About

Alison Harris FCA MA

After studying for a music degree I worked as a freelance French horn player. But I soon realised that, while I loved the performances, I didn’t want this to be my long-term career. I was looking for something that satisfied my love of puzzles and logic, and gave me a career with varied opportunities. It turned out that accountancy was the perfect fit!

I now have over 15 years’ experience as an accountant in practice and commerce.

I trained as a chartered accountant in audit, working with a range of clients from small businesses to large private and listed companies. Following a move to Australia in 2010 I worked as finance manager for a law firm and as an in-house accountant for a global engineering consultancy. In these roles I covered all areas of finance, including management and financial reporting, budgeting, cashflow management and payroll.

I returned to Bristol in 2017 with my husband and two young children and took the opportunity to start up my own practice, which offered a more flexible working environment. I’ve translated that flexibility and adaptability into how I work with my clients, and am drawing on all my previous experience to provide tailor-made accountancy services to local businesses in the South West.

Throughout my career I’ve been passionate about improving processes to make them as efficient as possible. In my in-house roles I engineered system improvements, working to enhance the efficiency of existing systems and project-managing transfers to new accounting and payroll software. I am a strong believer that financial reporting should be useful for a business rather than just for tax reporting.

Since May 2019 I have acted as a Trustee of Soundwell Music Therapy Trust, a charity that provides music therapy within the South West for adults whose lives are seriously affected by mental health issues.

When I’m not working I’m kept busy looking after my two children and striving to grow enough vegetables in our garden to be self-sufficient! Having started my professional life as a musician I still fit in as much music as I can, and enjoy playing with a number of amateur groups in the Bristol area.