Meet the Team

James Eyre-Walker, Consultant

Since relinquishing ownership of the practice, James has been retained as a consultant. After 40 years in the profession, he continues to be actively involved on a part-time basis in the affairs of many clients, supporting the transfer of their affairs to other directors. He works from home, but flexes his time to meet client demands/expectations. He is directly involved in share/business valuation, corporate reconstruction and strategic business consultancy. In a personal capacity he continues to act in non-executive director roles and as an expert witness in corporate litigation and matrimonial cases involving matters of financial reporting, audit and business/share valuation.

After graduating from  the University of St. Andrews with a BSc in Zoology & Psychology in 1982, James trained with Coopers & Lybrand in Birmingham, qualifying in 1985. He joined Howsons in 1986 and became a partner in 1989. James also has a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) which he gained in 2004 with the Open University.  He is also an Associate Member of the Academy of Experts and a Member of the Society of Share & Business Valuers.

James has been President of the Staffs, Salop & Wolverhampton Society of Chartered Accounts three times (2000/01, 2014/15 and 2015/16) and sits on the ICAEW National Technical Advisory Committee. He has also been a governor of two schools and of Stoke College.

Away from the office, James enjoys travelling, gardening, cooking, fly-fishing, shooting and working his home-trained cocker spaniels. He is married to Liz and has one adult son.


Agricultural Team

Julie Boyle, Agricultural Director
Tom Godwin, Accountant (ACCA)
Emily Hall, Trainee Accountant (ACCA)
Daniel Bowyer, Trainee Accountant (AAT)

Agricultural Services

Julie Boyle, Agricultural Director

Julie has a wide portfolio of clients and advises in all areas of accountancy and taxation for owner managed businesses including sole traders, partnership, limited companies and tax only clients.

Julie has specialised in farming and agricultural tax and accounts for over 20 years and has gained an extensive knowledge of farming and farm related businesses. Her clients include farmers, land owners, agricultural contractors, agricultural consultants, agricultural engineers and diversified farm businesses. Julie likes to understand her client’s needs and aspirations and is actively involved in tax planning, looking at ways to save taxes whether it be income tax, capital gains tax or by carrying out inheritance tax planning exercises.

Over the years, she has also gained some valuable professional agricultural contacts.

Away from the office Julie enjoys going to the gym and exploring the British Countryside in her VW Campervan.

Tom Godwin, Accountant (ACCA)

Tom joined Howsons in 2015. He is ACCA qualified. Tom works in the agricultural business department. His role includes the preparation of accounts and tax returns for sole traders, partnerships and limited companies. He is a specialist in cloud based book-keeping systems including Xero, QuickBooks and Sage and Free Agent and is able to provide book-keeping training, assistance and advice to our clients.

Tom also has knowledge in other agricultural book-keeping systems including Farm Plan, Sum-It and FCG and has also helped to implement the changes to MTD by contacting clients and offering training and advice on the best ways for the client to tackle the challenges.

In his spare time, Tom enjoys spending time with his young family , travelling and socialising with friends and family.

Emily Hall, Trainee Accountant (ACCA)

Emily joined Howsons in June 2017 as part of the Agricultural department and is currently studying for her ACCA qualification. Her role includes preparing accounts and tax returns for a mixture of client types such as sole traders, partnerships and limited companies. Emily is experienced in several cloud based book-keeping systems including XERO, Quickbooks and Sage and able to provide assistance on these to our clients when needed.

Daniel Bowyer, Trainee Accountant (AAT)

Daniel joined Howsons in July 2023. He is currently studying AAT level 2, then going on to study for his level 3. He works in the Agricultural Team, preparing accounts and tax returns for Sole Traders and Partnerships.

Outside of work Daniel enjoys fixing cars with his dad and playing pool.

 

Audit Team

James Parr FCCA, Audit Director
Zoe Barlow ACA, Audit Senior
Frank Iroh ACCA, Audit Senior Trainee
Hui Yang MAAT, Graduate Audit Trainee

Audit & Assurance

James Parr FCCA, Audit Director

As Audit Director James oversees the firms audit department, providing services to our audit and assurance clients. James is also one of the firms Responsible Individuals, signing off on a number of audits and is part of the compliance team. With a background of over 20 years in public practice, James also has extensive financial reporting knowledge and experience, ranging from small UK FRS companies and charities up to large, privately owned groups.

Born and educated in Stafford, James joined the Howsons management team in 2011, after spending 14 years in public practice with two national firms in the area local to Stafford, qualifying as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 2007.

In his spare time, James enjoys spending time with his family, such as watching his children play football for local teams and going to live music concerts.

