Martin has been at the heart of the Hertfordshire business community for 15 years, helping individuals and businesses start and grow. He is one of Mercer & Hole’s home-grown talents and was promoted to partner on 1 October.
He has built a strong and loyal client following that includes young and growing businesses and wealthy individuals – including chart-topping pop stars and fashion models – who rely on him for his practical tax advice.
“Within four weeks of leaving university I joined Day Smith & Hunter, now part of Mercer & Hole, as a tax trainee,” Martin explains, “and immediately found the career I love.”
Martin brings the perfect balance of technical skills the complex tax landscape needs (he is a Chartered Tax Adviser) together with a practical and accessible way of explaining what it means for his clients.
Growing businesses typically turn to Martin when they are on their growth journey, having outgrown the bookkeeping support many first chose. “A growing business quickly recognises that they need more sophisticated tax planning and advice, which is tailored to them medium to long term needs,” he says.
For individuals, their needs will be very different. Here, Martin’s clients include those who have received substantial inheritances, high-earning city executives and individuals with large property portfolios alongside entertainers.
It is the breadth of experience that Martin’s clients welcome – there is rarely an issue or challenge that he has not previously had to address – and they like to keep close to their side.
“The tax landscape is complicated, and businesses and individuals are, quite rightly, not always thinking about tax. That means whether a consultant working on your own, a lifestyle business or one that is expanding rapidly or an individual with extensive assets or a high level of income, you need advice and guidance,” says Martin.
Martin leads a team of tax specialists from the firm’s Rickmansworth office acting for clients across the UK. And whilst it is a competitive market, it is Martin and his team’s personal touch that sets them apart.
“We are always looking out for our clients and the potential changes that might impact them,” explains Martin. “Take, for example, the Labour government’s first Autumn Budget. We know change is planned although not all the details. We are flagging with our clients some of the issues they need to be aware of and the potential steps they might wish to take.”
Martin has spent most of his career in Rickmansworth and is enthusiastic about giving back to the community that has helped build and support his career. He coaches youth football and is a school governor – a role he would encourage others to consider.
“People think that it is a time-consuming role, but it really isn’t. We have one meeting every six weeks that can last a couple of hours. It’s a great way to support your children whilst at school and to support your community.”