Meet the Team

Simon Close FCA

Managing Partner

Simon became Managing Partner of the practice in April 2003 and as such took on overall responsibility for all practice clients.

Simon became one of the youngest qualified Chartered Accountants when he qualified with Coopers & Lybrand at the age of 23. He went on to be involved in some major projects such as the pre-privatisation audit of British Steel.

Simon's portfolio of clients is varied, including companies in the manufacturing, production, leisure and service sectors.

Simon is particularly involved in advising owner-managed businesses and has recently been involved in a significant number of company reconstruction projects.

You can contact him at simon@censis.co.uk

Peter Oliver

Practice Partner

Peter is a Founder Partner and is responsible for a mixed client base of owner managed and family businesses, primarily in the Civil Engineering & Construction sector and Restaurants & related sectors.  He provides the client with a hands on approach to business problems.

As Practice Partner Peter is responsible for the day to day running of the practice including all staff issues.

He is married with three children.  Outside of work and family he enjoys all sports but mainly football albeit watching now that his playing days are over.  He celebrated his 40th birthday several years ago by walking up Mount Kilimanjaro.

You can contact him at peter@censis.co.uk

Karen Harrison BA (Hons) FCA CTA

Audit/Tax Partner

Karen joined the practice as a Business Studies graduate in 1992 and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1994 coming 6th in the Northern Society's Order of Merit. She went on to become the practice's audit/tax manager and successfully completed the Chartered Institute of Taxation final examinations in 1996, becoming a Chartered Tax Advisor and being appointed as an associate in 1998, and partner in 2005.

Karen is the partner on all audit assignments carried out by the practice in industry sectors ranging from heavy duty manufacturing through to retail, leisure and charities. Karen’s role as Audit Partner also entails ensuring that the practice’s audit procedures are kept up to date with new legislation. Karen is also involved with corporate tax compliance and planning for the practice’s larger incorporated clients, and offers assistance with their IT needs, including training and improvement of internal management reporting systems.

As Tax Partner Karen is also concerned with Income, Capital and Inheritance Tax planning for higher net worth individuals both on an annual and ad hoc basis.

You can contact her at karen@censis.co.uk

Russell Sullivan LLB(Hons) FCA

Partner

Russell joined Censis in October 2009 having worked at director levels in industry for the past 18 years and became a partner in April 2010.

Russell studied law at the University of Birmingham and upon graduation joined Coopers & Lybrand to train as a Chartered Accountant where he gained extensive experience in the audit and accounts of both large and small businesses.

He qualified in 1988 and then went on to spend some time with Price Waterhouse in their taxation department.

He moved from Price Waterhouse into industry and worked primarily in the construction sector gaining invaluable experience in all aspects of running a successful business, culminating in his role as Finance Director of a number of large local engineering companies.

Russell's main role is to run the Middlesbrough office with particular emphasis on advising owner managed businesses.

Russell has two children and lives in Ingleby Barwick with his wife Joanne. He is, for his sins, a lifelong Middlesbrough football fan(!) and a keen golfer and skier.

You can contact him at russell@censis.co.uk

Julie Todd FCCA

Accounts Manager

Julie qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 1997 having joined the practice at its formation, after a varied career in industry. This included spending six years as a payroll supervisor for a leading North Eastern clothing manufacturer. After her time in industry she became a Finance Officer at a Hartlepool based accountancy practice before joining Censis.

Julie is involved in audit and accounts preparation for companies of all sizes and in varied industry sectors and ensures that the practice’s payroll department is up to date with new legislation, which includes reviewing changes in Employment Law.

Julie’s specialism, however, is in “not for profit” organisations. She has a long standing involvement with many charity clients of various sizes, providing a wide range of added value services, which include:

• Charitable Governance
• Trustee responsibilities
• Sage line 50 training using charitable fund accounting techniques
• Implementation of full cost recovery techniques
• VAT and the not for profit sector
• Staff training on all aspects of charity accounting
• IFRS accounting for Credit Unions

Julie prides herself in understanding the sector needs of all her charity clients, providing her with many day to day challenges and a sense of reward when she assists them.

