Ellis Bennett ACCA

Have you given up on managing accountancy & taxes for your business?

Setting up a business is no walk in the park, let alone managing the financial aspect of it.

It requires intense efforts to make sure you’re on the right track.

Miss one tax deadline, and you might end up paying double in penalty.

I know it’s overwhelming as a founder.

Now imagine you have an expert who takes care of all your accountancy and tax situation.

You don’t have to worry about taxes.
You don’t have to panic while planning your budget.
You know where you stand in terms of profits and losses.
You have someone you can rely on to manage the financials.

Amazing, isn’t it?

That’s what getting an expert feels like.

I’m Ellis, an ACCA Chartered Accountant, Director at EA Accountancy, and Author of The Solopreneur Start-Up Bible.

I help, advise, and guide start-ups, businesses, and young entrepreneurs through the whirlwind of accountancy and taxes.

I’ve served over 300+ satisfied clients, and I’m all in to help you!

Now, I’m not the accountant who speaks to you once a year in a robotic tone.

I’m more like your business partner.

I help you every step of the way (even acting like a therapist if you need one).

My services include:

• VAT
• Accounts
• Payroll
• Pensions
• Tax Advice
• Tax Planning
• Personal Tax
• Bookkeeping
• Accounting Software
• Company Incorporations
• Registered Office Address
• Capital Gains Tax Disclosures
• Business Planning And Advice

I also offer consultation for new business owners or people looking to hire an accountant so you have clarity for your next steps.

If you think I can help you with any of the above or would like to connect over a Discovery Call, feel free to drop me a DM.

Chartered Accountant

If your accountant is a family friend…

You probably don’t have an accountant.

You have a favour.

One of the biggest red flags on a sales call:

“Yeah, he’s just a family friend. It’s easier.”

Easier.

So is skipping leg day.

Doesn’t build anything worth having.

Here’s what “family friend accountant” usually means for a £200k–£1m agency:

– You speak once a year
– No proper monthly numbers
– No margin analysis
– No forecasting
– No tax planning before year end
– No one challenging what you’re taking out

It’s comfortable.

And comfort is expensive.

When you’re trying to scale:

– 3 staff to 8
– £300k to £1m
– Chaos to structure

You don’t need “easy”.

You need:

– Weekly bookkeeping
– Monthly reports
– Cash flow forecasts
– Proper tax planning
– Someone who’ll say, “Why are your margins that low?”
– Someone who isn’t scared to challenge your drawings

Most family friends won’t challenge you.

Because they don’t want to make Christmas awkward.

But business isn’t Christmas dinner.

It’s war.

If your accountant feels “safe” and “easy”…

Ask yourself whether they’re helping you grow.

Or just helping you file.

Big difference.

Ellis Bennett FCCA

Simplifying Accountancy and maximising Tax Efficiency for Business Owners | Director - EA Accountancy 👨🏼‍💻 💸

Expert

The word gets thrown around like confetti.

Same way everyone who runs a half marathon and lifts a few weights suddenly calls themselves a hybrid athlete.

I’ve just completed another two HYROX events.
I’m training for a sub-3 marathon.
I can bench 120kg (1rep😂)
And I still wouldn’t call myself a hybrid athlete.

Put some respect on the word athlete.
I’m miles off it.

Because I understand how high the bar actually is.
That’s the difference.

Standards.

Business is no different.

Agency owners are constantly sold by “experts” who:
• Scaled one client
• Had one big quarter
• Went viral a few times
• Filed a handful of tax returns

That’s not expertise.
That’s exposure.

Expertise is repetition.
Pressure.
Edge cases.

Fixing things when they’re messy, not when they’re trending.
In my world that looks like:
• £200k agencies making nothing and not knowing why
• £500k agencies with “record months” but no cash
• £1m agencies drifting into VAT disasters
• Directors overdrawn by £100k
• Businesses growing themselves into the ground

That’s where depth is built.

In uncomfortable conversations.
In messy clean-ups.
In fixing pricing, margins and systems before they snap.
Same in training.

Anyone can complete one tough event.

Very few:
Track the numbers.
Fix weaknesses.
Respect the process.
Turn up again.
And again.
And again.

That’s the gap between participation and mastery.

Agencies don’t need hype.
They need operators who’ve seen what breaks at £300k, £500k and £1m and know how to fix it before it happens.

Standards matter.

If you want to be taken seriously,
Raise yours.

