Our people
Our strength is our people. They’re what sets Cowgills apart.
Cowgills has over 180 talented, committed and engaged employees, totally focussed on delivering financial guidance and growth strategies to our clients.
We are passionate about what we do. The senior management team at Cowgills are central to the long term relationships we have with our clients, they have extensive contacts in the region which our clients benefit from.
Each client has their own relationship partner, who’s supported by the other members of our full service team; here you can meet a few of our senior team.
Paul Stansfield
Managing Partner
Firm Wide
Nilesh Modhvadia
Director
Rob Lord
Partner, Business Development
Lynne Martland
Head of People
Stuart Stead
Partner and Head of Property & Construction
Patrick Lydon
Consultant
Jason Elliott
Partner
Claire Hextall
Marketing Director
Audit & Advisory
Lisa Wilson
Partner
Alex Hesketh
Partner and Head of International
John Marshall
Partner
Business Recovery
Mike Murphy
Partner, Compliance
Craig Johns
Partner
Andy Ball
Partner
Caroline Snape
Director
Paul Stringer
Partner
Chris Harrington
Director
Kelly Garside
Director
Jane Rash
Director
Stacey Cole
Client Manager
Tax
Spencer Bennett
Financial Planning Director
Wealth
Jordan Heys
Director
Corporate Finance
Dawn Scott
Director
Ian Johnson
Partner
Ben Cowgill
Director
Sam Davies
Partner
Nick Brierley
Director
James Greenhalgh
Director
Business Funding
Caroline Van Hecke
Senior VAT Manager
Shaun Davison
Financial Planning Director
Ben Day
Director
Matthew Bromley
Director
James Kennedy
Assistant Director
Phil Hart
Chartered Financial Planner
David Rainford
Director
Paul Stansfield
Managing Partner
Paul is managing partner of the firm, and has been here for so many years, we've lost count! As managing partner he has led the firm's tremendous growth and has overall responsibility for developing our compliance activity and service levels. He still has a focus on clients and works with a number of owner managed and family businesses, advising them on their growth strategies.
Areas of expertise
Growing & Entrepreneurial businesses, owner managed businesses & growth strategies.
Tel: 01204 414 243
Rob Lord
Partner, Business Development
Rob heads up all business development for the firm. He is the face of our International sector, he is the one with a rocket pack! With a strong network of contacts in the professional community, he works with shareholders of growing & entrepreneurial businesses and family businesses. As members of IAPA International and the UK 200 Group Rob also works closely with these bodies representing Cowgills' interests.
Areas of expertise
Business transactions, Family Businesses and growing businesses
Tel: 0161 827 1200
Email: rob.lord@cowgills.co.uk
Lynne Martland
Head of People
Lynne is our Head of People - we need someone to keep our Super Accountants in check! Lynne provides advice, support and guidance with an emphasis on colleague communication and inclusion, health and wellbeing, delivering excellence, personal performance and development, staff retention and candidate attraction.
Areas of expertise
People management, values, internal communication
Tel: 01204 414 243
Claire Hextall
Marketing Director
Claire heads our marketing and PR function and is the creative one in our technical team! Claire has worked in senior positions across a number of sectors including law firms and national property companies. She leads a marketing team of five who work hard coordinating our marketing strategy, from arranging our very popular events, to developing our marketing campaigns.
Areas of expertise
Marketing, Events, PR
Tel: 01204 414 243
Mike Murphy
Partner, Compliance
Mike leads on all compliance matters for the firm. He’s responsible for practice assurance and quality control for Cowgills too. Mike is one of our longest serving employees.
Areas of expertise
Compliance & quality control
Tel: 01204 414 243
Email: mike.murphy@cowgills.co.uk
Nilesh Modhvadia
Director
Nilesh is a Director in our Audit and Assurance team, working with owner managed and entrepreneurial businesses. He’s a sounding board for many of our clients, advising them on the best course of action. Nilesh is also a key part of our Property and Construction team and has a growing portfolio of property and construction clients.
