Meet Carl Ford
Why did I become an accountant?
Like most things in life, Accounting was a happy accident. I was looking for a career change and I initially considered becoming a Sports therapist but my partner at the time told me I should “get a real job”.So, I met the friendly Head of Accountancy at the college and she introduced me to the AAT. The rest is history.
What do you like most about being an accountant?
I love helping businesses feel in control of their finances and have more time doing things they love. Being a business owner is like being an athlete, you have enough stress on your plate and therefore you have to rest.(with a decent bottle of Malbec) Clients often tell me that the best thing is that they don’t have to do the accounts on a Sunday night.
Why do you need an accountant?
As a business owner, I believe that you can do your own accounting. Shock! I said it. How much do you value your time? But as a business owner time is your biggest asset when running a business. Keeping up with the latest HMRC Tax and VAT changes can be quite cumbersome. So why not have an expert who can do it for you? As your accountant, you get your time back and most importantly peace of mind.
What can I do for you?
My phrase is that “Jargon can jog on”. As a business owner, you need simple straightforward advice in plain English, not Accountants. Clients also find that my prior background in sales and retail is incredibly valuable.
Xero or Sage?
For me, it must be Xero. Sage is lovely but my only use for it was wafting or smudging. (Accounting joke) I’ve been a huge fan of Xero since back in 2013 when it revolutionised the way I structured the business, it also helped that I met Gary Turner (Xero founder) back in 2013 as well and we’ve remained friends ever since. Xero has the strapline “Beautiful Accounting”, which I couldn’t agree more!
What do I do outside Accounting?
I love sport, especially motorsport! I’ve been an F1 fan all my life, my earliest memory being of Nigel Mansell back in Adelaide 1986. I love go-karting on and off most of my adult life, I absolutely love the feeling and adrenaline of being on the edge through a flat-out corner. Then, there’s the smell… there’s something addictive about the mix of tarmac and fuel on a hot day… But, just to ensure there’s balance brought to the Force, I do enjoy more relaxing past times such as spa days, visiting National Trust sites for walks amongst nature and I’m really into meditation and introspection.
