Our people
Our strength is our people. They’re what sets Cowgills apart.
Cowgills has over 200 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.
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Firm Wide
Paul Stringer
Managing Partner
Mike Murphy
Partner, Compliance
Rob Lord
Partner, Business Development
Claire Hextall
Marketing Director
Lynne Martland
HR Manager
Stephen Tattersall
Head of Cowgills Tech
Lisa Kershaw
Head of People
Charlotte Harrington
Head of Finance
Audit & Advisory
Alex Hesketh
Partner and Head of International
Caroline Snape
Director
John Marshall
Consultant
Nilesh Modhvadia
Director
Patrick Lydon
Consultant
Paul Stansfield
Partner
Stuart Stead
Partner and Head of Property & Construction
Business Funding
Ben Day
Director
David Rainford
Director
Business Recovery
Alan Coleman
Partner
Ben Cowgill
Director
Craig Johns
Partner
Jason Elliott
Partner
Jordan Heys
Director
Jimmy Fish
Director
Amanda Hamlin
Insolvency Manager
Danny Kilroe
Business Development Manager
Corporate Finance
Jane Rash
Director
Sam Davies
Partner
James Kennedy
Director
Ian Johnson
Partner
David Furlong
Partner – Debt Advisory
Julie Brown
Head of Research
Ben Barlow
Associate Director
Lorraine Dewhurst
Business Development Manager
Andrew Nelson
Corporate Finance Partner
Tax
Andy Ball
Partner
James Greenhalgh
Director
Kelly Garside
Director
Lisa Wilson
Partner
Georges Daubney
Associate Director
Michelle Wilson
Tax Director
Gemma McCaldon-Gower
VAT Director
Wealth
Phil Hart
Chartered Financial Planner
Stacey Cole
Client Manager
Chris Harrington
Director
Dawn Scott
Director
Matthew Bromley
Director
Paul Stringer
Managing 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
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
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 Rob also works closely with them representing Cowgills' interests.
Areas of expertise
Business transactions, Family Businesses and growing businesses
Tel: 0161 827 1200
Email: rob.lord@cowgills.co.uk
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
Lynne Martland
HR Manager
Working alongside our Head of People, Lynne is instrumental to the businesses. Her focus is on ‘our people’, she is responsible for delivering excellence, colleague joining process and internal communication.
Areas of expertise
People management, values and internal communication
Tel: 01204 414 243
Stephen Tattersall
Head of Cowgills Tech
Stephen heads our Cowgills Tech division. With many years expertise in leading key IT projects and heading our own internal IT team, he established Cowgills Tech to further support other businesses wanting to improve their IT systems. Stephen can ensure that they find the right solution to help businesses work smarter.
Areas of expertise
IT setup, systems and efficient working
Tel: 01204 414 243
Lisa Kershaw
Head of People
As our head of people Lisa keeps our super accountants in check. She provides advice, support, and guidance with an emphasis on colleague communication and inclusion, health, and wellbeing. Qualified as a mental health first aider, Lisa ensures that our team are mentally healthy and happy at work. As our team continues to grow, she is also involved in ensuring that as an employer we are continually delivering excellence and that our staff retention remains high, she also leads our highly successful graduate and apprenticeship scheme.
Areas of expertise
People management, values, internal communication
Tel: 01204 414 243 or 07794 455 814
Email: lisa.kershaw@cowgills.co.uk
Charlotte Harrington
Head of Finance
Charlotte keeps our business finances in check. She leads our finance team, keeping everything under control so the business can continue to deliver an excellent service to our clients.
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
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
John Marshall
Consultant
Having joined the firm in 1993 and 24 years a partner John retired from the front line in May 2021. He remains as a consultant to the provide the benefits of his expertise and long standing client relationships in dealing with owner managed businesses.
Areas of expertise
Advising larger owner managed businesses and groups.
Tel: 01204 414 243
Email: john.marshall@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
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
Paul Stansfield
Partner
Paul has been here for so many years, we've lost count! Before stepping down as managing partner he led the firm's tremendous growth and had overall responsibility for developing our compliance activity and service levels. He continues to 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
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
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
Alan Coleman
Partner
With over three decades of experience, Alan joined Cowgills Business Recovery team in 2020 offering advice and assisting on business turnaround, non- insolvency and formal insolvency options. As a licensed Insolvency Practitioner you can be sure Alan can offer expert knowledge to help business who are experiencing financial difficulty.
Areas of expertise
Business turnaround and insolvency processes.
Tel: 07580 885 750
Email: alan.coleman@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
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
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
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
Jimmy Fish
Director
Jimmy is one of our Directors in our Business Recovery team. With over 2 decades of experience he is able to provide assistance to financially distressed businesses across the North West, as well as providing assistance to individuals.
