PEM - Key Persons


Adam Smith

Job Titles:
  • Partner
  • Trustee
  • Partner Audit
Adam joined PEM in 2023 and is a Partner within our Audit team. He previously worked as a Responsible Individual at Grant Thornton in Cambridge, and prior to that worked for Big 4 audit firms, having originally trained as a Chartered Accountant in a local independent practice.

Andrew Turpin

Job Titles:
  • Partner

Angus Wood

Job Titles:
  • Director
Angus joined PEM and continued his studies with us in 2012 from one of the Big 4 firms. Despite his tax background, he transferred over to ACA, passing his final exam in the summer of 2014. Angus' main role is to manage the corporation tax compliance requirements of the our audit clients as well as providing tax advice on a number of areas from capital allowances to structuring and exit planning. He has a particular focus on the fast moving technology sector where he assists our clients in preparing R&D and Patent Box claims, submitting EIS applications and advising on how to efficiently structure their businesses. Angus' two children take up most of his free time but if he does find a free minute of two, you are likely to find him reading or reminiscing about the days when he could play rugby.

Ben Dyer

Job Titles:
  • Director
Ben is a Director in our Insolvency and Recovery team. He joined PEM in 2009 and qualified as an Insolvency Practitioner in 2014. Ben is a member of R3 and licensed by the Insolvency Practitioners Association ("IPA"). Ben deals with personal and corporate insolvency and restructuring, as well as solvent liquidations. Before joining PEM, Ben worked at a regional accountancy firm in the South West of England.

Ben Edwards

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director
Ben joined PEM in 2011 after graduating from the University of Southampton. He became Manager after passing his CTA and AAT qualifications and now specialises in international firms, firms in the technological sector and owner managed businesses. Ben is responsible for corporation tax compliance and advisory work including R&D claims, patent box, and group structuring advice for his wide portfolio of clients. Ben enjoys the variety his role allows, the wide range of clients mean that no day is the same. Ben is a keen sports fan and regularly watches Chelsea play. He also likes to watch rugby, cricket and American football.

Bertie Newman

Job Titles:
  • Partner
Bertie is a Partner in our Audit and Accounts team, responsible for understanding clients and their businesses and looking after their auditing and accounting requirements. Bertie trained with us, completing her ACA and CTA qualifications at PEM at the beginning of her career. She then spent six years at Grant Thornton working with fast growing, international businesses. During this time Bertie also completed a secondment to the Advisory team, managing a number of financial due diligence projects, providing buy-side and sell-side assistance. Returning to PEM in 2018, Bertie continues to work with ambitious and driven organisations and uses her wealth of experience to support clients with strategic advice as well as compliance matters. Bertie is a self-proclaimed foodie and likes eating out and cooking with her husband.

Bethan Vaghela

Job Titles:
  • Senior Manager
Bethan has spent 23 years in audit roles including the Audit Commission, Grant Thornton and small and medium practices. She is responsible for a number of charity clients, entertainment portfolio clients and public sector related organisations. Bethan loves meeting people, getting to getting to know how a business/charity works and what makes it tick. She also likes the rules of auditing and making sure things are done correctly. Bethan will aim to make business and charities operate to the best they can be and make friendly recommendations. Outside of work, Bethan is involved in several volunteer roles as a school governor, treasurer for scouting and manager for a grassroots football team. As part of Bethan's school governor role, she runs a Lego club to aid positive mental health for children with additional needs or for those who want to let off steam! She also enjoys watching rugby, doing escape rooms, spending time with her dog, travelling, and is currently learning Spanish too.

Charlie South

Job Titles:
  • Manager
  • Manager VFO
Charlie joined PEM in 2013 straight out of Hills Road Sixth Form after studying Accounting, Business Studies & Maths. He then qualified with ACCA while working in our Audit & Accounts team and moved over to VFO in the summer of 2018. He is now responsible for overseeing the "C Pod" within VFO.

Charlotte Young

Job Titles:
  • Director
Charlotte joined PEM after graduating from Sheffield University in 1998. She qualified as a chartered accountant in 2001 and became an Audit Manager in 2004 and then an Audit Director in 2021. She is responsible for a portfolio of clients including six Cambridge Colleges as well as a number of owner managed business in various business sectors such as property development, builders and haulage.

Daniel Collard

Job Titles:
  • Manager
Daniel joined PEM as an apprentice back in August 2015, achieving his ACA qualification four years later. During his time at PEM he have been involved in Company and Charity Audits, focusing mainly on larger Company and Group Audits. Daniel looks after the client relationship for a variety of Company and Charity clients. He takes responsibility for managing the whole audit process from planning, fieldwork, completion to submitting the accounts. Dan enjoys overseeing other staff and mentoring others as he develop, to give back to the wider team.

