Logged In With…Simon Young of Montpelier Chartered Accountants
SIMON Young is a director at Montpelier Chartered Accountants, which has offices in Leeds and Sheffield.
The firm provides audit, tax, forensic, corporate finance and management consultancy services to owner-managed and family-run businesses across a variety of sectors, with particular expertise in advising and supporting the creative and digital, food and farming, holiday parks and manufacturing industries.
Describe yourself in a Tweet
Dad of three and keen cyclist – Montpelier director working with SMEs in vibrant sectors
What are your career highlights?
Graduating from the University of East Anglia in Norwich in History, rapid promotion to manager at Buckley Barton accountants and being one of Montpelier’s youngest directors to name a few.
What’s on your iPod?
An eclectic mix including Billy Bragg and The Specials from my radical teenage years to The Sand Band which I’ve just downloaded.
What has been your favourite/worst job?
The worst was temping for a local authority for eight weeks and battling the bureaucracy. The best is my current role.
Who is your ideal dinner guest or which public figure do you admire most and why?
Stephen Fry because he’s witty, knowledgeable and a great conversationalist. He takes his ego out of the equation and is self-deprecating as opposed to self-obsessed.
Are you worth what you’re paid? Why?
Are you kidding! Of course I am! Because I genuinely understand the challenges our clients face on a daily basis and get a kick out of helping them come out the other side.
What has been your biggest business mistake/achievement?
Not walking out of the boring local authority department on the first day!
What is your pet peeve both in and out of work?
People who don’t deliver what they say they will and let everyone down.
Who has had the biggest influence on your career?
My mum Joyce because she alerted me to the wealth of opportunities in accountancy.
What do you enjoy most and least about your role?
Developing great client partnerships. I least love my daily commute from Collingham near Wetherby.
What’s the key to managing people?
Earning and retaining their loyalty and respect.
What are the biggest barriers to your organisation’s success?
Helping people to understand that not all accountants are the same.
What would make Yorkshire an even better place to live and work?
Fewer cars and more bikes would relieve the congestion in the city centre and outlying areas.
If you weren’t doing what you’re doing now, what alternative career would you choose and why?
I’d up sticks with the family and rent out sun beds along the Italian Riviera!
