About Us
Dedicated to delivering a first class client service
 Our Practice is well established acquiring the original Carmarthen Office in 1976. Our portfolio of clients has increased significantly in almost 30 years from predominately farming and retail clients to the wide spectrum of trade and professions currently serviced.
We rebranded following a demerger in 2004 clearly identifying that our client’s needs were best serviced by a local, personal and professional team of Accountants.
At Clay Shaw Butler we continue to build on our enviable reputation for providing excellent advice and first class service to our business and personal clients alike. We have many clients in the local community and service businesses, small and large, across many sectors including:
- Agriculture
- The Professions
- The Service Sector
- The Construction Industry
- Manufacturers
- Retailers
As well as general accountancy, audit and tax skills, our qualified and experienced staff have individual specialist skills which enable us to provide clients with a first class service as and when required. With our wealth of experience we pride ourselves on delivering an unparalleled service to all clients, what ever their size or sector.
In addition to traditional auditing, accounting and tax services we also provide advice on how to improve and develop your business. Whether you need an integrated business strategy, access to corporate finance or specialist tax advice we are here to help you achieve your goals.
We have a team of 21 professional staff who are encouraged at every opportunity to develop their full potential. We have received recognition of this in achieving the Investors in People Award in 2005.
Our staff are fully conversant with most accounting software packages and in particular we are full Sage Business Partners and have specialists who can assist all clients in providing support and with training needs.
Our team is made up of Qualified Chartered Accountants, Chartered Certified Accountants, Chartered Tax Advisors, experienced senior staff, Accounting Technicians, Trainee Accountants and a priceless administrative support team.
David Butler BSc. (Hons) FCA
David Butler is the leading Principal of the firm and has 25 years experience in general practice and tax. David attended Aston University in Birmingham achieving an Honours Degree in Administrative Science in 1978. He later undertook Articles with Singer & Partners and moved to Carmarthen in 1981 when he qualified as a Chartered Accountant becoming a Fellow Chartered Accountant in 1991.
He believes strongly in providing a personal service to clients of the Practice and more importantly the need for progress thus engaging qualified staff, experienced focussed staff, Chartered and Chartered Certified students. He deals with a variety of clients providing full accountancy, taxation and wealth planning services with his team at Clay Shaw Butler.
Ann Thomas ACA FCCA FMAAT
Ann is our leading Consultant and has been with the firm since November 2001. She qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant in June 2003 and then also as a Chartered Accountant in 2008.
She has gained experience in many different fields over the years, in particular accounts and audit, Sage and business development. Five years were spent with a large accountancy firm in the South of England and the remainder of her career has been with proactive and dynamic practices in West Wales. Whilst her role includes running the Accounting Team, she has also managed I.T. software projects and co-ordinates and offers Sage training and sales. She has an active role in compliance work and audit and helps clients with their Business Plan and Grant Application needs, amongst other roles.
Caroline Gibbons MATT, CTA
Caroline joined the Practice in 1996 from an equestrian background qualifying as A.I. being a competent horse woman in many disciplines. She immediately joined our Tax Department and very quickly gained the qualification of a Tax Technician. Despite the pressures of dealing with Tax Returns for a large portfolio of clients and looking after her horses, she remained focused to qualify as a Chartered Taxation Advisor in January 2005. Caroline manages online tax compliance filing and tax planning with her team.
Sarah Wynne MAAT, ACA
Sarah joined us in October 2001 and was our first student to fast track within two years from an Accounts Technician to passing her final examinations of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
She continues to develop an increasing client portfolio as a Client Relationship Accountant. She has a variety of skills which include preparing business plans, cash flows and with a team of staff, provides a full accountancy and consultancy service to clients. Sarah has an all round knowledge of SME business, Information Technology, VAT and Sage software and relishes a challenge.
Mark Jones BSc (Econ), ACA
Mark attended Cardiff University obtaining a degree in Accounting and Management in 2003. He joined the firm in July 2003 before moving to Cardiff as a Chartered Accountant trainee to finish his training contract and duly qualify with a Cardiff firm. He rejoined Clay Shaw Butler in October 2008 after returning to his roots in West Wales.
He primarily focuses on the preparation and audit of small and medium sized company accounts as well as being involved in various specialist assignments, such as charity accounts and Regulated Sector Client Money compliance work.
As well as undertaking various auditing assignments within the firm Mark also acts as a Client Relationship Accountant for several of our corporate clients, as well as Charities and Insurance Brokers.
Amanda Russell ACCA
Amanda joined the firm as an Accounts Trainee initially in 1998, commencing her training for the ACCA qualification. She qualified in 2005 and then gained her Association of Taxation Technician exams later that year.
Alongside her studies she gained experience in all aspects of the practice from VAT and payroll tasks to accounts preparation and various audit assignments within industry and specialist clients such as charities and insurance brokers. In early 2007 she moved to a larger firm in Swansea to expand her specialist audit experience, managing a portfolio of clients within various sectors to include industry, research, charitable and not for profit organisations and Housing Associations. As part of these additional skills, she developed her knowledge of grant audits and in depth assistance to charitable organisations.
Having taken a few months sabbatical to volunteer with charities in South Africa, she has now returned to Clay Shaw Butler as Relationship Accountant and is developing a good relationship with clients.
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