Daniel Simper

Job Titles:
  • Manager
Daniel is a Manager in our Business Tax team. He joined PEM in 2015 and is planning on completing his CTA qualification in 2019. His role consists of preparing and reviewing corporation tax returned and preparing R&D claims. In his spare time Daniel plays for his local football team and brews his own beer!

Daren Peacock

Job Titles:
  • Partner
Daren is a Partner in our Private Clients team. He specialises in property, farming and owner managed businesses. Daren joined PEM in 2014 and is responsible for delivering bespoke tax solutions for clients. He regularly advises on complicated land and property transactions and enjoys dealing with family partnership matters and trusts. He also advises residential landlords on appropriate business structures, particularly in the light of the progressive clampdown of tax relief on finance costs and the inheritance tax saving opportunities. Daren is both a qualified Chartered Certified Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser, specialising in capital taxes. He has acted for farmers since the mid-1990s and was responsible for servicing the NFU agricultural tax helpline for farmers, landowners and professional members.

David Frost

Job Titles:
  • Group Director
David joined PEM in 1986 where he trained and qualified with us. He became Manager in 1998, Senior Manager in 2001 and Group Director in 2022. He is now responsible for managing the Audit and Accounts team, as well as managing a client portfolio of his own. David specialises in firms within the property sector as well as colleges. He states the best part of his job is that he is able to help others. David has successfully completed a number of long distance walks including the Pennine Way and Coast to Coast Walk. He provides a fantastic navigator when it comes to organising our bi-annual charity sporting challenges.

Edward Napper

Job Titles:
  • Partner
Ed joined PEM after University in 2002 and trained and qualified at PEM. He heads up our Owner Managed Business team. Ed works with a range of commercial businesses across many business sectors, including several property investment and development businesses and construction companies. He develops personal and productive relationships and helps his clients with issues affecting them, their families and their businesses. Ed was born and bred in Cambridge and still lives in the city with his family. He is a busy father of two but tries to find time to enjoy all the great things Cambridge has to offer.

Elaine Robinson

Job Titles:
  • Director
Elaine joined PEM in 1989 and is responsible for the smooth running of the payroll bureau and over 400 client payrolls. During her time with us, Elaine has had a variety of roles including bookkeeping, IT support and working in the owner managed business team, before training in Payroll in 2000. Elaine enjoys being able to put her clients' minds at rest, she likes answering their questions and reassuring them about any concerns they may have. In her spare time Elaine enjoys putting on her walking boots on and getting out in the fresh air. She is also a blood donor and has donated 71 pints and counting!

Fiona Hirst

Job Titles:
  • Director of People & Culture Human Resources
Fiona is responsible for all aspects of the People function at PEM, from strategic planning to operational delivery, supporting the entire employee life-cycle. In HR, Fiona has been given the opportunity and responsibility to shape the employee experience and drive a positive and inclusive culture. Her ambition is to transform all aspects of the people agenda, with a strong focus on culture and inclusion, and to be the Cambridge employer of choice. Fiona started her career as an employment lawyer and moved over to HR 12 years ago. During her career, She has worked for different types of organisations and developed a broad and thorough knowledge of all aspects of people management. Fiona's experience has taught her the value of HR having a thorough commercial understanding as well as the human resources knowledge and she is enrolled to start her MBA in 2024. Fiona passions include running, riding her horse and walking her Westie - And is happiest outside on a sunny day doing something active. She also has a love for interior design and property development.

Fiona Morgan

Job Titles:
  • Manager
Fiona joined PEM in 2015 and is a Manager in our Private Clients team. She is responsible for a portfolio of clients, ensuring their compliance and advisory needs are met. Fiona specialises in internationally mobile clients, residential property, consultant doctors, academics and inheritance tax and trusts. In 2010 Fiona began gaining experience in a general practice accountancy firm. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 2013 she decided to pursue her interest in tax further and qualified as a Chartered Tax Adviser in 2016. Since joining PEM, she has specialised in private client tax. Fiona enjoys the variety in her job, stating that no two clients are the same. She likes working as part of a tax team that has incredible depth and breadth of knowledge, and a firm that cuts out the jargon and understands what really matters to our clients. In her free time, Fiona enjoys running and patchwork quilting!

Gail Mackie

Job Titles:
  • Manager
Gail began her career in audit and accounts in 2008 with a regional firm in East Anglia. She then moved into Private Client work when she qualified as a Chartered Accountant and went on to study for her CTA and STEP exams. Once Gail had completed these exams, she then moved to London in 2015 and worked for a medium sized firm specialising in residence and domicile advice for high net worth and extra-high net worth individuals. In 2019, Gail moved out of private practice and went to work for the Charities TaxAid and Tax Help for Older People as their Advice Manager, being primarily responsible for ensuring the quality and consistency of the advice provided by both staff and volunteers as well as liaising with HMRC and championing the voice of the unrepresented. Gail is responsible for advice on all aspects of UK tax but with a focus on advising clients either coming to or leaving the UK, non-UK domiciled individuals and anti-avoidance rules applying to individuals with offshore structures. Gail has a particular interest in residency and offshore tax issues and excels at providing advice in a clear and concise manner which focuses on what a client needs to know. Her work with charities has given her a great understanding of the processes and workings of HMRC and has given her a broader experience of how tax policy impacts everyone.

