Our Team

John Hannah Managing Partner

After training and qualifying with one of the big four accountancy firms, John started his career with SBP in 1999 as an associate and was promoted to partner in 2004. He then became managing partner in 2009 and since then has been responsible for the strategic vision of the firm, as well having overall responsibility for the company’s four offices and its 40+ partners and staff. John splits his work time between running the business, developing the business, and looking after a large and varied client base. Outside of work John enjoys golf, travel and fitness, as well as socialising with friends and spending time with his family.

Sandra Gault Partner

Sandra began her career training with Deloitte Haskins & Sells, which is now PWC. She qualified as a chartered accountant in 1987. In 1995, Sandra left public practice and worked in the fishing industry and then the seafood industry where she was the finance director for a major UK seafood company. Sandra joined SBP in 2008 and has been a partner since 2009. Her client base is mainly owner-managed businesses for which she provides accounting support and tax planning advice. Based primarily at the Peterhead office, Sandra has a sound knowledge of the farming and fishing industry.

Alan Masson Partner

Alan has over 40 years of tax experience working in large firms, smaller accountancy practices and his own businesses in Aberdeen before joining SBP in 2008 and becoming a partner in 2013. A chartered tax adviser and member of the Association of Tax Technicians, Alan deals with company tax work, larger business entities and high net worth individuals, as well as owner managed businesses and tax investigations. Alan is head of tax for SBP and co-ordinates the activities of the tax department throughout the firm. Outside the office Alan’s interests are music and watching football.

Roger Berl Partner

Roger trained at the National Audit Office in London and has over 25 years of experience in taxation. He joined SBP in 2000 and was promoted to partner in 2013. At SBP, Roger specialises in personal taxation. He is also responsible for all Companies House procedures and establishing and monitoring administrative arrangements. In his spare time, Roger enjoys painting and conservation volunteering.

Ronnie Birnie Partner

Ronnie joined SBP in 2008 and became a partner in the business in 2013. He spent the first 11 years of his working life in banking but made the switch to accountancy and after four years of full-time study took up his first accountancy role in 1996. Prior to joining SBP, Ronnie gained valuable accountancy experience in the fishing and seafood processing sectors. At SBP, Ronnie specialises in accountancy for all types of clients, including the fishing industry and a number of charities. He also specialises in audit work.

Peter Bruce Director

With SBP since 1994, Peter has a proven track record of providing a range of accountancy and taxation services and supporting all types of businesses, from family run businesses to large limited companies. Peter works from the Banff office and lives locally, supporting the community through his involvement with local football, having coached youth teams over a number of years and more recently as a director of Deveronvale FC. In his spare time, he also enjoys cycling.

Graham Alexander Director

Before joining SBP in 2017 Graham worked for 34 years at a number of accountancy practices and latterly spent a few years in industry as a finance director. Initially he had responsibility for the management and development of SBP’s Aberdeen office and worked with a mixed portfolio of clients. In 2021, after a secondment to the Fraserburgh office, he took on a new part-time role focusing on developing the internal procedures of the SBP together with preparing the Firm’s accounts.

Lynn MacKinnon Director

Lynn has worked with SBP since 2004 and has an in-depth understanding of local businesses and local issues. She provides accountancy and taxation services for sole traders, partnerships and limited companies. Lynn and her team work closely with clients to provide a range of services tailored to meet the needs of the individual business. Outside of work, Lynn is a leader in a local girl guiding group, supporting young people to develop their potential. She is also a keen walker with the aim of walking one (or more) of the national long-distance routes.

Phil Bellringer Director

Phil manages the day-to-day operations at our Peterhead office, whilst managing a large and varied client base. After completing an HND in accountancy and a trainee programme, he joined Scopus Engineering as management accountant and in 2014 he qualified as a chartered certified accountant. Joining SBP in 2018, he is highly experienced in accounts, personal tax and assisting clients with a range of specialist accountancy advice.

Stephen Glanas Client Manager

Stephen has more than 25 years of accountancy experience, having worked in the accounts profession since leaving school in 1994.

He spent a number of years working in industry moving up through the ranks to become an integral part of a group management team making day-to-day decisions on the running of a number of businesses within the group.

In 2015 he moved back to public practice at manager level bringing with him his industry knowledge and expertise. He joined SBP in 2018 as client manager to assist with the additional client portfolio following SBP acquisitions.

Morag Pirie Client Manager

Morag brings over 20 years of accountancy experience within similar accountancy practices in Aberdeen prior to joining SBP in 2018. She has knowledge of a wide variety of industry sectors and business sizes from sole traders to multinational operations, specialising in accountancy software.

Morag heads up the business services team to provide our clients with book-keeping, payroll, VAT and software assistance, which is a tailored service dependent on individual business needs.

She can also be found at a football pitch at the weekends coaching young referees after her retirement as a FIFA Referee. She also likes playing tennis and cycling.

Stuart Beaton Client Manager

Stuart Beaton has more than 25 years of experience in practice, having worked in the accounts profession since he left school in 1998. Stuart worked up through the ranks to manager level for a Scottish firm of accountants and after a brief spell in industry he returned to the profession.

Stuart joined SBP as a client manager in February 2020 where he manages a varied client portfolio dealing with account preparation, corporate tax and personal tax.

An avid football fan, he follows Aberdeen FC and spends any other spare time in the kitchen conjuring some new recipes for friends and family.

Sophie Hannah Client Manager

Sophie joined SBP as an Accounts Assistant in 2013 having left school with exceptional Higher grades and began studying towards professional accountancy qualification ACCA. Sophie achieved high pass marks in the ACCA exams and became fully qualified in 2019. During her time with SBP she has gained valuable experience in accounts preparation, accounting software, personal and business taxation and training other members of our team. As a Manager Sophie’s role now comprises of running a large and varied client base servicing clients accountancy, corporation tax and personal tax needs, mentoring trainees and managing day-to-day operations of our Peterhead office as a part of our Management Team.

Stuart Clark Client Manager

Coming from a background in hospitality management, Stuart began his accountancy training and studying with a local practice in Aberdeen, gaining experience with owner-managed businesses.

Following this, he worked as a senior accountant for a nationwide firm specialising in freelance and contractor clients, supervising teams in Edinburgh and Aberdeen, before joining SBP in 2017.

In his current role he manages a varied portfolio of north east businesses, providing accounting and tax support and advice.