ANDY STEPHEN

Solving the difficult problems

“I’ve always been drawn to the more technical side of accounting. When I was working in industry, the more complicated or unusual accounting issues were the part of the job that broke up the routine. They gave me a new problem to solve and the opportunity to work out how something should be treated.

That’s what I enjoy most about my role today. Every client brings something different. I like understanding the issue, working through the detail and then explaining the answer in a way that makes sense.”

Drawing on the practical experience from working client side

“Having spent much of my career working in industry, I understand what it’s like to sit on the other side of the table. Clients don’t just need technically correct advice. They need advice that works in practice. Changes to lease accounting are a good example. I’ve dealt with these requirements myself, so I can draw on that experience to help clients understand what’s involved and make the process feel much more manageable.

I’m also good at picking things up quickly and bringing different pieces of information together. That allows me to get to the heart of a problem and explain the answer clearly, without making things more complicated than they need to be.”

Working together

“For me, a strong client relationship starts with recognising that we’re working towards the same goal. Clients engage with us because they have a problem they need help solving. The relationship works best when both sides can work together openly and honestly. That means establishing common ground, getting to know the people you’re working with and making the experience as positive as possible. There’s no point making things harder than they need to be.

One relationship that stands out was with a client based in the Middle East. I worked remotely with their team, often several hours ahead of the UK, and had to adapt to a different culture and way of working. I hadn’t worked on a project quite like it before, but by being myself, being honest about what I could do and taking the time to get to know the people involved, I became part of the team. It showed me how valuable it is to invest time in the people you’re actually going to work with, even when you’re working across different countries and cultures.”

Making life easier for clients

“The most satisfying part of my role is seeing a client happy with the outcome. It’s not simply about producing the right answer. It’s about genuinely solving the problem they came to us with. If a client can take the work we’ve produced and use it to move forward with confidence, then we’ve done our job.

Ultimately, I think that’s what professional services should be about: making our clients’ lives easier and delivering something that’s worth the investment they’ve made in us.”

Not always knowing the right answer straight away

“I don’t pretend to have every answer immediately. I believe one of my strengths is knowing where to look, who to speak to and how to work through a difficult problem. The important thing is having the willingness to find the answer and the confidence to know where to look. For me, there isn’t really such a thing as an unsolvable problem. There are just problems that need to be broken down, understood and worked through.

Don’t get me wrong, some issues can be incredibly complicated. But once you’ve had the right experience and broken them down step by step, they become much more manageable.”

A team that’s going places

“One of the things I’ve enjoyed about being part of AAB is the genuine excitement around the firm’s growth. There’s a sense that everyone is invested in the journey and wants to see the business succeed. More importantly, that ambition is matched by a shared commitment to doing the best possible job for clients.

For me, being part of that growth is an exciting opportunity to bring my industry experience into a growing technical team and help clients tackle the accounting challenges that matter to them.”