Following a 20 year career in the profession working for a range of different Accountancy Firms, Ian joined CBHC in 2000, as Business Advisory Director and was appointed CEO of CBHC limited in October 2014. This is a challenging role and one that allows him to fully understand and appreciate the needs of business owners.

Ian has a large and diverse client portfolio which spans many industries. However, he enjoys particular expertise in the property and construction sector, supporting clients’ growth and longevity and assisting them to navigate constantly changing economic and business conditions.

Ian’s strengths have developed by helping owner managed businesses grow and become more successful. His determination and support is valued by his clients and he feels strong relationships are the key to working together successfully.

E: ian.harris@cbhc.uk.com | T: 01245 495 588

Peter is a Partner at CBHC responsible for the provision of most of our project work. This ranges from advising on company re-structures; creating company incentive schemes; due diligence work and dealing with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) enquiries and investigations; Peter also heads up the Personal Tax Department.

Peter’s client base consists principally of owner managed businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and business owners.

Peter trained in Public Practice, after achieving his formal qualifications (FCCA), his career evolved to working as a manager in a London accountancy firm before moving to CBHC. Peter is able to draw upon this experience when advising a client on strategic and management issues.

E: peter.sartain@cbhc.uk.com | T: 01245 495 588

Dan has over 25 years’ experience in the accounting industry and 20 years at CBHC. Through hard work, drive and determination he has progressed to be one of four directors. Dan really enjoys setting the direction of the business and his focus is very much on how CBHC achieves its ambitious growth objectives over the coming years.

Since the appointment of a new Head of Business Development in 2024, Dan has taken on additional responsibility for sales and service, overseeing day-to-day activities. Alongside this he has also focused on developing our outsourced services proposition, and this is proving to be popular with SMEs.

Dan has a very supportive approach to ensuring a positive culture in the office, he is a strong believer in an effective work life balance and is also an advocate of well-being in the workplace. Dan has nurtured the team to develop and deliver high levels of service and believes in client first, aligned to a friendly and open approach, building personal, tailored relationships.

Outside of work Dan is keen on his sport, and you will find him on most Saturday mornings at his local golf club. He also enjoys watching football, as well as spending time with his wife and daughter who plays in the local youth team.

Cian had ambitions to be in accountancy from school. Initially working at a smaller, local firm, she always aspired to move to a bigger practice. CBHC was a natural fit for Cian, due to its modern, diverse culture and focus on client care. Cian was immediately impressed with the quality and broad scope of the client base and has been part of the team since 2018. In July of 2024, she joined the leadership team as a director with responsibility for operations.

Cian’s remit includes ensuring client deadlines are met, and she sets very high standards for the quality of work from her team. Cian prides herself on excellence of client communications. She always leads from the front, supporting the team to be cohesive and to ‘get the job done’, wherever possible ahead of client expectations.

She is a great believer in recognising the efforts of her team and whilst they benefit from her experience and technical expertise, they also appreciate the rewards which are part of the CBHC culture. It is of prime importance to Cian that she listens to what our clients want, delivering a tailored, bespoke service. She treats clients as individuals, building a close relationship, and will be there with them through the different challenges they face.

Whilst Cian is focused on the growth of the business over the coming years, she is determined to ensure CBHC retains a positive, caring culture for both staff and clients.

Outside of work Cian enjoys cooking as well as socialising and is a regular in her local gym.

With 30 years + banking experience in client management and business development Chris has built a strong professional contact base. Working with both SME business owners and personal clients, Chris has developed a strong sense of the importance of one-to-one relationships and his success has been built on a foundation of service excellence.

Latterly Chris has worked in business development, further enhancing his network and ability to build effective, strategic partnerships that add real value. Chris has joined CBHC in an exciting role as Head of Business Development, responsible for client growth, fostering new relationships and leveraging the opportunity to further enhance the CBHC brand.

Outside of work Chris can usually be found pounding the streets of Chelmsford. A keen runner, he also takes part in the local park run and has clocked up several sub-20-minute times!

After achieving a 2:1 in Accounting and Finance at University, Sam followed in his father’s footsteps and started his professional career as an Accountant in a local practice in 2017. He then progressed to a larger firm the following year, before joining CBHC in February 2021. This coincided with passing his final exams in March 2021, to become a fully qualified Chartered Accountant.

Sam was attracted to CBHC as they presented him with the challenges that he had been looking for. The responsibility of being a Client Account Manager and supporting SME owners had definite appeal and Sam has continued to flourish in the role ever since. Sam is also Chelmsford born and bred, so working back in the city of his birth was a definite plus!

Sam really enjoys the day-to-day client contact and even though the role has seen continual change, he thrives on providing the right advice, guidance and just being there when his clients need his support. Sam has a strong worth ethic; he will always tackle things head on. Both his clients and colleagues agree that Sam is patient, approachable and professional, very much a ‘people-person’ and a highly valued member of the team.

Outside of the day job, Sam enjoys playing 5-a-side football and if he is not playing, he is usually watching! Sam got engaged to his long-term girlfriend Gemma in April 2024 and is due to be married in the summer of 2026.

Samantha is the Client Payroll Manager at CBHC and has been working here for over four years. However, she has been working in payroll for 13 years.

Outside of work, much of Samantha’s life is spent ferrying her daughter to her dance classes! She also enjoys going to the gym and getting out in the fresh air for walks with her dog.

Penny joined the team in 2021. Her role and responsibilities include ensuring the office runs smoothly, as well as providing support to colleagues. Penny is operational support and ‘the oil in the machine’, reviewing internal finances, cashflow, and client invoices.

A typical day for Penny involves everything from reviewing incoming client emails and responding to queries, as well as responsibility for credit control. Penny thrives on being well organised and takes pride in the accuracy of her work.

Penny is passionate about supporting the team and does a fantastic job organising internal events, including our staff socials events. CBHC has developed a culture of support and reward for its staff, and Penny oversees the staff wellbeing program. She has invited along a diverse and engaging array of local speakers.

Outside of work Penny enjoys playing roller derby – a full contact sport, which, as the name suggests, takes place on roller skates! She currently plays on behalf of Essex at the local ice rink at Riverside. Penny is also into her dancing with Ceroc and Silc her favourites. Penny also loves skiing and paddle boarding although not at the same time!

Jayne joined the CBHC team in 2000, originally as a P.A to one of the directors. She has seen plenty of change in the last 25+ years, mainly due to dynamic working and the evolving nature of the profession.

Day-to-day Jayne oversees the office administration, including on-boarding of new clients and general client liaison, handling in-bound calls and orchestrating queries. She also has responsibility for internal compliance ensuring all training is kept up to date.

Jayne enjoys the variety and broad nature of her role but she loves the client interaction. Due to her long service Jayne has built great rapport with many of CBHC’s clients, and this has added so much value.

Jayne is well organised and ensures the smooth running of the office, her colleagues always appreciate her support and will attest to her helpfulness. Jayne is seen as personable, understanding and empathetic.

Outside of office hours Jayne enjoys line dancing and taking her rescue dog Mitzy, a Yorkshire terrier for walks. She is also a dissectologist – which is a love of puzzles!