Directors & Staff

Julie Butler FCA

After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1980, I founded Butler & Co Chartered Accountants in 1986 from our farmhouse, and then set up the Alresford office in 1992. I am a director of the Company with a focus on farm and equine tax matters using a lot of my research as the author of Tax Planning for Farm and Land Diversification (now on its 6th edition) when dealing with client matters. I am also the author of Equine Tax Planning including the third edition entitled Butler’s Equine Tax Planning which again helps with solving tax problems for clients. I am privileged to be co-author of Stanley: Taxation of Farmers and Landowners which I have written for a decade jointly with Malcolm Gunn CTA (Fellow) who consults for the Company.

In 2017 I became the editor of Farm Tax Brief. This is published 10 times per year and is available in hardcopy and online via www.farmtaxbrief.com. My articles are published in the national accountancy and tax press and my work has also been quoted and re-produced in many of the broadsheets and financial pages as well as in the online forum TaxationWeb.

I enjoy lecturing to other accountants as well as solicitors on agriculture and equine tax matters and am often asked to speak at the major farming conferences. I really enjoy how all my technical tax research can help clients and the tax team with problem solving in all areas from HMRC tax enquiries on aspects of Tax Returns to full succession planning.

I am also a director of Butler & Co Audit Ltd where I am the ICAEW RI (Responsible Individual) for the audit team. I originally trained in audit and accounts before transferring to farm tax and accounts. I find this role helpful in understanding complex farm accounts and ICAEW regulations aiding the overall review and technical planning required by clients. 

Email: j.butler@butler-co.co.uk

We regularly provide consultancy services to other professionals and direct to private individuals please contact us direct for more information.

Lucy Knighton ACA MAAT

My career started at Butler & Co in 2007 and I am now managing director at the firm, I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ACA) and the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT).

During my time at Butler & Co I have gained extensive experience across all aspects of rural businesses and operations with the focus of my work being within the Farming & Equine Department. I have developed a varied skill set due to my exposure to interesting and complex accounting and tax issues. I regularly assist a variety of rural entities and individuals with their day-to-day accountancy and taxation affairs, as well as assisting in achieving excellent results with HM Revenue & Customs enquiries. I also get involved in work for other accountants and solicitors with their complex farm tax enquiries on aspects which include the interpretation of accounts to achieve optimum income tax reliefs and maximum capital taxes protection. I enjoy being part of a firm that focuses on helping clients and providing a high quality level of service and advice.

I grew up on the family farm in Bramdean with a family who has a passion for horses, which gives me an affinity with my clients and a real understanding of their issues. When not at work I enjoy spending time with my friends and taking part in obstacle course racing and running events.

Email: lucy@butler-co.co.uk

Andy Case FCCA FMAAT

Admitted as a partner in November 2017 and now a director, I joined Butler & Co in December 1999 and I am a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) and a fellow member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (FMAAT). Much of my work at Butler & Co is in the area of OMBs (Owner Managed Businesses) and SMEs (Small and Medium Size Enterprises). I deal with the compliance of limited companies, both statutory accounts and corporation tax, together with the compliance related matters of sole trades and partnerships. I place a strong emphasis on maintaining client relationships and particularly enjoy this aspect of working life – as a direct result of this approach many of my clients have been with me for over fifteen years. I feel privileged to be part of such a well-established and friendly firm and one that always puts client interests first. I live fairly locally to Alresford with my wife and three teenage children. My weekends are usually taken up ferrying my sons to endless football tournaments and training, or my daughter shopping…! But when I do get spare time I like nothing more than to relax and listen to music and read a good book with a nice glass of wine (or something stronger!).

Email: andy@butler-co.co.uk

Fred Butler MSc ATT

I joined the Butler & Co Tax Team in 2012, and have progressed to the role of Tax Director in the Farm & Equine Department. I am a member of the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT), and hold a Master’s Degree from the University of Bristol. I am currently studying for my Certificate in Probate and Estate Administration.

Working in the Farm & Equine department allows me to draw on a rich background of personal experience, having grown up surrounded by horses on the family farm. I continue to ride and remain heavily involved in the equine and farming industries at a personal level. This allows me to bring real life experience to the tax issues faced by my clients, and apply a level of knowledge and understanding that can sometimes be difficult to find in a mainstream accountancy practice.

Although I am by nature a general adviser, I specialise in Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax issues, with an additional focus on probate matters and deceased estates. In addition, I have developed a specialism in structuring equine businesses for maximum tax efficiency, and work as part of a dedicated enquiry team with a focus on Inheritance Tax mitigation.

