Meet the team
Meet the team that make BAS Asssociates the business it is today!
Brett Smith
Brett joined BAS in April 2010 is a qualified taxation technician and chartered certified accountant with a degree in Applied Accounting.
Working closely with the majority of BAS clients, and with a unique ability to recall hundreds of tax rules, Brett spends a lot of time supporting clients with their accounting and tax queries.
Find out more about Brett:
Depends if you ask my nice friends or drinking buddies, but if my nice friends were to describe me in 3 words they would be: Knowledgable, Reliable & Direct
If I had to eat one meal for the rest of my life I would have Cheesy Marmite Pasta – my own creation which I love!
When my wife allows me to watch sport, I am a big sports fan and in particular I support Blackburn Rovers, follow England football and cricket and enjoy watching Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Lando Norris compete in F1.
If I could switch jobs with anyone for a day I would pick Max Verstappen – the chance to drive the current fastest car round and round every day would be something great. Or any fighter pilot in the world, assuming the day in question allowed me to fly and fight.
My favourite superhero is Spiderman – whilst not the best superhero (that’s clearly Superman, he’s literally a Super Man), his character mostly resembles mine.
To find out why anyone would willingly support Blackburn Rovers or to talk more about how Brett can help with you Accountancy & Tax compliance get in touch on 01296 681341.
Sian Smith
Sian officially joined BAS in late 2020, however, has always been well connected to the business and the BAS team (not to mention she’s part of the family – literally!). A business consultant for over 12 years, Sian has worked with start-ups, global brands, family-run businesses, one-man bands and everything in-between.
A director at BAS and head of our Business Development department, Sian is our go to for any business advice, tips and knowledge.
Find out more about Sian:
If my friends were to describe me in 3 words, they would say I am motivated, kind and positive.
If you wanted to talk sport with me…I would probably avoid talking sport with me. I enjoy turning off all of the sports my husband is forever watching. I unfollow football, particularly the trials and tribulations of Blackburn Rovers.
My favourite movie has a highly inaccurate storyline, but I love it regardless – I could watch Pearl Harbour on repeat!
If I could add a word to the dictionary, I would add “interfrastic”. During my corporate days meetings were often packed with unnecessary words that were used so infrequently that there were plenty of occasions where I had to do a quick google. So, I used to like to play a game of “make up a word and see if anyone notices”. I ended up using it so often that other people started using my made-up word. Interfrastic means all over the place and approached without logic.
The small things that make my day better are hugs from my children and/or husband. A cup of tea accompanied by a biscuit and maybe a slice of cake too.
To talk about anything other than sports or to talk to Sian about growing your business, call 01296 681341.
Dawn Smith
Dawn began her involvement with small business in 1992 running a small trade printing company. After spotting a gap in the market for local, affordable accountancy services she moved in to the accounting world.
In addition to being a Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA), Dawn is also a specialist in Wills (MSWW) and Probate, licenced by the ICAEW
Find out more about Dawn:
I really enjoy getting a complicated tax problem and solving it for my clients. I find it so rewarding! So, give me your best tax problem and I will get to it!
If I had to have one meal for the rest of my life I would have a medium-well steak ( just not bloody, and without any pepper seasoning!) with mixed vegetables and a jacket potato.
If I could solve one mystery it would be finding out what happens after you pass away – surely it’s not the end?
My dream car would be a convertible 4 series BMW – this time next year and all that!
I really enjoy action movies and the James Bond films are my favourite. When it comes to TV I could watch crime dramas all day every day!
To kick off a discussion about CSI or to talk more about how Dawn can support you and your business get in touch on 01296 681341.
Ellie Bogan
Ellie Joined BAS in September 2018, and has been working in the accounts industry since the dawn of the 21st century!
Ellie is responsible for our entire VAT process. In addition to this Ellie, works closely with a number of clients supporting with everything from accounting queries and management reports to bookkeeping and personal tax…and just about everything else in between!
Find out more about Ellie below:
My role is kept enjoyable with the variety of clients and the diversity of work I am involved in. I love working in a team and the ethos of opportunity at BAS. We are supported and encouraged to think independently and take on new opportunities rather than fit into a generic role.
If my friends were to describe me in three words they would say… ALWAYS. RUNNING. LATE.
