Adrienne Paterson - Tax Director at Johnston CarmichaeL
Adrienne is a Chartered Tax Adviser with extensive experience, having worked in the accountancy sector for more than 30 years, who joined Johnston Carmichael in 2025 as a Tax Director in their Transaction Tax team. Johnston Carmichael is one of the UK’s leading independent accountancy and advisory firms. Founded in Scotland 90 years ago, the firm expanded into the North East in 2023, opening a new office based in Newcastle’s city centre. Since opening, the office has been committed to supporting growing businesses across the region.
What inspired you to become an Accountant, and what path did you take to get here?
At university, I did a degree in Business Studies, which after graduating, opened up a vast range of options for me to explore. What attracted me to being a tax adviser, though, was the combination of logical thinking and problem-solving that the role required. It’s a job that constantly keeps me on my toes, as the environment I work in is always changing.
What are the most common financial mistakes individuals and businesses make?
Across the board, the most common mistake I encounter is a lack of planning. At each stage in a business’s life cycle, there are different vital taxes to be aware of. It’s important to always be conscious of the future to ensure your commercial position and tax position are aligned so that tax does not become an unexpected cost.
How has technology changed the accounting profession, and what tools do you rely on most?
Tax advice often involves absorbing and contrasting large amounts of information, for example, financial accounts and case law. One tool that can help with this is AI, speeding up the analysis process so an experienced tax adviser can reach a more comprehensive understanding. AI is certainly not a substitute for the human experience though; it’s a tool to be utilised by experienced individuals to improve efficiency.
What advice would you give to small business owners looking to improve their financial health?
I’d say that ensuring your “house is in order” will pay dividends if you decide to look at selling. When undergoing a sale, a buyer will usually undertake tax due diligence on the target. Occasionally, the due diligence process throws up compliance tax issues, which impact the transaction and potentially the outcome of the sale. Often, if these issues are addressed at an earlier stage, they would not have the same impact on the transaction.
How do you help clients navigate tax planning and ensure compliance with regulations?
For me, I think that the key to providing good tax advice that is relevant and practical all comes back to making sure you take the time to establish a detailed understanding of your client. I think it’s incredibly important to maintain an open dialogue with them and really make sure you understand them and their needs.
What are the biggest financial trends or challenges businesses should prepare for in the coming years?
In recent years, the Government has followed the pattern of announcing significant changes to tax law in advance, which has allowed businesses with a refined strategy to take action well in advance. A good, recent example of this is the change to the Inheritance Tax relief, known as Business Property Relief. While the benefit of the relief came into effect on 6th April 2026, the changes were initially announced in the Autumn 2024 Budget. This left a window of over a year for proactive taxpayers and their advisers to take appropriate action to minimise its impact.
What qualities make a great Accountant, and how do you build strong client relationships?
While lots of people might look at accountancy as being all about the numbers, it’s actually really geared towards the people involved and understanding how best to assist them. This all leads back to one of our core values at Johnston Carmichael, “standing in other people’s shoes”. This outlook helps me build trust with my clients and professional advisers, making a complex and lengthy process manageable for all.
How do you handle the pressure of working with tight deadlines and complex financial issues?
Working with a great team is extremely important, and I’m fortunate to have this both internally within Johnston Carmichael and with those I work with externally. No single adviser has all of the answers, so maintaining good communication and collaboration helps the process run smoothly.
What’s one piece of financial advice you think everyone should follow?
I would always say to ensure that at each life stage in the business, you have the right advisers on board to help you remain efficient and keep the process moving forward. Having the right people around you is a key to success for both your client and yourself.
What do you enjoy most about being an Accountant, and what keeps you motivated in your profession?
My job allows me to meet so many different people and businesses, which offers me a huge amount of diversity! Combining this with knowing you’ve made a positive difference and helped a client achieve their goal is really what brings me to work each day with a smile on my face.
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