Can you tell us a little about yourself and WSM? 

I was born in Nairobi, Kenya, and came to the UK when I was ten. My future in accountancy was mapped out at an early age as I scored 96% in a maths test and was told I should become an accountant despite only the vaguest idea what that actually involved!

I qualified with a firm of accountants in Central London and got married a few years later. I then spent a year working in Saudi Arabia as audit manager shortly after the Gulf War in 1993, an experience that was both professionally rewarding and personally eye‑opening.

On my return to the UK I joined a small accountancy practice, eventually becoming a partner and later continuing as a sole practitioner within the same firm. In 2011, I merged my practice with WSM, a well‑established and highly respected firm of chartered accountants based in Wimbledon. WSM is recognised as a UK Top 100 accountancy practice and provides a full range of services, including tax, accounting, audit, consulting, and insolvency support for SMEs through to medium‑sized and larger businesses as well as private clients and international property investors.

Since joining, I have continued to support a broad mix of corporate and private clients with their accountancy, tax, and business needs. In recent years, I have also focused more on property taxes for residents, and non-residents. This sector has had significant tax changes over the years, negatively impacting landlords.

What do you enjoy most about working for WSM? 

I get great satisfaction from being able to advise my clients with the financial challenges they have and therefore putting their mind at ease. I look at it as if it is my problem and how to best resolve it. No two workdays are the same, and there is real value in helping clients understand their position clearly and knowing that I have helped resolve their concerns. I also genuinely enjoy working with the team at WSM. The staff are friendly, supportive, and always willing to share knowledge, which creates a positive environment and makes even the busiest days enjoyable. Being surrounded by good people makes a real difference, and I feel fortunate to work with colleagues who bring both professionalism and warmth to the firm.

What challenges have you faced along the way? 

Many hurdles have come up over the years, personally and professionally, but one just gets on with it and moves on to the next.

Working in accountancy and taxation also means dealing with constant change. One of the biggest ongoing challenges is keeping up with ever‑changing tax legislation. What counts as effective tax planning today may look very different in a few months’ time. This is especially true for SMEs and in areas such as property tax, where the rules have become increasingly complex over the years and can have a significant impact on clients. I am continually researching new issues, so the learning never stops for all of us.

Another daily challenge is the need to multitask and juggle a wide range of responsibilities. Supporting clients, managing deadlines, staying on top of new legislation, and handling unexpected issues all require balance, organisation, and a calm approach. Over the years, I have learned that the key is to prioritise, remain composed under pressure, and focus on giving clients advice they can trust and act on.

What is your advice for other SMEs?

Seek professional guidance early rather than waiting for something to go wrong. Taking a proactive approach to tax, record‑keeping, and how your business is structured can save a lot of time, stress, and unnecessary cost later on. It also helps to keep your financial information up to date so you can make confident decisions as your business grows. Just as important is building good relationships with advisers you trust and with your local business community. Having people around you who can offer support, share ideas, and open doors can make a real difference as your business develops.

What’s coming up in 2026 for WSM?

WSM is always looking to the future and exploring new ways to develop our systems so that we can operate as effectively and efficiently as possible and continue to offer the best possible and cost-effective service to our clients. As well as focusing on client needs, we remain committed to our charity fundraising, some of the team recently took part in the JP Morgan Challenge to raise funds for Protected Paws.

Staff are also a top priority, and we are very aware of the importance of wellbeing, so each year we look forward to our summer event, which gives the team a chance to relax away from the office. We also run monthly wellbeing workshops and our monthly communication lunches give staff the opportunity to interact with each other and receive company information and feedback, helping us understand where we are heading as a firm.

Sadly, one of the directors, my colleague and friend Peter Vassello will be retiring soon and we are still trying to find someone brave enough to take his place!

What do you like about being a member of the Chamber? 

Being a member of the Chamber gives a great sense of community, and I like that it offers support to both new and existing businesses in the borough. It also has an excellent business directory with a wide range of fantastic services and professional organisations, making it a valuable resource for local businesses. I enjoy the networking events and meeting new people as well as catching up with existing contacts.