What do you do?

I’m a senior tax associate working with high-growth, early-stage companies. I help founders turn equity into a real growth tool. That means leading on share valuations, negotiating with HMRC, securing S/EIS Advance Assurance and S/EIS relief, and putting EMI, CSOP, or growth share structures in place from start to finish.

I work closely with leadership teams to understand what they’re trying to achieve – whether that’s raising investment, attracting senior hires, or retaining key people – and then design and implement the right structure to get them there. I manage the valuation process, prepare the technical analysis, handle HMRC submissions, draft the supporting documentation, and make sure everything is compliant and practical.

In simple terms, I take complex tax rules and turn them into clear, workable strategies.

Why do you do it?

I didn’t plan to end up in tax. I originally wanted to be a therapist. I tried accountancy for a while, but it never really felt like my thing.

When I moved into tax, and especially into equity rewards, something clicked. The mix of valuation, legislation, strategy, and real commercial impact just made sense to me. It’s technical, but it’s practical. It’s about understanding the rules deeply enough to use them properly and creatively.

What keeps me here is the problem-solving. Every company is different. Every structure is different. There’s always a new angle, a new challenge, a new objective to reach. I like that it’s a puzzle, but one where the solution genuinely helps founders grow and reward their teams properly. That’s what made me stay.

What kind of projects have you been involved in?

I’ve worked with early-stage companies from their first funding round onwards, helping them secure S/EIS Advance Assurance, close investment, obtain S/EIS certificates, and put proper equity structures in place.

I lead on EMI valuations and deal directly with HMRC, including the back-and-forth when assumptions are challenged. I’ve set up EMI schemes where people thought it wouldn’t be possible. And when EMI wasn’t the right answer, I’ve designed CSOP or growth share arrangements that still achieved what the founders needed.

A lot of my work comes down to valuation – what are the shares actually worth, how does that impact tax, and how do we structure things so they’re robust and defensible. I focus on what works in real life, not just on paper.

What’s on top of your bucket list?

Right now, it’s taking my daughter to Disneyland in Florida for seven days — just to be fully present, soak up the magic, and forget about time, pressure, and everything else. Pure fun. Pure joy. Just being there.