Richard Faulkner FMAAT
DIRECTOR
Richard has worked for Alexander Accountancy since 2015, before being promoted to Director in 2020.
What drew you to accountancy?
I started out playing football, progressing to Arsenal where I signed as a schoolboy at the age of 14. I was there for four years, appearing in the same youth team as players like Andy Cole, Ray Parlour and Paul Dickov, as well as playing in some matches with the likes of David Seaman, Kevin Campbell and David Rocastle. After a couple of seasons with Burton Albion I worked for the local council then as a financial consultant for the Prudential before doing 20 years in brewing as a technician.
When I got the chance to retrain as an accountant I spoke to David Alexander about a career change and I began the Association of Accounting Technicians qualifications, doing my studies while gaining practical experience.
What do you enjoy most about your role at the firm?
I have always enjoyed figures especially on the tax and investment side having had a lot of exposure to the financial sector with the Prudential.
I enjoy helping clients make tax efficient decisions and I like the challenges of helping people. There are always changes to legislation which you have to adapt to.
Is there a professional achievement or qualification you are particularly proud of?
I achieved my qualifications through distance learning and I am proud of passing my exams first time. I got through them pretty quickly rather than doing them through college.
Outside of work, what hobbies or interests keep you busy?
I like to spend time with my family and some of the family have dogs so I enjoy taking them out, especially if it involves heading to the pub. I play golf and we like to travel for foreign holidays and city breaks in the UK.
What’s something that might surprise people about you or your background?
I do not shout about my football career but I saw Andy Cole at Burton Albion and we spoke about our time together at Arsenal.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting their career with Alexander Accountancy, what would it be?
With it being family focussed there are connections within the business which are always strong. We also like to build connections in the local area. If you put in the hard work and enjoy the variety of the work you will find you meet all sorts of people and companies. There are always different things to do every day and it is not monotonous.
What’s your vision for Alexander Accountancy’s growth?
We offer value for money and we believe the advice we provide gives clients a good return on their investment. Helping people with their tax can make a big difference. It is important that we keep up to date with the latest tech and developments to evolve in the modern era. We always need to stay ahead of the curve.
How do you ensure your team delivers exceptional client service?
Regular connection is important, whether that is the regular newsletters we send out or the networking we do. We like to give back to good causes in the local community and we are well respected. Whether the client is a sole trader or director of a multi-million pound company they get the best advice we can offer. We ensure our staff training enables our employees to fulfil their potential in their careers. We have had three apprentices go on to achieve their qualifications and have supported them to develop their roles.