Expansion brings promotion to HWB tax manager

EXPANDING Chandler’s Ford accountancy firm HWB has bolstered its tax team with the promotion of a manager as demand for services continues to grow.

Martin Back has been appointed Tax Compliance Manager, leading a team of seven at the chartered accountants and business advisers.

The 29-year-old joined HWB in 2016 and his promotion is part of HWB’s strategy for growth. He takes over from the previous tax manager Helen Spalding, who becomes Tax Advisory Manager, working with a new colleague Joe Wilson to support Associate Director Gemma Hedges and Senior Tax Manager Alan Rolfe when she returns part-time from maternity leave next autumn.

Gemma said: “Martin is a well-established and key member of the tax team at HWB. He absolutely deserves this promotion and we are expecting him to develop into an inspirational team leader.

“It is very much our policy at HWB to promote from within to safeguard business continuity. This promotion is in recognition of Martin’s hard work and dedication. His wealth of knowledge across a broad range of issues is invaluable as we move the firm forward.”

Martin, who achieved his ATT qualification in November 2019 and whose previous role was Tax Senior within the team, is currently mostly office-based as he helps to train three new members.

He said: “While I am bringing a fresh pair of eyes to the role, I’m also very familiar with the processes and what works best. I have an in-depth knowledge of our clients, I like representing HWB to the wider world and believe customer service is our number one priority. One of the things we are focussing on is growing our own talent. HWB has a great reputation for training and my aim is to continue our success stories. Time was invested in me when I was a trainee and it is an honour to do the same with our current intake.”

His range of clients includes individuals, trusts and partnerships, particularly directors of companies HWB represents commercially and also purely personal tax clients.”

Martin added: “Broadly I’m in charge of the tax compliance programme – which is essentially getting annual tax returns done for clients, everything from simple repayments to the most complex of issues. Tax is an ever-changing world and my challenge is to stay on top of all the rules and regulations for the benefit of clients to ensure they can get the most from my team’s expertise.

“There is also making tax digital for income tax looming, which will be a real change to the way we work, if and when it actually happens, including a fourfold increase in the amount of reporting required.”

In addition, Martin advises on Capital Gains Tax disposals for clients selling a second property and the Enterprise Investment Scheme which allows people to invest in start-ups and growing businesses – with generous tax reliefs.

Born in Canterbury, he attained a first class degree in economics at Portsmouth University and still lives in the city. He is married and outside work enjoys football, cooking, walks and travel.

PICTURED: Martin Back, centre, who has been promoted to Tax Compliance Manager at Hampshire accountants and business consultants HWB Accountants, with his team, from left, Thayef Chowdhury, Matthew Magee, Lyndon Howes and Danny Hockin at the company’s Chandlers Ford headquarters. Team member George Vass was not present for the photograph