The small things that make my day better are coffee, sunshine and smiles.
A mystery I wish I knew the answer to is…who killed JFK?
If I could wake up tomorrow and go anywhere on holiday, I would head straight to Corsica. It looks so beautiful, and being a history graduate, I am a real fan of Napoleon.
If you’re a JFK conspiracy theorist or if you would like to quiz Ellie on all things VAT, Accounts and Tax, please get in touch on 01296 681341.
Jacqueline Smith
Jacqueline (also known as Jacqui) began her career with BAS Associates in October 2008, making her the second longest serving member of the BAS Associates team.
AAT qualified, Jacqui’s main role at BAS is managing our payroll service alongside her responsibilities as a client account manager. Also qualified in Wills, Jacqui helps clients to make plans for the future ensuring wishes are understood and any tax implications are discussed.
Find out more about Jacqui:
If I could solve one mystery I would want to find out where all the odd socks disappear to.
Without any prior preparation I could easily talk for at least 40 minutes about the trials and tribulations of teenage children and Labrador puppies.
I enjoy watching sports; mainly gymnastics, athletics and being married to a Geordie, I have no choice but to follow Newcastle FC.
The small things that make my day better are coffee, surprise texts from a friend, my kids cleaning their room and the dog not rolling in fox poo on a walk.
For me, the best way to start the day is a long dog walk (when my dog hasn’t rolled in fox poo) followed by a hot cup of coffee.
To help Jacqui solve the mystery of “The long lost sock” or to talk about Wills, Accounts, VAT, Payroll (the list goes on) give Jacqui a call on 01296 681341.
Bev Reekes
Prior to accountancy Bev was a company director and held senior management positions in commercial planning within large retail organisations. With over 22 years in accounts preparation, VAT and bookkeeping Bev is a Client Account Manager with fountains of knowledge.
With a very active social calendar and a full-time role at BAS, questions have been raised about the possibility of Bev having a doppelganger stepping in for her, or if she has figured out a way to be a high-functioning person that lives on 2 hours sleep.
Find out more about Bev:
My favourite film has to be Love Actually.
If I could swap jobs with anyone for the day I would swap with Matt Dowie, the CEO of Crisis, the homeless charity. It is something that would take me completely out of my comfort zone.
As a family, we love rugby and cricket. We are big supporters of the Wasps rugby team.
My favourite day out would be to go walking over the Langdales in the Lake District and then finish the day at the Old Dungeon Ghyll pub with a beer and packet of crisps – heaven!
If my friends had to describe me in three works they would describe me as kind, fun and dependable.
My favourite meal, which I could have every day for the rest of my life, would be a Christmas dinner – I love sharing food and conversation round the table with my family.
To report a sighting of Bev’s doppelganger or to speak to Bev about your VAT, Accounting or Tax requirements please call on 01296 681341.
Lauren Avis
Lauren joined the BAS team in September 2021 as a Client Account Manager bringing with her a wealth of knowledge from her previous roles at two very different accounting firms.
When Lauren isn’t crunching numbers and calculating tax you will find her in the swimming pool – Lauren is a keen swimmer having competed at regional level in the past!
Find out more about Lauren here:
If I had to give a 40-minute presentation without having time to prepare, I could easily talk non-stop about shopping.
My favourite movie is The Holiday… Jude Law is my celebrity crush!
The small things that make my day better are my post-it-notes and the sun shining!
If I could go anywhere tomorrow, I would get on the plane to Tenerife. It’s my second home and I have so many memories there.
My favourite meal is Pesto Pasta – it’s also what I am best at cooking.
If I had the opportunity to do another job for the day, I would be a swmming instructor.
To share your best pasta recipes or to discuss how Lauren can help your business with its compliance needs, please call on 01296 681341.
Regardless of the services you select all clients will benefit from:
Free ongoing advice
We want you to succeed
Online portals
Access all historic and current accounts or returns at any time
No surprises
We will never send you a surprise bill for calls, emails or meetings
We keep it simple
We're not a fan of jargon either
Peace of mind
If we say we're going to do it, it will get done
Value for money
We work as efficiently and price as competitively as possible
Everything starts with a conversation,
how can we help?
Brett Smith
Tax & Accountancy
Sian Smith
Business & Development