The Directors

Paul Archer

BSc (Econ) FCA

Background: Paul was born and educated in Worthing and joined the firm in 1976 having qualified with Coopers and Lybrand. He became Chairman of the LLP at its inception in 2006.

Known for his sartorial elegance, Paul was for many years the Senior Partner of the old Carpenter Box partnership. His aim has always been to maintain a high degree of team spirit within the firm and to promote the professional standards for which the firm is so renowned.

Professional Expertise: In his years in practice, Paul acquired considerable knowledge and experience which he now puts to good use in client relationship management terms. His portfolio included a variety of companies and professional firms whom he advised on a wide range of commercial issues. He has specialised in regulated clients including financial services, charities and registered social landlords.

Outside of the Office: Paul's interests include racquet sports, scuba diving (which he indulges in on a fairly regular basis) and travelling. Paul is also an active member of a local church.

John Billings

FCA CTA

Background: John qualified as a chartered accountant in a medium sized firm in London and then gained further experience in Price Waterhouse Coopers in the city, working in both the audit business group and corporate tax departments. He joined Carpenter Box in 1990 and became a partner in 1993. John is known for his eye for detail, and passion for his client's business success.

Professional Expertise: With expertise in corporate structures and the tax framework in which they operate, John has a portfolio of owner managed businesses as well as a number of high net worth personal clients. John undertakes tax-planning for clients ensuring that they maximise the tax efficiency of their affairs. John is also the person to help if you wish to review your will arrangements and are looking to minimise inheritance tax liabilities.

Out of the Office: John is a family man and enjoys a family walk on the downs, followed by lunch in a local Sussex pub. He loves sport, especially rugby and tennis, however his main passion is skiing, where he has been known to have been dropped into the Canadian mountain wilderness by helicopter, in order to experience the ultimate in off-piste skiing!

Martin Godsmark

FCA

Background: Martin trained and qualified with Carpenter Box after graduating from Leeds University.

Professional Expertise: As an auditor Martin has built up a diverse portfolio of business clients but has a number of specialisms. These include the legal sector, the retail motor sector and farming and horticulture. He is also a specialist in the animal welfare sector dealing with a number of charities in this field. In addition Martin has a number of personal clients for whom he handles tax and other wealth management issues.

Out of the Office: Martin is a keen golfer. He has been playing since his university days so he's pretty handy with a club. Martin also enjoys body boarding with his three sons. He often indulges this passion in Cornwall and does so regardless of water temperature!

Kevin Blake

BA (Econ) FCA

Background: Kevin graduated in economics from Newcastle University and after eight years in practice in London working for both a medium size and an International practice he joined Carpenter Box and became a partner in April 1993. He heads the Business Service Group.

Professional Expertise: Kevin's primary responsibility is advising business owner managers from new start-ups to major groups and assists in their business development including acquisitions , disposals and restructuring. He provides accounting, tax, audit and management services to his clients.

Kevin specialises in the regulated areas of pension schemes and financial services companies and acts for a wide range of clients on business solutions. His clients include clubs, restaurants and licensed premises, retailers, manufacturing, service companies, employment agencies and nursing homes.

Out of the Office: Kevin enjoys tennis, skiing and sailing with Amanda and his two sons Alex and Marcus. In his spare time he still tries to play football and find time to wargame.

Robert Dowling

FCA

Background: Prior to joining the firm in 2001, Robert had twenty years experience with a top ten firm based in Brighton including 10 years as a Partner. He now heads the Audit and Advisory Group and plays a large part in IT strategy.

Professional Expertise: Robert is responsible for advising clients on all areas of audit and assurance work, delivering commercial and strategic advice and he oversees our corporate finance offering which includes due diligence work, valuations and restructurings. He has a varied portfolio of clients, but has particular areas of specialism in the property and construction, engineering and motor retail sectors.

Outside of the Office: Robert lives in Brighton and is kept busy by his wife and young son. When he has the time enjoys a wide range of interests. These include both spectating and participating in sports - especially swimming and motor sports – eating out and trying to conjure up new ways of keeping his young son amused.

Stuart Noakes

ACA CTA

Background: Stuart trained and qualified with a top ten firm in the South East. He subsequently moved to another top ten firm specialising in tax, providing support to businesses and individuals in London and South East England before joining Carpenter Box in 2004. Stuart heads the firm's Tax Services Group.

