Clear Start Accountants Expands its Team

At Clear Start Accountants we are celebrating the resounding success of our recent company-wide conference, where we recognised and rewarded the achievements of our hardworking team. Held exclusively at the Everyman Manchester St John’s Theatre, colleagues from across the business joined together for an uplifting afternoon of celebration and camaraderie, with indulgent cinema-style refreshments included. Team leaders and managers from each department took to the stage to present a strategic overview of key milestones and successes throughout 2023, while also acknowledging the hard work of team members. Engaging presentations delivered throughout the event included an insight into overall company performance and future goals, business accountancy, personal budgeting services, AFA Insolvency, and sales and marketing. Fiaz Ashraf, Founder and CEO of Clear Start Accountants spoke about the conference and said: “We are exceptionally proud of our diligent and dedicated team here at Clear Start Accountants, and we recognise the importance of rewarding their efforts. The presentation day was a great success, offering the perfect opportunity for our colleagues to come together outside of the office environment to reflect on and celebrate their accomplishments as a team; it was an energetic afternoon, truly reflective of the workplace culture that we strive to create here.”

As part of the AFA Group here at Clear Start, we recently held our annual end-of-year celebration at The Light Cinema in Stockport – with a wealth of entertainment, talent and esteemed accolades to recognise the outstanding work of our team members. The celebrations kick-started with the AFA Group’s spin on classic game shows such as Jeopardy and Deal or No Deal. AFA Does Jeopardy featured general knowledge questions covering categories such as Art, History, Entertainment, Science, Sports, and Geography; the team engaged in friendly competition, earning raffle tickets for each correct answer. New Business Representative here at Clear Start Gill Brooks, was victorious and secured the chance to play Deal or No Deal, and the opportunity to win £250! Despite playing a commendable game as she eliminated each box, Gill walked away with a respectable £120. Following the suspenseful games, eight individuals then took to the stage in the AFA Group’s Got Talent, where they battled to secure the grand prize of £1000 or the Golden Buzzer prize – a holiday for two in Rome! From impressive musical performances to a daring recreation of The Full Monty, the contestants showcased a huge array of talent. After intense rounds of competition, the final three contestants emerged, all of whom showcased their vocal prowess. Geralt and Nicole secured the top spots, winning the cash prize and the coveted getaway. To conclude the evening, prestigious awards were presented to individuals who have made remarkable contributions throughout the year. Among the deserving winners were: · Manager of the Year: Jan Copeland · Customer Service Agent of the Year: Soma Surai · Team Leader of the Year (Clear Start Accountants): Shaz Ahmed · New Business Agent of the Year: Mike Kennerk · Newcomer of the Year: Fezan Bhatti · Team Leader of the Year (AFA Insolvency): Kerry Summerfield · Employee of the Year: Faisal Abdirahman Fiaz reflected on the event and said: “The dedication and outstanding achievements of our team members have been instrumental in the success of the AFA Group this year. I would like to extend my congratulations to those who won awards tonight, as well as the lucky participants of our talent and game shows. “The event not only celebrated the accomplishments of the group but also fostered a sense of camaraderie and excitement among employees.”

A new podcast called Penny to the Pound, providing practical personal budgeting support and guidance, has been launched by Clear Start Accountants. Co-hosted by Clear Start’s Founder and CEO Fiaz Ashraf, the podcast will welcome a host of experts and industry leaders across the series to offer their views for those embarking on a journey to financial freedom. As part of a dual offering, in addition to accountancy services provided by a qualified team of accountants, Clear Start Accountants also provides a monthly budgeting service for businesses and individuals. Throughout the series, Penny to the Pound will explore and demystify in an easy-to-listen format relevant topics such as personal budgeting, household expenses, individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs) and debt relief orders. Fiaz Ashraf, Founder and CEO of Clear Start Accountants comments: “With the rising cost-of-living and current economic climate in mind, we understand the challenges presented when it comes to managing a household budget – something that can also be a very time-consuming process. At Clear Start Accountants, we are committed to supporting our clients by helping them to understand their monthly income, expenditure and areas of overspending with our unique personal budgeting platform, and we wanted to further extend this support to the wider community with the launch of Penny to the Pound. “We have helped countless consumers and small businesses in reducing their living costs to date, identifying alternative cheaper expenses or ways to reduce their monthly outgoings in areas including gas and electricity, car insurance, fuel prices, monthly food prices and savings.” The podcast is now available to listen to on all major platforms, and can be viewed on the Clear Start Accountants Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ClearStartAccountants