TAG TAX - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- R & D Tax: Structural Engineering Specialist
Job Titles:
- Head of Corporate Restructuring
Chris brings a significant amount of technical expertise to the company. He has worked in Engineering, Technical and Business roles for companies based in Manufacturing, Information Technology and Facilities Management.
During his career, Chris has dealt with organisations in the UK, Europe and globally on New Product Development and Engineering matters. He also has a sound knowledge of Project Management, Commercial, Technical, Operational and Logistical matters.
Chris qualified as a Mechanical Engineer from the University of Ulster, Jordanstown in 1988.
In his spare time, he is a long standing member and former chairman of the Holywood Players amateur drama group, appearing regularly in their productions or getting involved backstage.
Job Titles:
- Head of Mergers & Acquisitions
Christian has a wealth of experience gained from a 20 year international finance career in the energy industry working in start-up companies as well as large corporations across 3 continents.
At TAG Tax Christian heads up the M&A team as he has a strong background in this role gained in the energy and banking industries. Christian is also multilingual with substantial international experience and a proven ability to communicate across cultures and disciplines.
Job Titles:
- R & D Tax: Science, Agri & Food Specialist
David gained a first-class honours degree and then a PhD in Chemistry from Queen's University Belfast. On achieving his doctorate, he spent 15 years working for GlaxoSmithKline in various management roles. During this employment he was integral in starting-up a new purpose built £25 million pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. He also worked for two pharmaceutical consultancy companies where he provided project management support to global healthcare and bio-tech companies.
More recently David has specialised as a freelance writer and has been writing articles, blogs and website content for technology and healthcare companies. This gives him an excellent skill set for preparing technical documents for R&D tax claims.
Outside work, David enjoys messing about in boats and is a member (and former Commodore) of Killyleagh Yacht Club.
Job Titles:
- R & D Tax: Science, Agri & Food Specialist
Susan achieved a first-class honours degree and PhD from The University of Glasgow in Earth Science. Susan assisted her father in Lawther Drilling as a geologist and since then she has gained experience in Gold Exploration, set up her own business and has been involved in research into Geopolymer cement in an academic and industrial setting. Susan's broad spectrum of experience has given her the ideal training for writing technical reports for R&D tax credit claims.
In her spare time Susan takes care of her small holding and, depending on the time of year, can be found digging up her vegetable patch or surrounded by chickens, pigs and turkeys!
Gary has 15 plus years' experience dealing with business compliance - the last 5 years being at the forefront of HMRC's evasion response. I have extensive knowledge of the legal framework under which HMRC carries out its investigations; and of HMRC's strategy, practices and procedures. Gary has a strong track record in technically challenging cases. As an investigator I was expert at gathering and interpreting evidence. Coupling this with my highly effective negotiating skills I was able to ensure, across those 15 years, that my findings were never successfully challenged at appeal. Gary's area of work includes dealing with all aspects of joint VAT and tax investigations. COP 9 investigations; application of HMRC's information and inspection powers; HMRC's powers to make discovery assessments; Penalty Reductions and Penalty Suspensions: Dealing with HMRC delay and human rights Act
Ian McCall - Chief Compliance Officer
Martin has over 30 years' experience in VAT with HM Customs & Excise and various professional firms.
He has specialist expertise in partial exemption, land and property and international VAT and also has a very active and successful VAT Dispute Resolution and Litigation practice in relation to HMRC Assessments, Penalties and Tribunal Appeals
He is a Member of the VAT Practitioners Group Technical Committee, a Council Member of the Gerson Lehrman Group, and has been a freelance trainer in the UK for BPP Professional Education and several international training organisations.
Martin has authored two VAT textbooks; VAT & the NHS (2nd Edn 2016) and VAT & Government Departments (2015).
Paul graduated with a BSc (Hons) degree from University. During his subsequent career, he spent 12 years working for a company in the marine engineering sector who design and manufacture high quality low voltage pumps, plumbing and heating systems for use in remote locations. As part of this role, he led the new product development team and also delivered major products for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). In more recent times he has operated his own business as a consultant including as a mentor to numerous engineering companies.
Job Titles:
- R & D Tax: Software Specialist
Sean has a strong scientific background, having graduated from Queens University with a first-class honours Master's degree in Chemistry. While there, he developed his already strong IT skills with a thesis in computational calculations, writing scripts and optimising the process in addition to analysing the chemistry. Since then, he's added to his skills by teaching science and by self-teaching computer programming.
Sean has developed a specialism for preparing R&D project descriptions as part of R&D tax claims for software companies.
In addition, he passed the Association of Tax Technicians written examinations in January 2019.
Sean also enjoys playing and umpiring Softball. Until recently he was the Chief Umpire of Softball Ulster and was also the Secretary of Belfast Softball Club.