locally, nationally and internationally.

Career highlights include reporting at board level for two UK blue chips in Financial and Management accounting roles. Both required international and UK taxation skills and knowledge necessary to ensure all business units, divisions and charges under his wing worked both operationally and profitably.

Coming from a retail and construction family with honed skills from private banking and international retail, James now focuses his skills where he says they matter most, “On the high street and in the local business community”.

Blanaid's attention to detail ensures mistakes don’t get made… but if they do, then they get fixed fast. You could not want for a better accountant helping you to look after and protect your business.

Talk to Blanaid 01273 424225 b.mason@fifthelement-brighton.com

Blanaid Mason - Finance Manager

Blanaid is a truly gifted FCCA accountant with a proven background in private practice, internal and external audit and treasury management she has excellent track record for delivering financial and management accounting and tax planning.

Performing or overseeing most of the accounts preparation and tax work, she essentially runs the engine room of the business, and is also responsible for all statutory work and compliance.

Blanaid brings to the business a tenacious approach, ensuring that deadlines are met by both us and our clients. She makes sure we all do what we should be doing, when we should be doing it.

Blanaid’s attention to detail in areas of tax, legislation, and regulatory control is essential to the work we do on our clients’ behalf. In addition, she constantly brings added value to each job so that rather than being just a number cruncher she identifies and brings to the attention of clients the issues that can help them to improve their businesses and operations.

Being approachable and helpful is key to our business and Blanaid is always happy to assist with any queries you may have regarding your business or tax affairs, however simple or complex.

Alison’s background running her own successful business is invaluable when sitting on the front line at Fifth Element. When you call you know that Alison has the skill base to deal with your enquiry properly.

Talk to Alison 01273 424225 a.hine@fifthelement-brighton.com

Alison Hine - Client Support Manager

Alison is the face and voice of the practice, she is the first person you speak to, and on a day to day basis she manages and deals with your every need.

Having run her own small business, Alison is able to understand more fully the help, care and support our clients need. She will always go the extra mile to ensure all matters are dealt with efficiently and as promptly as possible.

Alison has fantastic experience in client support, developed and honed in the Estate Agency, International Trade and more recently the Private Medical Practice business sectors.

Alison manages everything from the initial client enquiry, the client set-up, through to ongoing client support. She is always on hand to listen to, and resolve, the issues that you need us to sort out. She also keeps the general office running efficiently and makes sure the rest of the team are able to do an excellent job for our clients.

Constantly managing the client support aspect of the practice both calmly and professionally, Alison is a superb member of the team who is a pleasure to work with and fantastic with the clients.

We are not noted for having many, however if we do, Marytn is fantastic at keeping his cool in a crisis. He has a pricelessly stoic approach to anything ‘headless chicken’ and quite simply, he’s a lovely chap.

Talk to Martyn 01273 424225 m.southwick@fifthelement-brighton.com

Martyn Southwick - Associate

Martyn is 'top 8' qualified, has lots of other big firm experience, strengthens our support base superbly and extends our network of associated business professionals.

We should probably mention that he isn't from Southwick. And if you needed proof, he avidly supports Newcastle United! Indeed, it does take all sorts.

Martyn’s primary role in the practice is to strengthen our tax support. However, he also expertly undertakes the preparation of some of our sole-trader client’s accounts and tax returns when the need arises and provides a management accounting and FC role for some of our bigger clients.

He brings an exceptionally personable nature which client’s cannot help to warm to. He has a great eye for the strategic in a client’s affairs and helps strengthen the practice’s business development ethos.

Whether you are looking for someone who can sit inside your business undertaking day to day tasks and critical business issues or someone who can answer those demanding tax questions that come up from time to time, Martyn is the chap to have doing it.

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