Gemma Baratte

Job Titles:
  • Senior Manager
Gemma joined PEM in 2007 and became ACA qualified in 2011. She was promoted to Audit Manager in 2015 and specialises in charities/not for profits and academies. Gemma is responsible for directing and reviewing the fieldwork, supervising the audit team on a day-to-day basis and raising key audit issues with management as they arise.

Gemma Wombwell

Job Titles:
  • Manager
Gemma is a Manager in our Virtual Finance Office. She is responsible for reviewing the output from the team and supporting Account Managers in their day to day roles. Gemma completed her AAT and ACCA with a small local accountancy practice, where she was able to gain experience in a number of different areas such as accounts, audit, payroll, management accounts and corporation tax. After 8 years, she felt it was time for a change and found herself in a role that suits her experiences perfectly and where she hopes to continue her career for many years. In her spare time Gemma runs a Guides unit in Bottisham and organises Bingo games to raise money for charity.

Hannah Stoney

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director
Hannah joined our Employment Tax team in in 2010, gained her CTA qualification in 2014 and is now Assistant Director in the team. She is responsible for advising clients on employment tax matters such as benefit and expenses (including the preparation of forms P11D and PAYE Settlement Agreements), overseas matters, employment status and more, across many business sectors. She enjoys the variety of her role, all queries are different so no day is the same. In her spare time Hannah is currently planning the redecoration of her house, which keeps her busy!

Heidi Reed

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director
Heidi is responsible for overseeing the compliance process for many of our large professional service partnerships as well as providing tax planning advice for individuals, trusts and estates, including inheritance tax planning, capital gains tax planning and dealing with non-contentious probate. Heidi joined PEM in September 2017, after more than 20 years working for Big 4 Firms, a top 20 firm and an independent firm in Norwich. When she isn't at work Heidi can be found looking after her horses and dogs, she even makes her own hay and straw!

Iain Dowling

Job Titles:
  • Director
Iain has 18 years' experience working with high-net-worth private clients, is a trusted adviser to many and believes that client care is paramount. Joining PEM after working with leading private client tax advisers and at a major private bank in London and Cambridge, Iain primarily works with individuals and families, entrepreneurs and executives and has significant experience working in conjunction with wealth planners, private bankers and financial planners to provide clients with a holistic approach to tax and management of family wealth. Iain has considerable experience in advising clients on complex planning and tax efficient structures, including trusts and family investment companies, to help protect and grow wealth for future generations. Iain also has significant experience supporting entrepreneurs and shareholders with business succession planning, the personal tax aspects of corporate restructures, exit planning and IHT planning.

Iain Rogers

Job Titles:
  • Manager
Iain joined PEM in 1988 after graduating from the University of Kent with a BA (Hons) in Accounting with Computing. During his time at University he gained experience at PEM, before joining permanently and training with us. From 2004 onwards, he began to specialise in accounts and tax services within our Audit and Accounts team. Iain is responsible for compliance services relating to accounts, business and personal taxation including VAT and ad-hoc advisory advice. In his spare time, Iain enjoys running, cycling and swimming.

Ian Gallagher

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director
Ian started his career in 2001 at HMRC Cambridge. In 2007 he moved to a local accounts practice and started his ACCA exams which he completed in 2010. This gave him a wide insight into both personal and corporate accounting and learning how to manage a portfolio of clients. From there, Ian went to on to become a Manager at larger accountancy firm, with a number of regional offices. This gave him exposure to the management of a larger portfolio of more complex clients, working with dedicated specialists and other offices, and managing a larger team.Ian joined PEM in June 2021 as Assistant Director of VFO. His role involves supporting clients across multiple business sectors and delivering a full outsourced accountancy service. Ian also support colleagues with their own personal development, as well as identifying opportunities to contribute to the growth of VFO. Thanks to his time at HMRC, he has become the initial point of contact for tax questions for the VFO team before they reach out to our various dedicated tax teams.

Jacqui Denney

Job Titles:
  • Manager
Jacqui has been with PEM since 2009 and is responsible for trust compliance including the completion of trust and inheritance tax returns, preparation of trust accounts and assisting with probate applications and completion of inheritance tax returns. Jacqui has spent her entire working career specialising in trusts, having previously worked at a Big 4 firm for many years.

