What We Do
AGJ’s first priority is to ease the time burden on you, whether that’s taking control of your payroll, bookkeeping or managing the whole financial process. We’ll look at the technology you’re using and introduce you to software that will help free up your time enabling you to redirect your energy back to your clients, on creating new business or simply freeing you up to spend more time with family and friends.
We want to get to know your goals and help you achieve them by removing obstacles in your way. Whether you need to source funding, hire more staff, need bigger premises, get a mortgage or more equipment, we can provide you with the advice you need so that you can get there quickly, sustainably and with confidence.
Meet the Team
Alan Jones
Director
After working for two top 15 global accountancy practices, a large independent practice and an insolvency practice, Alan founded AGJ Accountants in 2016. Alan has over 16 years’ experience as a chartered certified accountant (ACCA), is Xero certified, has experience in a range of sectors and is Treasurer of Business Beats Cancer Cymru.
He’s passionate about helping clients succeed, whilst also helping free up their time to achieve a better work/life balance.
Alan loves spending time with his family. On weekends, Alan can be found pitch side supporting his two young boys at football or watching almost any kind of sport. He enjoys live music, comedy gigs, hiking, date nights with his wife and a glass or two of pale ale or red wine.
Sandra Crawford
Payroll Manager
Sandra is our Payroll Guru. If payroll and pensions are giving you a headache, then you need Sandra. With over 40 years’ experience in payroll and HR and having worked for a variety of businesses, she’ll ensure that the payroll goes out on time and that you are fully compliant.
Sandra loves nothing more than going to live concerts and is a huge Jeremy Clarkson Fan (yes, really……she loves that he just says it as it is).
When she’s at home, Sandra enjoys a cocktail made by her husband (who is affectionately known as The Cocktail King) and a plate of the smelliest cheese she can find.
Caroline Betsworth
Client Manager & Bookkeeper
Caroline has over 25 years’ experience in both accountancy practice and industry, is AAT qualified, Xero certified and has significant experience of Sage software.
Her spare time revolves around her family and two little grandchildren. When she has time to herself, she likes nothing more than spending time with her partner and friends, over some good food and drink.
The Rugby Six Nations Championship is always a tense time in her household due to split allegiances, whilst summer weekends away usually involve Air Shows with her partner, a self confessed aviation Geek!
Louisa Jones
Business Development Manager
With a background in sales, marketing, recruitment and events both in the UK and internationally, Louisa has the right mix of skills to help expand our client offering and develop the business.
In her free time, Louisa loves to take in a show, go hiking with friends and explore different cultures and is never happier than when she’s jetting off somewhere with her family. She’s currently learning Spanish as she always likes to try conversing with the locals whilst away, much to her kids’ embarrassment!
Hazel Marshall
Client Manager & Bookkeeper
Hazel was born and raised in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and moved to the UK at the age of 18.
She has a background in both UK Accountancy practice and in industry, is a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Bookkeeping (ICB) and is Quickbooks certified.
Hazel met her husband whilst working in London and moved to northern Italy for three years. Upon returning, Hazel became a self-employed bookkeeper which she did for over 25 years before joining the AGJ team.
She is now settled in Wales where she enjoys walking, archery, music and knitting in her spare time. She has a grandson who is the apple of her eye and is finally glad to have a willing recipient of her knitted jumpers!
Testimonials
Alan has been our accountant for over a decade and has been fundamental in our growth as a company. AGJ are friendly and always available to offer up much needed advice but more importantly they care! I’ve recommended them to countless businesses and will continue to do so for the foreseeable.
Toby Cameron, Director, On-Par Productions Ltd
Alan has supported our business since its incorporation in 2012 and was instrumental in providing the sound advice needed such that we created a platform for our business to grow. He represents our business at FD level and directly interfaces financial institutions on our behalf to enable us to concentrate on the things that we do operationally.
Over the years, Alan has recommended various efficiencies to our bookkeeping and payroll processes, implementing cloud-based software solutions which provide us with up-to-date information at the touch of a button. Cost analysis also identified market sectors which we should leave thus focussing on more profitable sectors.