Areas of expertise
Property & Construction, entrepreneurial and owner managed businesses and complex group structures
Tel: 01204 414 243
Stuart Stead
Partner and Head of Property & Construction
Stuart works closely with entrepreneurial clients in the property and construction sector throughout the North West. As one of the region’s only focused property and construction divisions, Stuart and his team of experts use their specialist knowledge to deliver sector specific advice with a focus on the following:-
Raising finance
Tax minimisation
Value protection
Compliance services
Areas of expertise
Strategic advice, funding, structuring, audit and accountancy, Property & Construction
Tel: 01204 414 243
Email: stuart.stead@cowgills.co.uk
Patrick Lydon
Consultant
Patrick joined the firm following a merger between Cowgills and Warings, where he was a Senior Partner. Patrick is one of our most experienced accountants and has an unrivalled reputation within the local community having advised many well known Bolton businesses.
Areas of expertise
Local businesses
Tel: 01204 414 243
Email: patrick.lydon@cowgills.co.uk
Alex Hesketh
Partner and Head of International
Alex joined Cowgills on our highly successful graduate scheme, and has worked his way up the ranks to Partner. With a background in Audit and Corporate compliance he has a growing list of clients across the North West. He heads up our International team working with clients who are focused overseas, from taking their first steps into exporting, to setting up operations across multiple countries.
Areas of expertise
International audits
Tel: 01204 414 243
Email: alex.hesketh@cowgills.co.uk
John Marshall
Partner
With one of our largest portfolios of clients, John has firmly established himself as an expert in dealing with owner managed businesses and groups. John also heads up the firms specialist Pension Fund Audit team, which deals with employer pension funds with assets of up to £200m.
Areas of expertise
Owner managed businesses and groups, pension fund audits.
Tel: 01204 414 243
Email: john.marshall@cowgills.co.uk
Caroline Snape
Director
Caroline has a wealth of experience in auditing and company compliance, she helps companies fulfil their obligations to international and government compliance.
Areas of expertise
Audit, Growth and Entrepreneurial businesses, owner managed businesses
Tel: 01204 414 243
Ben Day
Director
Ben is our funding guru, offering assistance with sourcing the right funding solution from his extensive network of providers. He has over a decade of experience in all aspects of business funding, most recently specialising in the FinTech Sector.
Areas of expertise
Growth funding, FinTech
Tel: 0161 827 1200
Email: benjamin.day@cowgills.co.uk
David Rainford
Director
David is our property finance specialist. He works with property developers and investors assisting them to source and structure debt for residential and commercial schemes, property acquisitions and refinancing. He ensures deals get across the line by presenting proposals to funders and negotiating terms, getting stuck in to understand the deal offering a pragmatic and flexible approach to funding.
Areas of Expertise
Property funding
Tel: 01204 414 243
Jason Elliott
Partner
As a licensed Insolvency Practitioner and Partner at Cowgills, Jason offers expert knowledge and help to businesses and individuals who are experiencing financial difficulty. With over two decades of experience, Jason leads a growing team offering advice on business turnaround, formal insolvency procedures, corporate and personal insolvency procedures.
Areas of expertise
Business turnaround and formal insolvency processes
Tel: 0161 827 1200
Email: jason.elliott@cowgills.co.uk
Craig Johns
Partner
Craig is a Partner in our Business Recovery team specialising in providing assistance to financially distressed businesses across a number of sectors including retail and care homes, as well as providing assistance to individuals.
Areas of expertise
Business turnaround and formal insolvency processes
Tel: 0161 827 1200
Email: craig.johns@cowgills.co.uk
Jordan Heys
Director
Jordan has worked in the Business Recovery and Insolvency sector for almost two decades and has gained vast experience in all aspects of both Personal and Corporate matters in that time. His focus is always to look at continuation over cessation and works with Directors to find solutions to financial problems. Jordan also heads up Cowgills Creditor Protection, our Creditor Services offering.
