Jonathan Coyle Senior Manager

What attracted you to accountancy?

Accountancy was never at the front of my mind throughout school and university. Moving back to North Wales after graduation I found myself working at a small youth charity. Despite having no formal training and only my degree in mathematics, I was responsible for getting the books in order! This was no simple feat and it really opened my eyes to the complex needs and requirements charities face.

Why appealed to you about Sayer Vincent?

One of the key texts that supported me in this role was ‘A Practical Guide to Charity Accounting’ written by Kate Sayer. This was my first exposure to Sayer Vincent and the start of my journey with the firm. That autumn I saw an advert for trainee accountants with Sayer Vincent. I joined in January 2007 and quickly developed from a trainee accountant through to my current role as senior audit manager.

What do you enjoy about the charity sector?

Sharing my knowledge to support and enhance the work my clients do. I am also continually learning, picking up excellent practice from clients that I can share with others.

Audit is often seen as a scary thing; my experience has shown it is really useful and can often pay for itself. I get great joy in sharing findings which lead to increased income or simplified and more efficient processes.

Tell us something people may not know

I spent three years running my local toddler group as I went there every Monday with my son. It was a great way to meet new parents as well as get to use my accountancy skills to ensure we had enough funds!

What do you get up to outside of work?

I love to travel; some of my trips have taken me to Australia, China, and Peru. More recently, with my young son, I have been to India and California. Cooking is another passion, and something I find brilliant for unwinding after work, but it must be vegan.