Karla McNeilage

Making your brand memorable through story-led marketing. Using creative content strategies to drive growth • Social Media | Copy & Content Writer | Founder of Wave Socials 🌊 Mental health and wellness advocate

In 2014, my passion for writing and storytelling led me to study English Literature at uni.

I loved it so much that it influenced my career:

→ 2016: Started dabbling in copywriting jobs to see if I enjoyed it.

→ 2016: Created a Wordpress blog as a creative outlet. Fell in love with content writing.

→ 2018: Graduated. No grad job. Wanted to work in marketing but didn’t know what niche. Ahh. Spent 8 months working 14-hour days, juggling different unpaid internships.

→ 2018-19: Landed an internship and eventually became Head of Social Media & Influencer Marketing for an e-com start-up.
Sold out every launch with my marketing strategies, my content reached millions of impressions p/m and took our IG from 3K > 80K+ followers in <10 months.
I loved creating marketing campaigns. But I didn’t get to write much. I missed it.

→ 2020: New job. Head of Social Media for another e-com start-up.
Brought the same energy and sold out every product launch, reached millions p/m and grew a loyal community of superfans.
This time, more copy & content writing opportunities: email marketing, website & landing pages, paid ads.
I started ghostwriting as the founder. I loved stepping into someone else’s shoes.

→ 2022: Quit my job. Started my business, Wave Socials. Never looked back.
Services: social media marketing and copywriting/ content writing for 40+ CEO’s & founders, e-com businesses, agencies and big corporates.

→ 2024: Pivoted my services to LinkedIn personal branding. 
Took my own strategy seriously. Became a content creator on LinkedIn. Have a fully inbound business as a result. Also grew an amazing community and network.

Realised personal branding is the perfect blend of social media marketing and writing- all the skills I’ve been honing for nearly a decade.


Now, I help 6-8 figure C-suite execs, founders & creators amplify their voices on LinkedIn to grow their businesses.

I’ve carved out a career that feeds my love for writing, creative content, connection and storytelling.

-

SERVICES:

• LinkedIn Ghostwriting & Personal Brand Management:
For those who lack time, knowledge and/or expertise to create outcomes and impact.

• LinkedIn Workshops & Masterclasses:
Teaching you and your team how to leverage your personal brands on LinkedIn for business growth.

• LinkedIn Coaching:
Master the art of creating a personal brand that gains authority, builds trust and attracts quality leads and opportunities.


Want to work together? Fill out this form and I’ll be in touch!

https://forms.gle/Qf7vPL4ed53tSrPf9

My DM’s are open if you have any questions :)

Owner

Karla Mcneilage

I just hit 60,000 followers on LinkedIn!!!

This platform has changed my entire life, so here’s what I’d tell myself if I was just starting to build my brand.


1/ Focus on quality > quantity

I’m celebrating growth but followers shouldn't be a success metric.

A big following ≠ high-leverage network.

What you should look at is how aligned your audience is.

My analytics for example:
-UK/ USA based
-Founders, CEOs, directors
-Working in advertising, marketing, tech

My followers are my future clients or collaborators.

That’s what really matters!

And its all down to content and positioning.


2/ Stand for something

You don’t need to dilute your messaging to build your brand.

In fact, that's the fastest way to become invisible.

To become a thought leader and someone worth following, be:

-Opinionated 
-Specific & clear on beliefs
-Unafraid to challenge the norm

Neutrality and appealing to everyone
= memorable to no one.

You'll attract the right people by evoking emotion / teach new things.


3/ Your story is your unfair advantage

The posts that changed everything for me are honest, vulnerable insights:

ADHD, self-growth, building a business from rock bottom.

Credibility isn’t just about achievements.

It's your failures, lessons, journey.

Tell your story strategically, and it becomes your USP.

Resonance → connection
Connection → trust
Trust → builds business.


4/ Keep showing up

Be intentional and consistent on LinkedIn.

Don't get down about bad impressions, algo changes and non-viral posts.

Aim to inspire, educate, connect and entertain with your content.

Silent lurkers are everywhere!


5/ Stop trying to sound so professional

Corporate jargon creates distance.

Write how you speak:
cadence, colloquialisms, personality, wit.

Show your humanity (in the world of AI!)

You don’t build authority by sounding like everyone else - you have to be recognisable.

Plus, there's nothing wrong with having a bit of fun on here!


5/ Networking is non-negotiable

LinkedIn is a social networking platform.

