Who we are

Martin Fleming - Partner

Martin Fleming - Partner

Martin originates from the Eden Valley in Cumbria and started his accountancy career as an Accounts Junior upon leaving school.

After serving a work-based apprenticeship, Martin went on to complete the Association of Accounting Technician qualification, allowing him to progress to complete his training and become a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 2006. In 2007 Martin decided to cross the border to take up a position in Yorkshire and has never looked back!

Martin acts for a varied portfolio of clients and believes that building trusted relationships with them allows him to best offer advice and support tailored to their circumstances and objectives.

Martin lives in Askrigg with his partner Cheryl and their two young daughters. In his spare time he likes to get out on the fells for a run.

Hazel Thwaite - Partner

Hazel Thwaite - Partner

Wensleydale born and bred, Hazel began her career as an Accounts Junior at the age of eighteen, undertaking her in-house training with the Association of Accountancy Technician qualification. Hazel went on to become a member of the Association of Taxation Technicians in 2013 and completed the Chartered Tax Advisors qualification to become a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation in 2016.

Hazel has experience dealing with a diverse client base. Her ethos centres around building close working relationships with them to provide the best advice and compliance services to suit their individual needs. She is passionate about developing systems to deliver services in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible, particularly as compliance increasingly moves into the digital world.

Hazel lives in Hawes with her husband and teenage children. In her spare-time you will find her on the hills walking, cycling or just enjoying the beautiful area in which she lives.

Cheryl Burton - Client Manager/Payroll Manager

Cheryl Burton - Client Manager/Payroll Manager

Cheryl has lived in Wensleydale all her life, currently in Askrigg with her partner Martin and their young family. She started her accountancy career working alongside Hazel at the Hawes firm Tunstall and Blackburn almost 20 years ago and successfully completed her Association of Accounting Technician qualification.

Cheryl is a senior member of our team with a wide range of skills and is in regular contact with many of our clients to assist them with their on-going accountancy and payroll needs. She also helps the practice and clients with digitalisation tools. Cheryl provides a first class level of training for clients in the operation of bookkeeping software, in particular Sage accounts packages, to ensure full compliance with Making Tax Digital and keep accountancy fees to an absolute minimum!

In January 2023 Cheryl successfully gained a level three payroll administration qualification and is now a member of the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals.

In her spare time Cheryl likes to keep active and enjoy the great outdoors; she is a regular at the early morning boot-camp in Askrigg and enjoys social runs with friends.

Amanda Scarr - Accounts Assistant

Amanda Scarr - Accounts Assistant

Amanda joined our firm in July 2021 as an accounts assistant. Prior to this, Amanda had spent over twenty years working for a local company operating within the optical sector, gaining a wealth of experience within the sales and accounts departments. In 2019, with her two children now both left school, Amanda made the decision that it was time for a new challenge and started to work towards gaining the highly recognised AAT accounting qualification, alongside a move to employment within an accountancy practice. In January 2023 Amanda successfully completed this qualification and is now a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians.

Amanda is a valuable member of our team, assisting with digital bookkeeping, VAT, payroll as well as annual accounts preparation and tax compliance work. A key part of Amanda’s role is working with digital tools to make the bookkeeping processes more efficient, and she also has a great knowledge and understanding of Excel.

Amanda has lived locally all her life and now with her family on her husband's family farm in Upper Wensleydale. In between work, studying and being hands on in the lambing shed, Amanda enjoys walking her dog Isla, swimming and socialising with friends and family.

Kim Utley – Accounts Manager

Kim Utley – Accounts Manager

Kim joined our firm in January 2023, having previously worked in practice for a number of years. Kim is a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians; successfully completing the highly regarded qualification through evening studies at Harrogate College in 2020. Kim hopes to be able to continue her professional training alongside her work.

Kim has experience in dealing with all accountancy and taxation affairs of small businesses; sole traders, partnerships, and owner managed companies, along with personal tax clients. Kim prides herself on being friendly and approachable, with a firm emphasis on creating trusted working relationships with all her clients – making her the perfect fit for our firm!

Kim is a local ‘Yorkshire lass’, growing up on her family farm in Coverdale, where she now lives with her partner and their much loved dog, Bailey.

Kim loves the outdoors, having tried City life in her teenage years, but after one year concluding she is a country girl at heart. She can often be found hiking around Wensleydale with Bailey in tow, or out socialising with her friends.