Meet the team

David Thomas

David Thomas ACA FCCA Director (Harrogate / Pateley Bridge)

David is the director at our Harrogate office overseeing a client portfolio that includes corporate work, sole traders, partnerships, management accounts and taxation services.

Agriculture is an area that David has a keen interest in, his large farming client portfolio reflects this. You can often see him at agricultural shows throughout the year.

David has seen a significant increase in his client base over recent years and has dedicated a great deal of his time to ensuring all his clients receive sound individual expert advice. His personable manner swiftly puts clients at ease.

In his spare time, David enjoys walking and watching various sports and often attends live sporting events. He is kept busy at home by his teenage daughters taking them to horse riding lessons and performing arts classes.

Contact David at dt@barkerpartnership.co.uk

Stuart Strike

Stuart Strike ATT Director (Pateley Bridge)

Stuart started work with the business in 1989 and progressed through to being appointed as a Director of The Barker Partnership at the Pateley Bridge office in 2012. 

Stuart’s client base includes sole traders, partnerships, and corporate businesses in a wide-ranging variety of industries.

Stuart ensures that each client receives an exceptional personable service that uncovers the most practical and tax efficient solutions.

In his spare time, Stuart enjoys playing fair weather golf and is a member of Knaresborough Golf Club.

Contact Stuart at sas@barkerpartnership.co.uk

Stephen Kay

Stephen Kay ACA Partner (Ripon)

Stephen joined the firm in 1998 as a trainee and has lived in Ripon all his life. His local knowledge and connections enable him to help his growing portfolio of clients across all areas of accounting, tax, VAT and payroll.

He specialises in property and small business tax and helps his clients to minimise tax payable by prudent and pro-active tax planning. As the father of a young family he is conscious of the need to offer cost effective and relevant tax advice. Stephen also provides cloud based accounting systems advice and has experience of the various products available.

Stephen’s clients comment that he is always willing to go the extra mile to help them with out of office hour’s meetings or tight deadline work.

As a member of the ICAEW, Stephen is required to keep up to date with current legislation to aid his clients with the ever increasing burden of regulation from HMRC.

Contact Stephen at stephen.kay@barkerpartnership.co.uk

Fiona Wilkinson

Fiona Wilkinson FCCA Partner (Ripon & Leyburn)

Fiona joined The Barker Partnership to manage the Leyburn office in 2010. Her client portfolio includes corporate, partnerships and sole traders covering many different trades. Her specialism, however, is within the agricultural sector and being married to a farmer helps her understand the challenges faced by this industry. Fiona enjoys promoting and attending the agricultural shows we support throughout the year.

Fiona now splits her time between our Ripon and Leyburn offices. She can also be found in Masham Town Hall on a Wednesday afternoon operating a drop-in clinic where clients both new and existing can pop in without the need for an appointment.

Recently Fiona has been investigating cloud accounting solutions in light of the up and coming ‘Making Tax Digital’ regime HMRC have announced. She, along with her fellow partners, will ensure that all our clients are ready for this major change in reporting to the tax office.

Contact Fiona at fiona.wilkinson@barkerpartnership.co.uk

Sarah-Lawson

Sarah Lawson ACA FCCA CTA Director (Pateley Bridge)

Sarah joined the Barker Partnership Thirsk office in 2001 and moved to our Pateley Bridge office in 2010.

After progressing through AAT, Sarah qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 2011, and as a Chartered Tax Advisor in 2014.

Sarah was appointed as a Director of The Barker Partnership in 2021.

Sarah continues to grow her client portfolio and her clients range from personal tax returns, through to sole traders, partnerships, and corporate businesses. Sarah is also responsible for most of our independent examination files.

Sarah has a great relationship with her clients. She is kind mannered, approachable, and always willing to assist.

In her spare time, Sarah is a member of a band playing the keyboards and contributing the odd backing vocals. She is also a keen artist and enjoys travelling, although she is terrified of flying!

Contact Sarah at sl@barkerpartnership.co.uk

Barrie Cross

Barrie Cross ACA Partner (Thirsk)

Barrie trained at a small firm in West Yorkshire, qualifying in 1998. He then moved to London to work for a Top 100 firm where, during a twenty year career he rose to Business Director level, before the desire to move back to Yorkshire with his family became too strong.

Barrie joined The Barker Partnership in 2019 as audit manager whilst also looking after a portfolio of mainly corporate clients.

Barrie works closely with the firms larger clients and prides himself on giving practical, commercial advice to all businesses.

Contact Barrie at barrie.cross@barkerpartnership.co.uk

Key members of staff

David Warner

David Warner FMAAT ATT(Fellow) CTA TEP Associate (Thirsk)

David joined the Barker Partnership Thirsk Office in 1987 and obtained his AAT qualification in 1992, the Association of Taxation Technicians qualification in 1993 becoming a fellow in 2011. On passing the Chartered Institute of Taxation examinations in 2012 David became a Chartered Tax Advisor and manages the taxation department for our Thirsk office. 2020 saw David became a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners after successfully passing their examinations.

David assists the partners of all offices in respect of a variety of tax matters, and with his wealth of experience gained in general practice deals with a wide range of clients and provides a personal and professional service.

Contact David at djw@barkerpartnership.co.uk

Jen-Bradley

Jen Bradley FCCA Client Manager (Pateley Bridge)

Jen has been with the firm since 2008 when she joined the Pateley Bridge office.

After progressing through AAT, Jen qualified as a Chartered Certified Accountant in 2016.

As a client manager, Jen deals with sole traders and partnerships, across all sectors, for both the Pateley Bridge and Harrogate offices.