Comment and add your perspective.
Spend a heck of a lot of time in DMs.
Meet up with people IRL.

Some of my biggest opportunities didn't come from posts.

They came from convos & building genuine relationships.


6/ Just hit post!!!

Limiting beliefs and mindset are what hold us all back.

But done is better than perfect.

Post flops? Nobody will remember.
No sales? Refine and try again.
Feel cringe? It's the cost of entry.

You’ll never feel ‘ready’ to start building your brand.

Confidence comes from action!

-

I wouldn't be living abroad as a digital nomad, building an online business I love and working with dream clients if I hadn't started posting on LinkedIn.

Revenue, podcasts, keynotes in 3 countries, PR, best friends, global network, trips abroad, paid partnerships as a B2B creator, impacting others, location freedom...

The opportunities that come from growing your brand are endless!

Thanks for following my journey ❤️ ily!!!

Personal Brand Strategist & Ghostwriter for B2B Founders | Helping You Build Influence, Thought Leadership & Revenue Through Strategic Storytelling | UK’s #3 Content Marketer | 📍 Bali

I’m turning 30 soon, have my own online business and live abroad.

Yet I've been told:

“Be realistic…”
“It’ll never work”
“You’re so delusional”
“Just quit and get a real job”
“You’re living in a fantasy world”
“You should be settled down by now”

I’ve heard them all.

From peers, people I love and even my own inner voice.


When I quit my job with no backup plan in 2021.

When I started my business with little savings and a mortgage to pay in 2022.

When I took 3 months off to recover from burnout in 2023.

When I got a late ADHD diagnosis and working on healing / reinventing myself in 2024.

When I left my family to move to the other side of the world alone in 2025.


And here’s what people don’t see:

→ The internal work I do every single day

→ Therapy, journaling, hard convos, identity shifts

→ Figuring out what my new version of 'normal' looks like

→ Pushing back on everyone telling me what my life should be by now

→ Getting "Live Without Limits" tattooed on me as a reminder to keep pushing myself out of my comfort zone


I tried the long-term, settled life in the UK:
Mortgage, stability, sensible retirement plan.

But it wasn’t for me. I felt trapped.

Now, I live out of a suitcase and am on my own timeline.


Do I feel unsettled sometimes? Yup.

Is the future scary without a 5-year plan? Definitely.

But do I feel liberated not knowing exactly what's next? 1000%.


I stopped measuring ‘success’ by societal norms :
Marriage, kids, climbing the corporate ladder.

Instead, I re-defined it on my own terms:
Time/ location freedom, fulfilment, impact, peace, self-growth, health, happiness, fun, adventure, waking up excited, presence, anddd untapped earning potential.


If people think I’m a failure because of that, fine.

But if younger me knew that I:

• Feel SO loved and supported
• Get to work with dream clients
• Have a business I’m obsessed with
• Am making a difference to others’ lives
• Call two places home: Indonesia & UK
• Carve out time for my own creative outlets
• Live in the sun, just 5 mins from the beach
• Build my biz from anywhere in the world!!!
(Including by the pool + beachside cafés)
• Have an insane global network & community
• Work to my schedule = gym whenever I want
• Am 10000% comfortable in my own company

And my personal fave:
• Spend time in the ocean, wild monkeys nearby, coconuts galore, sitting on cliffs watching sunset to recharge

… I think she’d be pretty damn proud!


The people who once called me delusional?

They’re now asking how I managed to build my dream life!


Reminder - you don't have to:

-Do what everyone else is doing
-Fit into a system that feels unaligned
-Shrink your ambition to make others feel comfortable

Buttt...

You do have to be brave enough to take action and go after what you really want.

And a bit of delulu never hurt anyone!


P.s. flying to Scotland soon to have a 30th party before going to Egypt then back to Bali. If that isn't a lovely self-made fantasy world idk what is ☺️

Everyone talks about building confidence.

But building self-respect changed my life!


When I started respecting myself…

Doors opened in business.
My character developed.
And people respected me more.

The difference:
Self-confidence is believing you can.
Self-respect is deciding what you will and won’t tolerate.

Instead of people-pleasing and weak boundaries, I now tell myself:
→ “I won’t forget my worth”
→ “I won’t lower my standards”
→ "I won't stop working on my goals"
→ “I won’t betray my values for approval”


Here's 16 ways I actively build self-respect:

• Leaving situations that aren't serving me:
Friendships, relationships, clients, environments.
Even if it’s really bloody hard.

