Meet the Team

Directors

James Hair LLB CA

Managing Director

As Managing Director, I have the day-to-day responsibility of running the business as well as regularly seeing clients. It’s a great balance – it makes getting up in the morning easy!

What do you like best about it?
The complete variety of tasks – I get to meet lots of interesting people and seldom have to do the same thing twice. Our clients are such a great mix of business types, sizes and at different stages of development. Everyone we work with has a different set of ambitions, challenges and requirements, and we get the opportunity to help provide solutions.

What one word sums you up and why?
I’ve always worked hard and played hard! It’s not one word, but it’s a comment many will appreciate!

What was the last thing you Googled?
‘Golf holiday’! That’s what I do a lot of in my spare time.

What’s No.1 on your bucket list?
To get my golf handicap into single figures – I’m heading down, but I still have aspirations for it! Other than that, there are still so many places around the world I’d like to visit.

Qualifications:
Graduated in 1975 with an LLB from Edinburgh University

Qualified as a CA in 1978, training with KPMG (Formerly Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co)
Held a licence to deal in securities from 1985
Passed J12 Securities advice and dealing examination in 2014

David Arthur DIPPFS

Director of Financial Services

I oversee the financial services side of the business, which means helping people to plan their finances so that they get the most out of their money, whether it’s their pension, investments, protection or inheritance.

What do you like best about it?
I love how varied my job is in terms of meeting different people and dealing with different scenarios. It’s also a real privilege to be entrusted to manage our clients’ finances to help them reach their goals.

What one word sums you up and why?
Integrity – if you don’t have it you shouldn’t be doing this job.

What was the last thing you Googled?
‘How to stop slicing a golf ball’!!!

What’s No.1 on your bucket list?
A trip to The Masters golf tournament in Augusta. It looks fantastic on TV and I believe it’s even better in person!

Qualifications:

FPC 1, 2 and 3, Financial Planning Certificate JO4
Pension Funding Options JO5
Pension Income Options J12, Securities Advice and Dealing RO1
Financial Services Regulation and Ethics RO2
Investment Principles and Risk RO5
Financial Protection
CII – Diploma in Financial Planning

Raymond Hutt MAAT FCCA

Director of Accounting and IT Services

I look after the day-to-day processing and preparation of client accounts, as well as meeting clients and discussing their tax position and tax planning. I also look after our team of interns.

What do you like best about it?
The wide variety of work – I’ve been at James Hair & Co since 1989 – albeit with a 4-year break in between – and we’ve always evolved as a company. We have a diverse client base and that throws up completely different scenarios every day.

We’re also bringing in young enthusiastic staff – it’s great to see the same enthusiasm in them that I had, and to have the chance to support them.

What one word sums you up and why?
Adaptable. We come across so many different client scenarios and I like to think we’re all approachable and adaptable to their needs.

What was the last thing you Googled?
Companies House! Usually have the link on my desktop but it’s disappeared – that’s tech for you!

What’s No.1 on your bucket list?
I’d like to go to America. I’ve got two young kids, and they’d love to visit Walt Disney World Florida.

Qualifications:

1993 – Qualified as an Accounting Technician
2000 – Qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant

Paul Robertson MA CA ATT CTA

Director of Tax

I lead the tax team and am responsible for the delivery tax compliance and advisory work for our clients. Our work is broad and covers individuals, partnerships, trusts and limited companies.

What do you like best about it?
I find tax fascinating and how it can apply to individual cases. It is such a maze of laws and cases and so rewarding to help clients navigate their way through.

What word sums you up and why?
Canny. My father’s description of me and seems apt. Working with people and the nature of tax work requires care, consideration and thinking things through.

What was the last thing you Googled?
Ross County latest score. My hometown team. The club has had some journey over the last 25 years and great for the club to be in the top division in Scotland.

What’s your No.1 on your bucket list?
Dance on the Blackpool Tower floor – I am keen ballroom and latin dancer for over 10 years now and it would be a dream come true to quickstep across that floor.

Qualifications:

2001 – MA (Hons) Accountancy and Management Studies, University of Aberdeen
2004 – Qualified as a Chartered Accountant with ICAS (CA)
2006 – Qualified as a member of Association of Tax Technicians (ATT)
2013 – Qualified as a member of Chartered Institute of Tax Advisers (CTA)

Sheena Gibson BA, FCCA

Director of Agriculture and Charities

I started with the firm February 2020 to work alongside Jim Hair on the practice’s agriculture clients. I also work on a portfolio of non-agricultural owner managed businesses, and I am heavily involved with the practice’s charity clients.

I am involved with the client at all stages of the process, from the ongoing bookkeeping, to the preparation of client accounts and consideration of their tax position. I really enjoy meeting clients, to help review and explain their accounts to them, to better understand their goals for the future, and to consider and adapt their future tax planning requirements, based on their eventual goals.

What do you like best about it?
I have two – firstly I love fact that my workload changes on a daily basis, based on the variety of clients I work with and their needs. However, equal with that is the joy of meeting a variety of different people throughout the working week, and having the ability to help clients get where they want to be.

What one word sums you up and why?
Determined. I am determined to give the clients I work with the best service possible, and do whatever I can to make sure this happens. If clients put their trust in me to help them guide their business, there is no way I am going to let them down.

What was the last thing you Googled?
SEISS Grant Scheme Extension. Throughout the Coronavirus Pandemic, I have been responsible for writing the firm’s newsletters, keeping our clients up to date on the range of financial support that is available to their business. It is a never-ending process given how quickly things continue to change at the moment!

What’s No 1 on your bucketlist?
I love travelling with my husband, and until recently my number one was to visit Russia, and in particular Red Square in Moscow. Now this one is in the bag, I have my sights set on walking a section of the Great Wall of China.

Qualifications:

1991- graduated with BA in Accountancy from Abertay University

1999 – Qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant, training initially with Ernst and Young and then latterly with Henderson Loggie.

Associates