Managing Partner
Managing Partner
Partner
Partner
Joined the Darnells Team: 1995
Lisa’s Qualifications: AAT when she started, ACCA qualified, ICAEW
Experience: Lisa joined in the Summer of 1995 as an Accounts Clerk in what was the Torquay office, at the time she had one year’s practice experience. Prior to this she did an advance management programme within the banking industry but decided this wasn’t right for her and moved back from Birmingham to pursue a career in practice. Lisa was made a Partner in 2008.Lisa began her role as a accounts clerk and also support the payroll function, eventually Lisa was heading up payroll and training people, Payroll then became a fully separated function in the firm. This is often why Lisa is referred to as the Payroll Partner. Lisa also continued to develop her accounting skills and knowledge, working across all offices, support clients and attending client visits. At this time she was working as a Accounts Manager. Lisa then became PA to David Smith, who was Partner at the time before progressing to Partner herself in October 2008.
Hobbies: Family orientated, outdoor activities, paddleboarding, bikes, skiing.
Partner
Partner
Joined the Darnells Team: 2007
Sean’s Qualifications: FCA, Degree in Business and Finance
Hobbies: Into sport, use to be a treasurer of a rugby club, soccer
Sean enjoys to travel, his favourite countries he has visited are Canada, California and Western Australia.
Partner
Partner
Joined the Darnells Team: 2010
Louisa’s Qualifications: FCA, CTA
Experience: Louisa started her career in accountancy as an apprentice when she was 18 years old from this she qualified as a chartered accountant and then went on to qualify at CTA at 25 years old. In 2016 Louisa qualified in Probate.
Louisa joined Darnells as Paul Beard’s PA and later in 2017 became a partner.
Hobbies: Louisa enjoys walking her dogs Harley and Cooper, they are two very playful sprocker spaniels. She has a love for animals and loves going to Pennywell farm to visit the pigs. Louisa is a keen online gamer.
Consultant
Consultant
Joined the Darnells Team: 1992
Paul’s Qualifications: FCCA, ACCA
Experience: Joined Darnells in 1992 as a Semi-Senior Accountant in the Audit department and became partner in 2000. Paul formally retired from the firm in September 2022 but continues to work closely with us as a consultant.
Hobbies: Sport, Golf and Football.
Supports local children’s charities in a number of different events.
Partner
Partner
Jason’s Qualifications: ACCA, Degree in Applied Accounting
Experience: Jason has over 15 years experience in practice and is qualified to administer non-contentious probate. He works with owner-managed businesses and personal tax clients.
Hobbies: Spending time with family and a keen runner.
Exeter Office Manager
Exeter Office Manager
Joined the Darnells Team: 2008
Mark’s Qualifications: FCCA
Experience: With 23 years of experience in accountancy, Mark is used to dealing with a wide-ranging portfolio supporting a wide selection of businesses and industry types.
Hobbies: Supporting Torquay United, taking part in amateur dramatics performances and spending time with friends and family.
PA to Partner
PA to Partner
Joined the Darnells Team: 1998 (Aged 15!)
Catherine’s Qualifications: FCCA
Experience: Catherine has managed a wide portfolio of clients from a diverse range of industries and specialises in tax work and mentoring colleagues to enhance their skill set.
Hobbies: Getting away in the camper and rugby.
PA to Partner
PA to Partner
Joined the Darnells Team: 2000
Marie’s Qualifications: FCCA, ACCA
Experience: 27 years as an accountant
Variety of clients and industries from farming to the music industry.
Hobbies: walking biking, spending time with family.
Audit Manager
Audit Manager
Joined the Darnells Team: 1999
Phil’s Qualifications: ICAEW Chartered Accountant & ACCA qualified, ACCA Audit Qualification
Experience: Phil joined the accountancy profession in 1983 at a firm of Chartered Accountants in Kingston upon Thames. He has extensive knowledge in Accountancy & Corporate Tax and has undertaken a range of complex management roles.
Hobbies: Playing Bridge, Bell ringing, hiking, scrambling & low grade rock climbing.
Manager
Manager
Joined the Darnells Team: 2010
Amanda’s Qualifications: ACCA, Accounting & Finance BA Hons Degree
Experience: Amanda speciailising in assisting and supporting sole traders, partnerships and limited companies. She also works with individuals on personal tax affairs and is experienced in company and academy audits.
Hobbies: Going on long dog walks, paddle boarding and spending time with family and friends.
Healthcare Department Manager
Healthcare Department Manager
Joined the Darnells Team: 1986
Experience: Cathy has over 40 years of experience in the accountancy profession and specialises in partnership accounts and tax guidance for the medical profession.
Hobbies: Coastal walking, listening to music, enthusiastic gardening and spending time with her grandchildren.
PA to Partner
PA to Partner
Joined the Darnells Team: 2007
Louise’s Qualifications: ACCA
Experience: Over 15 years of experience working in the Healthcare department at Darnells, Louise is one of our industry specialists and has a wealth of knowledge and guidance to offer medical and healthcare clients.
Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends.
Healthcare Manager
Healthcare Manager
Michelle’s Qualifications: MAAT
Experience: I’ve worked in the Healthcare Department at Darnells for over 16 years.
Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with my family, walking and playing skittles.
Accounts Manager
Accounts Manager
Claire’s Qualifications: FMAAT, FCCA
Experience: Claire has over 24 years of experience working in local practices, dealing with a diverse range of businesses and sectors, from sole traders to larger limited companies.
Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends.
Claire helps out at her children’s clubs and is an active member of the school PTA.
Manager
Manager
Joined the Darnells Team: 2007
Experience: Originally the office junior in our Totnes branch, Richard transferred to Newton Abbot in 2014 and has built a broad portfolio of clients. He currently works directly for Phil Raisey looking after clients with accounts that span a few hundred pounds to those with multi-million pound turnovers and range in sectors from hospitality and construction to wholesale and manufacture. He is also part of the team at Darnells who are responsible for in-house practice management systems.
Hobbies: A huge Torquay United fan and part-time player for Dartmouth AFC, Richard is also an Excel enthusiast and purveyor of poor jokes.
Manager
Manager
Joined the Darnells Team: 2010
Experience: Helen has worked in Accountancy practices for over 35 years and her work at Darnells focuses on supporting partnerships and sole traders.
Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends.
Manager
Manager
Joined the Darnells Team: 2010
Sharon’s Qualifications: AAT
Experience: Sharon has been working in accountancy practice for nearly 20 years and has vast experience working with a varied range of clients from sole traders to limited companies.
Hobbies: Sharon is a self-confessed book-worm and is also an experienced YouTube channel manager.
Junior Manager
Junior Manager
Chelsea’s Qualifications: MAAT Qualified, Training towards ACCA
Experience: 8 Years’ experience working on range on businesses including Limited companies, partnerships, sole traders and personal tax returns.
Hobbies: Travel, swimming, Disney-obsessed.
Payroll Manager
Payroll Manager
Jamie’s Qualifications: Fully Qualified Payroll Administrator and currently working towards Degree in Payroll Management with CIPP.
Experience: 3+ years of payroll experience.
Previous accounting experience although brief.
Hobbies: Football mainly, play for Paignton Saints and big Chelsea fan!
Happy to watch most sports.
Assistant Payroll Manager
Assistant Payroll Manager
Joined the Darnells Team: 2022
Experience: I worked for HMRC for 27 years. For 10 of the 27 years, I worked as an Employer Compliance Officer.
I worked for David Pinder & Co Ltd Chartered Accountants for 4 years. DP & Co Ltd is a small accountancy firm based in Plymouth.
I worked as tax manager and my main roles were processing payrolls and preparing Self Assessment Tax Returns.
Hobbies: Football, I’m a keen Liverpool fan.
Running, I have run the London Marathon twice.
I enjoy spending time with family & friends.
IT Manager
IT Manager
Joined the Darnells Team: 2014
Justin’s Qualifications: Microsoft – Managing & Maintaining Windows Server
Microsoft – Installing & Managing Microsoft Exchange Server
Microsoft – Azure
ITIL v3 Service Management in IT
Cisco ICOMMv8
ECDL
City & Guilds F&AETC 7307
D32/D33 Assessors Award
Diploma in IT
Experience: Justin has over 28 years of experience working in IT including Teaching, Training and IT management.
He oversees the efficient, secure and smooth running of our IT systems and those that support our tax, accountancy and finance clients.
He offers support and guidance in the following IT specialisms:
VMware Server Virtualisation
Microsoft Azure, Endpoint Manager (Intune), 365, Microsoft Windows Server
Desktop OS, Microsoft SQL Server
Firewall’s / Networking / VPN Infrastructure
Performance monitoring and alerting
All aspects of hardware and software
EPOS and retail systems
Hobbies: Camping and travelling abroad. Gadgets. Scuba Diving, Kayaking, Mountain biking and Craft Ale.
Senior HR Manager
Senior HR Manager
Davinia’s Qualifications: Degree in Human Resources Management Human Resources, Business Partner Diploma Associate Member of CIPD
Experience: Davinia has 20 years of experience in operational and strategic HR roles working in a variety of HR roles within the Military, IT, Construction, Estate Agency and Business Consultancy.
Hobbies: House renovation and interior design, cocktail drinking, learning Spanish and spending time with family and friends.
Practice Finance Manager
Practice Finance Manager
Joined the Darnells Team: 2020
Ardon’s Qualifications: Bachelor of Commerce in Financial Management Sciences (BComm Financial Management Sciences), CIMA Diploma in Management Accounting (CIMA Dip MA)
Experience: Ardon’s first role at Darnells was supporting the finance department with daily trading and operations. Now Practice Finance Manager, Ardon facilitates efficient business practices to maximise the effectiveness of the finance department.
Hobbies: Exploring and travelling, cycling and playing golf and an enthusiastic all-round sports fan.
