Management Team
As a Practice we see our staff as the major asset of the business. We have therefore taken time to recruit staff members who have the right attitude and personality to deliver a courteous and professional service to our clients, enabling them to develop a trusting, approachable and valued relationship.
Most clients' first point of contact with the Practice will generally be through the Partners, Iain and Gill.
Iain Sim B.Acc CA – Principal
Iain founded the Firm in 2002. He trained and qualified as a CA with Arthur Anderson, Glasgow in audit, tax and business services before moving into industry as a Finance Director with several companies.
Iain has a wide range of expertise, technical knowledge and a wealth of experience in all areas of business, not just financial. He enjoys using his experience to benefit clients and is committed to providing strong client support with excellent communication between the Firm and its clients.
Iain believes a pro-active approach from all staff is essential to build trust and long lasting relationships with clients. This is the foundation upon which the Firm has been based and which has enabled it to enjoy rapid growth, particularly in the specialist niche areas of business planning and corporate finance services.
He is married to Yana with one daughter, Natalie, and enjoys football, circuit training and going to the gym as well as socialising with friends.
Iain Sim started in the accountancy profession with Arthur Andersen & Co in Glasgow and spent four years with this international firm mainly providing business services and taxation advice, having previously spent some time in audit.
He left the accountancy profession to go into industry and gain real experience of business "at the sharp end", acquiring practical and valuable business experience by learning at the "coal face". Much of his time in industry and commerce was eventually spent in the motor industry as finance director of several large motor businesses, where he gained valuable experience from each as they required close financial control, attention to detail and tight cashflow management.
In 1998 he re-entered the accountancy profession with a view to utilising the skills and experience gained for the benefit of clients, and then opened our Kilmarnock office in 2002.
Email: iainsim@idsca.co.uk
Gill Groom FCA – Associate
Gill qualified as a Chartered accountant with Ernst & Young in the world of large firm auditing in 1982 and then moved to a mid tier 20 partner firm in Merseyside where she became a general practice Partner. She took a career break after having her daughter and moved to Ayrshire in 1990. She lectured to ACCA students at Ayr College and worked in a number of Ayrshire firms before joining the Practice in 2004 and becoming a Partner in 2007.
Gill is now a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, Treasurer and Deputy Chairperson of the Ayrshire Young Enterprise Board and a loan panel member for PSYBT in Ayrshire. She is married with one daughter.
Gill has extensive experience in working with and providing support to owner managed small to medium sized businesses, in the areas of accounting, audit and tax as well as in SME Corporate Finance. This encompasses advising on raising funding for new and established businesses, in terms of loans, grants and equity and also advising on acquisitions, disposals and Management Buy outs of companies.
She has worked with clients as diverse as pop groups, the entertainment and leisure industry, manufacturing and service businesses as well as those in the renewable energy and healthcare sectors.
Gill has also contributed greatly to the development of the firm and her wealth of experience is invaluable for clients and staff alike.
Email: gillgroom@idsca.co.uk
We are supported by our team of Client Managers.