• Saying ‘no’ to what’s unaligned
I’m now a psycho about protecting my energy.
It's a non-negotiable!

• Brutal self-honesty
Taking responsibility and dropping fantasy versions of myself.
Acknowledging weaknesses = can work on them.

• Not dramatising setbacks
I used to wallow in self-pity…
Now, I give myself grace, but regulate my emotions.

• Taking aligned action
Following through on my promises, even motivation dips.
Difficult for us ADHDers, but working on it.

• Pushing past my limits
I push myself in the gym until I physically can't walk.
Bodybuilders who once intimidated me now ask if I'm a PT lol.

• Sticking to the plan, not the mood
I no longer let my feelings throw me offtrack.
If I need to set aside an extra 30 mins to journal, I will.

• Acting with quiet consistency.
I love documenting my journey/ building in public.
But I work harder on my goals when nobody is watching.

• Eliminating distractions
If things dilute my focus, I’ll quickly get rid of them.
I’ve not watched TV in 3+ years, I deleted social apps from my phone, I’ve not drank alcohol since 2023.

• Prioritising myself first
Filling my own cup.
Then have more to give others: win-win!

• Standing up for my values & beliefs
If someone crosses the line, I address it.
I spent too many years as a wallflower. I refuse to bite my tongue now.

• Not shrinking to make others feel comfortable
I won’t put myself in a box or suppress who I am now.
Outgrow people is part of life.

• Feeling fear - and doing it anyway
Pushing myself out of my comfort zone. Always.
Doing things that TERRIFY me controls my anxiety.

• Quitting the comparison game
Everyone’s on their own timeline… including me.
I *try* to not let internal/ external pressure get me down.

• Being open-minded
Listening to others and staying curious.
I'm a "how?" and "why?" person.

• Becoming my ideal future self
Enclothed cognition is a great example.
I try to dress, talk, act like the best version of myself would!


This isn't about ego.

Self-respect is built in hard decisions, difficult conversations and discipline nobody sees.

It’s character, integrity and dignity.

And at every opportunity, turning struggle > strength.


When you respect yourself, you start to embody it.

And that’s what earns trust - in life and in business!

70 hours travelling: 5 countries, 4 plane rides, 3 timezones & a 1-day spontaneous adventure in California.

Bali → Taipei → Los Angeles → London → Glasgow.

This is the time and location freedom I used to dream about.


I was stranded in Bali due to flight cancellations.

So the only way home was looping around the Pacific.

Defo not the route I had planned.

But the crazy journey was worth it to be home for my 30th party on Friday and family time!!


When I worked in-house, all I wanted was the ability to travel.

*Without* asking anyone’s permission.

I remember saving my annual leave for months.
Then feeling guilty for actually using it.
I even dreaded holiday requests, as they were rarely approved.


So when I built my online business, I did it intentionally.

I wanted flexibility.
Not being stuck in an office 9-5.
But designing a life and schedule that works with me.


Over the past 3 chaotic days of travel, I still:

→ Batched client content
(From airport lounges and the sky)

→ Received 5 inbound leads
(even though I hadn’t posted on LinkedIn in 1.5 weeks)

→ Got invited onto a panel & in-person Podcast
(in the UK & Bali)

→ Got B2B paid partnership offers
(from 2x aligned brands I love)

→ Started conversations that turned into leads
(all from saying ‘hi’ to people sitting next to me)

→ Had an in-person meeting in the USA
(a day of movement, sightseeing, shopping + networking!)

→ Had 2 people recognise me from LinkedIn!
(and it led to lovely airport chats)


Meanwhile I was also:
Temporarily packing up life in Bali
Navigating visas and immigration
Buying last min flights from airports
Sorting storage units
Trekking 50kg around the world
Fighting with eSIMs that refused to work
Managing client work + comms
Planning my 30th birthday party
Coordinating with events companies
Organising upcoming travel
Trying to keep my sanity!


And somehow, I was still able to be fully present in California:

• Hiked up to Griffith Observatory over the Hollywood Hills
• Went shopping on Melrose Avenue
• Met up with a friend


Was I standing in airport queues answering emails while jetlagged AF?
Yup 😂

Was I as "productive" as I wanted to be?
Nope.

But opportunities kept coming in anyway!


When you build a strong personal brand, presence and consistency is key.

There’s a lot of pressure to show up here every day.

But sometimes life life’s.

And in those moments, it’s okay (healthy, actually) to spend time offline.