Areas of expertise
Business turnaround, insolvency procedures
Tel: 07717 001087
Email: jimmy.fish@cowgills.co.uk
Amanda Hamlin
Insolvency Manager
With many years expertise in insolvency and business recovery, Amanda is a senior member of our business recovery team. As one of the largest teams in the region, Amanda manages the administration team ensuring that our clients are well supported.
Areas of expertise
Insolvency process, client support and business turnaround
Tel: 0161 827 1200
Email: amanda.hamlin@cowgills.co.uk
Danny Kilroe
Business Development Manager
Danny is business development manager in our business recovery team. He has extensive knowledge of the insolvency process and a fantastic network, ensuring the best outcome for businesses in need.
Tel: 01204 414 243
Email: daniel.kilroe@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
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
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
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
David Furlong
Partner – Debt Advisory
Dave joins us as a Partner following a 21 year financial services career in senior roles, primarily as a banker (Head of Leverage Finance North West at HSBC and Director at Lloyds Banking Group), debt fund manager (Partner at Infinity Debt Capital Management), equity investor (NPIF/Maven Capital Partners) and fundraising consultant. Dave will be seeking to build on Ben Day’s work in the ABL space and David Rainford’s work in the Property Finance market in developing our debt advisory and early stage fundraising offering, seeking to take advantage of the strong relationships we enjoy with our clients and the wider market. We see a huge opportunity to take a significant share of what is an attractive market across the North.
Areas of expertise
Debt funding, fundraising
Tel: 0161 669 4821
Julie Brown
Head of Research
Julie heads our corporate finance research team. She works closely with business shareholders who are looking to grow or sell their business. One of her many superpowers is her sector specific knowledge, this ensures a deal meets the objectives of all shareholders.
Areas of expertise
M&A activity, and sector specific knowledge
Tel: 01204 414 243 or 07970 734 189
Email: julie.brown@cowgills.co.uk
Ben Barlow
Associate Director
Ben is an Associate Director in our Corporate Finance team with considerable transaction experience including business sales, acquisitions and private equity investments. He works with a variety of businesses across numerous sectors and works closely with shareholders to execute a deal in line with their objectives.
Areas of expertise
Business transactions, MBOs and due diligence
Tel: 01204 414 243
Email: ben.barlow@cowgills.co.uk
Lorraine Dewhurst
Business Development Manager
Lorraine is a key part of our corporate finance development team. With a strong network of contacts across many sectors, she works with growing businesses who are looking for acquisition opportunities or are seeking to find potential buyers for their business.
Areas of expertise
M&A activity, business transactions and sector specific knowledge
Andrew Nelson
Corporate Finance Partner
Andrew is a partner who leads our due diligence team and has over 20 years experience in advising companies on completing successful transactions. After 17 years of Big Four experience, Andrew advises on all aspects of due diligence from buy side work to sell side and refinancing assistance with experience across all types of sector. With an approach that focuses on deal value and delivering what you require from a due diligence process, Andrew brings his extensive experience to deliver a successful outcome for your business.
Areas of expertise
Due diligence
Tel: 0161 669 4820
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
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
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
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
Georges Daubney
Associate Director
Georges is one of the senior members of our tax team, he has a broad range of experience in owner managed business tax advisory and transaction services. Georges provides business advisory and transaction support services to growth businesses working closely with our corporate finance team.
Areas of expertise
Transactions, tax planning and efficiency.
Tel: 01204 414 243
Michelle Wilson
Tax Director
Michelle is our IHT and trust specialist, providing inheritance tax planning for clients both in the UK and Overseas. She provides specialist tax advice in relation to the creation, administration and cessation of Trusts within IHT planning and lifetime, and has specialist knowledge in the non-dom space. Michelle also provides general personal tax advisory services and acts as personal trustee for a number of Charities.
Areas of expertise
IHT, Trusts, Domicile & Residence, Tax planning
Tel: 01204 414 243
Gemma McCaldon-Gower
VAT Director
Gemma is a Director in Indirect Tax, part of our wider Tax team. She has worked as a specialist in the area for more than fifteen years, starting her career in HM Revenue and Customs and later moving into practice. Gemma has a wealth of experience advising businesses in a range of sectors, including entrepreneurial businesses, manufacturing and international trade as well as organisations (such as Charities, independent schools, etc) which cannot recover all of the VAT they incur. Gemma has a particular interest in VAT on construction, land and property, which is acknowledged as one of the most complex areas of indirect tax.
Areas of expertise
Land and property, International Trade, Partial Exemption, Charities.
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
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
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
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
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
A Cowgills employee stands out when they embrace our culture.
We're very much work hard, play hard, and that's always been the case at Cowgills.
Lisa Kershaw
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.
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