Accountants' Success Secrets

This week’s episode welcomes Christos Liondaris, Managing Director of Liondaris and Co., a thriving firm of certified accountants and tax advisers in Cockfosters, North London.
Having started his career from the ground up—first working in family circles, then gaining experience in several practices—Christos made the bold leap to launch his own firm in 2016. Since then, he’s built a specialist client base of property owners, landlords, developers, and creatives, all while growing a team dedicated to proactive, empowering partnerships.
Alongside his accountancy success, Christos juggles multiple ventures—including a specialty coffee shop and letting agency—bringing genuine entrepreneurial flair to practice life. His story is proof that accountants really can wear (and balance) several hats.
In this episode, co-hosts Philippa Haynes and Mark Lee quiz Christos on his unique journey, business milestones, and the realities of running not just one, but multiple ventures. Expect honest lessons and practical advice including:
• How to scale a practice from your friend’s tax returns to 600 clients (without losing your sanity or your sense of humour!)
• The power—and pitfalls—of keeping your fees too cosy for too long
• Why building your circle of mentors (inside and outside accountancy) is the best insurance policy you’ll ever buy
Whether you’re plotting your own leap, wrestling with pricing, or curious about building something bigger than just a practice, Christos’s story will spark ideas (and maybe the urge for a proper cup of coffee).
Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share the podcast with your network!
The Accountants' Success Secrets is sponsored by Pinnacle Global Group, a trusted outsourcing partner with over 100 clients in the UK and Ireland.

To find out more please visit: www.pinnacleoss.co.uk a part of www.pinnacleglobalgroup.com

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Follow the link here for more details and sign up: www.patreon.com/accountantssuccesssecret

This week’s episode features Amrat Thorpe, founder of AKT Accountancy, an independent practice based in Watford.
Amrat’s career spans from qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1998 to holding senior group finance roles in industry, before starting her own practice in 2018. Driven by a passion for working closely with small businesses, Amrat’s journey is packed with lessons on designing a practice around life—not the other way round.
With co-hosts Philippa Haynes and Mark Lee FCA at the helm, you’ll hear how Amrat put people and flexibility first, and what she’s learned in juggling technical, commercial, and human skills to keep her work and personal life in balance.
Here are three headliners you won’t want to miss:
Ditching the “Busy Fool” Trap: Amrat reveals why scaling isn’t always about staff or long hours, and how she set her own measure of success.
The Price is Right: Practical tips on pricing, menu-based services, and how to handle scope creep—all with honesty and clarity for stress-free client relationships.
Nailing the Solo Game: The importance of peer connection, knowing your value, and drawing on professional networks to stay sane and supported as a one-person practice.
If you sometimes wonder how others make practice ownership work for them—or whether you’re allowed to do things differently—this episode is your permission slip.
Tune in, subscribe, and share the Accountant Success Secrets podcast with your accountant friends.
The Accountants' Success Secrets is sponsored by Pinnacle Global Group, a trusted outsourcing partner with over 100 clients in the UK and Ireland.

To find out more please visit: www.pinnacleoss.co.uk a part of www.pinnacleglobalgroup.com

_________________________________________________________________
Interested in becoming a Patreon for exclusive content for just the price of a coffee?  
Follow the link here for more details and sign up: www.patreon.com/accountantssuccesssecret