Alan helped us navigate through the pandemic without needing to furlough or stop operations by identifying fixed overhead reductions whilst maintaining headcount and capacity, as well as ensuring a smooth transition following the introduction of the VAT domestic reverse charge and its adverse effect to cash flow.
He is always on hand to provide advice regarding critical strategic business decisions including cost monitoring, asset investment, funding, taxation and R&D. I have no doubt that without Alans’s expertise in producing complex forecasts and cashflows for us in a difficult sector there is no way we would have been successful in securing £1m+ working capital loans which have enabled us to grow our business. These loans propelled us to becoming the fastest growing manufacturing and engineering firm in Wales in 2016.
Richard Selby, Director, Pro Steel Engineering Ltd
Alan and the team at AGJ Accountants helped us out when things started to expand at Nata Media Ltd. As with all side-hustles, The Socially Distant Sports Bar podcast started small but grew very big very quickly. Whether it’s rationalizing our different income streams, organizing our tax returns or working through the VAT complexities involved in a modern global business, AGJ have made life a lot easier, so that we can concentrate on making the products as good as the audience expects.
Steff Garrero, Director, Nata Media Ltd
We have been with AGJ Accountants since 2018, in which time they have overseen our business grow from 2 to 6 employees. Their services initially included year end accounts and corporation tax returns, payroll, VAT return reviews/filing, company secretarial and directors personal tax returns, and more recently they have taken over the bookkeeping and quarterly management accounts. Having one point of contact for all our accounting services has been particularly valuable, and we also know that we can expand the service requirement with them as our requirements evolve and become more complex.
AGJ have been really helpful in overseeing the growth of our business to date. They have gotten to know us well and have developed an understanding of how our business and the wider industry works, particularly with regards to our fee structures, how we contract our services and how we relate to other sectors. They have therefore been able to advise us specifically on further opportunities for us to ensure we are placing Hiraeth Architecture on the best possible footing going forwards. On the unusual occasions where they are unable to provide a specialist service, they are quick to signpost and connect us with those who can, such as Research & Development (R&D) tax relief claims. I therefore have no reservations about recommending AGJ Accountants to my customers.
Michael Plageman, Director, Hiraeth Architecture Ltd
Alan was recommended to me by a mutual friend when I was setting up my own business. This was a stressful time for me as I had never done anything like it before but from the first meeting I was put at ease and felt he took the time to really explain things to me so I could understand them. Four years on and Alan is still swift to respond to any issue/queries I may have whilst still experiencing the same level of professionalism and understanding I received from day one. Although Alan is very busy, he always makes you feel like you are his only client which I find invaluable. Highly recommend!
Rob Kingdom, Director, ADT Chiropractic Ltd
AGJ Accountants have given me peace of mind over the years of running my business. Support is always at the end of the phone, and I know my accounts are in good hands. I highly recommend their services and have done so to my own clients on a number of occasions.
Richard Chitty, Director, Ctrl Alt Design Ltd
We are a small creative production company who has been working with AGJ Accountants since 2020. Since working with them, the whole management of our business accounts has become much quicker and simpler. They are really friendly, approachable and knowledgeable and happy to assist you no matter how big or small the task. Whether it is working through the complexities of reclaiming children’s tax credit or a small query on how to run a report in Xero, they will respond to your request in a timely manner and work with you to get it right. We enjoy working with AGJ and would thoroughly recommend them to other businesses like us.
Nia Ceidiog, Cynhyrchiadau Ceidiog Creations CYF
AGJ was recommended to me by a close friend back in 2019. Since then, they’ve looked after both my personal and business accounts with total professionalism. Not only that but they’re such a friendly bunch and always happy to talk through everything. I can’t rate them highly enough. Diolch AGJ!
Nerys Parry, The Cwfl Shop Ltd
“We have been clients of AGJ’s for a few years now. Alan is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Being able to contact him directly has always been a great help and nothing is too much trouble. He has introduced some excellent practices into our business, making us more productive, which has been brilliant for us. I could not recommend Alan and his team enough. They are superb!”
Mark Taylor, Director, One 2 One Mortgage Solutions Ltd