Tannyth's LinkedIn profile

My route into accountancy was far from traditional. I began studying for a BCom through distance learning in South Africa while living in London. I discovered ACCA and was drawn to its global recognition and breadth of opportunities - ultimately shaping the direction of my career.

I started out in industry before joining Moore Stephens, which later merged with BDO.

When I began in practice, qualifying felt like a major milestone. Like many at that stage, I questioned whether to return to industry. What kept me there was the variety: exposure to different clients and industries, continuous learning, and the opportunity to develop my career. Every day brings something new, and I genuinely enjoy helping clients succeed.

Over time, I developed a specialism in the real estate sector, working with large institutional investors and complex structures. The technical complexity and ever changing legislation keep me on my toes.

I’m also the People Partner for the London Business Services and Outsourcing team. Supporting the next generation of accountants is one of the most rewarding aspects of my role. Having started as an ACCA trainee myself, I take real pride in mentoring students and supporting them through their exams and early career.

Watching individuals grow in confidence and capability — especially when they initially doubt themselves — is incredibly rewarding. 

Becoming a partner at BDO was a defining moment. It represented not only personal achievement, but also the opportunity to help shape the firm, support our people and contribute more broadly to the profession.

For the past seven years, my focus has been on outsourced accounting within the real estate sector. I work closely with property funds, REITs and institutional investors — many of whom lack a UK finance function or have outgrown their internal teams. We act as an extension of their finance function, delivering everything from core accounting and reporting to complex technical and strategic support.

More recently, I’ve taken on the role of National Head of Outsourcing at BDO. I oversee outsourced accounting services across all sectors, supporting organisations from start ups and scale ups to large multinational groups. Many of my clients are large institutional real estate investors, operating across multiple jurisdictions with limited UK finance presence, which is where our outsourcing model becomes particularly valuable.

A major part of the role is understanding how outsourcing is evolving, how technology is reshaping finance functions, and ensuring our services meet clients’ changing needs.

The sector has faced significant challenges in recent years. Rising interest rates have put pressure on financing structures and cash flows, in some cases created potential REIT breaches requiring careful management. At the same time, transactions are becoming increasingly complex, driving demand for strong technical expertise and thoughtful structuring.

Finance functions are undergoing a major shift. ACCA’s concept of the “Finance Function of the Future” is becoming reality, with teams moving away from backward looking reporting, towards forward looking insight and strategic decision making.

Technology is central to this transition. Automation and digital tools enable more efficient delivery of compliance and reporting, freeing up time for analysis, forecasting and commercial insight. More broadly, AI and data analytics are transforming how finance teams operate.

I see this as enabling rather than threatening, freeing accountants to focus on higher-value activities such as interpretation, strategic advice and decision support.

Those who embrace these tools will be best positioned to demonstrate their value as trusted advisers, moving beyond traditional compliance to become genuine strategic partners.

Client expectations have also evolved - they increasingly want advisers who understand their business, anticipate challenges and operate as a genuine extension of their team. 

What keeps the job exciting is the constant variety and the pace of change. The profession continues to evolve meaning there is always something new to learn.