James Burrett

Job Titles:
  • Partner

James Rayson

Job Titles:
  • Manager
  • Manager Audit
After finishing his A levels, James worked at a global agricultural company on a rotation scheme and realised in that time, a career in accountancy was for him. James joined PEM in 2018 as a Trainee in the Audit & Accounts department and completed his AAT studies in 2020 and ACA chartered qualification in 2022. During his career at PEM, James has worked on a variety of client types of corporates (including groups, overseas groups, single entities), a variety of not for profits and Cambridge Colleges. James is responsible for managing a mixed portfolio of corporates, not for profits and Cambridge Colleges. This means managing each client's engagement cycle from start to finish and ensuring a robust offering is delivered in all aspects. His role also involves being the key point of contact for clients throughout the year, helping them to navigate the complex financial regulatory environment they operate in. As a result, it is important to James that he develops strong working relationships with his clients and obtain a detailed understanding of their business and what is important to them. James is excellent at speaking to his clients, understanding what is important to them and tailoring the service they receive to be a bespoke offering that is meaningful to them. His mixed client portfolio includes specialisms such as the Cambridge Colleges, which are a niche client type that require a bespoke service and a deep understanding of the environment they operate in. James is very interested in property and enjoys discussing this with his clients in the multitude of ways it presents itself such as property valuations, lease terms, dilapidations consideration and relocation prospects. James loves to be outdoors as much as possible and to be active, which means he's usually the person in the group who suggests walking to a destination even if it is not considered to be nearby. This is in line with his passion for hiking and travelling the world to climb to noteworthy destinations.

Jan Fachot

Job Titles:
  • Partner
Jan joined PEM in 2012 and is a Partner in our Business Tax team, providing tax advisory and compliance services to companies. The team deals with a diverse range of clients from small start-ups to global organisations across various industry sectors. Jan was based in the Thames Valley for over 10 years working in a couple of the Big 4 as well as at a top 10 firm. He provided advice to a diverse portfolio of clients ranging from start-ups, private equity backed businesses to global organisations across various industry sectors. He provides tax advice on various M&A and cross-border transactions; R&D tax credits and the Patent Box regime; tax efficient equity investments as well general tax issues affecting owner-managed businesses. Outside of work, Jan supports the French rugby team which is usually a painful experience. He likes to spend as much time with his wife and two daughters cooking, travelling and going on many weekend adventures.

Jeffrey Parish

Job Titles:
  • Manager
Jeffery Parish has been with us at PEM for 30+ years and is a manager within our Audit and Accounts Team.

Jemma Gibbons-Riddell

Job Titles:
  • Partner

John Durham

Job Titles:
  • Senior Manager

Judith Pederzolli

Job Titles:
  • Director

Kate Merry

Job Titles:
  • Partner

Kate Millard

Job Titles:
  • Director

Katherine Townsend

Job Titles:
  • Manager

Kathryn Hebden

Job Titles:
  • Director

Kelly Bretherick

Job Titles:
  • Partner

Kirsten Tassell

Job Titles:
  • Partner

Laurence Tittensor

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director

Liam Snow

Job Titles:
  • Director

Lian Jordan

Job Titles:
  • Senior Manager Audit & Accounts

Liezel Hanley

Job Titles:
  • Manager

Luke Dryden

Job Titles:
  • Manager

Martin Roberts

Job Titles:
  • Manager

Mary Shoesmith

Job Titles:
  • Partner

Matthew Eady

Job Titles:
  • Partner

Melissa Agricole

Job Titles:
  • Manager

Melissa Guenigault

Job Titles:
  • Manager

Michael Dean

Job Titles:
  • Manager

Michael Hewett

Job Titles:
  • Partner

Michele Harris

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director

Mike Godfrey

Job Titles:
  • Director

Nicola Anderson

Job Titles:
  • Partner

Nikki Loan

Job Titles:
  • Partner

Patience Matereure

Job Titles:
  • Technical Director Audit & Accounts

Philip Olagunju

Job Titles:
  • Partner

Rachel Blunt

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Manager

Robert Plumbly

Job Titles:
  • Director

Ross Payne

Job Titles:
  • Senior Manager

Ryan Steel

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director Private Clients

Sanchia Norris

Job Titles:
  • Chairman & Partner Private Clients

Sarah Brisley

Job Titles:
  • Manager

Sarah Davis

Job Titles:
  • Director

Stephen Bartlett-Rawlings

Job Titles:
  • Partner

Stephen Hillyard

Job Titles:
  • Manager

Tom Hamilton

Job Titles:
  • Director

Tom Richardson

Job Titles:
  • Senior Manager

Veronika Varga

Job Titles:
  • Senior Manager

Warren Tilbury - CEO

Job Titles:
  • Managing Partner