A 29-YEAR-OLD at an accountancy firm which helps people all over Wiltshire has been promoted to lead his own team.

Martin Beck is now in charge of seven people as the new tax compliance manager at HWB as demand for its services continues to grow.

Martin joined the business in 2016 and his promotion is part of its ongoing strategy for growth.

He takes over from the previous tax manager Helen Spalding who will now be a tax advisory manager, and will work with new colleague Joe Wilson to support associate director Gemma Hedges and senior tax manager Alan Rolfe.

Gemma said: “Martin is a well-established and key member of the tax team. He absolutely deserves this promotion and we are expecting him to develop into an inspirational team leader.

“It is very much our policy to promote from within to safeguard business continuity. This promotion is in recognition of Martin’s hard work and dedication.

"His wealth of knowledge across a broad range of issues is invaluable as we move the firm forward.”

Martin said: “While I am bringing a fresh pair of eyes to the role, I’m also very familiar with the processes and what works best. I have an in-depth knowledge of our clients, I like representing HWB to the wider world and believe customer service is our number one priority.

“One of the things we are focussing on is growing our own talent. The business has a great reputation for training and my aim is to continue our success stories.

"Time was invested in me when I was a trainee and it is an honour to do the same with our current intake.”

Martin’s range of clients includes individuals, trusts and partnerships, particularly directors of companies HWB represents commercially and personal tax clients

He added: “Broadly I’m in charge of the tax compliance programme – which is essentially getting annual tax returns done for clients, everything from simple repayments to the most complex of issues.

“Tax is an ever-changing world. My challenge is to stay on top of all the rules and regulations for the benefit of clients to ensure they can get the most from my team’s expertise.

“There is also making tax digital for income tax looming, which will be a real change to the way we work, if and when it actually happens, including a fourfold increase in the amount of reporting required.”