Chris Harland

Chris Harland is Head of Region for North West England at AAB, working with medium-sized
corporates, SMEs, owner-managed businesses and entrepreneurs across the region.
As Head of Region, Chris is involved in every challenge and opportunity that comes through
the door, whether he’s advising a client directly or mentoring his own team. He describes
himself as "the hub of a wheel: always connected, always steady, and always driving
progress."
His approach to client relationships goes beyond traditional advisory work. "I aim to become
an integral part of my clients’ teams," he says. "One of the best compliments I’ve had is
being told I’m ‘not a typical accountant’. We take pride in crafting creative, innovative
solutions that drive results, not just producing numbers."
That same philosophy extends to how he leads. Chris is a firm believer in "having the right
people on the bus, even if their seat changes over time," and spends much of his time
mentoring senior colleagues, helping them grow into leadership roles and build the
confidence to take on bigger challenges. "If our culture isn’t right, we can’t help our clients
achieve success. That, for me, is paramount."
While AAB has embraced virtual and digital ways of working, Chris remains a strong
advocate for face-to-face relationships. "Nothing beats face-to-face interactions, that’s where
I feel most connected to clients and can have the biggest impact."
He’s genuinely enthusiastic about what’s ahead for the Bolton office, where he’s building a
team and giving them room to grow. "AAB is the perfect vehicle for this, it allows us to
accelerate that growth and open up new doors for our people."
Ultimately, Chris measures success by impact rather than hours billed. "It’s not just ticking
boxes, it’s transformative," he says of the work he and his team do with clients. "I want
clients to feel we’re an extension of their own team, making a material difference to their
success."