Adam’s journey is anything but ordinary – after finding inspiration (and the firm’s name) on a trip to Japan, he swapped corporate grind at BDO for launching his own practice just as he became a new dad. Today, he runs a thriving, digital-first accountancy firm serving ambitious start-ups, freelancers, and creatives.
With a strong focus on automation and streamlined systems, Adam shows how embracing technology can transform not only your clients’ experience but your own approach to practice life.
Co-hosts Philippa Haynes and Mark Lee ask the questions every accountant wants answered, including:
Headliners:
How Adam went from zero to replacing his salary in just six months – and the real secrets to winning early clients, even with sleepless nights!
Why “niching” isn’t what you think – and how Enso carved out its own space by focusing on mindset and tech-savviness, rather than industry sector.
The honest truth about common mistakes, including hiring woes, brand “stretch” regrets, and what Adam learned from stretching for more too soon.
If you want insights into streamlining your practice, building a meaningful brand, or simply fancy the comfort of a fellow accountant who isn’t afraid to admit what hasn’t worked, this episode is for you.
Tune in, subscribe, and share with your accountant circle!
The Accountants' Success Secrets is sponsored by Pinnacle Global Group, a trusted outsourcing partner with over 100 clients in the UK and Ireland.

To find out more please visit: www.pinnacleoss.co.uk a part of www.pinnacleglobalgroup.com

_________________________________________________________________
Interested in becoming a Patreon for exclusive content for just the price of a coffee?  
Follow the link here for more details and sign up: www.patreon.com/accountantssuccesssecret

eatures Caroline Hocking, founder of Mona Accountancy Services in Beverley, East Yorkshire.
Caroline’s story is a refreshing twist on the classic accountancy journey—her passion for tax (yes, really!), military family life, and accidental niche-building all come together in a practice purpose-built for flexibility and real life. Recently bagging her third personal tax qualification and working towards ATT and CTA status, she’s as committed to professional growth as she is to her clients.
Co-hosts Philippa Haynes and MARK LEE FCA invite Caroline to open up about the realities and rewards of running a modern, cloud-based solo practice, tailored for maximum mobility around the UK’s ever-moving military landscape.
Here are just a few headliners you’ll want to listen out for:
Pricing Woes & Wins: How Caroline shook off her “£15 an hour” beginnings, learned the hard way about valuing her expertise, and now confidently charges her worth.
Boundaries, Outsourcing, and Letting Go: Why a virtual assistant (and the odd outsourced payroll) turned out to be the not-so-secret ingredients to keeping clients happy—and Caroline sane.
The Scope Creep Trap: How to spot when “just a quick question” is spiralling into unpaid work, and having the confidence to rein it back in or even disengage a client (without the drama).
If you’ve ever wondered how to build a people-first practice, create boundaries, or simply survive the joys and chaos of self-employment—especially as a solo practitioner—Caroline’s honest, no-nonsense perspective will have you nodding along.
Tune in for stories, laughs, and lessons you’ll actually use. And as always, subscribe, leave us a review, and spread the word to your accounting peers
The Accountants' Success Secrets is sponsored by Pinnacle Global Group, a trusted outsourcing partner with over 100 clients in the UK and Ireland.

To find out more please visit: www.pinnacleoss.co.uk a part of www.pinnacleglobalgroup.com

_________________________________________________________________
Interested in becoming a Patreon for exclusive content for just the price of a coffee?  
Follow the link here for more details and sign up: www.patreon.com/accountantssuccesssecret

Welcome to another episode of Accountants' Success Secrets. This week, Philippa Haynes and Mark Lee are back with a special reflections edition. Instead of a guest interview, they dive into lessons and highlights from their two most recent conversations with inspiring accountants.
Listen in as they share what really stood out to them—unexpected approaches to technology, building a standout brand, and the all-important art of finding (and keeping) your ideal clients. You'll hear anecdotes that every accountant, whether just starting or a seasoned partner, can relate to. Expect some laughs, honest advice, and plenty of practical tips you can put to use straight away.
So, kettle on, feet up—let’s reflect on the secrets of success from accountants who are doing things differently.
The Accountants' Success Secrets is sponsored by Pinnacle Global Group, a trusted outsourcing partner with over 100 clients in the UK and Ireland.

To find out more please visit: www.pinnacleoss.co.uk a part of www.pinnacleglobalgroup.com

_________________________________________________________________
Interested in becoming a Patreon for exclusive content for just the price of a coffee?  
Follow the link here for more details and sign up: www.patreon.com/accountantssuccesssecret