Renewing family ties

The grandson of Douglas Nelson, one of WNJ’s three founding partners, is looking to forge a career in accountancy with the practice his grandfather helped to create.

Henry Nelson, 19, joined WNJ in September as a trainee accountant on the practice’s apprenticeship scheme.

And he is delighted to be renewing the family ties that stretch back more than six decades and to be following in his grandfather’s footsteps.

WNJ was founded by William Wallwork, Douglas Nelson and Michael Johnson in 1960, from the merger of a number of smaller regional firms whose origins went back more than100 years.

It began life in offices in Theatre Street in Preston city centre. The main office was relocated to Derby House in Fulwood, Preston, in 1988 and then to Chandler House on Preston’s Riversway, where Henry is now based, in 2003.

Henry, a former Newman College student, said: “My grandad sadly passed away a few months before I was born.

“But my grandmother was really pleased when I told her the news that I’d been accepted for an apprenticeship here. She said he would have been very happy and so proud.”

Henry, who is from Fulwood and who went to Archbishop Temple High School, said: “I’m really enjoying working at WNJ and I feel I’m learning so much. Everyone in the business is so helpful.

“There’s such a wide variety of work which makes every day different and I especially like meeting clients. It is a job where you feel you are really helping people.

“My aim is to work hard, to just keep on learning and to look to build a successful career in accounting.”

Mike’s new advisory goal

WNJ has further strengthened its team with the appointment of Mike Faulkner to the role of Tax Advisor.

Mike, who has Association of Tax Technicians (ATT) qualifications, brings with him a wealth of experience as a consultant in tax matters, and is relishing his new post.

He said: “When it comes to taxes there are a lot of challenges at present. With the number of chancellors that we’ve had in recent times, the situation isn’t straightforward when it comes to the tax landscape.

“My role is to help WNJ clients to navigate their way safely through it all and to provide the strong and clear advice and support they need when it comes to tax planning and vitally important areas, such as business exit strategies.

“I’m really enjoying being part of the team at WNJ and building working relationships with the wide range of clients we have here, advising them on a host of tax issues.”

Mike, who is from Preston, is based in the WNJ office in the city’s docklands. Away from work he has another role as assistant manager of ambitious semi-professional football club FC United of Manchester, who play in the seventh tier of the English game’s pyramid system.

And before joining that club he was first team coach at Bamber Bridge FC for around a decade. Mike, a father of three, took up coaching at a relatively early age when his playing career was ended by a bad injury.

He says: “Football coaching is something I’ve done for around 20 years, it is a whole different world to the day job but what they do have in common is the need to plan, organise, communicate clearly and work towards the goal that’s ahead of you.”

WNJ partner Paul Woodburn said: “We’re delighted to welcome Mike as a great addition to our team.

“He has a wealth of experience and can support and guide clients in a wide variety of tax matters, whether that be capital gains tax, inheritance tax or employee share schemes.”

• To discuss any tax issues or tax planning matters please call us on 01772 430 000