Meet The Team

Joanne Simpson Payroll Administrator

Joanne is a highly proficient financial administrator who has considerable experience in dealing with payroll, bookkeeping, purchase and sales ledgers, cash, banking and reconciliations.

A real self starter, Joanne started working in the accounts area straight from school and by the age of 19 was managing an office of 5 staff.  She worked on a part time basis when her first son was born in 1990.

Joanne enjoys working with figures and, for the past 10 years, she has worked from her home office running the accounts and payroll for a company with six  retail outlets across Scotland.  Having joined FBD in 2019 she has come to realise how much she enjoys playing with FBD’s bookkeeping and accounts spreadsheets.

Joanne enjoys socialising, spending time with family, and foreign holidays.

David Asher Systems Manager

David joins FBD following thirty years’ experience in accounting roles of increasing responsibility and seniority reaching the position of Area Financial Controller with a US Public Listed Oil service company. Twelve of those latter years were spend working overseas, mainly in Europe and Africa. David has experience of running large complex operating divisions, providing Senior Management with Financial information , Cost Control initiatives and SOX Audits ( Sarbanes-Oxley) Controls.

During his career, he has implemented Peoplesoft & SAP into numerous overseas operations. David, a qualified member of A.C.C.A., is our systems man and is a great asset!

David enjoys working with FBD because “you are trusted and valued to bring your whole self to work”. He sees that respect is shown across all levels and he believes that “it is a good work environment to prosper and to be challenged”.

David, holds a Non-Executive Director position with Apex-Scotland & provides Board Support to Capall Dorcha Theatre Company in North Ayrshire.

David now resides in Glasgow with his daughter and they continue to enjoy foreign travel to wonderfully exotic and weird destinations.

Leanne Melia Accountant

Leanne joined FBD in September 2019

Having left practice in 2017, she realised how much she loved the type of work we do in practice and the opportunity to help small business owners improve their businesses, and so she’s back more focused and determined than ever!

Her experience extends to accounts production, income and corporation tax computations and returns, management accounts, VAT returns and payroll for a wide variety of clients. She is comfortable with all types of computerised accounting packages. Her other skills include organising, planning and reporting at all levels.

Leanne is a real team player, an excellent communicator and has a keen eye for detail. We are all excited to watch Leanne grow, prosper and add great value to our Clients and to the FBD Team.

Leanne enjoys time with her young family and a has a love for horses on whom she has competed for many years.

Paula Harkus ACMAAccountant

Paula joined FBD in October 2017 having relocated from Wales where she worked in various management and group accountant roles for large UK and multi-national companies.

Paula is C.I.M.A qualified and offers over 25 years of experience working with people and accounts.

All of our Team members possess positive characteristic traits and Paula is no different. Her strength of character, focus and strong analytical skills make her another great asset to FBD.

Paula comes from a sporting background, and now enjoys spending time with family, travelling and going to the cinema.

Angela Stott FCCAAccountant

Angela joined FBD in March 2019.  She qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 2012.

Having spent 9 years specialising in small business accounts and personal tax, she took a break from practice and entered into the world of industry for a couple of years.  Missing the variety of practice was the driver for her return to practice and joining the FBD family.

Although personal tax was her specialism, she has significant experience in the preparation of year end accounts for various types and sizes of business as well as the preparation of VAT returns and management accounts.  She has strong skills in other areas of taxation such as capital gains tax, land & buildings transactions tax, stamp duty etc.

Angela has great attention to detail and takes great pride in her work.

Angela enjoys spending time with her son, which usually involves Lego building.

Belinda Beretta CA (SA) Accountant

Belinda is a fully qualified Chartered Accountant with the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). She has 15 years of experience across a wide range of industries, including small and medium sized entities and financial institutions. She is close to completing her ICAS Tax Practioner qualifications to ensure that her UK tax knowledge is sharp and up to date. She joined the FBD Team in a full-time capacity in December 2018.

Belinda is a property investor herself and is passionate about helping people understand the accounting and tax side of business better.

Before joining the team, Belinda was involved in Financial Services, but left to pursue her dreams of making a difference in small businesses and having more time to spend with her husband and building her own property portfolio.

In her spare time she enjoys reading, walking and travelling.

Anne N Wright CPFA Director of Finance & Training

With a strong eye for detail and a focus like no other, Anne is a tremendous asset to the management team.

Anne has earned her place on the Board through her work as Director of Finance in a Further Education College, Head of Systems Development in a Local Authority & Assistant Chief Internal Auditor for Greater Glasgow Health Board.

Anne is an avid reader and keen cook.

Brian K Wright CA, ACMA Managing Director

Brian founded FBD in 2003.

His vision has always been to make a real difference to people in business.

He is Managing Director & Director of Business Development.

Brian has previously worked hard for others in the roles of Small Business Advisor, Director of Finance & Corporate Services, Company Secretary and Chief Executive.

Over the years, Brian has helped a number of people turn their businesses and their lives around, for the better, through advising and mentoring them in the areas of finance, tax, leverage, human relations and ‘right thinking’.

Brian enjoys racquet sports and reading, especially autobiographies, books on success, people, philosophy and winning in business.