Introduction
With over 30 years experience between them, Hazel Wells and Chris Bendall have provided accounting, tax, audit and advisory support to countless businesses, charities and individuals.
We were both previously partners at Swindells & Gentry (S&G), a Sussex-based accountancy firm with offices in Uckfield and Seaford. Our decisions to resign from S&G and to create our own practice were founded on shared values and beliefs, including about how we'd prefer to live and work. Today, we're proud joint partners in Balanced Accounting LLP, the refreshingly different accountancy firm that embodies our shared vision.
Hazel Wells, FCA
Hazel Wells is a Chartered Accountant and registered auditor. After seventeen years with Swindells & Gentry, Hazel resigned from the firm in 2008 to become a co-founding partner of Balanced Accounting LLP.
Hazel qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1998 and became a partner at Swindells & Gentry in 2003. Prior to leaving, she headed the firm's Accounts and Audit department, its largest team, which generated a significant proportion of overall income. Hazel was one of three audit partners at S&G, having been involved in the corporate audit field for the whole of her time with the firm. Prior to becoming a partner, Hazel was manager and personal assistant to one of the firm's senior partners.
Hazel's main areas of expertise include personal tax and personal tax planning, coupled with extensive experience in dealing with both incorporated and unincorporated businesses and providing a proactive approach to business management.
Her past work has included specialist audit and review assignments for members of the Royal Institute of Surveyors (RICS), the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) and the Law Society (Solicitors Accounts Rules audits) - as well as undertaking a large number of service charge audits for property management companies.
Before starting her accountancy training, Hazel graduated from university with a degree in Social and Economic History and Politics.
In 2008, Hazel attained Fellowship status with the Institute Of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, having been an Associate member for over 10 years and met the Institute's stringent requirements regarding Continuing Professional Development.
Chris Bendall, ACA
A Chartered Accountant and registered auditor, Chris Bendall has fifteen years experience in accounting, also gained with Swindells & Gentry - a firm from which he resigned as partner in 2008 to become a co-founding partner of Balanced Accounting LLP.
Chris qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1999, having previously been a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians. In 2005, he became a partner at Swindells & Gentry and head of the firm's Business Services department. As such, Chris was responsible for specialist assignments such as company valuations, VAT enquiries and Corporate Law issues, whilst also supervising his team's provision of bookkeeping, payroll and VAT services to a wide variety of clients.
Chris specialises in the corporate field, including the preparation of statutory accounts, financial statements audits, corporate re-structuring, taxation and company law, along with new business start ups and business consultancy assignments.
Chris also has experience of forensic accounting and specialist assignments and - along with Hazel - was another of S&G's then three audit partners.
Prior to joining the accountancy profession in 1994, Chris read Law, Psychology and Sociology to A-Level.
