Michael Hallybone F.C.A. (Principal)

Michael is one of the founding members of the firm. After qualifying in 1976 he spent some time with a City practice and now heads up the firms Private Client team.

He has extensive experience in advising individual clients on Inheritance Tax, Trust & Estate planning and advising Corporate clients on creating tax efficient business structures for both UK and International operations. Michael likes nothing more than to provide a client with an innovative solution to whatever challenge they may be facing.

Michael’s passions in life (apart from work!) are good food, good wine and holidaying in Suffolk and Italy.

Andrew Mate F.C.A (Principal)

Andy qualified in 1985 and after a short period of training joined Michael creating Platt Rushton. Andy deals with large corporate clients and high net worth private clients, land, property and agricultural issues and the associated complex legal and tax planning work. Andy also has knowledge and experience of dealing with acquisition & mergers work.

Duncan Sheekey F.C.A. (Principal)

Duncan qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1984 and is the remaining founder member of Platt Rushton. He specialises in small and medium sized enterprises on all business, advisory and taxation issues. He is also the firm’s Compliance Partner.

Duncan is actively involved as a Committee Member of South Essex Society of Chartered Accountants and is the Courses Chairman for the Southend on Sea Chartered Accountants Group. He also arranges internal and external training courses for the firm.

Duncan is known for his adventurous holidays with many trips to Arctic and Antarctic regions including setting foot on the North Pole in 2001. He supports a number of charitable trusts relating to Polar Regions and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He is also a keen supporter of The National Trust, English Heritage and RSPB.

Sadly, any spare time he has is spent following Southend United Football Club up and down the country.

Graham Powling A.C.A. (Principal)

Graham joined Platt Rushton in 1995, and trained with the firm, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 2003.  Since this time he has continued to develop his professional skills and manages a large portfolio of personal and corporate clients. Graham has headed up our audit department for many years and deals with complex tax compliance matters.

Graham enjoys music and relaxes by strumming his guitar and pretending he's in the Beatles. Having always dreamed of opening the batting for England, Graham enjoys nothing more than the sound of leather on willow on a summer's afternoon.

Tracy Santry F.C.C.A (Manager)

Tracy, who has been with the practice since its creation, qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 2000 having been qualified as an Accounting Technician for many years prior to that.

Tracy’s specialist areas include Property Management Company accounts and audit, overseas landlord returns and trust and estate returns. She also manages a portfolio of sub-contractors and personal tax return cases.

Tracy is a founder member of the ‘Friends of Nevendon Bushes Local Nature Reserve’ and enjoys spending weekends on the reserve as a volunteer conservationist. She also volunteers in her local community, organising community fun days etc.

Tracy enjoys many crafts and spends many a happy hour crafting.

Matthew Beard (Manager)

Matthew joined Platt Rushton in 1995 and has experience in all aspects of financial accounting and audit. He works mainly with small owner managed businesses including Sole Traders, Partnerships and Limited Companies and coordinates the payroll, bookkeeping and VAT service provided by the practice. He also provides systems and practical support to clients with their day to day accounting problems.

Piers Otton (Manager)

Piers joined the Practice in 1996 and since then has gained experience in all areas of general practice.

As well as Corporate Accounting and Tax Compliance work, Piers specialises in financial forecasting and management reporting. In addition to managing a portfolio of clients, he also has IT experience with both hardware and software issues.

Lisa O'Donoghue (Manager)

Lisa joined Platt Rushton in 2002 and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with the ICAEW in 2007.  She was the top student in the South Essex area in her advanced stage examinations.  She is a member of the students and young member’s sub-committee of the ICAEW in South Essex.

She mostly works with Corporate clients, groups, estate work, specialist tax and overseas clients although has the skills and knowledge to deal with all services provided by Platt Rushton.

Lisa has a major interest in tennis!  She particularly loves Wimbledon but also tries to attend at least one overseas event each year.  She also enjoys an annual ski trip and likes attending music concerts with a vast range of artists.

Jon Strutt (Manager)

Jon qualified as an ACA in 2007 whilst training at a Southend based firm before joining Platt Rushton in 2008.  Jon manages a portfolio of clients and has a broad spectrum of knowledge and experience covering a range of services including accounts, auditing and personal and business taxation.

Jon is the firm’s fitness fanatic and enjoys swimming, running and badminton and of course cycles to the office every day!  To unwind Jon enjoys a stroll in the local countryside.