Our People

Our unique personalities

Craig Shevas

Senior Partner

Having joined us in 1985, Craig is one of our longest serving and most experienced partners. While he can turn his hand to any financial or tax issue (including share valuations), his real strength is helping small to medium sized enterprises find the best way to achieve their goals.

Outside work Craig enjoys sport, eating out and the theatre (adding all 3 can be definitely improved with an interesting single malt).

Paula Swann-Jones

Partner

Paula is a Partner, an authorised Audit signatory and head of compliance. Paula has the role as Finance Director for the firm.

Incredibly, despite all of these demands Paula still has more than enough time to make sure our clients take full advantage of her 30 years’ experience and play a major role in building our specialist medical team.

Outside work when Paula isn’t actively supporting her family’s many sporting endeavours, she enjoys yoga, horse riding and feeding her escalating Audible addiction!

Mark Hook

Partner and Head of Tax

Mark heads up our tax team and also manages our new Wills & Probate team.

Although he is hugely experienced in all areas of tax, Mark counts Corporate Tax and succession planning, R&D Tax claims and capital allowances as his specialisms.

Outside work Mark somehow manages to fit in a Leicester City season ticket and has a passion for hiking.

Tom Copson

Managing Partner

Tom started his professional career at Rowleys and after 15 years with Grant Thornton, he returned in 2020 to help grow the business and offer his knowledge to an already successful Rowleys client base. Tom became Managing Partner in 2022 in order to lead the team in the next phase of growth.

Whilst Tom is hugely experienced in all aspects of audit, financial reporting, and due diligence. He works predominantly in the ‘mid-market’ with owner-managed and private equity backed businesses, including international groups.

When he’s not working Tom spends as much time as he can with his family, balancing that with the other loves of his life, Leicester City, Leicester Tigers and the golf club!

Clare Clifford

Partner

Clare joined Rowleys in 2024 as tax partner, having previously worked as regional head of tax in a top 10 accountancy firm.

Clare is both a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor and has over 20 years’ experience advising clients across all areas of tax including corporate tax, personal tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax. Clare prides herself in finding tax efficient solutions and planning, tailored to her client’s needs. She has worked with individuals and business clients across a wide range of industries to include construction , farming, medical, manufacturing, and professional services.

Away from the office Clare enjoys travelling, particularly around America where she has an ambition to visit every NFL stadium, attending music gigs, eating out and to work off the food she enjoys Zumba!

Lisa Parkes

Partner

Lisa joined Rowleys in 2005.

As a Partner in our Audit & Accounts team, Lisa helps oversee the team and works with a wide range of corporate groups and owner managed businesses. Lisa leads our charity team, a sector close to her heart.

Although family takes up most of her spare time, Lisa is also heavily involved in netball both as a player for a local club and as Treasurer for Leicestershire’s County Netball Association.

Matt Hutchinson

Partner

Matt is a Partner and authorised audit signatory. He has worked at Rowleys since 2014 and oversees the Audit and Accounts Department.

While he works with businesses of all sizes and sectors, his specialism is rapidly becoming the ‘mid-market’. He has also played an invaluable part in building our reputation as a leader in auditing defined benefit pension schemes.

And life outside Rowleys is just as eclectic. Matt is an active member of the ICAEW East Midlands Network having been President for two years to May 2023. He also is chairman of his local community magazine and a trustee of a charity working in Tanzania. Matt has also recently taken up tennis and plays at his local club.

Bryan Freeman

Small Business Director

Bryan has been with Rowleys since 2005 and leads our dedicated small business team.

He is, by his own admission, 100% hands on and provides the specialist support and advice our budding entrepreneurs need, to develop and grow in what is a constantly changing and increasingly competitive trading environment.

When he’s not working with small businesses Bryan enjoys socialising (though a fair amount of that is with clients), tennis and –somewhat worryingly - chopping down trees with his chainsaw!

Claire Farr

Medical Associate Director

Claire joined Rowleys in 2013 and is responsible for the overall coordination and delivery of all our medical assignments. With first-hand experience of working within a GP practice, she is ideally placed to provide support to our medical sector clients in all areas of accounts tax and practice management.

Amy Lloyd

Accounts Manager

Amy joined Rowleys in May 2021 after 10 years in the industry. Amy is a leading figure in our small business team and works with a range of owner managed businesses, supporting them with management accounts, bookkeeping, VAT returns and statutory accounts. Amy works closely with her clients to understand their needs and deliver a service in a way that suits them, including supporting with the latest cloud accounting systems.

Away from the office Amy enjoys travelling and socialising with family and friends.

Claire Wright

Audit & Accounts Senior Manager

Claire joined Rowleys in October 2022 having previously spent 12 years at Grant Thornton.

As a senior manager in our Audit and Accounts team, Claire has experience in all aspects of audit and financial reporting. She works predominantly in the mid-market but also has experience with large listed groups, private equity backed businesses and smaller owner-managed businesses.

Away from the office, Claire spends as much time as she can with her husband and two small children, and enjoys all sports, particularly rugby and considers herself a bit of a foodie!

