Property Conference

An experienced and dedicated real estate professional, Simon has 35 years’ experience working in the London and UK commercial property markets. His career spans multi-national firms such as Knight Frank and CBRE to founding his own practice in 1993. Simon’s client base includes leading developers such as Canary Wharf Group and Land Securities as well as National and Local Government departments. Simon is a leading industry
figure, being Chairman of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Commercial Markets Board as well as an author of several RICS Standards and Guidance Notes and public speaker.

Janette is an experienced corporate reporting trainer, teaching mainly on FRS 102, IFRS and company law. On her way to working for Mercia, she has worked in central government, in qualifications training and for a top 10 accounting practice.

James joined Mercia in October 2022 as VAT trainer and consultant. His role involves writing technical material as well as devising and delivering VAT training courses. James has a wide experience of VAT and indirect tax, beginning his VAT career with HM Customs & Excise (as it then was) before moving to the private sector in 1995 and gaining his CTA qualification. Latterly, he had VAT partner and head of VAT roles in Grant Thornton and Mazars. James was actively involved with the Charity Tax Group for a number of years and has presented on VAT topics for the Charity Finance Group.

Outside of work, music remains a keen interest. Aside from playing jazz on the tenor sax, James is a regular member of the trumpet section of the Leeds Project Big Band.

Pat is a tax consultant lecturer at Mercia Group. Pat originally trained and worked in the profession for Ernst & Young, Grant Thornton and KPMG before moving to the University of Derby as their senior tax lecturer. Her time at Derby included undergraduate and professional tax training as well as being involved in examinations and publishing projects for ACCA and other professional bodies.

This led to a ten-year period with the Financial Training Company (now Kaplan) where she was Tax Product Director for the Midlands as well as becoming well known as a prominent exam-based tax lecturer. Over her career Pat has been actively involved in the tax professional bodies including serving as a Council member for 12 years for the Association of Taxation Technicians.

Paul founded Capital Allowance Review Service and has been involved in the industry for over 20 years. During his time, he’s worked alongside hundreds of accountants, supporting them and their clients. Paul was also involved in the legislation changes in 2014 and sat on the HMRC working part committee. He’s helped accountants build and protect relationships with clients.