Meet the Team

Our team has been carefully chosen to encompass the complimentary skill sets of corporate finance, private equity, real estate, business development, accountancy and tax required to serve our clients efficiently and effectively.

Kingswood also draws upon a wider network of associates who are able to provide specific sector experience, as and where necessary.

Directors

Tim Baum-Dixon
Chief Executive Officer

Tim is an experienced Chartered Accountant and Partner with over 15 years experience and joined Kingswood Allotts from Hentons where he was the Partner responsible for managing the Sheffield and Doncaster offices, National Board Member and Head of Digital Accounts.

Tim has worked with businesses across South Yorkshire and nationally and recently has worked to build relationships with the business community in Doncaster. Tim also has a strong connection with Sheffield. He has also worked for several years with RIDO to help new businesses by offering free training to start-up businesses and has worked with digital start-up businesses in Sheffield, through the Chamber, Business Sheffield and the local Universities.

During his time at Hentons, Tim created the Digital Accounts Team and led the merger with a firm in South Yorkshire (including a Doncaster office). He was responsible for a team at the forefront of developing market-leading cloud accounting solutions. Tim's Digital Team won best accounts team at the Yorkshire Accountancy Awards in 2020 and the Sheffield Team were finalists in 2021. Tim led the digitisation drive at Hentons, rolling out Xero and other apps to clients which resulted in the firm becoming finalists at the Xerocon awards and being recognised as one of the top 3 accountancy cloud practices in the UK in 2021.

Before joining Hentons, Tim was Senior Projects and Accounts Manager at Shorts Chartered Accountants and was Head of Business Development & Client Services at Ikara Business Solutions. Tim also worked in the Business Advisory division of Grant Thornton, specialising in Corporate Recovery, where he gained both advisory and operational experience of working with distressed businesses and with lenders.

Tim lives in South Anston with his wife Amy and three daughters. He is a strong believer in giving back to his local community. He is a Member of Aston Community Education Trust, ACET, which includes his former school in Aston. He is also a Parish Councillor for Anston Parish. He was elected as Borough Councillor in Rotherham in 2021 representing Anston and Woodsetts Ward where he lives and he is Vice Chair of the Health Select Committee, Member of Oversight and Scrutiny Board and Representative for Rotherham on South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel.

Neil Highfield
FCA

Neil specialises in family businesses of all sizes and also has a substantial portfolio of technology businesses.

He was educated at Newfield Comprehensive School and Sheffield Polytechnic and trained with the Sheffield Office of an international firm of Chartered Accountants.

In his spare time he enjoys golf, football and skiing. If Neil hadn't been an accountant, he would have loved to have been in movies, co-starring with Britt Ekland or Ursula Andrews.

Mark Garrison (Head of Corporate Services)
BCom FCA DChA

Mark is a Director who studied Accountancy at Birmingham University and joined Allotts after graduating in 1985. He trained and qualified at Allotts and became a manager in 1989.

Mark specialises in audit and accounts work for professional partnerships, academies and charities. If Mark hadn’t been an accountant he would have liked to be a Surgeon.

Jonathan Massing
BSc Econ (Hons), FCA, CF, MRICS

jonathan.massing@kingswood.org.uk
(+44) 020 7841 0000

Following a degree in economics, qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1984 with Price Waterhouse. Subsequently spent a number of years as an investment banker in the City, specialising in corporate finance advisory work and cross-border mergers and acquisitions.

In 1993 became a founding partner of Kingswood LLP, a City-based professional advisory firm specialising in corporate finance and other professional services for private entrepreneurial businesses and smaller companies. In addition to the role of Managing Partner specialist areas of expertise include: commercial and corporate finance advice; buyouts; venture capital; advising on shareholder disputes; the valuation of private businesses; and acting as a financial expert. Also has extensive experience in the sale and acquisition of private companies and advising on the structure of debt and working capital facilities. An accredited mediator with a specific interest in the resolution of business and commercial disputes.

In addition, a number of outside roles, working with senior executives to identify and implement strategic objectives. This includes roles as a non-executive or quasi-finance director for several clients and investee businesses. Previously acted as a Board Member of The Isledon Partnership which undertakes community related projects in the Public Sector.

In 1998 set up Kingswood Investment Partners (“KIP”) as an independent, FCA regulated, private equity investor. KIP also acts as General Partner to a substantial private investment fund, Kingswood Property Finance Limited Partnership (“KPFLP”).

Formed in 2004, KPFLP has undertaken a range of long-term investments and financial transactions including: participating in real estate investments; private equity investments incorporating equity and loan capital to the SME sector; subscribing for equity warrants and options; dealing in financial assets; trading in listed equities, fixed income and currencies.

In August 2017 KPFLP became the largest shareholder in Kingswood Holdings Limited, the AIM listed wealth manager. Appointed as a non-executive director and, in 2019, assumed the role of Deputy Chairman.

A member of the Corporate Finance Faculty of the ICAEW, holding the prestigious Corporate Finance Diploma entitling the use of the designation “CF”.

In 2010 was admitted as a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS).

Leisure interests include his family, golf, cycling, skiing, sailing, bridge and watching Arsenal.

Jonathan is also Managing Partner at Kingswood LLP.

Rick Behan
FCA

rick.behan@kingswood.org.uk
(+44) 020 7841 0000

Rick is focused on providing an extremely high quality of service to our ever-growing portfolio of clients. He has a fast-growing client base operating across a broad range of industries but specialises in the property, technology and financial services sectors. Rick’s primary focus is on understanding his clients’ needs and overall objectives, whether short term or long term. He enjoys working closely and collaboratively with clients to help them navigate tax issues, facilitate expansion or prepare for exit. At Kingswood we are all geared to helping our clients succeed.

Rick qualified as a Chartered Accountant in Manchester in 2007 having graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2004. Rick moved to London from Manchester in 2013 and was appointed Partner at Shelley Stock Hutter (now Blick Rothenberg) shortly afterwards in 2016.

When not at the office, Rick is an avid Manchester United fan and general sports enthusiast. He enjoys travelling, spending time with family and relaxing with friends.

Rick is also a Partner at Kingswood LLP.

Richard Massing
BSc (Hons), ACA

richard.massing@kingswood.org.uk
(+44) 020 7841 0000

Richard leads Kingswood’s Corporate Finance business and advises investors and management teams on a wide range of transactional matters such as acquisitions, management buy-outs, debt refinancing, capital raising and sale preparations. Richard is hugely passionate about business and enjoys working with clients to develop successful and pragmatic solutions. The breadth of knowledge Kingswood offers is truly market leading and we are proud of our ability to develop tailored and bespoke advice across both corporate finance and compliance (including FCA regulatory support) for our clients.

Before joining Kingswood, Richard was a Director in PwC’s transaction services business, where he spent over seven years advising clients through transaction processes, specialising in financial due diligence. Prior to this, he spent five years with PwC’s mid-tier assurance business, working closely with owner managed business and small listed companies on audit and assurance engagements.

Richard is ACA qualified and graduated from the University of Nottingham having spent time studying abroad at the University of Auckland.

Outside of work Richard enjoys travelling, the outdoors and is a very recreational Arsenal fan.

Richard is also a Partner at Kingswood LLP.

Head of Payroll Services

Amanda Beatson

Amanda joined Allotts over 17 years ago. She initially joined as the office junior. She moved into the tax department after a few years and then into the payroll department. Amanda gained her NVQ level 2 in payroll administration and now heads up the department.

She processes the payrolls for over 120 clients from 1 employee up to 180, payroll packages are tailored individually to meet each client’s requirements. Whilst at school Amanda wanted to be a lawyer.