Saint & Co has appointed a new Head of Tax to further develop the specialist services it provides to its clients.
Alex Dent has helped expand the tax department at Cumbrian-based Saint & Co since starting with the company in 2015, and she will lead the growth of the department through the new role.
Having been made a partner at the firm last year, Alex continues to progress within the industry and she is excited about overseeing the company’s tax operations following her promotion.
She said: “I’m proud of what I’ve achieved in my career to date and of developing the tax department at Saint & Co along with the recently retired tax partner Pauline Jackson. I’m excited to build on what we’ve already put in place.
“Saint & Co is recognised as a company providing expert tax advice to complement our other financial services, and one of the most satisfying parts of the job is being able to assess a client’s targets and goals and provide a holistic approach to find the solutions perfect for them.
“As a company, we want to develop the excellent level of service we offer to our clients and I’m looking forward to driving the team to achieve these ambitions.”
Alex’s route into accountancy was unusual compared to many as she was offered a job at a Cumbrian company aged 18 on the strength of her A Level results.
While most people working towards their Associated Chartered Accountancy (ACA) qualification are university graduates, Alex was able to fast track her career and study towards the certification straight from school.
Her final exams were brought forward to enable Alex to sit them before giving birth to her first child – in fact, just two weeks before the arrival of her daughter.
To fit in with her home life, Alex moved to another accountancy practice until child number two arrived less than 18 months later.
On return from her second maternity leave, Alex needed something more flexible for her busy home life, and an opportunity arose at Saint & Co nearly 10 years ago.
“I needed something that fitted around childcare and I knew that Saint & Co was a friendly and flexible firm because my family used them as their accountants, so it was the perfect fit for me,” said Alex.
“From the moment I started, I have been given the freedom to develop my career in the ways which would benefit my personal interests, and I’ve been able to structure my career around my family.
“Saint & Co gave me the opportunity to study towards my CTA exams and I qualified as a chartered tax advisor in 2019.
“The company promotes a strong work life balance while always encouraging me to progress my knowledge of tax and accountancy, and I couldn’t have achieved all I have so far without the endless support from the company, my family and my husband.”
Pauline Jackson, who retired at the end of March after 25 years at Saint & Co, worked closely with Alex as a fellow Tax Partner at the firm. She said: “The company’s tax department is in very safe hands as Alex has proved herself to be an extremely competent, dependable and talented tax professional who puts her clients’ interests to the forefront of every decision made.
“I will miss working with Alex but I’m really happy that she has been promoted to the new role which will see her continue to flourish and develop both professionally and personally, and this will be a huge benefit to the ongoing success of Saint & Co’s tax department.”
Alex is based at Saint & Co’s main headquarters on Rosehill Industrial Estate, in Carlisle. The firm also has offices in Ambleside, Cockermouth, Whitehaven, Wigton, Millom and Penrith across Cumbria, as well as three bases in Dumfries & Galloway in Scotland.
