Meet the Team

Qualifications: Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland

Experience and Specialisms: Ken graduated from St Andrews University and trained with Mann Judd Gordon in Glasgow where he qualified in 1971. He then spent 4 years with Deloittes in Paris where he gained extensive experience in dealing with the operations of small and medium sized subsidiaries of US and UK international companies. After returning to Glasgow the firm of Russell & Russell was established and Ken developed his interest in dealing with the Inland Revenue. Getting down to the practical applications of tax legislation is of particular importance to Ken and this approach has generally produced favourable outcomes for clients with one notable victory in The Court of Session and The House of Lords.

Outside Work: Golf and wine – when things are not going well on the golf course I can always turn to the much easier task of wine tasting. Travelling in the UK and Europe to visit friends and family is fun and I have to thank Hils, my wife, for organising the trips and sharing my love of a good lunch. I enjoy having been to the gym – getting there is a bit harder!

Qualifications: Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland

Experience and Specialisms: After qualifying Alastair spent 2 years working for Deloitte's in Bermuda where he was in charge of the group accounting for a $300m family owned business. Since returning to Scotland in 1989 he has concentrated on developing his skills on advising owner managed businesses. This has become particularly focussed on helping people to establish their true goals and then to improve the profitability and growth of their businesses. Alastair is passionate about helping owner managed businesses to achieve their potential. He is also a director of 3R Whisky Limited which is a bulk whisky trading business and he has a detailed understanding of the Scotch whisky business.

Outside Work: Alastair is a keen golfer and a member of more golf clubs and societies than he cares to admit to his wife Diane. The ambitions which he has left in golf are to delay, as long as possible, the day when his son Andrew starts to beat him on a regular basis and to help his daughter Louise get good enough to beat her brother.

Qualifications: Chartered Tax Adviser - Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) and The Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT)

Experience and Specialisms: Having worked for the Inland Revenue for 12 years I left to work in the private sector and qualified as a Chartered Tax Adviser. With almost 40 years’ experience on both sides, I can advise on all aspects of corporate, business and personal taxes, including bespoke planning, business structures, capital gains tax and inheritance tax planning. I am on the West of Scotland Committee of the Chartered Institute of Taxation.

Outside Work: I spend as much of my spare time as possible with my family.

Qualifications: Certified Accounting Technician Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

Experience and Specialisms: I joined Russell & Russell in September 2000 and qualified as a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in November 2006. I have clients’ in many industry sectors with special interests in property companies, construction, dentists, doctors and consultancy. I provide accounting and general business advice to clients on a daily basis and work with the firm’s clients to grow their businesses. I enjoy keeping regular contact with clients and helping them with any business matters which may arise. I became Senior Manager in July 2011 followed by my promotion to director in December 2014.

Outside Work: I enjoy going on holiday with my husband whether it’s a city break or a beach holiday. When I’m not on holiday I love going out for dinner and meeting friends for lunch.

Qualifications: Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) and The Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT)

Experience and Specialisms: I graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University as a physiotherapist. However, it wasn’t long until I realised that this wasn’t the career for me and I retrained as an accountant at Johnston Carmichael in Edinburgh. I had a brief break in my CA training to try out for the 2012 Olympics GB Handball team, through Steve Redgrave’s Sporting Giants campaign (where I got down to the final 20 out of 15,000 applicants). And I qualified as a CA in 2009 before then passing my ATT exams in 2012.

I started with Russell and Russell in July 2012 following a move West and I hope to build on the experience I have already gained in working with numerous small companies, partnerships and sole traders across a variety of trades.

Outside Work: I did used to have hobbies like golf, rugby, photography and the cinema but the majority of my time is now taken up running around after a 1 year old!

Qualifications: SHND in Accounting

Experience and Specialisms: Started with the firm in July 1982. Within the company I am client service manager for a wide variety of businesses. I have experience in the preparation of management accounts, year end accounts, audits, corporation tax returns and also Sage training. Over the years I have also gained a good knowledge of law society accounts rules and property service charge auditing.

Outside Work: After a hard day at work I like to spend time with friends and family with the occasional visit to Stobo Castle to recharge the batteries.

Experience and Specialisms: I have been working with Russell & Russell now for 20 years. I came here straight from school and started in my first role as office junior. In my 20 years I have gained lots of experience in many different areas including: advancing my administrative and customer service skills, managing our payroll service, processing the internal bookkeeping and also training many juniors, some of whom have gone on to train to become accountants.

Outside Work: In my spare time I enjoy going to the gym. My weekends are spent eating and drinking with friends and looking after my two fur babies.

