Meet the Team
At Elsby, we have a great team of people. Much like an awards ceremony, it’s not always easy to mention them all by name. Those listed below are our core client-facing people (and one or two more who enjoy having their picture on the website) …
Managing Director
Bio: Having made the tough decision to swap her hairdressing apprenticeship for accountancy, Claire became a Partner at Elsby before she was 30 and has worked in public practice for 18 years, the last 10 with Elsby.
Role: Claire manages a team of 8 and has her own client portfolio ranging from small to medium sized SMEs. In addition, Claire’s specific Partner focus is to drive the business development agenda, identifying new revenue opportunities.
Fun fact: Claire spends most weekends dressed up as Agnetha, one half of the ABBA tribute duo Honey, Honey!
Partner
Bio: Carl co-founded the business back in 1992 and has been the driving force behind its progression to be one of the main independent Practices in Northamptonshire, based on the simple, but important concepts of great personal service and going the extra mile to help.
Role: Carl looks after a portfolio of clients and is responsible for driving the business strategy. Carl is particularly interested in the development of individuals in the team, and providing career opportunities.
Fun fact: Carl loves playing squash, skiing, and mountain biking. In his first junior squash tournament, Carl took the first game off a future World Champion, but reports that it went downhill from there. Going downhill fast is therefore a key factor in all his hobbies.
Partner
Bio: Leona is a Chartered Accountant who has worked in small and medium sized practices throughout her career. Leona left school wishing to become a florist and was encouraged to be an accountant with the view to being able to buy her own florist shop in the future. Leona is yet to buy her flower shop, but still very much loves flowers!
Role: Leona manages a portfolio of SMEs and specialises in Limited Company and Charity Audits. Leona’s bubbly and personable demeanour have contributed to her success, particularly with her involvement in client audits and her management of the Elsby staff social and team building events.
Fun fact: Leona has done a tandem skydive at 12,000ft and been glacier trekking in New Zealand.
Client Manager
Bio: After graduating from University with a 2:1 in Maths and Business Management, Matt had no idea what his next steps would be. After had a heart to heart with his wife, he made the decision that being an Accountant would be a great career choice (his wife thought accountants made lots of money!) and the rest, as they say, is history!
Role: Matt joined Elsby 6 years ago after working at another firm for 3 years. Having always been a local lad, Matt jumped at the chance to join Elsby - a local firm to him – where he started as a Trainee and swiftly worked his way up to be a Client Manager. Having progressed within the firm, Matt now enjoys his role of not only having a client portfolio of his own to look after, but also being a line manager. He enjoys the new challenges and the role of supporting and developing junior team members that he is responsible for.
Fun fact: Outside of work, Matt is definitely a family man and loves nothing more than spending time with his wife and 2 children. Together they enjoy quality down time and are often found holidaying and enjoying the sights and sounds of his “second home” in Walt Disney World.
Senior Client Manager
Bio: With her heart set on accountancy, Carina left school and took a trainee position to kickstart her accounting career. After many years of hard work, support and determination, Carina qualified in 2021 and has since been promoted to Client Manager.
Role: In her role, Carina has a small portfolio and particularly enjoys working with construction and property clients. Carina is passionate about going the extra mile for our clients, and provides a welcoming, friendly but professional service with a smile.
Fun fact: Carina loves travelling, naming Sri Lanka as a favourite destination and looks forward to more adventures now that she has two precious boys to share them with.
Portfolio Manager (Payroll)
Bio: Katie started working for Elsby 5 years ago as a Payroll Administrator with little payroll knowledge having previously worked for Transport companies preparing invoices. During her time with Elsby, Katie been able to develop her skills and now knows all things Payroll, earning her a recent promotion to Portfolio Manager (Payroll). Katie loves working in Payroll and can’t believe she didn’t start working in payroll sooner!
Role: As Portfolio Manager in Payroll, Katie manages her own portfolio of clients and has built a good working relationship with them, allowing them to feel comfortable asking any question, even if to them it seems like a ‘silly question’.
Fun fact: A true Disney and Marvel fan, anyone who knows Katie well will know her favourite Disney character is Stitch. Katie and her family are huge Formula 1 and football fans so many weekends are spent together cheering on their favourite teams and occasionally they get the opportunity to attend a game or race.
Senior Client Manager
Bio: After graduating from university with a first-class masters degree in Mathematics, Emily decided to pursue a career in accountancy. Emily joined Elsby straight from university in 2014 and has since progressed to Client Manager in 2021.
Role: Emily has her own portfolio of clients and also supports the partners with their portfolios. Emily enjoys supporting her clients with their day-to-day needs and has a focus on developing her surrounding team including training junior members.
Fun fact: Emily enjoys playing squash and tennis in her spare time and is known in the office for arranging an annual Elsby bake off.
Practice Manager
Bio: Christina is a seasoned Practice Manager with a flair for working with small and medium-sized companies. After starting her journey as a social worker, she found her true calling in administration at the British Heart Foundation. With their support, she dove into all thing’s admin, mastering every aspect and eventually rising to a managerial role.
Role: As Practice Manager, Christina leads a team of energetic administrators who are passionate about delivering an exceptional client experience. Her team provides top-notch administrative support, keeping the company running smoothly and efficiently, with a smile!
Fun fact: Christina recently discovered her happy place in open water swimming, enjoying weekly dips. She's also a true coffee enthusiast who will do anything for a perfect latte.