Areas of expertise
Working with Accountants and their clients
Tel: 07983631992
Email: Jordan.heys@cowgills.co.uk
Ben Cowgill
Director
Ben is a Licensed Insolvency Practitioner, and the man with a cape across our website! Ben specialises in business turnaround and business recovery along with dealing with formal insolvency.
Areas of expertise
Working with lenders, investors, accountants and directors
Tel: 0161 827 1200
Email: ben.cowgill@cowgills.co.uk
Nick Brierley
Director
Nick is a qualified Insolvency Practitioner and one of the leading lights in our business recovery team. He has experience across all forms of insolvency and has advised businesses across a variety of different sectors.
Areas of expertise
Construction & engineering
Tel: 0161 827 1200
Email: nick.brierley@cowgills.co.uk
Paul Stringer
Partner
Paul works with growing and entrepreneurial clients. He is an advocate of establishing solid relationships with clients to take them on their journey as a business - and there have certainly been some journeys during his many years at Cowgills. He recognises opportunities getting great results for his clients. His particular specialism is developing growth strategies for businesses.
Areas of expertise
Funding, acquisitions and business sales
Tel: 0161 827 1200
Email: paul.stringer@cowgills.co.uk
Jane Rash
Director
Jane has been working in our Corporate Finance team for many years and works closely with our Lead Advisory team. She uses her vast experience to really bring value to our clients. In our exclusive shareholder review workshops, she develops financial modelling and reporting systems to ensure clients get the best solution to meet their plan for both their personal and corporate objectives.
Areas of expertise
Strategic support , financial forecasting and MI pack development
Tel: 01204 414 243
Email: jane.rash@cowgills.co.uk
Ian Johnson
Partner
Ian joined Cowgills back in 1993. With many years experience he is our Head of Corporate Finance. He works closely with a variety of businesses across numerous sectors. He has extensive experience in all aspects of Corporate Finance work, focusing on a business’ current situation, identifying and executing them in line with business objectives.
Areas of expertise
M&A, strategic planning and business reconstructions
Tel: 0161 827 1200
Email: ian.johnson@cowgills.co.uk
Sam Davies
Partner
Sam is a Director within our Corporate Finance team. An award winning advisor, he has a wealth of knowledge in the selling of a business as both an advisor and an investor. Specialising specifically in technology, media, telecoms and consumer sectors.
Areas of expertise
Trade sales, acquisitions and debt funding
Tel: 0161 827 1200
Email: sam.davies@cowgills.co.uk
James Kennedy
Assistant Director
James is Assistant Director in our Corporate Finance team. He has considerable transaction experience whether that be through acquisitions, selling a business or simply advising shareholders. He works with a variety of businesses across the region.
Areas of expertise
Transactions, due diligence and MBOs
Tel: 0161 827 1200
Email: james.kennedy@cowgills.co.uk
Lisa Wilson
Partner
Lisa is a Partner and Head of Tax and has been instrumental in growing the Cowgills tax team into one of the most specialised in the North West. As a leading tax advisor herself, she helps entrepreneurs and owner managed businesses on all the strategic aspects of their business, and can be often seen as an expert on the speaking network.
Areas of expertise
Tax strategy, entrepreneurial and owner managed businesses
Tel: 01204 414 243
Email: lisa.wilson@cowgills.co.uk
Andy Ball
Partner
Andy is one of our most senior tax experts and manages a portfolio of some of our key clients. He’s also our go to guy for expert advice on owner managed businesses and the tax issues affecting them.
Areas of expertise
Tax planning and owner managed businesses
Tel: 01204 414 243
Email: andy.ball@cowgills.co.uk
Kelly Garside
Director
Kelly is a qualified Chartered Tax Advisor, she works closely with owner managed and family businesses. Her main focus is to provide detailed tax planning advice on the complex tax issues clients are likely to face. She specialises in providing advice on inheritance tax and estate planning, employee share schemes and business reorganisations.
