The firm was formed by Bill Ellis and Andy Chapman in January 2001 and has since grown from strength to strength. Bill and Andy have substantial experience working with the higher education sector and their ever-growing number of clients find this hands-on experience invaluable.
Bill and Andy lead a team of dedicated VAT consultants all with particular experience in these specialist areas.
Bill Ellis
Bill Ellis worked for HM Customs & Excise as a VAT Senior Officer for 17 years and then went on to become a VAT consultant in the private sector, first for Trafalgar House plc before joining a 'big-four' firm.
There, as Senior Manager, Bill specialised in the higher education sector, advising many university clients and gaining an important knowledge of the VAT issues affecting the sector and formulating appropriate solutions.
Bill has significant expertise in devising partial exemption special methods for the HE sector within the new Framework and in particular by making use of TRAC data. He has also worked closely with university clients in implementing new accounting packages and in respect of capital projects.
Andy Chapman
Andy Chapman is the former in-house VAT Manager for the University of Sheffield, which he joined after leaving HM Customs & Excise. Andy had worked for HM Customs & Excise for nearly 20 years before working at the University of Sheffield for a further 5 years.
Whilst working there, Andy gained an excellent working knowledge of the interaction of VAT within the University and in particular, the various VAT liabilities of the many different types of income and expenditure. Andy also has a comprehensive knowledge of university financial systems and the reporting of income and expenditure through HESA returns and annual financial statements.
Andy also has expertise in determining the zero-rated non business areas of qualifying buildings utilising the HMRC concession to the full.
Rhona Graham
Rhona Graham has specialised in VAT since 1986 when she joined HM Customs and Excise shortly after graduating from Aberdeen University. In 1990 she joined one of the 'big-four' accountancy firms and has remained in practice ever since.
Following the successful completion of her thesis in 1996, Rhona became a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. The subject of her thesis was the impact of VAT on UK universities and she has extensive experience in advising on the VAT affairs of higher and further education institutions.
Since 2001, Rhona has become increasingly involved in working with clients in the social housing sector. She has advised a significant number of bodies in the sector including traditional Registered Social Landlords (RSLs), stock transfer associations and Arm's Length Management Organisations (ALMOs).
In addition to education and housing, Rhona's clients also span a range of other business sectors. She has frequently been successful in obtaining significant VAT savings for her clients.
Andy Burrell
Andy Burrell worked for HM Customs & Excise for 12 years, latterly as a VAT Senior Officer controlling a wide range of large businesses and managing both VAT Enquiries and Appeals & Reconsiderations Teams.
He joined one of the 'big-four' accountancy firms where he achieved the Chartered Tax Advisor qualification and became a VAT Manager specialising in helping businesses in the education and property sectors. Since joining Ellis Chapman & Associates in 2003, Andy has assisted our university, student union and property clients in many VAT planning and compliance issues, including fuel and power reliefs, partial exemption and capital projects.
Linda Manson
Linda Manson joined Ellis Chapman & Associates in 2004 having worked for 7 years in the private sector as a VAT consultant dealing with a wide rage of clients, specialising in the not-for-profit sector and in particular student unions.
Prior to this, Linda was employed by HM Customs & Excise for 21 years and as a Senior 0fficer in Liverpool, was responsible for the control of businesses in the education sector including universities, colleges and student unions.
F: 01565 652 850
E: admin@ellischapman.co.uk
Caledonian House, Tatton Street,
Knutsford, Cheshire,
WA16 6AG