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Having worked for a number of years in practice, and with one of the profession’s regulatory and support institutes, Des co-founded OmniPro to develop tools, techniques, products and services that make accountancy more profitable and rewarding.

Des is passionate about bringing innovation to the accountancy profession and enabling accountants to achieve what they want from their careers and business. His core belief is that when empowered to achieve their best, accountants can deliver transformative results for clients.

He holds qualifications from the ACCA Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, CPA Institute of Certified Public Accountants and ACIS Association of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.

Lara Manton is the founder of LJM Bookkeeping Ltd and ACE-XL, with over a decade of experience transforming financial operations for service-based businesses. Her innovative approach has earned prestigious recognition including Xero's Innovative Partner of the Year 2023, ICB's Small Practice of the Year 2021, and Xero's Small Practice of the Year 2024 - making her the first UK bookkeeper to achieve this honour. Named among the Top 50 Women in Accounting (2023 & 2024), Lara has received multiple Accounting Excellence nominations, including Highly Commended for Bookkeeping Team of the Year 2023 and Digital Transformation of the Year 2024. Alongside sitting on the ICB’s main advisory council, she chairs their Tech Advisory Council and collaborates with software providers on product development. Having grown her practice to six-figure turnover, Lara specialises in comprehensive finance functions and strategic software implementation, helping businesses scale through optimized financial systems and cutting-edge technology solutions.

After initially working in a range of bookkeeping and accounting roles, Lucy took up a role in a team administering the £17 billion pension fund of one of the Top 3 UK banks. Later moving on to a project working with an international partner to scope a new pensions administration system. This work drew on expertise in:

• Workflow Management
• Process mapping
• Systems design
• Test design and implementation
• Interpretation of scheme rules and legislation

After a career break, Lucy went into practice as a bookkeeper, growing and developing a successful bookkeeping practice that she then sold. Whilst in practice as a bookkeeper, Lucy developed and implemented policy and processes to ensure that the business was compliant with all legislative requirements, including Anti Money Laundering legislation.

Having successfully sold the business, Lucy worked for one of the supervisory bodies supporting members to meet their legislative obligations and satisfy professional standards. In this role Lucy provided training, worked to raise awareness, and provided advice to a wide variety of members – alongside overseeing the mandatory penalty regime and developing an independent appeals process.

Claire Bartlett is the founder and director of Arden Bookkeeping, voted the Best Bookkeeping firm in the UK at the 2022 Accounting Excellence Awards and winning client transformation award in the 2023 awards. Claire uses a clear and straight forward method to ensure that people in business have the knowledge and understanding to forge a clear path to success. A multi-award winner in her industry, her specialty is helping business owners create stable foundations for a triumphant future.

Claire is passionate in her support for the bookkeeping industry, working tirelessly to highlight the vital part it plays in supporting the UK economy. Alongside running Arden Bookkeeping Claire is an Amazon No.1 bestselling author, regularly appears as guest speaker at business webinars and seminars and is a devoted wife and mother.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/claire-bartlett-MICB

Sam is the founder of SJCM Accountancy, a modern accountancy firm focused on Balancing Technology with Humanity.

Sam is an AAT Licensed Accountant with 20 years' experience and is passionate about helping small business owners embrace technology, understand their numbers, and make informed decisions.

Sam is a passionate advocate for the accountancy profession who regularly speaks at conferences as well as hosting webinars, sharing practical insights and real-world experience with fellow accountants.

Alexandra Durrant is a chartered accountant and trainer. Until very recently she ran a practice in East Grinstead, providing audit, tax and accounting services to clients including payroll services and payroll/NIC advice. She is now focusing her time on training and consultancy through Aspiring Training Limited.

Alexandra has been involved in training since 1993 and regularly lectures to accounting practices and for training organisations. Her lectures cover payroll, national insurance and related employment issues as well as on benefits and expenses and forms P11D