Andrzej Goulding

As a set and video designer working on major productions like Starlight Express, Groundhog Day: The Musical, Life of Pi, & Juliet, and Just for One Day, Andrzej’s world is rooted in creativity.

Whilst he’s comfortable in the creative side of things, finance and accounting are not something Andrzej wanted to get bogged down in. That’s where FFT came in.

In his own words:

“[Creative professionals] are not trained and generally have no idea how to do financial or accounting work. All I want to do is design my shows and do the creative thinking. But eventually, the business side catches up with you.”

When Andrzej transitioned from being self-employed to setting up a Ltd. company, the shift brought with it new layers of responsibility – payroll, Corporation Tax, VAT returns, Capital Gains queries, etc.

As he puts it:

“That transition is really tricky. I just needed someone to take the lead on how that works, advise me and just do the stuff I don’t know how to do. FFT sorted it all for me which has been invaluable.

“It can’t be understated how important having a firm like FFT on your side is. I can’t fault them.”

Originally recommended by a friend in the entertainment industry, FFT has now become an essential part of Andrzej’s business operations:

“FFT have been great all the way down the line. Every single member of the team is really hands-on. There are very few companies where I know the first names of everyone I deal with – but with FFT, I do.”

He works closely with several team members across different areas of his finances:

• Sam was the first point of contact and remains his go-to Partner: “Sam sorted out everything initially and passed it down to the right people. He’s very quick, very clear on the phone. We even have a bit of a chitchat about life – it’s not just business.”
• Peter handles personal tax and helped navigate the tricky move from sole trader to limited company: “He also worked with my financial adviser during my house move to get all the documentation sorted!”
• Amanda takes care of payroll, keeping things running smoothly each month.
• Dassy helped Andrzej set up bookkeeping software (Xero): “I wanted to do the books myself, so Dassy helped me understand how. Now I just fire questions over when I need to. It’s a real partnership.”

That collaborative relationship is what stands out for Andrzej:

“It’s personal. They’re speedy. They’re approachable. If I’ve got a question, I just fire one away. Sam rang me back within the hour yesterday and just chatted it through.”

FFT’s support even extends to keeping him ahead of legislative changes:

“When the Government announces changes to taxes or filing rules, FFT always gets in touch within 24 hours with next steps and explanations. Keeping up with that yourself would be a nightmare.

“I’d rather have someone who’s an expert in both their own field and mine. The FFT team are exactly that. They let me focus on what I’m best at and they take care of everything else.”

“I’ve already recommended them to others in the entertainment and creative industry and would heartly recommend them to whoever’s reading this now!”

Photo credits:

• JUST FOR ONE DAY – Manuel Harlan
• LIFE OF PI – Johan Persson
• STARLIGHT EXPRESS – Pamela Raith