David Howard – The Partners
Simon Bishop I left University and trained as an Accountant with a top 10 City based Firm, where I had first time passes to my Accountancy exams. After qualifying in 1991, I spent 3 years in a smaller multi-office provincial Practice where I became Senior Manager in 1993. In 1994 I joined David Howard as a Partner and became Senior Partner in 1996.
As well as looking after my own portfolio of clients, I am responsible for our Business Development and in particular have taken an interest in the way regular contact through outsourcing services can be used to strengthen our client relationships. I have found that I really enjoy getting to know clients on a deeper level and speaking to people regularly through the year allows me to help them more and gives me a great deal of job satisfaction. Outside work, my wife Donna and boys Joel and Matthew are the focus of my time. Although I still manage to find time for a variety of sports – kite surfing, windsurfing, cycling, snowboarding (to name a few!), I am a qualified FA Coach, and look after both the boys football teams. See the attached link for a picture of our proudly sponsored team Elm Grove Red Dragons U9’s!
Nicola King - After graduating from Kingston University I took the position of Lecturer at the University’s Business School for two years. During this time I also studied for my Accountancy exams, passing them all within the two year period. I joined David Howard in 1998 as a graduate trainee and gained the experience required to become fully qualified in 2000. My ambition was to progress through the ranks quickly and with the support provided by the Partners, I became Client Manager in 2002, and was delighted to be invited to become a Partner in 2003 at the age of 29.
Day to day my role is very client focused and I strive to provide my clients with the very best level of service. I enjoy working closely with the team at Hampton Wick. I am responsible for internal training and development and aim to provide the staff with the same high level of targeted support that helped me to progress as quickly as I did.
Being a new Mum, the majority of my time is devoted to my daughter Holly and husband Neil. Free time is spent trying to catch up with family and friends over good food and even better wine!
Philip Lane - After obtaining my Accountancy degree at University, I joined David Howard in July 2000 to continue my training and became fully qualified in 2003. Following a number of years of progression and increased responsibility I was very pleased to be appointed a Partner in January 2007.
I have taken on a diverse role within the firm, helping to develop the IT systems that we use today and have received great satisfaction in seeing the added advantage this has given our Firm as well as the help it has given to our clients in enabling us to assist developing their businesses and systems. I also enjoy the challenge of looking after our charitable clients as they are more technically demanding and often have different goals than that of an ordinary business.
With all of my clients, I am always keen to develop a close working relationship so that we are not seen as an Accountancy firm that just provides year end compliance services but as a ‘business partner’ who is there to help grow the business, as well as maximising profits by reducing tax and other costs.
Outside of work I am the proud Father of my very active Son and enjoy spending a lot of time outdoor with him and my wife. I am also the member of a 5-a-side team which I still play in weekly in an Epsom league after starting it with friends 15 years ago. Any free time I have left after committing to the above is spent cycling, both road and mountain biking around the South Downs.