Email: fred@butler-co.co.uk
We regularly provide consultancy services to other professionals and direct to private individuals please contact us direct for more information.

Angela Evans FCCA CTA TEP

I joined the Butler & Co Private client, Trusts, Estates and Probate team in July 2020 with over 30 years’ experience in the accountancy profession. In addition to my accountancy qualification I am a member of the Chartered Institute of Tax, The Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners as well as holding the Certificate in Probate and Estate Administration.

Concentrating on my specialism of Estates and Trusts, I enjoy helping families understand the tax implications of passing down and inheriting wealth. By looking at the cycle of planning, starting with lifetime gifting and the use of the inheritance tax reliefs available, through to supporting families with Estate administration, Estate taxes and post death planning, and including where required probate services, I can work with them to protect their financial assets for the future and mitigate potential inheritance tax liabilities.

I like to work closely with other professional service providers, in particular solicitors, providing additional complementary services to their trust, estates, and family clients.

Email: angela@butler-co.co.uk

Amelia Crowley ATT

I joined Butler & Co in 2003 and now primarily work as part of the Trusts, Estates and Probate team. I also carry out the role of Practice Manager responsible for the Firms’ administration and compliance of the ICAEW Regulations.

I qualified as a tax advisor in 2021 and I am now a member of the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT).

Much of my Trust, Estate and Probate work involves dealing with administration of Deceased Estates and Trusts, this includes the preparation of the Inheritance Tax Return Forms, the online Probate application and carrying the Administration to bring Estate to conclusion.

In my capacity of Practice Manager, I deal with the firm’s annual and ongoing compliance with the Regulations set down by our professional body, the ICAEW.

Email: amelia@butler-co.co.uk

Russell Nash MA (Hons) ATT

I joined Butler & Co in summer 2011, and I am now Accounts Manager mainly specialising in the Equestrian sector. I am a member of the Association of Tax Technicians (ATT).

I originally trained with a top twenty firm in South London, which introduced me to almost all aspects of accountancy.  Since joining Butler & Co, I have supported sole trade enterprise start-ups, helped Limited Companies further establish themselves in their chosen market sector, and done virtually every task in between!

My specialism is in the Equestrian sector, where my own personal interest in racing and the Olympic sport horse disciples - particularly three-day eventing - together with my practical experience, gives me a unique understanding of this often complicated and highly specialised industry and the distinctive, unique challenges enterprises operating here face.  I also focus on one-off forensic projects such as strategic business and cash flow planning, enterprise valuations and tax enquiry investigations.   

In my spare time, you’ll often find me doing something equine based, with trips to the races, predominantly at my favourites tracks of Fontwell, Sandown Park and Salisbury.  The 4* three day events at Badminton and Burghley also feature highly on my list of favourite events in the year.

Email: russell@butler-co.co.uk

Barry McClure FCCA

I have been working in accountancy since 1990 achieving my ACCA in 1997 and now a FCCA.

Before joining Butler and Co in September 2020 as an Accounts Manager, I had previously worked in both industry and public practice and the experience gained from both sides has helped me when advising clients as well as focus my management accounts experience to ensure clients are well informed. Working with clients, encouraging them to look beyond the short term and to think about the whole story not just present chapter.

I enjoy the bespoke nature of working with Charitable clients and the challenge of helping the trustees to make the best use of the resources available to them.

I like to see the promotion of traditional countryside skills as there is always a niche for these and too many of them have fallen out of favour and are being lost despite many of them being very relevant in our ever changing world. Old television series such as Countryways and Out of Town hold a certain charm.

Out of the office I enjoy being outside, preferably in the garden. I’m also partial to motor sport and a member of Farnborough and District motorsport club.

Email: barry@butler-co.co.uk

Elizabeth Priest ATT

I joined Butler & Co in 2012 and have pursued a career in tax. I qualified as a tax advisor in 2016 and I am now a member of the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT).

Much of my work involves dealing with the day to day tax compliance and management/training of our tax apprentices. I prepare a wide variety of our client’s tax returns and often assist the managers with technical and tax planning matters. Due to my time with the firm I pride myself on having a strong knowledge of our client base, and I like to ensure that I fully understand each client’s position. I enjoy the Tax Return preparation process and see this as more than just the inputting of figures by also looking for ways in which our clients can mitigate their tax liabilities and what we can do to help them.

When I am not working you will find me riding my mountain bike out on the trails or seeing live music in the local pubs with friends.

Email: elizabeth@butler-co.co.uk