Areas of expertise
Remuneration planning, enterprise investment schemes, business reorganisations, inheritance tax and estate planning, family businesses and succession planning
Tel: 01204 414 243
Email: kelly.garside@cowgills.co.uk
James Greenhalgh
Director
James is one of our in house tax specialists and deals with a range of tax related issues for owner managed businesses. Over the years he’s developed a deep understanding of the property and construction sector, advising many of the North West's leading property and construction firms. He’s also an R&D expert and heads up the firm’s specialist R&D Advisory team.
Areas of expertise
Tax planning, capital allowances, R&D tax credits and Property & Construction
Tel: 01204 414 243
Caroline Van Hecke
Senior VAT Manager
Carolyn is a long standing member of our tax team and is a former HMRC VAT Inspector. She covers anything and everything relating to VAT and has a wealth of experience in working with a number of charities.
Areas of expertise
VAT, residential conversions, VAT health checks, capital projects and charities
Tel: 01204 414 243
Chris Harrington
Director
With a background in Wealth Management, Chris works closely with many business owners and high net worth individuals across the North West. He heads up our wealth practice and focuses his advice on investments, pre and post retirement planning. He is a strong advocate of cash flow modelling and is able to advise on general financial planning and structuring.
Areas of expertise
Cash flow modelling, retirement planning and investment planning / structuring
Tel: 01204 414 243
Stacey Cole
Client Manager
Stacey is our Client Manager based at our office in Ilkley. She has a wealth of knowledge in helping businesses in the UK with their group risk requirements, putting together and implementing schemes that best meet the objectives of these businesses.
Areas of expertise
Employee benefits, employee pension schemes and business protection strategies
Tel: 01943 886 922
Email: s.cole@cowgills.co.uk
Spencer Bennett
Financial Planning Director
As a Financial Planning Director, Spencer utilises his experience to advise both individuals and businesses in all aspects of financial planning. Spencer’s knowledge of investment, wealth and retirement planning enables him to construct tailored plans to support his client’s financial needs and objectives.
Areas of expertise
Retirement planning, financial planning and corporate planning
Tel: 01943 886 922
Email: s.bennett@cowgills.co.uk
Dawn Scott
Director
Dawn is our Wealth Practice Manager for our Bolton and Ilkley offices. She works closely with our Wealth Directors and Financial Planners to ensure regulations are correctly followed and manages the compliance functions within the team.
Areas of expertise
Compliance, training & competence and regulatory issues
Tel: 01204 414 243
Email: dawn.scott@cowgills.co.uk
Shaun Davison
Financial Planning Director
Shaun is an Independent Financial Adviser based in our Ilkley office. He is a firm believer in developing and maintaining strong relationships. He works particularly with high net worth individuals, family and privately owned businesses. He offers advice based on their current needs as well as planning for the future.
Areas of expertise
Tax planning, pensions and investment planning
Tel: 01943 886 922
Email: s.davison@cowgills.co.uk
Matthew Bromley
Director
As a Chartered Financial Planner there is nothing wealth related that Matthew can't help with for our corporate and high net worth clients. He is always on hand offering sound financial and investment planning advice, and has had some fantastic results for clients over his many years in the industry. His speciality is in pre and post retirement pensions for individuals.
Areas of expertise
Pensions, investment planning and cash flow modelling
Tel: 01204 414 243
Phil Hart
Chartered Financial Planner
Phil is a Chartered Financial Planner, he has built his relationships across the North West with both business clients and individuals and is able to advise on all aspects of wealth to help clients plan for the future. He is also able to advise on business protection and investment strategies to ensure the continued success of a business.
Areas of expertise
Retirement planning, planning for businesses, investment planning and inheritance tax planning
Tel: 01204 414 243
Email: phil.hart@cowgills.co.uk
The people in our business are its greatest asset.
Our commitment is to provide the best environment which will enable them to grow in their roles.
Lynne Martland
Head of People
Join our talented team and become a Cowgills' star of the future.
If you think you’ve got what it takes to be a part of our successful team, then take a look at our current vacancies.
Vacancies