Practice Conference

Welcome and Introduction

 Gavin Leake, Mercia Group

This session examines how UK public practice firms are operating in an environment of sustained regulatory, commercial and technological change. It explores the increasing role of professional judgement, the impact of technology and capacity constraints and the leadership decisions that shape audit quality, culture and sustainability. The session challenges firms to move from reactive coping to intentionally and strategically aligned approaches to growth, people management, and long-term resilience, while maintaining public trust. 

John Toon, HLB

Refreshment Break

Jez Filley, Blick Rothenberg

Jenny Faulkner, Mercia Group

In today’s competitive international landscape, scaling your practice is crucial for sustained success across diverse markets. Rapid expansion can strain your processes, personnel, and systems, increasing risks if not managed effectively.

This session will examine potential quality issues that may arise during business growth and discuss essential strategies for maintaining control:

• Strategic vision and leadership 
• Talent and culture 
• Technology and innovation 
• Client service and brand 
• Regulatory compliance 
• Emerging trends 

Lunch Break

Richard Lane and Andrew Runicles, Affinia

Operating with an overseas audit team. How to build an effective and operational function overseas that supports and complements a mid-tier UK audit firm. Covering all key aspects, including culture, training and client delivery.

Refreshment Break

Kerry Round FCG, Round Governance Services Limited

This session equips accountants with the practical governance insight they need to confidently support private company clients, especially those new to director roles. It demystifies the company secretarial landscape, clarifies where accountants add the most value and provides clear, actionable guidance that strengthens client relationships and reduces compliance risk.

What we cover: 

• The essentials: What ‘good’ looks like in private‑company governance and why it matters commercially, not just legally. 
• Directors new to the role: How to guide first‑time directors through their core duties, decision‑making expectations, and Companies House requirements. 
• The accountant’s role: Where accountants naturally fit into the CoSec ecosystem - and where boundaries should be set. 
• Key processes and pitfalls: Annual compliance, statutory registers, resolutions, and filings. 
• Practical tools: Templates, checklists, and conversation prompts to help accountants deliver clear, confident guidance. 
• Real‑world scenarios: How to handle messy governance situations, late filings, shareholder tensions and ‘I didn’t know I had to do that’ moments.

CPD Hours: 6

Gavin is Mercia’s Audit, Accounting and Assurance lecturer, as well as performing file reviews and compliance reviews. Gavin spent 25 years with Deloitte (New Zealand, Croatia and Saudi Arabia) as an audit partner specialising in Banking and financial institutions, Telcos, Manufacturing and Retail. 

He was the Executive Advisor to the CEO of one of the larger Banks in Saudi Arabia. Gavin’s areas of expertise are Practice Management, Financial Reporting, Auditing (Internal and External), Corporate Governance and Strategic Planning and Execution. 

John Toon, HLB

Jez is Head of Audit, Accounting and UK outsourcing for Blick Rothenberg. 

He has spent his career working with fast-growing businesses, primarily in the tech and manufacturing sectors, providing assurance, accounting and governance advice to owners and stakeholders. He has held a number of leadership and board roles and has recently joined Blick Rothenberg to help continue their journey to become the advisor of choice to mid-market businesses in London. 

Jenny is Head of Mercia’s A&A and Compliance division and oversees our file review service, technical queries, manuals and all our A&A training. Jenny is passionate about quality and ensures all our A&A and Compliance products and services are technically sound and fit for purpose. Jenny has worked for Mercia for over 15 years and has held many positions within the A&A team, including Head of Manuals, Team Lead File Reviews and lecturer.

Jenny sits on the ICAEW ISA Panel, which closely tracks and provides input to IAASB developments and its work programme. It focuses on the development of new and proposed revisions to auditing and assurance standards and contributes to the development of ICAEW policy on relevant audit and assurance matters. To stay practical at Mercia, Jenny performs file reviews and occasionally lectures.

Richard has worked within the audit departments of two London-based top-50 firms. Drawing on his experience in this environment, he has helped companies of all sizes succeed and grow. 

Richard joined Affinia in 2011 and currently oversees the Audit and Accounts Department in the Stratford office. He is a Chartered Accountant with a wide range of audit, accounts, and tax knowledge, allowing him to work closely with businesses. Richard specialises in SME owner-managed and start-up businesses and audits across all industry sectors, particularly hospitality and fintech. 

Richard also specialises in providing financial services to new start-up companies, including understanding share structures and utilising EIS/SEIS and R&D to assist with their growth. 

Andrew Runicles joined Affinia in Autumn 2023 as an Associate Director in the Audit team in the Chelmsford office. In March 2025, Andrew was promoted to Director. 

Having qualified and trained with KPMG, Andrew has spent the last 10 years of his career working and advising businesses across the UK and internationally in an audit capacity, ranging from small OMBs to large PE-backed and listed groups, specialising in FRS 102 and IFRS. 

As part of Andrew’s current role, he is also a member of the firm’s Audit Board, contributing to the firm's monitoring of the quality of statutory audits undertaken and will lead audit engagements whilst working closely with the relevant teams throughout. 

Founding Director of Round Governance Services Limited, Director of the Chartered Governance Institute UK and Ireland. 

Kerry is a public practitioner, Chartered Secretary and Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute, and the Founding Director of Round Governance Services Limited. Known for a hands‑on, approachable style, she supports listed, large private, and small private companies — as well as charities and sports bodies - with governance that goes far beyond box‑ticking. Her work focuses on practical, outcome‑driven improvements that strengthen organisational effectiveness and build confidence at the board level. 

She serves on the Board of the Chartered Governance Institute and is an Associate Director on the MSc Governance programme at the University of Lincoln, where she helps shape the next generation of governance professionals.