Our People

Mike trained with a medium sized firm in Eastbourne and qualified in 1990. Mike moved to a large firm in Southampton in 1991 and spent 7 years there as a manager. Mike joined Bright Brown in 1999 as a senior manager and became a partner in 2001. Mike spreads his time between our Newport office and our Southampton office and has a broad client base in each. Mike also looks after our clients in the legal profession and medical profession. Mike heads up our tax department and specialises in providing tax-planning advice.

Mike is a passionate supporter, and Season Ticket holder, of Southampton Football Club - something he is prepared to admit to ….. this season!

Tel: 01983 537625
Email: m.russell@brightbrown.com

David joined Bright Brown in 1999 having completed a HND course in Business at the Isle of Wight College. David qualified in 2002 and became a director in 2005. David is a Registered Auditor and has an extensive portfolio of clients ranging in size between small sub contractors to medium sized companies and charities. David specialises in both personal and corporate taxation, including trusts and estates. David also spends a considerable amount of time looking for tax planning opportunities across our entire client base.

David has a young family and when he gets some time to himself he enjoys horse-riding and going to the gym.

Tel: 01983 537620
Email: d.stevens@brightbrown.com

Mark trained with Garbetts, qualifying in 2001. Since qualifying, Mark has built an extensive client portfolio, which covers all industry sectors, and which ranges in size from personal tax clients and sole traders to large limited companies. As a director, Mark is also involved in day to day business management and it is this personal experience that he draws on when advising clients about their own business.

Tel: 01983 537609
Email: m.paxton@brightbrown.com

Gavin joined the firm in 1999, having obtained a degree in Economics from the University of Portsmouth and qualified as a Chartered Certified accountant in 2003. Gavin has an extensive portfolio of clients which cover all industry sectors and is particularly strong with corporate and charity reporting. If there is a technical question … Gavin is your man! In addition, Gavin is responsible for our firm’s computer systems, including the administration of our network.

Gavin is the proud father of two young sons and enjoys spending time playing with them and their toys! Gavin describes himself as a “gadget guy” which does not go down too well with his wife!

Tel: 01983 537610
Email: g.kelly@brightbrown.com

James joined the firm in 2001, having obtained A levels in Pure Mathematics & Statistics, Physics and Business Studies, and qualified in 2007. James manages a substanial portfolio of clients, ranging from Small sole traders to Medium sized limited companies. James has a particularly strong background with the Legal profession and Medical practices.

James enjoys spending time with his young family, but when commitments allow, he enjoys the occasional music festival such as Download or Bestival. He is also a keen Spurs supporter.

Tel: 01983 537603
Email: j.palmer@brightbrown.com

Kay initially joined the firm in 1999 and qualified with the Association of Chartered Accountants in 2000. She has had a variety of roles including tax manager, audit manager and has been involved in the accounts preparation for both large and small companies and charities. After two years away Kay re-joined the firm in 2016.

Kay loves to travel and recent destinations include India and Peru.  Closer to home she enjoys dancing and fitness classes, gardening when the weather is good, and spending time with her young grandchildren.

Tel: 01983 537606
Email: k.arnold@brightbrown.com

Karen joined Bright Brown in 1996 and qualified as an Accounting Technician in 1998. Karen has overall responsibility for our management accounts support team and ensures that the firm delivers a quality bookkeeping package for those clients who do not wish to maintain their own records. Karen also supervises the preparation of monthly management accounts for a number of our larger clients, managing a team of support staff. In addition, Karen spends a significant part of her time providing Sage support to our clients either at their premises or over the telephone.

In her spare time, Karen enjoys modern jive dancing and earlier this year became a demonstrator for Team Le Roc. When she’s not dancing, Karen enjoys walking, baking and handicrafts including making jewellery and has just completed her first handmade 18th century period costume.

Tel: 01983 537618
Email: k.long@brightbrown.com

Mandy joined the firm in 2001 from the retail sector and qualified as an Accounting Technician in 2003. In addition to maintaining our own book-keeping records and preparing our own management and annual accounts, Mandy undertakes the same work for some of our clients, using whichever system best suits our clients. Mandy is fully trained on, and very experienced in, the Sage suite of products and provides Sage support to our clients, either at their premises or over the telephone.

