Partner and Staff Profiles

Meet the team behind Holland Harper LLP...

Roy Holland BSc (Econ) FCA

Roy qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1990 and became a Partner at Holland Harper LLP in 1993. Roy and his team manage the accountancy and taxation issues for companies and individuals in the Battle area and beyond.

He has built up a considerable experience of a wide variety of business types and the relevant accountancy and taxation issues affecting his clients to enable him to provide tailored advice specific to their business needs.

Roy has always lived locally and went to Bexhill College (formerly Bexhill Grammar School) before going on to study for a degree in Economics at Queen Mary’s College London.

Keeping fit is important to Roy and when not in the office he likes to play tennis and badminton. He also enjoys walking his Lakeland Terrier in beautiful East Sussex places such as Hastings Country Park and the South Downs.

A keen gardener, Roy grows fruit and vegetables in his garden including tomatoes, courgettes, peas, raspberries and strawberries with, he admits, varied levels of success.

Top Tip: Be organised and don’t use the ‘shoe box’ approach. Time is money and if you are organised it will cost you less in fees. Being organised also makes it easier to regularly assess the financial health of your business.

Nigel Harper FCA

Nigel qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1979 and has been with the firm since its foundation in Battle in 1988.

He has a wide range of business and commercial interests and specialises in providing management and business consultancy services to a number of professional and commercial clients in both East Sussex and London.

Nicky Watts MAAT

Nicky started her career as a bookkeeper with a handful of clients, before moving into accounting. Some of her clients have been with her for more than 20 years.

She has worked in commercial environments both in financial controller and management accountant roles before joining a Brighton practice. After this, Nicky set up Alexander Accounting in 2014.

Nicky decided it was time to join forces with another practice and liked the ethos and culture at Holland Harper LLP.  She has experience of working with a range of small and medium-size businesses including builders, MOT garages, mortgage advisers, hairdressers and even a customer who used to string pearls for Queen Elizabeth II.

Nicky says one of her strongest qualities is being able to explain a set of accounts clearly so people can understand them. She likes to work hard and offer a really good service.

Originally from Biggin Hill in Kent, Nicky has spent most of her life in East Sussex and currently lives in Newhaven. She will be working flexibly, spending two days a week in the Battle office.

Nicky has two teenage children and three horses which take up most of her spare time.

Top Tip: Get your accounts sorted out as early as possible. Set yourself a deadline at least three months before they are due and reward yourself with a treat for getting your accounts done.

Catherine Stewart BSc (Hons) FCCA

Catherine joined the practice as a trainee after the completion of her maths degree in 2003 and qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 2008.

During her time with Holland Harper Catherine has dealt with the accounts of many of the practice’s business clients and has also taken on the responsibility of managing the audits for larger clients. Catherine also looks after clients’ bookkeeping, VAT returns and management accounts.

Outside work Catherine enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Catherine’s two children keep her busy with lots of swimming and family trips out.

Top tip: To keep tidy and organised accounting records and to keep up to date when recording accounting transactions.

Sue Rudman MA CTA

Sue is the firm’s tax manager overseeing the Tax Department and dealing with clients’ personal or corporate taxation needs.

Sue is a qualified Chartered Tax Advisor and has over 20 years’ experience of taxation work, initially with large, national firms in London and, since 2007, with Holland Harper.

Law is a large aspect of taxation and, with her MA in Business Law, Sue is skilled at interpreting the latest guidance. Sue enjoys helping clients to make the right decisions and mitigating their tax liabilities.

At weekends Sue enjoys getting outdoors with her two sons and going walking or cycling at places like Bedgebury, Bewl Water or on the South Downs. She is also a keen traveller and, before she started her family, spent six months in South America and several months in India with her partner. She has been to the Galapagos which she highly recommends and would now like to see more of Asia.

Top Tip: Think ahead before you make a transaction and talk to us first. It’s very much about proactively using your accountant rather than after the event.

Helen Matthews profile picture

Helen Matthews FCCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), FMAAT (Association of Accounting Technicians)

Helen is Holland Harper’s payroll manager running all of clients’ payrolls as well as looking after accounts and bookkeeping preparation.

Helen studied at Hastings College where she gained her AAT qualification and then at Brighton University where she gained a Diploma in Business Studies along with her ACCA qualification.

Helen enjoys talking to clients about their pay and wage runs and dealing with any queries and phonecalls.

Outside work Helen enjoys horse riding and taking part in dressage, jumping and hacking. She is also kept busy looking after her three children.

Top Tip: Be organised for auto enrolment. Don’t leave it until the last minute.

Tracey Jenner profile picture

Tracey Jenner

Tracey has been with Holland Harper for over 15 years after starting as an office junior.

Tracey has a varied role which includes meeting clients, typing, answering phones, bookkeeping and VAT.

She enjoys coming into work and building a rapport with clients.

Tracey loves working in Battle because everyone is so friendly and everyone knows one another.

Tracey belongs to the National Trust and regularly visits places like Bodiam Castle. On her wish list is a holiday to Disneyland with her family.

Top Tip: Don’t leave everything to the last minute. Don’t put things off and come and speak to us first before you get to the stage when you are worried about your situation.

Deanna Holland profile picture

Deanna Holland

Deanna works in an administrative role including answering phones and supporting Sue in the Tax Department. She is often the first point of contact for clients.

Deanna enjoys every aspect of her job and being part of a great team at Holland Harper.

A mum of four, Deanna plays the piano and enjoys walking in her spare time. She also loves travelling and has fond memories of a trip around New Zealand in a camper van with husband Roy before their youngest child was born. Top of her wishlist is to go to Nepal and walk in the foothills.

Sarah King profile picture

Sarah King

Receptionist

Sarah has responsibility for a variety of tasks including running payroll for clients, typing letters, answering the phone and being one of the first points of contact when people visit the Holland Harper offices.

Sarah, who lives in Battle, enjoys meeting the wide variety of customers she comes into contact with.

Outside work Sarah enjoys cooking for family and friends, swimming, gardening and aqua aerobics.

Top Tip: Bring your records in to us in good time. Planning ahead reduces stress for everyone. So do things as soon as you can. It’s never too early when it comes to your financial affairs.

Require more information?

If you would like more information or would like to speak to us direct then call us on 01424 773303. Or if you would prefer, ask us a question online.