Emma Smith

Medical Manager

Emma joined Rowleys in 2013, before moving to the medical department 2 years later. Emma has developed in to a specialist medical accountant and supports with the management of the wider medical team. She manages a portfolio of clients, assisting them with accounts and tax compliance (including personal tax and superannuation), and with adhoc advice on general practice management areas.

Away from the office Emma enjoys spending time in Wales with her family especially on or in (sometimes not on purpose) the Sea!

Emily Smith

Corporate Tax Assistant Manager

Emily joined Rowleys during 2023 and works with a portfolio of businesses of all sizes, providing corporate tax advice on R&D, share schemes, capital allowances and restructuring.
Emily specialises in R&D tax credit claims, having previously focused on tax advice for the biotechnology, life sciences and software development industries.

Outside of work, Emily is a keen LARPer, as well as enjoying board games and other tabletop games.

Gary Wakling

Accounts Manager

Gary has been in accountancy since 2005 and joined Rowleys in 2017. Following his promotion to accounts manager, Gary is now a leading figure in our small business and cloud accounting teams. It’s a position that allows him to make the best use of his enthusiasm for and understanding of the very latest technology and approaches in the profession.

Outside work Gary can either be found on the golf course or trying not to fall off his mountain bike, as he tackles the most treacherous of our local trails.

James Hutchinson

Accounts Assistant Manager

James joined Rowleys in July 2022, bringing expertise from a practice specializing in agricultural clients. As part of our small business team, James excels in delivering tailored accounting services, including management accounts, bookkeeping, VAT returns, and statutory accounts. His deep understanding of client needs, coupled with proficiency in cloud accounting systems, ensures a personalized and efficient service.

Outside of work, James enjoys spending time with family and friends. He also has a passion for woodworking, with his latest project being a handcrafted dove house.

Judith Skilbeck

Personal Tax Manager

When Judith joined Rowleys in 2005, she was already a hugely experienced tax specialist.

Judith improves our clients’ personal tax positions. She can also help with more specific tax planning projects involving Corporation, Capital Gains, Research and Development, Capital Allowances or Inheritance tax and will make sure you take advantage of all the relevant allowances.

Away from the office Judith enjoys solving puzzles (something that arguably isn’t too far removed from the day job!), reading crime fiction and line dancing.

Katie Powell

Audit & Accounts Senior Manager

Katie joined Rowleys in August 2021, having previously spent 14 years at Grant Thornton.

As a senior manager in our Audit and Accounts team, Katie has a wide range of knowledge, covering corporate entities and charities. Katie has experience of running effective and efficient audits for a wide range of businesses, including multi-national organisations, private equity backed businesses, smaller owner-managed businesses and charities.

Away from the office, Katie is kept busy with her two young children, and she also enjoys travelling, sailing and attending gigs.

Matt Keogh

Audit & Accounts Manager

Matt joined Rowleys at the start of 2016 and gained his ACCA qualification in 2019. He is responsible for a number of audits including charitable organisations. He also manages a large portfolio of clients from a variety of sectors and is responsible for the management and statutory accounts.

Away from the office Matt can be found either on the golf course or socialising with family and friends.

Natalie Adcock

Practice Manager

Natalie is our Practice Manager. She originally joined us in 1994 as an apprentice administrator and risen through the ranks. Natalie now has responsibility for our business, administration and HR functions. More importantly, she makes sure the firm runs smoothly for our clients.

When she isn’t keeping us in line, Natalie spends her time socialising, walking her dogs, shopping and watching gigs and football.

Rebecca Gotch

Payroll Manager

Rebecca started at Rowleys in 2015 and achieved her degree in payroll management in 2016. She manages a large number of payrolls for companies of all sizes with a wide variety of requirements and complexities.

Away from the office Rebecca enjoys spending time with her family and looking after her two small children.

Rebecca Scotton

Senior Tax Manager

Rebecca joined Rowleys in March 2023. Rebecca has specialised in advising private clients who are leaving the UK but following her relocation to the East Midlands and joining our team, she looks forward to working with owner-managed businesses, high-net-worth individuals and entrepreneurs once again.

In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys being creative behind the camera lens taking photos of architecture and nature – though her most photographed subject is absolutely her son!

Need help or advice?

We're here to help you bloom

If you have any questions about accounts, audit, tax or even your Will we’re here to help.

No obligations, just a friendly chat to help you find the best way to help you get to where you want to be.

Get in touch

Registered to carry on audit work in the UK; regulated for a range of investment business activities; and licensed to carry out the reserved legal activity of non-contentious probate in England and Wales by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.  Associate Directors of the firm are not Directors of The Rowleys Partnership Limited (registered no. 06125028) and are not subject to the obligations and responsibilities of Directors within Part 10 of the Companies Act 2006.  Any reference to an individual with the job title “Partner” refers to someone who is a Director of The Rowleys Partnership Limited and also a registered member of Rowleys Group LLP (registered no. OC306056)  A list of Directors and Members are available at Companies House. Details of our audit registration can be viewed at www.auditregister.org.uk and details of our probate registration can be viewed at www.icaew.com/probate, both under reference number C001486455. View our Legal and Privacy PolicyView our Terms of Business