In her spare time, when Mandy isn’t out walking around the beautiful Isle of Wight, she enjoys baking and all manner of crafts including embroidery, sewing and lace making.

Tel: 01983 537623
Email: m.phillips@brightbrown.com

Corinne worked in sales & marketing administration in Canada and the United States before moving to the UK. She was introduced to bookkeeping whilst setting up the accounts function for a small company and enjoyed it so much that she began studying for the Association of Accounting Technicians qualification at the Isle of Wight College and has now successfully qualified. 
 
Corinne has Labrador Retrievers that she trains for the field in her spare time. She also enjoys current affairs, gardening, reading and walking her dogs on the lovely Isle of Wight!

Tel: 01983 537621
Email: c.anjo@brightbrown.com

Connor joined the firm in 2016 with A levels in Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Physics.  On leaving school he initially worked as a wood machinist for a local company.  He is now working towards his Association of Accounting Technicians qualification. At work he prepares accounts and VAT returns for a variety of clients.

As well as studying, Connor finds time to help out as an assistant beaver scout leader in his spare time.

Tel: 01983 537643
Email: c.jones@brightbrown.com

Bridie joined the firm in 2011 having graduated from Southampton Solent University with a degree in Business Management. Bridie qualified as an Accounting Technician in 2013 and as a Chartered Tax Adviser in 2015. Bridie now manages our tax team and assists David and Mike with all aspects of tax planning.

In between leaving University and joining the firm, Bridie spent time travelling around America, including her favourite location of Hawaii. In her spare time Bridie enjoys horse riding and looking after her horse, Sasha.

Tel: 01983 537617
Email: b.westerhoff@brightbrown.com

Andrée joined our payroll department in 2011 and in total has over 30 years of experience in payroll preparation. Andrée looks after clients from a variety of industry sectors, ranging in size from one employee to fifty employees. Andrée has exceptional personal skills, which is essential in this role as she is often called upon by clients to explain payslips to their employees.

Andrée’s claim to fame is appearing on Blankety Blank and The Generation Game. In her spare time Andrée enjoys travelling and is particularly fond of the Caribbean.

Tel: 01983 537628
Email: a.dollery@brightbrown.com

Claire joined Bright Brown in 2006 having obtained A levels in Mathematics and Business Studies. Prior to joining Bright Brown, Claire worked as a trainee accountant for a medium sized firm of accountants in Lincolnshire. Claire is a qualified Accounting Technician and has a varied workload including preparing annual and management accounts, preparing payroll and VAT returns for clients and bookkeeping assignments. Claire has also been trained to use the Sage suite of software, which she regularly uses on behalf of our clients, both in our office and at our client’s premises.

When not at work, Claire is involved with the Scouting movement, organising national camps for Scouts aged 15 – 25. Claire also enjoys walking and camping, particularly in and around the New Forest.

Tel: 01983 537611
Email: c.smith@brightbrown.com

Julie spent 17 years working for a local company in a bookkeeping and payroll capacity, before joining  us in 2015.  She is now a valued member of the payroll team.

A busy mother of three, Julie has very little spare time, however she enjoys baking and reading when she has the chance.

Tel: 01983 537601
Email: j.benford@brightbrown.com

Vicky joined the payroll department in May 2016 after working for a small family run business.  She has much experience having worked in the accounting industry since 1998.  She completed her first year of studies towards the AAT qualification before taking time out to have a family.

In her spare time she enjoys craft making and spending time with her family.

Tel: 01983 537626
Email: v.mason@brightbrown.com

Sharon joined Bright Brown in 2006 having previously worked in the retail sector. Sharon is responsible for the administration department, which includes not only meeting and greeting clients and arranging client meetings, but also includes the electronic filing of accounts at Companies House and tax returns with HM Revenue and Customs. In addition to the usual front of house administrative duties, Sharon also maintains the firm’s sales ledger

In her spare time Sharon enjoys spending time with friends and family and now that her sons have grown up she plans to explore the American continent.

Tel: 01983 537602
Email: s.moye@brightbrown.com