Professional Expertise: Stuart has considerable experience in advising individuals, companies and business owners on tax mitigation strategies and wealth management issues and on taxation in general. His day to day work includes advice on matters as varied as business acquisitions and disposals, executive remuneration, relief for capital expenditure and employee share schemes. His expertise includes capital gains tax and inheritance tax planning for entrepreneurs, land owners and other high net worth individuals.

Out of the Office: Stuart is married with a young son. He has a keen interest in all sports but, having retired from football, he is just about managing to play squash competitively and has lost more golf balls than he cares to mention!

Alan Edwards

ACCA

Background: Alan trained with Carpenter Box having joined the firm in 1993 and qualifying as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 1998. Alan was appointed to the Board of the LLP on becoming a Director in April 2006.

Professional Expertise: A Director in the firm's Business Services Group, Alan's expertise is in owner managed businesses, he has particular experience with the medical profession, acting for a number of GP Practices where he specialises in providing accountancy and tax support. He also heads up the firms' Sage accounting department which is a fully accredited Sage Partner.

Out of the Office: Alan enjoys most sport. His passion from an early age was cycling in which he was Sussex Schoolboy Champion in 1991. He hung up his pedals to concentrate on his studies but is now a keen and very competitive golfer. He also enjoys relaxing with his wife and young family.

Eileen Goff

ACA DChA

Background: Eileen qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant but is now a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. She trained with Carpenter Box and, after a short spell in industry, returned to the firm in 1996. Eileen was appointed as a Director in April 2006.

Professional Expertise: Eileen has expertise in the field of audit and compliance, with particular emphasis on the regulated sector including charities (for which she holds a Diploma in Charity Accounting), financial services and lawyers as well as other regulated clients.

Outside of the Office: Eileen look after her three children as well as being a frequent visitor to the gym. She is also a pretty regular visitor to Cyprus which explains her year round tan!

Chris Coopey

BA(Hons), DipLaw, DIPLegPrac

Background: Chris was educated at the University of Exeter where he read politics. He then moved to Sussex to study law and has lived and subsequently worked in the county since 1994. Between 1994 and 2005 Chris was a solicitor and latterly a partner in a large regional law firm. He gave up practising law to concentrate on professional management in 1998. He joined Carpenter Box in October 2005 and was appointed a Director of the firm in April 2007. As a lawyer by profession, Chris' decision to join an accountancy practice was seen by some as a brave one, but he thoroughly enjoys what he has termed 'coming over to the dark side'. Chris heads the firm's Practice Support Group.

Professional Expertise: Chris' areas of expertise are Professional Firm Management and Business Development. He looks after HR, IT, Finance and Marketing. He also has experience of the Engineering Design and Telecommunications sectors. He has a good understanding of the problems and opportunities facing many types of businesses - whether in industry, business or commerce. He has a very practical approach to problem solving and relishes a challenge.

Out of the Office: Married to a Psychiatrist (handy after a board-meeting!) and with two lively sons, Chris gets to do lots of picking up Lego, as well as walking and tree climbing! He also has an interest in C20th history and is well known for his charity quizzes.

Hilary Julian

FCA DChA

Background: Hilary was born and brought up in Cornwall, moving to West Sussex in 1988 having qualified as a chartered accountant with the Plymouth office of Grant Thornton. Hilary continued her career with Grant Thornton until joining Carpenter Box in 2007.

Professional Expertise: Hilary's particular expertise is in the provision of audit, financial reporting and advisory services to a variety of businesses. Her past and present clients include businesses involved in motor retail (including one of the largest independent motor retailers in Sussex/Hampshire), manufacturing and assembly, the construction industry, leasing and a variety of service industries. Hilary also has considerable experience of charity clients - recognised by the award of the ICAEW Diploma in Charity Accounting. She has acted for a Worthing based charity providing care to disabled ex-servicemen for nearly 20 years, missing only one year's audit following her change of firm.

Outside the office: Hilary likes to relax and keep fit by running and going to the gym. She also has her own horse and can be found riding on the Downs near Chichester every weekend. Any remaining spare time is spent with her cat and her partner - in that order, though she admits her partner scores higher for cooking dinner and pouring wine.

Charlie Eve

BA (Hons) ACA

Background: Charlie was born and raised in Arundel and other than his university years has lived and been educated in Sussex. Charlie recently joined the LLP after spending almost fifteen years at another Sussex firm where he qualified and became a partner in 2004. Charlie felt the ethos at Carpenter Box matched his own where client service and care with the personal touch is paramount.

