Lavinia Newman founded ABDS in 1987, and is one of Hampshire’s leading experts on the accounting and business development issues of small and growing, owner-managed businesses. She brings a wealth of commercial experience and understanding to the firm’s clients.

Prior to founding ABDS, Lavinia had 15 years of commercial experience. She began her career as an investment analyst at Sheppards & Chase and Dean Witter Reynolds, both firms of stockbrokers in the City of London. Later, she moved on to work as an accountant in the gaming industry for the Playboy Club, as well as in the entertainment industry for Andrew Lloyd Webber. Lavinia has also worked for Cartier, the Bond Street jewellers, and in the Head Office of Arthur Guinness Son & Company.

As well as working with London-based clients, Lavinia has extensive experience of advising companies across a wide number of Hampshire’s industry sectors. She also has an understanding of international issues, and currently acts for clients in France, Canada and Poland.

Lavinia has a degree in Management Sciences, specialising in Marketing and Finance, and is qualified as a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (FCMA) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA).

Since founding ABDS, Lavinia has been instrumental in leading the firm to achieve the highest standards through the utilisation of best practices. Under her auspices, ABDS has been awarded the Investors in People accreditation and, more recently, ISO 9001 and the Quality Assurance checkmark accreditation from the ACCA.

It is Lavinia's belief that, while many accountants are reluctant to give advice, growing businesses often need an accountant who will do more that just look at the numbers. She understands that clients need to be able to discuss their business issues with a completely impartial advisor who is willing to offer mentoring and advice, and who has the business experience to do this. She is easy to talk to, empathic to your situation and enthusiastic about your business. She is a good communicator who is able to explain matters in a straightforward manner using everyday language.

Achievments in recent years has included: Running the negotiations and successfully completing the deal for the share buyback for a significantly sized London company with a deal valued at circa £15m; Preparing a case for a minority shareholder where his position had been prejudiced and engaging legal support. Her work here included case management; Acting as an expert in share valuation case where the company had pre-emption rights and one Director was seeking to leave, (a legal referral); Share valuation work for a dispute with HM Revenue & Customs and negotiating successful outcomes; Dealing with business sale from beginning to end, finding competing potential purchasers, negotiation work, engaging an appropriate legal team and case management to a successful retirement outcome. Tax compliance and planning work was undertaken by our tax department as was inheritance tax planning; Assisting with the purchasing of trading premises, appointing valuers, undertaking cash-flows and projected profit and loss accounts and balance sheet and successful presentation to the bank for funding; Applications for the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme including preparing business report and statistics and meeting with more that one set of Bankers to find a receptive Bank; Mediation in bank dispute over client's treatment; Assisting on an ongoing basis the management of business recovery program for a local company where the VAT office PAYE office and HMRC were all “at the door” seeking payment (client is still trading out of this position 2 years on).

Her recent interests have led her to become an associate of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrations for Arbitration and she is currently seeking membership for Mediation. She enjoys negotiation, mediation, problem solving and dealing with people.

Over the last 12 month Lavinia has set up “Wise Owl Counselling” in response for demand for stress related issues that have increased for the business community as a result of the credit crunch and the current very difficult trading environment. Many business people have found it to be a very stressful time for both those doing the business and for their wife or husband, who are often stressed because they are worried about the consequences and are often onlookers to the problems. They may feel powerless to help which in itself can be very concerning and worrying. “Wise Owl Counselling” offers evening and Saturday sessions. Session allows participants to voice their concerns and worries in a safe and understanding environment.

Lavinia thinks that the reason we have London and international clients is that we offer specialist work at very competitive prices in comparison with both the “big firms” and London firms. At ABDS each client is very special to us we are able to be their first port of call for any business issue.

Lavinia has lived in Hampshire for the last 24 years and is married to a doctor. They have grown-up children. In her spare time, Lavinia enjoys walking her two dogs in the forest. She undertakes a variety of charity work and is Treasurer of the Neighbourhood Watch. She is interested in developing people’s potential both through work and in the community.

SP Coleman BA (Hons) ACCA

Stuart Coleman joined the firm in August 1999, and is the Manager of the Tax Department. Stuart has a degree in Accountancy from Southampton Solent University and qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant with ABDS. He has substantial practical experience with the firm’s clients.

Stuart supervises the tax team, undertaking the routine tax compliance and ensuring that the firm’s clients are aware of their responsibilities and comply with them on a timely basis.

He also undertakes more specialised tax planning, including inheritance tax planning and tax enquiry work, as well as specialist projects such as business valuations, shareholder and partnership agreements, dispute resolution, statutory, contract and CIS regulation work.

Stuart is especially interested in tax planning, particularly retirement & inheritance tax planning and business sale & business valuation, so as to extract the rewards of having built up a business and to retain the hard-earned nest egg for a comfortable retirement.

As Stuart is also experienced in bookkeeping, accounts production and auditing, he is well placed to provide clients with general advice on business issues.

If you would like advice on any of the above issues, please call Stuart to arrange a meeting so that he can gain a clear understanding of the scope of your requirements and deadlines. You will find that he is approachable, friendly and a good listener.

Stuart also has excellent written communication skills and is able to explain things in a straightforward manner. He has written numerous advice letters to clients that set out complex matters in a clear and concise way that is easy to understand.

Stuart has lived in Southampton all of his life. He is an avid reader and enjoys watching sport.

T Kumar B Com. ACA (India) FCCA.

Tonmoy Kumar joined the firm in 2006, and is the Manager of the Accounts Department.

Tonmoy trained with a top Indian accounting firm, qualifying as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India in 1998. Prior to joining ABDS, he gained extensive commercial and financial experience working for a London-based firm of Chartered Certified Accountants, where he gained the UK ACCA qualification. He brings to ABDS a wealth of experience in dealing with owner-managed and growing businesses.

As well as being competent at dealing with all aspects of accounts preparation, Tonmoy can advise on cash-flow and working capital planning, business start-up, incorporation and VAT issues. His experience in income and corporation tax planning enables him to take an overview on clients' requirements when offering advice.

Tonmoy's specialist knowledge includes advising clients on the VAT treatment of EU sales and exports, and dealing with the compliance matters of EU trade. He is also involved in advising international individuals, families and businesses, mainly from the Indian sub-continent, on UK taxation and planning. Tonmoy is fluent in Bengali and Hindi, and is also able to communicate in Punjabi.

If you require that your accounts are prepared as quickly as possible following your year end so that your deadlines are met, and proactive advice without asking, then please contact Tonmoy. He will meet with you in order to gain a clear understanding of your business requirements and deadlines, and ensure that your work is undertaken on a timely basis. He can also offer advice on how to make your business grow.

Tonmoy, his wife and young son now live in Southampton, where they intend to stay. He is an avid football follower and believes that Manchester United has the best football team in the world. Tonmoy attends Chamber of Commerce meetings in order to keep his understanding of the business community and its needs in the Southampton and Hampshire area up to date.