Our Team
We are at our happiest when we are helping you make sense of your numbers or saving you time and money, even better when we do both!
As a team, we have the perfect balance of skills and experience in order to work together with you to get you the results you deserve. If you have systems and processes in place or need us to do this for you, we can hit the ground running in no time at all, our experience and processes allow us to integrate into your business seamlessly.
Our coverage includes London, Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and all of the surrounding areas. We also provide cloud based services allowing remote support for all other UK regions.
Jane Capel
Director
I set up Think Smart Accounts in 2015, having previously managed business finances for over 20 years, both in the corporate blue chip & SME markets. I gained a wealth of experience in a variety of roles and industries, including Seton House Group, Thomson Directories Ltd and Infor (United Kingdom) Ltd.
I am a qualified Chartered Management Accountant and a registered Member in Practice with CIMA
I am passionate about supporting you in untangling yourself from the administrative burden in all aspects of business and personal accounting, from reconciling you bank transactions through to filing your accounts with Companies House & tax returns with HMRC.
My team share my passion and we have the skillsets to be able to deal with all needs from basic accounting through to complex tax matters & IFA enquiries. We also have a sister company handling People & HR support, giving us the bandwidth to help you with more than just the numbers!
See our Services page for a full range of what we can offer.
Our Team
Stephen Pugh
Senior Management Accountant
After spending six years in practice, training as a Chartered Accountant, Stephen moved into industry to gain an in depth experience of supporting and helping businesses in a busy fast moving environment. Gathering a wealth of experience from a wide variety of industries, Stephen has been driven by a passion to add value to any business he has been involved in.
This passion has led Stephen to actively seek opportunities to help smaller businesses to grow, which fits in with the ethos at Think Smart Accounts. With over 25 years of experience in Finance and Accounting, Stephen is sure to find ways to support clients in their decision making and growth.
Outside of work, Stephen loves to cycle and is an active member of his local church, theatre group and Cub Scout Pack. He also loves spending time with his new grandson.
Catherine Lowe
Senior Management Accountant
After graduating from Plymouth University with a 2:1 in Business Studies, Catherine qualified as Management Accountant in 2003.
Catherine spent several years working in the commercial world before moving to a local accountancy practice, handling a diverse portfolio of clients. Whilst working in the practice she discovered this was the area of accountancy she enjoyed. As her skills aligned perfectly in this field, she then went on to set up her own accountancy practice.
Catherine joined Think Smart Accounts in 2017 to bring in her experience and skills to assist the growing business. Catherine supports her client portfolio through the whole process from bookkeeping to Statutory Year End Accounts. Catherine enjoys the hands on guidance and support she can offer the clients, watching their businesses grow and flourish.
In her spare time, she is an avid runner and particularly likes CanniCrossing with her dog Brodie.
Andy Donovan
Senior Client Account Manager
Andy started his career in a private Chartered Accountancy practice before opportunities led him into the commercial sector. Andy went on to run 2 private companies, one an outsourced Data storage company and then with a Media Tech Investment Publisher, guiding both to financial growth and stability, as Managing Director.
When an opportunity arose in the Investment banking sector, Andy took on the challenge and successfully transitioned to work with 2 blue chip investment banks in Canary Wharf, before having senior roles within the financial services sector with FTSE (London Stock Exchange) and S & P (Standard & Poor's Credit Ratings).
Andy has now joined the team and returned to his accounting roots and brings a wealth of private and commercial experience to our team, with his financial, operational, and commercial background. He is looking forward to working with the team at Think Smart Accounts, an organisation that is passionate about the growth and support of SME businesses and start-ups, and looks forward to being part of its continuing growth.
Janet Mana
Assistant Accountant
Janet joins the team having graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy at Columban College in 2012.
Janet has obtained experience in a number of international companies ranging from financial trading & brokerage, the hospitality industry, and the healthcare industry. This varied range of experience helps to provide the team with great flexibility and knowledge in a number of key areas and adds strength to our growing team and expanding company.
Janet is enthusiastic about creating value for our Think Smart Accounts clients, through her resolute and diligent efforts in helping small business' and watching them flourish and grow.
Outside of work Janet is a chaser of sunset and sea waves, with a passion for all things food and baking. Spending my time with Family especially my niece and nephews is an important part of her personal life.
Andy Charles
Bookkeeping & Payables Specialist
Andy is our Bookkeeper and Payables Specialist who joined the team in early 2017, having previously spent most of his career in the publishing industry.
Andy deals with the day to day processing of client payable transactions and the associated client queries in a timely and efficient manner. His pleasant and helpful manner offers our clients a level of confidence that is key to our service.
Key to Andy's skillset is his accuracy and and meticulous eye for detail, allowing the Management Accounting team to have confidence in the figures when producing reports and speaking to clients about their numbers.
Lisa McCabe
People & HR Service Delivery Manager
Lisa has worked within HR since 1999 and has supported both SME and Corporate organisations.
She started her career working in aircraft interior manufacturing where she was promoted through the HR Ranks from an administrator to the Group HR and Development Manager. Lisa managed the UK HR function and also supported the facility based in Xiamen, China. Whilst working within the Group she was lucky enough to travel to many of the subsidiary locations around the world including Germany, USA and Xiamen.
Since leaving in 2012, Lisa has held HR Management roles within Care, Telecommunications and Cyber Security. She is an experienced and highly motivated HR Manager, Business Partner and Generalist with a proven track record in all aspects of Human Resources in dynamic, confidential and challenging environments.
Lisa's focus is working with both Managers and Employees to promote effectiveness and efficiency, meeting the Company's objectives and values by using a "hands on" approach ensuring legal and accreditation compliance in the Company's activities at all times.
Outside of work, Lisa loves to spend quality time with her husband, son and her dog Nellie who is also welcomed as part of the Think Smart Team
Our Consultants
David Logan - CTA, ATT
David Logan of TAG Tax and heads up our tax technical team. David has over 25 years of wide-ranging tax experience and is a Chartered Tax Adviser ("CTA") with the Chartered Institute of Taxation. David spent over 14 years with the Big 4 firm working specialising in Corporate Tax dealing with both national and international companies and groups. David also spent 3 years with mid-tier firm heading up a tax team in a regional office dealing with both corporate and personal tax matters for owner managed businesses. This enabled David to gain valuable experience in managing Director/Shareholder issues for owner managed businesses.
Gavin Johnson
Gavin has been providing independent financial advice to discerning clients since 2000. Attention to detail, good listening skills and great empathy are some of the most common traits highlighted by his clients.
He has spent the vast majority of his career specialising in advising business owners, and high net worth individuals.
Gavin has extensive experience and detailed technical knowledge in advising clients across all areas of retirement planning, tax planning, investments, estate & inheritance tax planning and personal/business protection.
A keen football fan, who still plays even though he is the wrong side of 40, Gavin now also enjoys teaching and watching his 3 sons playing football and rugby.
Daniel Bird
As a Chartered Financial Planner, Daniel brings over 15 years' experience as a trusted adviser to a wide client base of professionals, entrepreneurs, business owners, board directors and continues to work with many families that he has advised for many years. He has extensive technical knowledge in advising clients across all areas of retirement planning, tax planning, investments, estate & inheritance tax planning and personal/business protection.
Daniel joined the team in 2019 following 7 years at Adam and Company Bank, where he was a director in the London Financial Planning Team. Outside of work Daniel enjoys spending time with his wife and young son but will also take the opportunity in playing golf, football and squash when he can.