Riz Wasti

Accountant – Business Advisor

I am a Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA) by qualification who over the years has become an expert in small business accounting and finance functions.

I’ve been working with small businesses for over 16 years, including setting up my own boutique full-service accounting practice (2E Accountants) in 2009 with a talented team of 5 serving a base of over 150 clients. During this time, I’ve been able to play important roles in many successful startups, and realised that helping small businesses through growth and change is really where my passion and skills reside.

My philosophy

The success of any small business is based on the strengths of its three main departments: Sales and Marketing, Business Operations (goods or services it provides to other) and Finance & Admin support. I believe building a good Finance & Admin department within a business is just as important for its success as other departments and often it gets ignored by the business management.

When I first started working in accounts office in small businesses back in early 2000s, I was always keen to design a better system to whatever was in practice, learn and implement new ideas and train others. I was motivated by seeing my impact in the business. Over the years as I progressed in my career and from business to business, I remained consistent in my approach and saw my impact on every business and organisation I worked with.
When I started my practice 2E Accountants in 2009, this was the core philosophy in building a culture of the practice. I feel proud that all the team members work on the same ethos. Hence, we had an extraordinary client and employee satisfaction and retention rate.

I’m proud that 2E Accountants over the last 10 years have become a practice that businesses can rely upon for their finance functions and accountancy needs.

Past and present experience

Director, 2e Accountants

Since 2009 I have been responsible for the overall management and leadership of 2E Accountants Ltd. This includes supporting clients, delegation of tasks to my team of other qualified and part-qualified accountants, liaising with associate tax specialists and other experts.

Finance Manager, In-House

In 2006 I was a Finance Manager for Lightstate Ltd reporting to and assisting the Company Director in all finance and accounting matters. I supported the organisation and the Company Director through the acquisition of Lightstate Ltd by AOL in June 2007 and continued provision of Finance Manager duties to AOL following acquisition.

Finance roles

From 2004 to 2006 I was an in-house accounts manager for companies including environmental charity Waste Watch and retailer Park Lane shoes, assisting with all aspects of accounts and finance, sales, VAT, and company analysis / performance.

Qualifications

  • 2011- onwards: Continuous Professional Development (CPD) courses
  • 2009: Associate Member, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants UK (ACMA)
  • 1999: MA Economics
  • 1996: Bachelor of Commerce

Other highlights and interests

I had been a visiting lecturer at University of Greenwich to 1st year Management accounting students during 2018-19.

I regularly write and talk about matters of small business accounting. I've given talk at the British Library's Business & IP Centre on accounting softwares, and my articles have been published in many places including the Financial Times and the Telegraph.

In addition to my membership with the CIMA, I am also member of the Association of UK Accountants CIC.

I had been active member and two times director with BNI's (Business Networking International) local Clapham chapter and organiser of Clapham business networking meetups. I also do charity work as Treasurer for the Attic Theatre Company.

Articles

Expertise and what I offer

I've acquired areas of expertise in all manner of small business accounting and finance. These include identifying issues, implementing systems, hiring, training and supervising accounting staff, supporting management with reports and analysis, statutory accounting and returns filing, and sourcing other specialists in the areas of tax compliance, and company secretarial & legal matters.

Availability

Due to demand on my time I only take limited number of clients to get personally involved.