Agriculture is a keen area of interest for Jen, she manages many of our clients in this sector as she has a wealth of knowledge for all things farming.

You can often see her at agricultural shows throughout the year as well as at local auction marts, often selling her own livestock as she runs a smallholding with her husband.

Jen is also kept busy in her free time with her three children and cocker spaniel Penny, as well as being the office baker!

Contact Jen at jb@barkerpartnership.co.uk

Jill-Harker

Jill Harker Client Manager (Pateley Bridge)

Jill has been with the firm since 1988 and is one of our longest standing members of staff.

Jill has lived in Pateley Bridge for the last 30 plus years and so has a vast knowledge of the local area, people, businesses and community.

She is the face of our Pateley Bridge office, welcoming clients into reception and dealing with their requests.

As a client manager Jill works with a range of clients across different sectors, mainly looking after our long standing individuals and family partnerships.

Jill organises the Barker Partnership stand at the Annual Nidderdale Agricultural show. As a local, many clients look forward to Jill’s kind welcome at the show and pop in for a catch up and a pork pie.

In her free time, Jill is the treasurer of a trail biking club and often spends her weekends in a muddy field, observing and keeping time. If not in a field she is usually in the garden with friends and family having a glass of wine.

Contact Jill at jh@barkerpartnership.co.uk

Giles Kerridge

Giles Kerridge Client Manager (Thirsk)

Giles started his career in accountancy in 1983 with a North Yorkshire firm of accountants, initially in Ripon and then moving to Boroughbridge and finally Harrogate.  During this time he progressed to a senior level with his own porfolio of clients.

He joined The Barker Partnership at the Thirsk office in 2015 primarily working on corporate clients and charities, as well as looking after his own small portfolio of clients.

As well as having years of general practice experience in a range of accountancy, taxation and VAT matters, Giles has a broad knowledge of a range of bookkeeping programs.

Contact Giles at giles.kerridge@barkerpartnership.co.uk

Beth Stockdale

Beth Stockdale ACCA Client Manager (Pateley Bridge)

Beth has been with the firm since 2015 and is based at our Pateley Bridge office.

Beth trained with the Barker Partnership and qualified as a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in 2020.

As a client manager, Beth deals with a wide range of businesses across both the Pateley Bridge and Harrogate offices.

As a farmer’s daughter she has naturally progressed to managing some of our agricultural clients. She has an excellent understanding of Farmplan, and other accounting software, so has been an integral part in assisting our clients to become MTD compliant.

Outside of the office, Beth enjoys being outdoors, whether it be walking, riding her horse, or helping out on the family farm come rain or shine.

Contact Beth at bs@barkerpartnership.co.uk

Kyle Fox

Kyle Fox AAT Client Manager (Pateley Bridge)

Kyle has been with the firm since 2016 and is based at our Pateley Bridge office.

Kyle trained with the Barker Partnership and qualified as a member of the ACCA in 2024.

Kyle has a key focus on the corporate side of our client portfolio ensuring timely submissions to companies house as well as assisting clients with their bookkeeping and MTD for VAT needs.

Because of this Kyle has developed a wealth of knowledge of the different accounting softwares such as Xero, Quickbooks and Sage to name a few.

Kyle is friendly and approachable. Outside of work you can find him on the football pitch as one of Ripon City football clubs first team (wearing number 8).

Contact Kyle at kf@barkerpartnership.co.uk

Laura Jarvis

Laura Jarvis Payroll Manager (Ripon)

Laura has been with the firm since 2007 and completed her training in 2010. 

Initially starting with the firm as a trainee, she has worked towards over seeing the firms entire payroll bureau and working with clients from small sole traders to multinational sized companies.

Her friendly and conscientious attitude enable her to give the best service possible to our clients, ensuring timely processing of the wages along with all the associated HMRC and pension reporting requirements.

Laura is also able to assist with pension auto enrolment, furlough claims, SMP, SSP, payroll payslip portals and CIS returns and is happy to answer your payroll queries.

Contact Laura at laura.jarvis@barkerpartnership.co.uk

Jane Marshall

Jane Marshall VAT Manager (Ripon & Leyburn)

Jane joined the Barker Partnership in 1994 and is based at our Ripon office leading the VAT department.

She is a qualified advisor for sage accounting and knowledgeable with a variety of other online accounting packages to enable clients to comply with Making Tax Digital requirements.

Jane is happiest out and about visiting clients, whether that is providing bookkeeping services or training.

In her free time, Jane is a family person who enjoys walks in the countryside and catching up with friends.

Contact Jane at jane.marshall@barkerpartnership.co.uk

Heather Cuthbert

Heather Cuthbert Payroll Supervisor (Harrogate)

Heather joined the firm in November 2019 and has become an integral part of the business running the payroll department at our Harrogate office. Heather is conscientious when performing her duties and works closely with the directors on payroll matters.

Heather likes to go to concerts in her spare time and has an avid collection of various collectable coins.

Contact Heather at payroll.pb@barkerpartnership.co.uk

Tom Newton

Tom Newton ACCA (Thirsk)

Tom joined The Barker Partnership as a part qualified accountant in 2019 after completing a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics at Newcastle University and beginning his training at a firm in Teesside, where he grew up and currently lives. He continued his training here to become qualified as a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in 2021.

Tom primarily prepares financial accounts for limited companies, partnerships and sole traders but has recently been working on charity accounts and preparing tax returns with the aspiration to become knowledgeable in all aspects of accounting.

Outside of work Tom plays 7-a-side football with friends and regularly attends Middlesbrough FC matches due to being a proud owner of a season ticket.

Contact Tom at tom.newton@barkerpartnership.co.uk