Partner
Partner
Joined the Darnells Team: 1996
Partner
Partner
Joined the Darnells Team: 1995
Lisa’s Qualifications: AAT when she started, ACCA qualified, ICAEW
Experience: Lisa joined in the Summer of 1995 as an Accounts Clerk in what was the Torquay office, at the time she had one year’s practice experience. Prior to this she did an advance management programme within the banking industry but decided this wasn’t right for her and moved back from Birmingham to pursue a career in practice. Lisa was made a Partner in 2008.Lisa began her role as a accounts clerk and also support the payroll function, eventually Lisa was heading up payroll and training people, Payroll then became a fully separated function in the firm. This is often why Lisa is referred to as the Payroll Partner. Lisa also continued to develop her accounting skills and knowledge, working across all offices, support clients and attending client visits. At this time she was working as a Accounts Manager. Lisa then became PA to David Smith, who was Partner at the time before progressing to Partner herself in October 2008.
Hobbies: Family orientated, outdoor activities, paddleboarding, bikes, skiing.
Partner
Partner
Joined the Darnells Team: 2007
Sean’s Qualifications: FCA, Degree in Business and Finance
Hobbies: Into sport, use to be a treasurer of a rugby club, soccer
Sean enjoys to travel, his favourite countries he has visited are Canada, California and Western Australia.
Partner
Partner
Joined the Darnells Team: 2010
Louisa’s Qualifications: FCA, CTA
Experience: Louisa started her career in accountancy as an apprentice when she was 18 years old from this she qualified as a chartered accountant and then went on to qualify at CTA at 25 years old. In 2016 Louisa qualified in Probate.
Louisa joined Darnells as Paul Beard’s PA and later in 2017 became a partner.
Louisa is also a member of the Newton Abbot Rotary
Hobbies: Louisa enjoys walking her dogs Harley and Cooper, they are two very playful sprocker spaniels. She has a love for animals and loves going to Pennywell farm to visit the pigs. Louisa is a keen online gamer.
Partner
Partner
Jason’s Qualifications: ACCA, Degree in Applied Accounting
Experience: Jason has over 15 years experience in practice and is qualified to administer non-contentious probate. He works with owner-managed businesses and personal tax clients.
Jason became a Partner in 2023.
Hobbies: Spending time with family and a keen runner.
Partner
Partner
Joined the Darnells Team: 2008
Mark’s Qualifications: FCCA
Experience: With 23 years of experience in accountancy, Mark is used to dealing with a wide-ranging portfolio supporting a wide selection of businesses and industry types.
Mark became a Partner in 2025.
Hobbies: Supporting Torquay United, taking part in amateur dramatics performances and spending time with friends and family.
PA to Partner
PA to Partner
Joined the Darnells Team: 2000
Marie’s Qualifications: FCCA, ACCA
Experience: 27 years as an accountant
Variety of clients and industries from farming to the music industry.
Hobbies: walking biking, spending time with family.
Audit Manager
Audit Manager
Joined the Darnells Team: 1999
Phil’s Qualifications: ICAEW Chartered Accountant & ACCA qualified, ACCA Audit Qualification
Experience: Phil joined the accountancy profession in 1983 at a firm of Chartered Accountants in Kingston upon Thames. He has extensive knowledge in Accountancy & Corporate Tax and has undertaken a range of complex management roles.
Hobbies: Playing Bridge, Bell ringing, hiking, scrambling & low grade rock climbing.
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined the Darnells Team: 2010
Amanda’s Qualifications: ACCA, Accounting & Finance BA Hons Degree
Experience: Amanda speciailising in assisting and supporting sole traders, partnerships and limited companies. She also works with individuals on personal tax affairs and is experienced in company and academy audits.
Hobbies: Going on long dog walks, paddle boarding and spending time with family and friends.
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined the Darnells Team: 1986
Experience: Cathy has over 40 years of experience in the accountancy profession and specialises in partnership accounts and tax guidance for the medical profession.
Hobbies: Coastal walking, listening to music, enthusiastic gardening and spending time with her grandchildren.
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Michelle’s Qualifications: MAAT
Experience: I’ve worked in the Healthcare Department at Darnells for over 16 years.
Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with my family, walking and playing skittles.
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined the Darnells Team: 2023
Experience: Verity has been working in the accountancy profession since 2000 and joined Darnells as a senior manager in April 2023. Experienced with assisting business owners with their accounts and tax affairs covering everything from small sole traders and partnerships up to limited company’s with multi-million pound turnovers in a range of industry sectors.
Verity’s Qualifications: FCA
Hobbies: Enjoys spending time with family and friends. Going away in the caravan for long weekends and exploring the local sites.
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined the Darnells Team: 2007
Experience: Originally the office junior in our Totnes branch, Richard transferred to Newton Abbot in 2014 and has built a broad portfolio of clients. He currently works directly for Phil Raisey looking after clients with accounts that span a few hundred pounds to those with multi-million pound turnovers and range in sectors from hospitality and construction to wholesale and manufacture. He is also part of the team at Darnells who are responsible for in-house practice management systems.
Hobbies: A huge Torquay United fan and part-time player for Dartmouth AFC, Richard is also an Excel enthusiast and purveyor of poor jokes.
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined the Darnells Team: 2010
Sharon’s Qualifications: AAT
Experience: Sharon has been working in accountancy practice for nearly 20 years and has vast experience working with a varied range of clients from sole traders to limited companies.
Hobbies: Sharon is a self-confessed book-worm and is also an experienced YouTube channel manager.
Junior Manager
Junior Manager
Experience: 10 years of experience in accountancy and began an apprenticeship with Darnells straight from school.
Hobbies: Outside work, you will usually find me with a good book, planning my next trip or fussing over my cat.
Junior Manager
Junior Manager
Chelsea’s Qualifications: MAAT Qualified, Training towards ACCA
Experience: 8 Years’ experience working on range on businesses including Limited companies, partnerships, sole traders and personal tax returns.
Hobbies: Travel, swimming, Disney-obsessed.
HR Director
HR Director
Davinia’s Qualifications: Degree in Human Resources Management Human Resources, Business Partner Diploma Associate Member of CIPD
Experience: Davinia has 20 years of experience in operational and strategic HR roles working in a variety of HR roles within the Military, IT, Construction, Estate Agency and Business Consultancy.
Hobbies: House renovation and interior design, cocktail drinking, learning Spanish and spending time with family and friends.
HR Advisor
HR Advisor
Kayley’s Qualifications: Associate Diploma in People Management, Associate Member of CIPD
Experience: Kayley has over 10 years of administration and HR experience working in a variety of sectors including community support, therapy and counselling, dentistry and now accountancy.
Hobbies: Reading, going for a walk and ending up on a mystery tour and spending time with family and friends.
Practice Finance Manager
Practice Finance Manager
Experience: Over 29 years of experience across finance, administration and business operations, working with both family-owned businesses and larger commercial organisations in sectors including accountancy, automotive, insurance, customer service, building services, and fire and security maintenance.
Hobbies: Music, playing guitar, collecting physical media and retro/vintage items. Lifelong football fan, who also enjoys visiting National Trust properties and researching family history.
