6th September 2021
This week we chat to Mike Snape, Associate Director at Bennett Brooks Chartered Accountants.
Tell us a bit about yourself
With over thirty years’ experience in accountancy I’m pleased to say that my passion for the job has not diminished. I am head of the ‘Small business’ department at Bennett Brooks which covers a multitude of business types and sizes and this only adds to the variety in my role, meaning no two days are the same. Having lived in the local area for forty years, I understand the challenges faced by my clients and businesses across Cheshire and am here to help offer face-to-face, practical advice and solutions.
I have developed a new business tool kit which gives an overview of some of the fundamental issues you will encounter when you’re starting a new business. It isn’t all about accountancy and tax, but hopefully a tool kit to help you navigate some requirements to consider as a new business – you can view the toolkit here.
What’s the first thing you do at the start of your working day?
If I’m working from home, first thing to do is make a cup of tea, and then put the radio on. I start by trolling through my morning emails to see what’s come in from the night before. I like my tea with plenty of milk (if you were wondering).
How do you plan out your day? A good old fashioned to do list, or more go with the flow?
I use outlook to sort my tasks out, I block time out on the calendar to complete the larger tasks. But by the time a few phone calls and emails come through, the tasks go out of the window. Every day is different, I’m never sure who is going to need me or what about. Friday afternoon and Monday morning are always the busiest times.
What’s your desk and workspace like?
Cluttered, but I know where everything is, it is all within an arm’s length. I know lots of people like a minimalist desk but I have notes, pens and papers everywhere.
What is the big issue affecting your sector at the moment?
For the small business sector, making tax digital is a very hot topic. It will be affecting the advice I give for the next 18 months. I’m preparing my clients so there are no nasty shocks in 2023.
Do you have a business niche?
Personally, I work in the small business sector, but Bennett Brooks have Corporate Finance, Audit, Legal Services and Tax experts of all kinds, including new in-house trust tax and VAT specialists.
What do you do to escape the world of tax and accounts?
Listen to rock music and go to gigs – hence why the radio comes on first thing in the morning, I usually listen to ‘Planet Rock’.
Have you always been interested in numbers and can you remember your first calculator?
I’ve always been good at maths, so yes, I guess I’ve always been interested in numbers. I didn’t know what to do as a career and my dad was a self-employed accountant, so it just kind of happened. I took the plunge and here I am 31 years on. I do remember there being lots of calculators all over the house as a kid, he had the old adding machines with paper till rolls too.
Tell us something that not many people know about you?
People that know me well, know that I’ve had the real good fortune to meet my rock idols over the years. Brian May from Queen, Def Leppard and Aerosmith. I even managed to persuade Steven Tyler from Aerosmith to serenade my wife Michelle with ‘Don’t want to miss a thing’, definite brownie points.
How has your practice benefited from being part of the Lifecycle accountancy network?
The Lifecycle network has been fantastic. The training is always excellent, and all our staff have benefited from it over the years, they always have fantastic speakers. I have also been introduced to many new professional contacts through the network, which has enabled me to generate lots more business.
Find out more about the Lifecycle network at https://lclifecycle.co.uk or get in touch on 03300 242 333.