Our people

Simon Anslow

Partner

Simon heads up VAT, Customs & Indirect Tax Team in our Poole office. A broad experience of industry sectors and working with businesses from start-ups through to multi-nationals enables Simon to provide informed advice and guidance and offer practical solutions and options, from basic compliance and efficiency management, through to complex planning and dispute resolution.

A 15-year career with HM Customs & Excise included investigation activity, legal advocacy and the obtaining of considerable technical and practical experience. Simon switched sides some years ago, firstly as a partner in a mid-tier firm and more latterly as a regional VAT director with a Top 10 practice, before joining Princecroft Willis, the predecessor firm of PKF Francis Clark, in 2009 to head up their VAT service.

Land, property and construction matters present significant and ongoing VAT issues and Simon has considerable experience in assisting developers, construction firms, landlords and legal advisers in the residential, commercial, healthcare and holiday sectors.

An area of particular expertise is that of the marine sector; Simon heads up the Indirect Tax Marine Team that provides the VAT & Customs advisory services to British Marine and its members; a former chairman of British Marine Wessex, Simon remains an active member of the committee and provides ongoing technical assistance to the Insurance Legal Financial Services Association arm of the British Marine Federation. Simon also works closely with sailing and training academies, the UK America’s Cup team, yacht clubs, brokers, boat builders and all areas of the marine sector, whilst maintaining a healthy working relationship with HMRC’s Marine & Pleasurecraft teams to ensure that our clients can receive the best possible service.

Simon’s approach is very much about working with the client and what they need, his philosophy being “Taking it back to basics, to understand who does what, for whom, when, where and for how much – first we make it right, then we make it better”.

When not plying his trade in the dark arts of VAT, Simon can be found spending time indulging in his other passions – family, films, food and all things cars!