Zoe Barlow, Audit Senior Trainee (ACA)

Before joining Howsons Audit Team in 2017, Zoe graduated with a degree in Forensic Accounting from the University of South Wales. Since then, Zoe has worked in the accounting and auditing sector, while studying towards her ACA qualification.

Zoe works with a variety of clients delivering both audit and independent examination services. She works closely with clients to understand their needs allowing for excellent working relationships.

In her spare time Zoe enjoys travelling, spending time with her friends and family and going to watch her local football team, Port Vale.

 

Frank Iroh, Audit Senior Trainee (ACCA)

Frank joined Howsons in September 2023 as part of the Audit Team where he assist the Director in preparing audit plans and reports, carrying out audit engagements and providing professional advise to clients. With over 7 years background in public and private practice, he was an internal auditor to the Federal government of Nigeria ( The Presidency) and the 'big four' with robust knowledge in audit practice.

Born and educated in Nigeria and the UK, Frank is a member of 4 prestigious professional accounting bodies in Nigeria and recently completed his master's in International Business Management at Staffordshire University. Currently a student memeber of ACCA and CIMA in the UK.

In his leisure time he enjoys spending time with his young family, he is also a volunteer at Manna House where he enjoys offering charity to members of the community.

 

Hui Yang, MAAT, Graduate Audit Trainee

Hui joined Howsons Audit Team in July 2023. She has recently completed her AAT Level 4 at Stoke-on-Trent College and will continue to develop her skills and knowledge in the field of accounting. She is now studying for her ACCA course in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Outside of work, Hui is passionate about films, art and crafts, football and outdoor sports and is always up for a challenge.

General Practice Team

Rebecca Williams FCA, General Practice Director
Scott Cadman FCCA BFP ACA, General Practice Director
Simon Boyle, Senior Accountant & IT Manager
Vicki Davenport, Accounts Senior
Ian Watt, Accounts Senior (ACA)
Jordan Benton, Trainee Accountant (ACCA)
Oliver Dicken, Trainee Accountant (AAT)
Jay Gibson, Trainee Accountant (AAT)

Accounts

Rebecca Williams FCA, General Practice Director

Becky joined Howsons in 2001 after graduating from Staffordshire University in Accounting and Law. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2004 and became a manager in 2007.

Becky is now General Practice Director with a large portfolio of clients from a wide variety of business sectors. Her clients include sole trades, partnerships, limited companies and charities. Becky specialises in corporate accounts and charities.

Becky works closely with her clients in the start-up of their businesses, advising on the most tax efficient trading vehicle for them and providing comfort that they are meeting all their filing requirements.

Becky assists her clients with all their accounting and taxation requirements. She will provide support during HMRC enquiries and is always looking for tax savings that may be made by the company, directors or business owners.

When Becky isn’t working she is spending time with her 2 daughters and has recently started running. If there are any spare hours in the day she enjoys a good book and glass of wine.

Scott Cadman FCCA BFP ACA, General Practice Director

Scott joined Howsons as an apprentice in 2010 after completing his A Levels. He has since studied with Howsons and became a Chartered Certified Accountant in 2015. Scott is now furthering his studies and is nearing completion of the Chartered Tax Advisor qualification, specialising in Owner Managed Businesses and Corporation Tax.

Scott is now General Practice Director and works alongside Becky looking after a wide variety of clients. Although looking after a diverse client base, Scott mainly works with our larger Limited Companies and helps prepare large company accounts, consolidated group accounts and iXBRL tagging for corporation tax purposes.

Scott also offers clients tax planning and advice, succession and exit planning, and prepares business valuations and any additional work required by our clients.

In his spare time, Scott enjoys watching Stoke City Football Club, where he is a season ticket holder, or will be found out on the golf course.

Simon Boyle, Senior Accountant & IT Manager

Simon originally trained in a Staffordshire based firm of accountants and worked in practices based in Staffordshire and Shropshire for 23 years before moving into industry to take up a position as General Manager for a wholesale distributor serving the hospitality, educational and care sectors.

During his time in practice Simon has worked as both a General Practice Manager and an Audit Manager servicing and supporting a large range of businesses from sole traders to Plc’s in a wide range of industries and sectors.

Simon specialised in financial reporting, corporate tax and IT being responsible for the maintenance of the practice’s IT systems as well as providing support and advice to clients on hardware and software installation and configuration.

During his time in industry, Simon gained valuable managerial and commercial experience. The position of General Manager was a challenging and demanding role in a results driven environment with a heavy emphasis on solid planning techniques. Simon was a member of the company’s management team which determined the strategic direction of the company and formulated the company’s strategic plans and company level objectives.

