About Us
The firm was established in 2006 by Heidi Channing with a small number of clients and has grown from strength to strength, mainly through word of mouth. In 2013, Heidi was joined by Lindsey Wright, who brings her wealth of general practice experience and expertise in dealing with businesses of all sizes. We are a down-to-earth firm with motivated staff who believe that the key to providing a quality service comes from a desire to truly respond to individual needs. With almost 70 years of experience within the team, we pride ourselves on being able to offer you a service that will take the stress out of your accounting needs whilst keeping it affordable.
Meet The Team
Lindsey Wright FAAT FCA
Director
Lindsey joined Blue Lias in 2013 from managing another large regional firm and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2010. She has been in practice for over 19 years and, as a partner, has gained a wealth of experience and knowledge over the years.
She looks after a large portfolio of clients, primarily working with local owner-managed businesses, to whom she provides expert accounting, tax, and business advice.
Lindsey works with clients across a wide range of sectors, including retail, hospitality, construction, and engineering.
Louise Turner MAAT ACCA
Client Manager
Louise joined Blue Lias in September 2016 as an apprentice trainee accountant. She is now a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians and fully qualified as a Certified Accountant with ACCA, having qualified in early 2023.
Louise has her own portfolio of clients, providing accountancy services with a focus on accounts preparation and compliance, bookkeeping solutions, corporate tax planning, VAT returns, and personal tax work. She supports clients with their cloud accounting software, such as Xero.
She has extensive experience in payroll and provides support to the Payroll Manager.
Debbie Shields FAAT
Client Manager
Debbie joined Blue Lias in 2018 as a Senior Accountant. Debbie has more than 25 years of extensive experience in this role and has been awarded Fellow Membership of the Association of Accounting Technicians.
Debbie is responsible for her own portfolio of clients, providing accountancy services, VAT, and management accounts across a wide variety of sectors. She also works closely with the director to assist with their portfolio of clients.
Michelle Turner
Client Manager
Michelle has a long family background in accountancy and has worked in both practice and commercial sectors. She is a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians, having qualified in 2001. After working around her family commitments when her children were young, she has been in the profession since 1994.
She prepares accounts for sole traders, partnerships, and limited companies, together with personal and corporate tax matters. She also has extensive experience in regular payroll and VAT compliance. She joined our team in April 2024 as part of the expansion of the practice.
Alison James
VAT & Accounts Assistant
Alison joined Blue Lias Accounting in November 2024 as an Accounts Assistant.
She has worked in the retail and commercial sectors as an Accountant for over 30 years and moved into an accountancy practice four years ago.
Alison is involved in bookkeeping, VAT returns, payroll, and accounts preparation, as well as supporting our clients with their Xero and QuickBooks software.
In her spare time, she enjoys travelling the country exhibiting her dogs at championship shows.
Vicki Stannard
Client Manager
Vicki joined Blue Lias in March 2024 and has over 12 years’ experience working in accounting practices and industry-based finance roles. Since joining the firm, she has progressed to the role of Client Manager, where she works closely with clients to provide proactive support and guidance across a range of accounting and taxation matters.
Vicki is currently studying towards her ACA qualification and is experienced in accounts preparation, bookkeeping, VAT returns, personal tax and payroll services. She is committed to delivering a professional and personalised service, helping clients meet their financial and business goals.
Chloe Hellyar
Payroll
Chloe has worked in payroll since 2019 and is passionate about ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time. Her experience includes managing payroll within a large NHS organisation, as well as several years working in accountancy practice, giving her a broad understanding of payroll across different sectors.
She enjoys the fast-paced and ever-changing nature of payroll and takes pride in providing a reliable, efficient service to clients, ensuring everything runs smoothly and compliantly.
Ellie Harris
Accounts Assistant
Ellie joined Blue Lias in June and brings over 20 years of experience working in accountancy practice. She has extensive knowledge of bookkeeping, VAT returns and accounts preparation, as well as strong experience using QuickBooks.
She enjoys the variety that comes with working in practice and values the opportunity to support a diverse range of clients, helping them manage their financial affairs with confidence and accuracy.
Cora Henry
Receptionist and Client Coordinator
Cora joined Blue Lias in November 2025 as Office Administrator and is often the first friendly face and point of contact for our clients. She plays a key role in ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the office, providing administrative support to both clients and the team.
Prior to joining Blue Lias, Cora worked as an Office Manager at a primary school in Yeovil. She then spent three years living in Dubai with her family, gaining valuable life experiences before returning to Somerset and joining the firm. Her strong organisational skills, attention to detail and welcoming approach make her an integral part of the Blue Lias team.