Our Team

Each member of our team helps to grow a portfolio of clients with a personal touch, creating a strong relationship our clients enjoy. With flexible hours and home working our colleagues find the best solution to manage their time working closely to business owners.

HLWA Partners

Steve Herbert

Partner

As a career choice from a very young age, accountancy has been at the forefront of my education and working life. Coming from a background of managing corporate clients, I have broad experience in accountancy and tax; from company to personal tax, sole traders to large companies, start-ups to IHT. Outside of work, my wife, three children and dog keep me very active. I support Bristol Bears Rugby from growing up in the South West and was once a keen player. Never too far away from my laptop which my wife has dubbed my fourth child.

Michael Lewis

Partner

On turning 18 I started my career in hospitality by working behind the bar in my local pub. A year on I became the youngest Steward of any Conservative Club in the country and held the position for 10 years before becoming a Client Manager for a licenced trade accountant. I quickly gained a name within the hospitality industry of helping businesses from an initial business plan through finding the best way to steer a business. In enjoy spending time with my wife, three children and family dog, Bailey keeping me fit and healthy. We travel abroad to Karate competitions wherever they may take us.

Marcus Williams

Partner

Having a background as a publican, Stocktaker, Client Manager, Management Accountant for hospitality, I have over 30 years of experience in the licenced trade and 20 years looking after Management Accounts. Previously running several successful businesses including hotels and bars with over 100 employees combined, I have gained a reputation within my industry as a down to earth business advisor. I have successfully assisted hundreds of businesses from a young age through to maturity and beyond, as well as enjoying a drink or two on the right side of the bar. From my twin teenagers’ social life to enjoying holidays with the whole family I am always making good use of spare time. As an England and Bristol Rugby member I am always looking to catch games when available.

HLWA Team

Suzanne Westlake, Office Manager

Starting off in administration within an accountancy firm, I soon learned my skillset was suited to office management. I oversee the core staff, preparing management accounts from bookkeeping through to VAT, MGD returns and alike with a working knowledge of various different systems, businesses and clients. My husband and I are frequent travellers with New York being our favourite destination, occasionally visiting a tattoo parlour on route to admire their handiwork. I am very social and thoroughly enjoy a busy office environment full of banter.

Ashleigh Walker, Management Accountant

Starting my career in accountancy with internal bookkeeping it has progressed through to management accounts and overseeing staff work through to completion. Over the years I have worked on stand-alone desktop programmes to highly automated cloud systems receiving great feedback regarding my personal approach to client’s businesses. I have recently started a young family with my partner, juggling work and nappies whilst not ruining my manicure.

David Tucker, Senior Accountant

Being fully qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant, I have undertaken more technical work in the firm and building a portfolio of clients. Coming from a background in private industry, I joined the practice to further my career and gain experience. With a young family the amount of spare time has dwindled. When I can I enjoy socialising, football, tennis & cricket.

Maria Lewis, Payroll & Administration

Having joined HLW in August 2019, I manage the internal systems and compliance from onboarding procedures to periodic reviews. I also head the Payroll Department which was challenging through the Covid-19 pandemic but we successfully navigated clients with the furlough scheme and more. In my spare time I have regular training sessions to ensure I can keep up with my three children and their many extracurricular activities. I am never afraid to speak my mind to clients to keep them on the straight and narrow.

Helen Western, Accounts Assistant

I have been working in practice for over 30 years gaining a wealth of knowledge. Specialising in owner managed business for small enterprises, I enjoy building relationships with proprietors and assisting with their finances. My partner’s background is in leisure and tourism, which is where our interests mostly lie. Together we have travelled the world mostly ‘off the beaten track’ to experience different cultures and places of natural beauty.

Paola Potente, Accounts Assistant

I started my career in accountancy when I joined HLW in 2019 as an Accounts Assistant. I have gained experience in general bookkeeping duties, MGD and VAT. I am always looking to further my knowledge in accountancy and enjoy speaking with clients whom I have built a good rapport. Outside of work my husband and daughter keep me very busy but when I have a spare minute, I like to play the odd game of tennis and go to our local pub. Unfortunately, these activities do not go down too well together.

Mike Lloyd, Client Manager

I have been involved in hospitality for over 42 years starting as an assistant manager to operating 23 public houses. I then changed route to assisting publicans as a client manager using my wealth of experience to help them run their businesses from stocktaking, financial control to more practical guidance. As a Brighton & Hove fan I regularly attend their matches with a pint or two. Now that my daughters have flown the nest, I have more time to work out how to charge my electric car!

Ross Brazel, Client Manager

After running several successful businesses and being a Stocktaker/Publican and overseeing management accounts for other business owner has given me a wealth of experience in consultancy work. My wife and children generally keeps me extremely busy, where we enjoy family time and not to forget the two dogs

Thomas Ryan, Trainee Accountant

Having completed AAT and gained hands on experience with HLW, I am looking after a couple dozen accounts from bookkeeping through to management accounts. Big sports fan especially football - Bristol Rovers (Gas Head). I play football for Lodway FC and watch Lodway in the cricket, often ending in a tipple or two.

Vitali Gabets, Management Accountant

Running my own manufacturing business, I was responsible for bookkeeping, accounting, cost accounting, VAT returns, corporate tax returns and PAYE. After finishing a project, I decided to fully concentrate on accounting. I have completed the AAT Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Accounting course achieving a distinction. I like an early morning walk with my dog and travelling to see family.

Madison Dalton, Trainee Accounts Assistant

Starting my career in accountancy in July 2021, I joined the team at HLW as a Trainee Accounts Assistant. I have gained a wealth of experience from Bookkeeping to Management Accounts whilst in practice and at college. I am currently studying for my AAT Level 3 which I hope to complete by September. My hobbies consist of going to watch rugby with family as an avid Welsh supporter. Home and abroad, I have an active social life with friends.

Mike Walentek – Management Accountant

I have been in practice for around 14 years, producing full bookkeeping and management account for SME alike. I’m a keen follower of Nottingham Forest and when I get a chance, sport will always be on the background, TV, or online streaming. As most people, like eating out with friend and family and the odd tipple along the way!

Taya – Trainee Accountants

I am a recent Forensic Accounting graduate and a part-qualified CIMA member. I have gained over 2 years of invaluable practical experience in the finance and research-related sectors while working for one of the busiest and largest NHS Trusts. Working in the private sector allowed me to obtain Microsoft Power BI knowledge which helped me to understand database fundamentals and taught me quickly transform data into reporting and analytics solutions. Currently working towards my CIMA qualification to qualify as a chartered accountant. Outside of work my fiancé and I enjoy going on a hike, listen to vinyl on rainy gloomy days and go for adventurous trips with our friends all around the world.

Valentyna – Management Accountant

Having worked in practice for 12 years at the same company, it was strange to move to HLW but the whole team have made me feel welcome. In my previous role I was responsible for many businesses and would complete all bookkeeping, VAT returns and Management Accounts monthly, being the first point of contact in most cases. I moved to the UK from Ukraine in 2005 and have lived in Bristol since, regularly enjoying a trip to the theatre or a live concert, followed by fish and chips, which is my idea of a great night out. In my spare time I enjoy reading and when time permits my husband and I do like to travel, countries in Africa being our favourite place.

Chrissie – Accounts Assistant

I have many years’ experience working within the hospitality industry predominantly in bar management based in the UK and Greece. I enjoy travelling and the occasional festival with my partner and friends. Most of my spare time is taken up looking after my Horse, Monty.