You can contact her at julie@censis.co.uk

Salaam Shaheen FCCA

Associate

Salaam joined the practice in October 2000 having completed his A levels. He went on to qualify as an accounting technician in 2003 and continued with his studies to become a qualified Chartered Certified Accountant in July 2005, at which point he became an account manager.

Salaam has since built up a diverse range of clients and takes a keen interest in assisting new start ups in all aspects of getting their business up and running, including the provision of one to one software training and the setting up of internal control procedures.

Salaam now takes a lead role in the major audit work undertaken by the practice. He organises and heads the audit teams covering a range of the practice’s large clients.

Given Salaam’s pro-active nature, he has a successful record of meeting and introducing new clients into the practice and has been integral to the continued growth of the business throughout his time with Censis.

Salaam’s progression has resulted in him recently being promoted to an Associate.

You contact him at salaam@censis.co.uk

Anna Turner MAAT ACCA

Anna is now a fully qualified ACCA member and able to offer even more in depth advice and assistance to clients.

Anna has worked with Censis since 2004 and during that time has successfully qualified as an Accounting Technician.

Anna enjoys watching football, particularly Hartlepool United, and indulging in her passion of shopping for shoes!

Anna can be contacted at anna@censis.co.uk

Sue Bentley MAAT

Sue is our longest serving member of staff and her role in the practice has evolved from office junior to the position she holds now as a trainee accountant.

Having qualified with the Association of Accounting Technicians, Sue is now studying to become a Chartered Certified Accountant.

Sue is responsible for all company secretarial compliance matters for clients as well as the traditional duties of a trainee accountant such as preparation of VAT, payroll and accounts. In addition to this Sue has the unenviable task of collecting the practice’s outstanding fees.

Sue is married with three children and enjoys playing tennis and cooking good food for her family and friends. Her hens and vegetable plots are the first step towards “The Good Life”.

Sue can be contacted at sue@censis.co.uk

Chris Hall MAAT

Chris is now a fully qualified AAT member and continues to offer clients management accounts advice and IT training whilst commencing his studying towards the ACCA qualification. Chris joined Censis straight from school in 2008 whilst sitting his A-levels.

Due to Chris’s approachable nature and detailed knowledge of mainstream accounts software he regularly delivers successful training to clients in the use of such software.

His interests include cricket, football and skiing.

Chris can be contacted at chris@censis.co.uk

Debbie Hubbert

Debbie joined Censis in September 1996 after previously working as a legal secretary. Initially employed as receptionist/admin clerk she has progressed to being in charge of the practice’s payroll department which includes the handling of all of our clients payroll services including weekly and monthly wages preparation, year end legislative requirements and liaison with Crown departments. She has a wide knowledge of all employment legislation and procedures which she uses to assist clients in these areas.

Debbie is married with one child and her interests include keep fit and socializing.

Debbie can be contacted at debbie@censis.co.uk

Joanne Sullivan

Joanne started working for Censis in August 2003 after being a secretary at a local stockbrokers. She has sole responsibility for the day to day running of the practice’s administrative department which includes typing of all correspondence and accounts and daily liaison with clients from all industry sectors. She also has responsibility for our vital in-house time management system.

Joanne can be contacted at joanne@censis.co.uk

Emma Bell

Emma is studying for her Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualification and has just successfully completed her Level 3 Diploma in Accounting.

Having previously worked in industry at Optimum Office Products, Emma is relishing the opportunities of working in practice and dealing with clients face to face.

Emma can be contacted on emma@censis.co.uk

Becky Harrison

We are also very pleased to advise that Becky Harrison joined our administrative team in October.

Becky is involved in all aspects of the administration of the practice and many will have already had the pleasure of speaking to her on the telephone.

This is Becky’s first job since leaving school and she is already proving herself to be an invaluable member of the team

Becky can be contacted on becky@censis.co.uk