Professional Expertise: Charlie heads up the Business Services Group along with fellow directors Kevin Blake and Alan Edwards. He primarily looks after owner managed businesses concentrating on things that matter most to his clients namely maximising profits while managing exposure to tax. Charlie has clients in most industries but has particular interest in property, acting for property developers, estate agents, commercial agents and property investment companies. Charlie particularly enjoys acting for business startups thriving, on the entrepreneurial journey from business idea to profitable reality.

Outside the office: Charlie enjoys getting out on the golf course, although his passion was always dinghy sailing where he represented his university in the student national sailing championship. With a two year old daughter he finds that his weekends of football and night outs have now been amended slightly to fun with the family and nights in with the Gruffalo.

Mark McDowell

MAAT

Background: Mark joined Carpenter Box in 1988 having gained his AAT qualification with his previous employer.

Professional Expertise: Mark has a portfolio of clients within the Business Services Group. These clients range from self employed individuals to small limited companies. Mark advises on both business and personal tax issues and can also assist in business start ups.

Outside of the office: Mark has two children and is also a proud granddad. For his sins he is a season ticket holder at Brighton and Hove Albion and can be found in the wind and the rain at every home game. He also enjoys (endures) a round of golf and likes an occasional flutter.

Nathan Keeley

BA FCCA

Background: Nathan started his accountancy career in 1996 after completing his degree at the University of Wales. He joined Carpenter Box in 2001 and qualified in 2002.

Professional Expertise: Nathan developed a specialism in dealing with corporate entities who operate in the freelance / contractor sector, he has gained accreditation with the professional contractor groups (PCG).

Nathan also specialises in offering a wide range of services to family businesses and business start ups including corporate accounts and Corporation tax, business plans and projections, payroll VAT and personal tax.

Outside the Office: Out of the office Nathan is a keen hockey player and enjoys most sports. Nathan also enjoys spending time with his young son and family.

Karen Thomas

BA ATT

Background: Karen joined the tax profession in 1988, where she trained with a top ten firm in a number of different offices along the South Coast. Karen joined Carpenter Box in the Summer of 2006 and was promoted to Associate in Spring 2009 and now plays a key role in supporting the Directors in running the tax compliance practice.

Professional expertise: Karen has worked mainly in personal taxation over the years, providing support to all sorts of clients ranging from retired individuals to complex high net worth clients. Karen has also developed a particular specialism in employment taxes over the years.

Outside the office: Karen is a keen gardener and takes much pride in her herbaceous borders! She has achieved a black belt in self defence and through this has gained confidence and made many friends. This, along with the gym and a bit of DIY keeps her busy outside of the office.

Robin Evans

BA ACA CTA

Background: Robin joined Carpenter Box in 2002, having qualified with BDO Stoy Hayward in London. Robin also spent a few years in industry which has given him a particular insight into the business perspective.

Professional expertise: Robin supports a varied portfolio within the Audit and Assurance Group of both limited companies and limited liability partnerships across a range of sectors including property, manufacturing and recruitment. He supports and advises his clients’ finance teams on tax planning and compliance, statutory audit and accounts and the wide range of ad hoc issues that inevitably crop up on an almost daily basis!

Outside of the office: Robin has three young children to keep him and his wife busy at home. He is also a governor, and chair of the finance committee at a local primary school and is a keen fan of Liverpool FC and the Welsh rugby team.

Dawn Peters

Sam Ede

FMAAT ACCA

Background: Sam started his accountancy career in 1996 with a small local firm gaining his AAT qualification. He joined Carpenter Box in 2000 and qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 2005. Sam is now a Senior Audit Manager within the firm.

Professional Expertise: Audit and assurance, regulated business and IT. Sam deals with a large variety of clients, both small and medium sized businesses, but has specialisms in the motor retail, financial services, travel, horticulture and engineering industries. He takes pride in his work with a very high level of client service. He is also heavily involved in the firm's IT control and development, ensuring the various software packages used across the firm are kept up to date and maintained to the highest of standards.

Outside of the Office: Sam enjoys playing golf but doesn't find enough time these days to pick up his clubs. He is also a big supporter of Liverpool Football Club. A lot of his time is now taken up looking after his young Staffordshire Bull Terrier Cross, Ruby!

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