Who We Are

A different sort of approach to Accountancy…

If you want to know more about us then it’s safe to say that we’re all about you. We want to know where you’re heading, what your goals are, how you plan to get there and everything else in between. We’re interested in how to prepare your accounts, manage your books or set up your payroll but it’s your ideas that get us really excited.

Ideas that will help you grow, adapt and evolve. We’ll listen to you all day long until we know exactly what you want to achieve and how we can help you get there. It’s a one-to-one, super personal, super tailored service where you can build a consistent relationship with an advisor who truly understands you and your business.

Our Ethos

To inspire and be inspired by clients everyday, driving excitement in their business, so we can best proactively serve, advise & educate them with fun, value & results.

Debbie Whitaker

ACMA CGMA, Managing Director

Our systems geek, our Xero fanatic, our remarkable founder, Debbie began Not Just Numbers knowing that accountancy could, and should, be done differently.

After 20 years in construction, Debbie saw that an accountancy practice that truly cared about its clients was missing, so she decided to launch her own. Not Just Numbers. It’s not just about historic figures, tax returns and payroll – Debbie looks beyond the numbers, so you can look towards a future of success.

Debbie is an CIMA-qualified finance director, systems pro and Xero Gold champion. From leading the team, attending networking events and welcoming new clients, right through to providing whole business support to you – Debbie does it all.

Debbie saw an opportunity to expand the successful advisory services in Not Just Numbers by offering outsourced finance director services. So, in 2017 she teamed up with Julie Bickerdyke and founded Not Just an FD.

Self-confessed biker chick and horse-riding fanatic – on the weekends you’ll find Debbie out in the country with her horse, Patrick and dog, George.

Martin Whitaker

Director

Martin – the big picture man. He looks beyond the day-to-day numbers to help Not Just Numbers hit new horizons and continue to flourish.

Martin’s ‘not-so-typical’ day job at Taylors of Harrogate sends him exploring coffee beans across the globe. On his return, his head is buzzing with ideas and fresh perspectives. With his input, we get the best out of our team, meaning we get the best out of our clients.

He shares his expertise in managing people, supports us with HR and is always up for a good ol’ catch up with a cuppa – Not Just Numbers wouldn’t be the same without him.

Martin is a keen biker and spends his downtime exploring the country on his motorbike.

Victoria Ellis MAAT

Bookkeeping Manager and Cloud Specialist

If you’re after someone who’s nifty with the numbers, then look no further than our super savvy bookkeeper. She’s a wizard at coding vast swathes of transactions, checking and submitting VAT returns to making sure your bank balances reconcile.

Vicky is an AAT-qualified cloud accounting expert, Xero pro, and add-on enthusiast. Her happy place is skipping around the Xero Roadshow finding out about the latest and greatest tips and tricks to make our client’s lives easier.

When she’s not balancing the books, she’s tuning out to her extensive timeless LP collection.

Stephanie Reed

MAAT Accountant

Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines. They’re not fun but can’t be avoided. Luckily for us, Stephanie eats deadlines for breakfast. She’s got compliance covered; ensuring that accounts, corporation tax returns and self-assessments are all squared away with Companies House and HMRC in good time. She may nag you, but it’s for your own good – promise!

Stephanie has been with the Not Just Numbers team from the very beginning. As an AAT-qualified MIP accountant, she makes sure all controls reconcile, all figures are proven, and all numbers make sense to the right people.

Stephanie is a bit of a globetrotter – literally. She’s been running around the world completing as many parkruns as possible. But she’s not just a fitness fanatic, she keeps her brain on its toes with a quiz or two: you may have spotted her on Eggheads or The Chase!

Tracy Thorp

Payroll Manager

Answering your queries, handling payroll and keeping on top legislation changes – Tracy is always on the ball.

Tracy is an AAT-qualified accountant. Before her Not Just Numbers days, Tracy spent two decades working in payroll, with ten years at Royal Mail. She now loves working closely with a wonderful variety of clients. If it’s a number-based query about work time, absences or holidays – Tracy knows the answer. Complex payroll case? She’ll crack it. Paying your staff on time? Every time. She’s our Payroll champion.

Outdoorsy Tracy enjoys being out in the elements on long walks in The Lakes. She loves to get her hands dirty in the garden or with arts and crafts and spend quality time with her teenage daughter.

Laura Deacon

Operations Manager & PA to Debbie Whitaker

Laura is our smooth operator.
She keeps Not Just Numbers ticking.

No two days are the same with Laura. From setting up new client systems, organising events and drafting newsletters right through to supporting the team day-in day-out. She keeps us all on track and our processes running perfectly – thanks Laura!

You could describe Laura as a bit of a dog lover – one might be enough for most people, but Laura has three! She loves to unwind by walking them out in the fresh air.

Julie Thornton AAT

Senior Cloud Accountant

Working on cloud 9 – quite literally. Julie brings over 30 years of finance experience. Both in industry and practice. Since moving back to practice 6 years ago, she has been converting clients to the cloud, training staff and clients on how to use cloud software, producing management accounts and forecasts using cloud technology.

Julie loves a challenge and if anything can be automated, she will try and find a way to do it.

We have another Xero hero!

Richard Wilson CTA

Head of Tax

Richard is our tax guru.

Previously here at Not Just Numbers as a tax adviser, only on a consultancy basis, Richard couldn’t get enough of us and has since joined part-time as our Head of Tax. Here to assist on all thing’s taxation, Richard is the main man where tax involved. He has been an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation since 1995 and has run his own company for over 25 years.

Impressive isn’t it?! With a wealth of knowledge and experience behind him, what Richard doesn’t know about tax, isn’t worth knowing!

David Spooner ACMA CGMA

Senior Management Accountant

“Taking the fear out of Finance” is David’s mission here at Not Just Numbers! Helping clients to understand their numbers and to unleash potential in their businesses is his thing. With bags of knowledge, he’s equipped with 30+ years’ experience working in business partnering roles within manufacturing.

Dave’s happy place is at his house in the South of France, where he spends time playing petanque, visiting local attractions and cycling through the vineyards (when he’s not sampling the local tipples of course!). A bookworm, collector of vinyl, sports fan of F1, football and cricket… Dave is a happy chappy when he’s got a chill day ahead of him. He also does his best to get to the gym/spa as much as he can!

Eddie Thirsk

Graduate Placement

Eddie has joined us on a 10-month Graduate placement. Eddie is currently studying Business Management, Accounting and Finance at Nottingham Trent University.

In his spare time, Eddie is always active and spends his weekends playing golf and football.

Copright of McFade Photography

Introducing NOT JUST AN FD.
Your outsourced Financial Strategist.

Has your business grown to the point of needing more in-house financial strategy and support? You know you need a Finance Director, but are not quite ready to make that commitment?

NOT JUST AN FD provides the perfect solution –  an outsourced Finance Director to provide guidance, advice, planning, forecasting and accountability.

Contact

Send us a message.

Our details
Not Just Numbers Ltd
5 Carrwood Park
Selby Road
Leeds
LS15 4LG