Meet the Team
Welcome to our team page! At Baxterworld, we’ve been proud small business accountants for over 30 years, bringing together a blend of seasoned accountants and meticulous bookkeepers. From our home base in Belfast, we extend our expertise across the UK, Ireland, and beyond. Get to know the dedicated professionals championing your business’s financial success.
The Directors
Ray Baxter
Founder, CEO
Ray is an influential member of the management accounts community in the UK, having served as the NI president of CIMA, chaired the Global Member’s in Practice committee, acted as an SME Ambassador for Brussels based Accountancy Europe and also represented CIMA on CCAB Ireland. He has over 50 years of experience in finance and, during his career, founded several small businesses in hospitality, construction and IT.
In his younger days Ray played guitar and sang in bands. He tried for 40 years to be a champion golfer but eventually realised the game was not for him. Now he enjoys long walks with friends and is a fanatical DIYer, scaring his wife with his electricity projects.
Catherine McRory
Director
Catherine has been working at Baxterworld for over 20 years following her first job in the family bakery and coffee shop. She has an incredible knowledge of many industries and non-profit entities and has the daunting responsibility of ensuring client deadlines are met. Training staff is also one of her skills and priorities. She earned her CIMA qualifications in 2014 and was appointed a director in 2018. Two years later she became the “Boss” as the majority shareholder of Baxterworld. She completed her professional journey by becoming a Fellow of the Institute in 2022. She has held many voluntary positions with CIMA over the years including Irish Chair and Chair of the UK and Ireland Regional Engagement group.
Catherine is well known locally for her entertaining skills as a fine singer and compere. She and her friend Karoline perform as a duet for many charitable events.
Our team of accountants:
Jenni Freel
An accountancy postgraduate, Jenni worked as a manager in food and beverage for nine years before joining the Baxterworld team and is now a team manager and aide to Catherine. She is on her way to becoming a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Jenni has diverse experience of different business sectors and leads the on-boarding of new “full service” Clients.
Jenni is an avid Harry Potter fan and when not busy with her three children she re-reads the books and indoctrinates the kids by playing the eight movies on repeat in the background.
Megan Beggs
Megan gained her BA (Hon) in Business with Accounting from Ulster University. She continued her studies and went on to earn two levels in Computerised Bookkeeping. She has also gained over 11 years of valuable experience working within the retail sector in various roles. She joined Baxterworld eight years ago and is an invaluable senior member of the team who also mentors some of the junior team,
Megan has completed several marathons, including the big London one. She claims to have once worked for MI5, but we don’t believe her.
Veronica McAllister
Veronica was Baxterworld’s first employee many years ago. After branching out to various other accountancy practices, and a few years of being self-employed, she has now returned home. Veronica brings extensive experience in all aspects of accountancy work such as client bookkeeping, statutory accounts, tax returns, VAT returns, payroll and HMRC compliance work. Veronica is a member of the Institute of Accounts Technicians Ireland and the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers.
Outside work she is a prolific knitter, supplying family and friends with beautiful hats, scarves and gloves.
Zoe Hawthorne
Zoe recently completed her BA (Hons) degree in Arts and Humanities. She decided to progress her career with Baxterworld as Accountancy was her favourite interest when she previously worked in her family business. A keen learner, she has gained great practical knowledge and experience in Digital Bookkeeping, priming her to add professional studies to her academic qualifications.
Zoe keeps fit with Yoga and enjoys taking in nature during outdoor walks. She writes short stories and hopes to get published someday.
Tom Ellis
Born in Kent, Tom came to Belfast after studying for his degree at Cardiff Metropolitan University. He has extensive work experience as a manager in the retail sector and is now pursuing professional accountancy qualifications. He leads the team producing monthly reporting, VAT and payroll.
Tom enjoys the thrill of skiing and is also known to open his toolbox and do some DIY.
Rebekah McCutcheon
Rebekah moved from the Care industry to a career in Practice with Baxterworld and is currently completing a degree in Accountancy and Finance with the Open University. She has gained a proficiency in digital bookkeeping and payroll preparation and is now training in the preparation of Management Accounts.
Apart from being a busy mum, Rebekah likes baking, specialising in gluten-free products. She also occasionally lifts a 2B pencil to create amazing sketches.
Thomas Toner
After completing a degree in Theoretical Physics, Thomas discovered a passion for accounting and made the shift into the industry. With a year of experience in the field and currently working toward his ACCA qualification, Thomas is focused on delivering financial services, while continuing to expand his professional knowledge and expertise.
He sometimes finds the time to swing a few clubs on the golf course and plays computer chess on occasions.
Orren McKenning
After completing A-levels, Orren worked in hospitality management, where he developed strong leadership and problem-solving skills. Now transitioning to accountancy, Orren is eager to utilise his attention to detail and passion for numbers and is actively working towards gaining professional qualifications.
Orren enjoys dressing up as a Star Wars stormtrooper for Fundays and Hospital visits and is part of the 501st legion.
Lisa Agnew
Having accrued good academic qualifications and over 20 years’ experience in Administration, Lisa decided to pursue a career in Accounts and achieved Level 2 AAT Bookkeeping in 2023. She hopes to add to these qualifications in due course and has already gained invaluable work experience since joining us at Baxterworld.
In her spare time Lisa enjoys swimming and reading books on current affairs.
Ellen Baxter
Ellen looks after Human Resources activity for the practice, from recruitment to salary levels and disciplinary procedures. Previously she founded and managed several businesses in the hospitality sector including two bakeries, a coffee shop, and a restaurant in Belfast city centre.
It's Accrual World
But not when you've got the best team behind you
When in the market for accounting services, securing the services of a chartered accountant is crucial.
The title “chartered” is reserved for professionals who have demonstrated a definitive level of proficiency in their field, typically validated via a formal certification or degree conferred by an authoritative professional association.
In the realm of accounting, a chartered designation is a testament to rigorous training, intensive examinations, and commitment to the highest ethical standards. It’s synonymous with top-tier financial advice and unwavering competence.
We are chartered by CIMA, globally recognised, they are the worlds leading professional body of management accountants. CIMA is also part of the AICPA, which will be familiar to American businesses. If you would like to know more about CIMA and AICPA you can follow this link
If you have never heard the term “management accountant” before, don’t worry. It means we create forward-looking accounts to help you manage, rather than accounts just for historical reference.