After 17 years in industry, Simon has now returned to practice and is looking forward to making a positive contribution based on his experience.

Outside of work, Simon is a keen badminton player and enjoys skiing in the Winter months. His other pastimes include reading and walking.

Vicki Davenport, Accounts Senior

Vicki joined Howsons General Practice department in June 2000, where she gained her AAT qualification. Vicki’s role involves the preparation of company accounts and corporation tax returns. She also deals with regular book-keeping and management accounts clients and assists within the Payroll department.

Outside of work, Vicki has two young children that keep her very busy with their various social activities. On a Sunday morning, she can be found on the side of the football pitch cheering her sons’ football team on!

Ian Watt, Accounts Senior (ACA)

Ian joined the General Practice department in September 2016. He previously graduated from Cardiff University in 2012 where he studied Economics. He spent a year working in forensic accounting at Deloitte and gained experience in Audit at Dains LLP.

Ian’s key responsibilities include accounts preparation for sole traders, partnerships and private companies. In addition he is in charge of clients’ Company Secretarial services.

When away from the office, Ian enjoys watching and playing sport, and is a keen runner.

Jordan Benton, Trainee Accountant (ACCA)

Jordan joined Howsons in August 2018. He deals with various Sole Traders, Partnerships and Companies. Jordan is currently studying for his AAT qualifications which he hopes will give him a strong grounding in accountancy before going on to become a Chartered Accountant.

Jordan spends a lot of his time playing football which sees him travelling up and down the country to ply his trade.

Oliver Dicken, Trainee Accountant (AAT)

Oliver joined Howsons in June 2021 and is the newest member of the General Practice Team. Having just finished his AAT Level 2, he will be moving on to study for his AAT Level 3 in September.
Oliver is a big football fan and enjoys playing for his local team at the weekends, he is also a Stoke City season ticket holder and enjoys spending time with friends in his spare time.

 

Jay Gibson, Trainee Accountant (AAT)

Jay joined Howsons in the General Practice Department as a trainee accountant in November 2022. He is currently studying at Babington College for his AAT Level2 and Level 3, then hoping to go on to study his AAT Level 4.

Jay is a big football fan and enjoys supporting Liverpool FC. Socialising with his friends whenever possible and enjoys taking his dog out for walks in the countryside.

Administrative Team

Cath Fettes, Practice Administrator
Tracy Foxall, Office Administrator
Aminah Henry, Administrator
Tracy Davies, Receptionist / Typist

Our Values

Cath Fettes, Practice Administrator

After a joint honours degree in Mathematics and Physics at Hull University, Cath took a position with Spicer and Oppenheim (now Deloitte & Touche) in Croydon.

In March 1990 Cath returned to Stoke-on-Trent and joined Howsons in Leek as PA to the senior partner. Twelve months later she took on the role of Practice Administrator. “It is a very varied and often challenging role and we always strive for continuous improvement”. She has been involved in the development of the time / fee recording system and in 2012 became the firm’s Money Laundering Regulation Officer.

Cath is an active member of the Guide Association. She is Chair of Finance for Girlguiding Staffordshire and was Chair of Finance for Girlguiding Midlands between 2011 and 2016; she also runs a Guide Unit in Endon. She is also involved in her local community being Treasurer of Baddeley Green & Stockton Brook Community Association.

In her “spare” time Cath enjoys spending time on the allotment that she shares with her neighbours.

Tracy Foxall, Office Administrator

Tracy joined Howsons in June 1986 aged 21. She has had various roles during her career with us and currently works in the Reception for 4 days per week, which gives her a good work/life balance. She has lived all her life in the Tunstall/Burslem area of Stoke on Trent, and has been married for 33 years and has 2 children. For recreation she enjoys horse-riding, yoga, live music, holidays and weekends away with her husband and friends.

Aminah Henry, Administrator

Aminah joined Howsons in August 2017 as part of the Administration Team. Main areas of responsibility is the Practice Database, Website/ Social Media Management, Archive Management and providing support to the Directors.

Aminah enjoys spending time with her family, eating out, Travelling and Camping with her partner and friends.

Tracy Davies, Receptionist / Typist

Tracy joined Howsons in February 2013 as a part time Receptionist/Typist. She works closely with Tracy Foxall to ensure the front of house runs smoothly and addresses the core administrative needs of the business. Tracy’s role involves being the first point of contact for clients and supporting the directors including preparing documents, audio dictating, managing the scanning and storing of documents for our Cloud Database filing system, known as Virtual Cabinet.

Tracy is married with a son and daughter and lives just over the border in Cheshire.