Profile: Rachael Chadwick-Harrison

this office we are in now was available as it had previously been sold to be redeveloped.

“But it came back on the market as a commercial unit and it was a dream come true – but I was probably the only person in Bidford who wanted an office this size!”

Now, the company is up to 12 staff and is servicing clients across a range of sectors from firms looking for support with R&D tax credits through to servicebased businesses that need a broad range of accountancy advice.

Husband Chris has joined the firm – he’s now one exam away from being a certified accountant himself – and has line management responsibility for several members of the team.

Their daughter, Holly (15), has been on work experience with the company but it is their son Joseph (12) who is being lined up as the long-term successor due to his interest in the profession.

“He’s already passed his mock Level 2 AAT exam,” said Rachael. “You can’t do the real thing until you are 14.

“But he’s already got ideas on how much he wants to grow. He keeps telling me he’s going to fill the building with staff which would mean more than doubling in size!

“When you run a business like this, it’s impossible not to take it home with you and he’s definitely been listening into conversations.

“He asked me why I would kick him out of the business because he’d heard something I’d said. What I was actually saying is that I’d want him to go off and work somewhere else for a period of time so he got some additional industry experience.

“It’s only then that you can really understand where our clients are coming from.”

But there is no question that the whole team is benefitting from Rachael’s commitment to the highest standards of training and staff welfare –on top of client-care – because it goes to the absolute core of her personality and why she set the business up in the first place.

“To make sure businesses get proper, proactive advice you have to have the right people and you have to treat them well,” she said. “I am really passionate about people and I wanted to have a really nice culture for me and my staff to work in.

“It’s something that hasn’t always been there in my career so I wanted to ensure it was embedded into what we do here.”

And, ultimately, it pays off for clients too.

“In one recent case,” said Rachael, “a client initially engaged us for a straightforward Capital Gains Tax calculation related to the sale of shares in their family business. After an initial consultation, we determined the potential tax liability they would face upon selling.

“However, we didn’t stop there. We took the time to understand their wider financial position and future plans, and by digging deeper into their goals and exploring alternative strategies, we identified a taxefficient solution that allowed them to offset the CGT liability in another way, ultimately saving them over £12,000 in tax.

“We’ve just saved another business £40,000 that was available on certain tax reliefs so it’s all about being proactive and providing a personal service to each and every client.”

As for growing her own company, Rachael is looking to expand steadily over the coming years and is delighted to finally be in a position where she was able to take a proper summer holiday.

She said: “Because of the team we have in place and the trust I have in them, I feel we can take a break now.”

And it’s definitely one that has been well-earned.

Born: Solihull

Live: Bidford-on-Avon

Married: Nine years

Children: Two, Holly (15) & Joseph (12)

Hobbies: Live music, gaming, archery, swimming, travel

Favourite Book: Dissolution – Nicholas Binge

Favourite Film: The Day After Tomorrow

Last Holiday: Canada (Victoria & Toronto) with a stop-over in Seattle!

Gadget: iPad