Qualifications: BA (Honours) in Accountancy Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

Experience and Specialisms: I started with the firm in September 2000 as a trainee accountant. After many years of studying I finally qualified as a member of ACCA in April 2004 and was awarded fellowship in April 2009. Within the company I am client service manager for a number of different clients and I have many years of experience in the preparation of management accounts, year end accounts, audits and also personal and corporation tax returns. In recent years I have become more involved in the business development aspect of the company and have enjoyed helping clients develop ideas to help them to grow their businesses.

Outside Work: Most of my time is spent running around after my two young children, which is a job in itself. When I do get time to myself I enjoy socialising with my friends and also have the occasional trip to restaurants with my husband.

Qualifications: BAcc (Honours) Accountancy, Member of the Association of Chartered Accountants

Experience and Specialisms: I joined the team at Russell & Russell in 2008 after graduating from The University of Glasgow with a BAcc (Honours) in Accountancy and, after passing my final exam in 2012, I qualified as a member of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. I have gained a lot of experience in the preparation of statutory accounts, management accounts and auditing during my time with the company and look forward to adding to these skills in the future.

Outside Work: I enjoy spending as much time as possible with my husband, son and two puggles. We like to go away for long weekends in Scotland all together when possible and at the moment most of my spare time is spent at Bookbugs and baby playdates.

Experience and Specialisms: I joined the team at Russell & Russell in November 2014 after finishing high school. I am enjoying developing new skills and learning about tax matters including the preparation of tax returns.

Outside Work: I like to play and watch football as often as I can. Also I enjoy travelling Scotland and the UK to play golf on different courses. When not playing sports I like to go to the cinema and socialise with friends

Experience and Specialisms: I joined the team at Russell & Russell in 2015 with over 6 years’ experience of working in small to mid-sized accountancy firms in Greenock and Glasgow. I am a full member of the AAT and I am over halfway to completing my ACCA qualification. I enjoy the helpful atmosphere at Russell & Russell and their eagerness to always help their clients and their staff improve.

Outside Work: In my spare time I enjoy going long walks when the weather is permitting, or cozied up watching back to back movies and box sets with my fiancé when the weather is not so kind. When exams are not looming I also like to get stuck into a new book or computer game but would also love to get back into my old past time of painting and crafts.

Experience and Specialisms: I have had lots of varied experience in the financial, business and private sectors over my career.

I started out in banking in 1980 with the Royal Bank of Scotland and studied accountancy and economics through the banking exam system. In 1985, I took over and ran a dress shop in Rothesay.  In 1992, I became an Agent for NFU Mutual Commercial Insurance, covering the farming community on the Isle of Bute. In 2000, I joined my husband’s Retail Furnishing Business as bookkeeper, took over the Investors in People programme and eventually became the Business Manager.  (Sadly, he closed the business due to an irresolvable dispute with his partner.  Such is the way with family businesses.)  Moving to Bridge of Weir in 2012, I took up a temporary Payroll position and started with Russell & Russell in June 2015 as Office and Payroll Assistant, which I am enjoying immensely. I particularly like the “Wally sessions” as I still have “business in my blood.”

Outside Work: When not working, I enjoy gardening, especially growing roses and spending time with my husband and Lady, my wee Jack Russell.

Experience and Specialisms: I graduated from the University of St Andrews with an MRes in Ecosystem-based management of marine systems (or marine biology to everyone else!) in November 2013 after completing a BSc (hons) in Biology, also at St Andrews, in 2012. Following this, I worked for the Sea Watch Foundation as a research intern before moving back home to Glasgow. I joined the team at Russell & Russell in July 2016 as a trainee bookkeeper with a view to completing an AAT qualification. I am enjoying learning new skills and the opportunities these will bring.

Outside Work: A few years ago I bought a DSLR camera and thoroughly enjoy practising and learning new techniques. I have always liked taking photos but I especially love the challenge of wildlife photography and would quite happily sit for hours waiting for that perfect shot. My time observing bottlenose dolphins in Wales with the Sea Watch Foundation only made me more determined to get the best results I could out of my camera. Aside from photography I enjoy swimming, scuba diving, baking and just catching up with friends at the weekend.

Experience and Specialisms: I joined Russell & Russell in March 2017 after graduating in Accountancy and Finance at Glasgow Caledonian University. I enjoy applying what I learned at university as well as learning new skills. I am thrilled to be part of such a firm, which I believe will train me in the best way possible to become a professional.

Outside Work: Outside work, I love to spend time with my fiancée, having meals out in our favourite restaurants and going for long walks with our Bassett Hound, Nancy. I am a member of a Glasgow tennis club where I play as much as I can. I also like a game of football with friends before catching up with them over a beer