The great thing about growing a high-converting brand and business is that the work compounds.

I was stuck 30,000ft in the air for 30+ hours…

Yet I was still attracting aligned leads, partnerships and opportunities.

And to me, that’s a wholeee other level of freedom and leverage.


Brb, making the most of the final week of my 20s.

And doing it on my terms, surrounded by all my fav people.

Pinch me, living my dream life ❤️


Next up:
Egypt → UK → somewhere spontaneous (where next ???) → back to Bali!

13 things I love about running an online business:
29-year-old digital nomad with ADHD edition.

•⁠ I get to work from cosy cafes cross-legged
(I gave it a good bash, but office life isn’t for me)

•⁠ I can also work from anywhere I want
(Pool, airports, planes, beach, balconies, home)

•⁠ Created location freedom for myself
(Next 5 weeks: Bali > Scotland > Egypt > England > Scotland > Bali)

•⁠ Don't need to abide by a dress code
(Go with my mood / plans: some days I dress in a dress and heels, other days gym clothes)

•⁠ Still getting incredible results for clients
(I optimise my life for my creativity and it works pretty damn well)

•⁠ Time difference isn't an issue - I’m 8 hours ahead of clients
(I front load work before they wake up which feels like cheating time)

•⁠ Scalability!
(High profit margins. Plus, I can sell to someone in NYC while I’m asleep via my brand and content) 

•⁠ I get to eat 10/10 food. Every. Single. Day.
(I used to eat soggy sandwiches in the office and hated it. Today, I had a dragonfruit smoothie bowl & strawberry matcha during a lunch with a LinkedIn friend)

•⁠ Get to create my own schedule
(Beach walk, gym, work, appointments, meetings, activities… in any order)

•⁠ I don’t need to work in a set 9-5 block
(I work a LOT, but with my brain & energy: 1-3 hour deep work, broken up with different resets)

•⁠ I have met the most incredible people
(Best friends for life on LinkedIn, founders shaping their industries at networking events, strangers with the coolest stories at cafes!)

•⁠ Nobody telling me what to do
(Had 2 toxic bosses before and that amount of micromanagement is enough for a lifetime lol, no thnx)

•⁠ Work doesn’t feel like work
(I chose this - every single part of it, and I get to wake up so bloody excited to build, grow, create!!!)


Running a business is really bloody hard.

I don’t switch off, my mind doesn’t stop, I have to skill stack like crazy, the pressure is real and I *wish* it was as easy as I sometimes make it look.

BUT…

Having worked in jobs / environments that made me stressed, depressed and anxious, this little business (and life as a result) I’m creating is pretty sweet.

This season is all about building.

It's also about deep gratitude though - for this present moment, and all the ones that came before that led to this.

I took the risk to rip my old life down and start from scratch. But look at how happy and content I am that those risks are paying off. 

Your dream doesn't work unless you do ❤️

Personal branding isn't as complicated as you think it is.

I've built a high-converting audience, fully inbound business, been flown abroad for events and speeches, created a global network of thought leaders, grew a lovely community and opened doors I never could have imagined...

Allll from LinkedIn.

Going live today with some amazing creators & founders who've also leveraged this platform:
Shoaib Ahmed, Hannah del Herrera & Louis Butterfield ❤️ 

Shoaib's out visiting me in Bali right now.
Hannah and I got drowned in a thunderstorm together 2 weeks ago.
Louis lives on a different continent, but he's with us in Asia in spirit 😂 

Come hang out, have a bit of fun and learn what actually works.

We don't gatekeep!!

$2.4M generated from 1 video/week → 122/250 founders (and counting)

3 people who've built ~60,000 followers each.

Literally 100's of clients between them.

Going live with Shoaib Ahmed, Karla McNeilage and Hannah del Herrera to break down what actually makes strangers trust you online.

Not the stuff you've heard a thousand times on the feed.

Like what is the EXACT way they did it from 0-60,000?

So you walk away knowing exactly how to do it yourself.

Les do it.

Ammar Karimi, John Siber and 8 other connections attending

The stupidly simple way to build a brand + win strangers’ trust

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The Battle

Ellis Bennett ACCA

Karla Mcneilage

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Performance ScoreEllis Bennett ACCA's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreKarla Mcneilage's LinkedIn Performance

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The Battle

Ellis Bennett ACCA

Karla Mcneilage

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Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Ellis Bennett ACCA's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreEllis Bennett ACCA's LinkedIn Performance