Welcome to our series, ‘Meet the Team’, where we meet the people behind the businesses in the Channel Islands to find out what they’re doing and what makes them tick.
Adam Gavin, Audit Director at Moore Stephens in Jersey and Guernsey, is known for his practical approach to auditing traditional and alternative asset funds, helping clients make sense of complex financial landscapes. We’re delighted to introduce Adam.
Tell us about your background and journey to your current role.
I grew up in Bolton and after completing a degree in Economics at Birmingham University, I moved to Jersey to join the RBC graduate programme. Around this stage, I realised I was leaning towards accountancy as a career.
This led me to KPMG, where I trained to become a Chartered Accountant. KPMG gave me the foundational skills and experience to grow, and from there, I transitioned into the trust sector before joining Bracken Rothwell.
At Bracken Rothwell, I started as an Audit Manager and worked towards Audit Director, learning the ropes and gaining invaluable hands-on experience. Now, through the merger with Moore Stephens, I’m thrilled to bring my skills to the team and be a part of this next exciting chapter.
What is a typical day in the office for you?
There’s nothing more rewarding than completing a job and knowing we’ve met or even exceeded a client’s expectations.
I wouldn’t say I have a ‘typical’ day – that’s one of the things I enjoy most about my role. Each morning starts by mapping out my day ahead and ensuring everything runs smoothly. I’ll check in with the team to see how projects are progressing and address any challenges as they crop up.
Ultimately, my priority is ensuring we deliver for our clients – that means timely audits, staying within budget, and keeping the process as seamless as possible. There’s nothing more rewarding than completing a job and knowing we’ve met or even exceeded a client’s expectations.
What are the most interesting parts of your work?
For me, no two days are the same. I work with a variety of clients and industries, from cryptocurrencies and trusts to funds, businesses, and charities. Each client brings a new challenge and navigating those keeps things fresh and exciting.
What motivates you to get up and come to work every day?
I genuinely enjoy developing the team. We work with a lot of school leavers and graduates, and seeing their transformation over the years is incredibly rewarding.
Some of them start with us so young and unsure of their abilities, and helping them grow into confident, skilled professionals is satisfying. Being part of their success, whether helping them obtain their qualifications or move up the ladder, is a huge motivation for me.
What do the next few years in your business look like?
The next few months involve integrating our teams following the merger with Moore Stephens. As we combine the systems and processes, we will experience a learning curve, but it will also provide an opportunity to refine and streamline our work.
Once the dust settles, I see much growth potential. There’s plenty of work on the island, and by building relationships and targeting the right opportunities, we can bring in more clients and grow the business further.
What is the best thing about working at Moore Stephens?
The resources are incredible. There’s a wealth of information internally on the intranet and across the Moore Global network. For example, we have crypto experts in South Africa if we need an expert in a specific area like cryptocurrencies.
Tell us about your team?
The team in Jersey is led by Phillip Callow, Managing Director of Audit and Assurance and me. We also have teams in Guernsey and Madeira. We have a mix of individuals, from local school leavers and graduates to professionals from all over the world, who come to us with around six years of experience.
We can then take them as far as they’d like to go with their career; if they want to become a director and they’re prepared to work for it, the opportunity is there. It’s a really good, wide-ranging team that impresses me – they’re technically gifted auditors.
We’ve got a team-building event coming up soon that will help integrate the teams.
We want to encourage people who wouldn’t usually interact at work to get to know each other.
Who inspires you and why?
Alan Shearer has always been an inspiration to me. He was a brilliant goal scorer and maintained professionalism and humility even at the height of his success. His career is an excellent example of dedication, adaptability, and taking opportunities when they arise. I admire his values as a family man and the moral integrity he demonstrated throughout his career, which I try to emulate in my professional and personal life.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I’d tell my younger self to tackle the exams and hard work early in your career. When you’re young and don’t yet have the weight of family or other responsibilities, it’s the best time to set strong foundations professionally.
What do you do with your free time?
Football has always been a big part of my life, and I started an over-35s team that brought together players who had previously retired from local leagues. That said, I recently stepped down to spend more time with my family and prevent any serious injuries as I get older.
What’s your favourite way to spend a weekend?
A nice sunny Saturday spent on the pitch. It would start by preparing the kit for when the team arrives, followed by a great game of football (hopefully with a win) and a few beers with the team.
I like spending Sundays with my family, having a barbecue and spending quality time together. It’s a balance between doing something I love and relaxing with the people who matter most.
Moore Stephens Channel Islands has offices in Guernsey and Jersey providing wealth structuring, corporate and fund administration, accounting, audit and assurance services. For more information, please contact the Jersey office by email or on 01534 880088, or the Guernsey office on 01481 811700 or via email.
