Welcome to our Spotlight feature, designed to help you get to know us a little bit better. Each month a member of our team will be tasked with answering ten quick questions to give you an insight into who’s behind the George Hay name.
Martin has been with George Hay since 1998. He qualified in 2001 and at that time took over as Audit Manager at our Letchworth office. Martin was made a Partner in April 2013.
Q1. Describe yourself in three words?
A: Determined, humorous and calm.
Q2. Since it’s the festive season, what film is guaranteed to get you in the Christmas spirit?
A: Anything James bond or for comedy it has to be National Lampoons Christmas Vacation – a classic!
Q3. Next year, you’ll celebrate 20 years at George Hay – how has George Hay changed in that time and what’s been a highlight for you during the past 20 years?
A: There have been huge changes in terms of digitalisation, the types of jobs I trained on with a big red cashbook are few and far between now, I think over the next 5 years with the implementation of Making Tax Digital amongst other things these sorts of changes will continue at a rapid pace.
I can’t pick out an individual highlight but I would say the team of people I have worked with at Letchworth have been fantastic as have the clients I have dealt with in that time!
Q4. If you could do any job for just one day, what would it be?
A: I love the great outdoors so Mountain Rescue would be interesting!
Q5. What do you enjoy most about your role?
A: The variety of clients that I deal with is great but I would say I get the most enjoyment out of being part of the journey for a start-up business from day one to being a successful company.
Q6. Describe George Hay in one word?
A: Progressive
Q7. If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want to have with you?
A: I think I would survive if I had some cold beer, something to play music on and a football to kick round!
Q8. What advice would you give to anybody considering a career in accountancy?
A: Go for it! I can only speak from personal experience but I think it is a great career with so many opportunities.
Q9. If you had to choose one food to eat every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A: I can’t live without peanut butter on toast in the mornings so it will have to be that!
Q10. On a scale of 1-10 (1 = awful, 10 = perfect), rate your present wrapping?
A: Can I go as low as 0.5?!