Audit Manager
Bio: Sue has always wanted to be an accountant after O Level bookkeeping filled a spare slot in her options at school. Sue trained with a top 20 firm in Northampton, then, after qualifying, she spent the next 20 years as a corporate manager and training manager in another independent practice before making the move to Elsby.
Role: Sue’s specialism is Audit and she comes to Elsby to drive the growing audit team,. Sue loves going out and meeting clients, getting to know their businesses to provide efficient audit services and practical advice. She is also passionate about training the next generation of accountants and auditors coming through the firm.
Fun fact: Sue loves murder mysteries - using all of her audit skills to sift through the evidence and identify the culprit!
Client Manager
Bio: After making a switch from Health and Social Care to Accountancy in 2017, Alice joined Elsby & Co after relocating from her hometown of Brighton to Northamptonshire in 2020.
Role: Alice joined Elsby as a semi-senior accountant and is now working as a Client Manager in Leona Bateman’s team. Alice’s role is varied, from personal tax returns to supporting clients with management buyouts and research & development claims. Alice also enjoys working with Charities and is involved in a number of Independent Examinations and Charity audits.
Fun fact: Outside work, Alice can usually be found at the athletics track, either spectating or competing for Rugby & Northampton Athletics Club.
Client Manager
Bio: Dominic began his career training at a firm in Northampton after completing his A-Levels and has been in practice ever since. After qualifying, he worked at another local firm before joining Elsby.
Role: Dominic joined the Elsby team as a Senior Accountant. Having joined the team with over 19 years experience with local firms, Dominic will be supporting his portfolio of clients and will be instrumental in supporting us as we continue to grow.
Fun fact: Dominic is a sports fan (normally watching rather than playing!) and a season ticket holder at Northampton Saints rugby. He also enjoys getting out on long, muddy walks with his dog.
Senior Client Manager
Bio: After not getting the required science qualifications to be a Marine Biologist, Jamie left school in 1994 and found a trainee job before qualifying in 1999. Two business moves later (in 2020), Jamie joined Elsby as a Client Manager.
Role: Jamie supports Leona and her team directly and manages the overall workflow and training of Leona’s team and employees, whilst also looking after his own portfolio of clients and the clients that came over following the acquisition of the RJB Partnership.
Fun fact: Scout leader and adventurer to exploring and falling down mountains (don’t ask), James combines his love of the outdoors with his family and dog. James is also a closet superhero and comic book fan – simply Marvel-lous!
Head of Operations
Bio: Ann spent over 25 years in the corporate world managing high performance customer service and sales teams, and latterly as an executive coach. Then, she spent 6 years running her own successful small business providing training and executive coaching in private equity and venture capital start-ups as well as for individual professionals who found themselves managing people alongside their trained technical roles. Ann worked with Elsby and Co as a consultant initially, and came on board as a permanent employee in October 2022.
Role: Ann supports with employee development and training, helping us build on the progress made, including developing our key staff to be partners as soon as they are ready.
Fun fact: With a friend, Ann does a podcast called The Plodcast - it’s all about running and health.
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Client Services Manager
Bio: Lynda started as a trainee straight from school and spent the next 35 years at the same local practise. Having seen a lot of changes in compliance over the years, Lynda developed a passion for client training and support. She joined Elsby in February 2023 to be part of The Business Hub.
Role: Lynda helps develop the Business Hub so that clients can be supported with their business using an “in-house” perspective.
Fun fact: With 2 gorgeous grandsons spare time is limited for Lynda, but music is her “switch off”, with a love of Ska & Reggae. If you find yourself at the same gig as Lynda, you’ll find her down the front!
Client Manager (Bookkeeping)
Bio: After becoming a qualified hairdresser and spending a couple of years chopping hair, Debbie decided to do an apprenticeship in accountancy. Debbie has worked in a few practices and gained her AAT qualification before joining Elsby’s in 2017 where she has progressed to bookkeeping manager.
Role: As Client Bookkeeping Manager, Debbie jointly runs the bookkeeping team with her work Bestie, Lynda. Together they make sure that all the bookkeeping and VAT returns are in, completed and filed in time.
Fun fact: Debbie did a tandem skydive recently, managing to persuade a colleague to do it with her! Out of work Debbie enjoys spending time with her husband, twin teenage girls and Buddy (her beloved cockerpoo).
Client Manager
Bio: Libby met Elsby at a career fair while in her final year studying Business Economics at University. Alongside a move to the Northamptonshire area, she joined straight from university in 2017 and has since progressed to Client Manager in 2023.
Role: As a client manager, Libby has her own portfolio of clients and also supports the partners with their portfolios. Libby enjoys supporting her clients with their day-to-day needs and has a focus on developing her surrounding team including training junior members.
Fun fact: Libby is an cosy gamer and loves to go to the cinema and watch films whenever she has the time!
Consultant
Bio: Clare is passionate about business and holds numerous roles with the Federation of Small Businesses at local and national level. Clare was instrumental in helping clients access grants and funding during COVID.
Role: As a co-founder of Elsby, Clare has worn many hats over the years and is proud to be our Wellness officer, looking after (she would argue) our most important asset – our people.
Fun fact: Clare holds a UK Latin dancing champion title, winning competitions at the Bournemouth International Centre and at the mecca of ballroom dancing – Blackpool Tower.
Our vision is to be the only accountant you will ever need or ever wish to consult, throughout the lifetime of your business and beyond
