HISTORY
“Barretts” was formed by Ian Barrett in February 1992. Ian commenced as a sole practitioner operating from offices in Victoria Street, Paignton, with a secretary, a computer and 10 clients. In July 1995 Marianne Barrett Rogers joined Ian as a partner. As the practice grew, larger premises were required and the firm has now moved from Paignton to its present location in Torquay. In July 1999 the partnership was incorporated as Check Book Ltd.
The business currently services approximately 600 clients: about 400 individuals; 100 partnerships; 100 companies and a handful of trusts. The growth has come mainly from personal recommendations from existing clients as well as close links with bank managers, solicitors and other professionals.
We now have three employees, two of whom work partly from home on contracts which enable them to be flexible in the hours they work in order to fit in with family life. Our commitment to the latest technology enables us to maintain a high level of client service whilst allowing our staff a considerable amount of freedom.
PHILOSOPHY
Both Ian and Marianne pride themselves in the personal interest they take in their clients and strive to provide a high quality service. The intention is to grow the practice, but not at the expense of the principals’ personal involvement in the client’s business. Our aim is to be part of your team, working together with yourselves and your other professional advisers to achieve your goals.
In order to encourage this atmosphere the practice structures its charges so as not to discourage contact. Wherever possible a written quotation in advance of work being undertaken is provided. Annual accounting, auditing and taxation matters are quoted for on a package basis with an allowance built in for incidental advice and clients are positively encouraged to avail themselves of this service.
Ian attends Newton Abbot Baptist Church and Marianne attends the Quaker meeting in Torquay. They both believe that high ethical standards not only should be, but can be maintained in business, even in this day and age. This is reflected in the partners’ attitudes to both staff and clients.
We pride ourselves on delivering the best quality advice. We recognise that the most technically innovative solution to a problem may not always prove to be the most practical. We do not believe that the “tax tail should wag the commercial dog”.
Our mission statement is :-
To be the firm which provides advice which is affordable, commercial, practical and above all relevant.
Our motto is, “Barretts takes care of business”
THE PARTNERS
Ian Barrett qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1980 and was admitted as a Fellow of the Institute in 1990. He has spent his career servicing both established and growing family businesses.
After qualifying with a small three partner firm in Essex he moved to be personal assistant to a partner in a ten partner firm in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Shortly after joining the firm was taken over by Grant Thornton and Ian was appointed a manager.
In 1988 he left Grant Thornton to join a local four partner firm in Torbay, becoming a salaried partner with specific responsibility for the Paignton office which had recently been acquired from a retiring practitioner.
During that time he had day to day responsibility for the office and ten staff and managed the transition from an older style of office to a more modern outlook, whilst maintaining traditional standards.
In 1992 Ian declined an offer of equity partnership in favour of starting his own practice. His clientele is mostly based in South Devon, although he does service one group of property companies in Harrow in Middlesex. As well as local tourist-based businesses he has expertise in charities and professional practices and he currently looks after five firms of solicitors.
Ian has always had a keen interest in technical matters and has had a long association with the Institute of Chartered Accountants Technical Advisory Committees. He is currently a member of the South West Society of Chartered Accountants Technical Advisory Committee, which involves discussions on government and Institute documents and making written representations in respect thereof. As well as being a useful way of keeping up to date with the latest thinking, the meetings give the opportunity to discuss matters of topical interest with academics, leaders of local industry and fellow practitioners since the committee has a wide ranging representation.
Since Ian effectively ran the business single handed for the first few years he has a wealth of practical experience which is invaluable in helping clients who are in start up situations.
Marianne Barrett Rogers qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1978 and was admitted a fellow of the Institute in 1989. She is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation being admitted a member in 1981.
After qualifying with a small firm in Essex she joined a top twenty firm, Clark Whitehill, in London to specialise in taxation. During that time she was promoted to manager and became interested in the taxation of agriculture through the involvement of many wealthy clients in farms. She was offered the opportunity to move to the Cheltenham office of the firm in 1983 and took over the running of the tax department in that office. During this time her interest in agriculture grew and, after having written several articles for Taxation Magazine, she was invited to write a book on farming taxation by publishers Longmans. During the course of writing the book she joined KPMG in Bristol as a senior manager, responsible for the business tax department of thirteen people. This involved advising family businesses both companies and partnerships on all matters of taxation but particularly property taxes as well as being involved in wider issues involving general business advice.
In 1990 she was head hunted by Ernst & Young to lead their farming group based in Exeter. Whilst retaining certain other client interests and being involved in marketing activities, this involved looking after some 250 farming enterprises ranging from smallholdings and a vineyard through to a landed estate in Scotland. The division was dairy biased but included a number of arable enterprises. The advice and support included accounts production, tax advice (IHT and CGT planning) and general management advice. Over the years she has built up good relationships with many agricultural advisers and works closely with them to deliver an integrated service to many clients.
During the last year of her time at Ernst & Young she moved to head up the corporate tax department in order to fill a vacancy on the sudden departure of a senior manager. This post involved looking after large corporate clients (plcs and investment trusts) as well as a number of smaller businesses. Whilst enjoyable and stimulating, this post was not fulfilling her main love which is to look after businesses with a bias towards agriculture and land use. She therefore declined an offer of partnership in Ernst & Young and joined Ian in partnership in 1995.
Several of her clients followed her and she has also expanded her portfolio of farms over the last few years.
She acts for a few high net worth individuals, providing the full range of services for both income and capital taxes and looking after their companies.
PUBLICATIONS
Both Ian and Marianne have an interest in writing on technical matters. As mentioned, Ian is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Technical Advisory Committee locally and Marianne has written a book on agricultural taxation.
Over the past few years they have contributed to loose leaf publications on partnerships, family companies, school fees planning and furnished holiday lettings. However, in recent times the writing activities have been curtailed in favour of client service commitments and there are no plans to revive the writing activities at present, although it is not ruled out for the future.
STAFF
Each member of our staff is professionally qualified to accounting technician standard. Jenny Sanders and Janice Gist, who were with Marianne at Ernst & Young, are also tax technicians. Clare Meek has wide experience in charity accounting and taxation.
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