Introducing the Who’s Who? corner of our monthly Newswire…
Each month we’ll interview one of the team here at KN to tell you a bit more about themselves and their role….after all, everyone loves a good nosey don’t they?!
Neill Rayland – Audit Director
Neill joined Kirk Newsholme from the Leeds office of a national firm in 2008 to help with the growth of the audit and advisory side of the practice. Neill looks after a portfolio of the firm’s larger clients and specialises in the areas of audit and business valuations.
Tell us a bit about your role and how you got into the industry
I began my career in 1984 with an independent accountancy practice based in the West End of London. I qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1987 and spent another nine years working with a national practice in London before my wife persuaded me to move Yorkshire in 1996 – a decision I have never regretted. I then spent 8 years with a large independent practice in Leeds becoming a partner in 1998.
As it’s the interaction with business owners that I enjoy the most I have always specialised in the audit of larger owner managed and family businesses. I think that I have seen just about everything over the course of my 35 years working in the accountancy sector and gained a wide range of experience in corporate advisory work across a range of business sectors.
What would you be if you weren’t an Accountant
When I was younger, like many, I had the dream of being a professional sportsman, like a cricketer or cyclist, before quickly finding out that there were a lot more talented people than me! Whilst I would also loved to have been a rock musician I realised my hair would never grow long enough. Realistically I think that if it wasn’t accountancy I would probably have ended up working in the insurance industry like the rest of family.
Who would you like to swap places with for a day?
A top professional golfer. It would be great to live out one of your hobbies and be good at it (!), be able to play all the top courses without paying, be able to travel the world at the same time and have a bit of prize money to spend.
What are you currently watching?
Mainly sports coverage. This summer I am looking forward to watching the highlights of the various cycling tours (love the scenery as well) and the Cricket World Cup and Ashes tests.
Where’s your favourite place in the world?
There’s actually quite a few candidates for this – as a country it would have to be New Zealand for its fantastic and diverse scenery (and wineries) and for cities it would be a close call between San Francisco and Sydney. Having said that Yorkshire is a fantastic place to live with its easy access to the Dales, North York Moors and Lake District.
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