Saturday February 8 2025
Swindon & Wiltshire News
Devizes accountant Scott Sartin has become one of the youngest ever to become a Fellow Chartered Accountant in the country, despite only taking up the profession because it allowed him to play football at the weekend.
Mr Sartin, 35, who is managing director and owner of Charlton Baker of Market Place, Devizes, has been on the fast track ever since leaving Devizes School aged 18 in 1996.
“In the beginning I had no idea what I wanted to do in terms of a career,” he said. “One of the reasons I applied for the job is because at the time I was playing a lot of football and the 9 to 5 Monday to Friday format seemed to be a good balance. But almost as soon as I started I realised what a great career it was and found I was good at it.”
He was taken under the wing of Charlton Baker owner Rex Charlton and encouraged to pass his examinations as soon as possible. He quickly gained his AAT qualification and went straight on to study the ACA qualification, becoming a chartered accountant in 2003 after first passing his examinations in 2001 and then completing the three years required practice experience in the job.
To become an FCA you need ten years experience as a fully fledged chartered accountant.
Just two years later in 2005 he was made a partner of Charlton Baker and when Mr Charlton retired in 2010, Mr Sartin took over the firm which now employs 22 people, with most of the team working from the head office in Devizes.
He said: “I always knew the firm had huge potential and it has been very exciting for me to be able to take it forward in to new areas. We work very closely with our clients and specialise in bringing companies together who are able to add something to each other’s businesses.
“I am particularly interested in start-up and high growth businesses and assisting clients with business strategies and associated tax planning. I have also developed a niche in dealing with high profile music artists, which is taking me all over the globe at present”
Mr Sartin, who is married to Claire whom he met at Devizes School, and has three young sons, said: “Most accountants become a Fellow in their early to mid 40s because they first studied at university, did their accountancy training and then need ten years experience.
The youngest one I have found is 31 but they are not in based in the UK. I would really encourage young people who are interested in accountancy to try the route I have taken.”
As well as running Charlton Baker, the young entrepreneur has also released an App on the iPad which teaches people to sight read music. “The project is very exciting, but Charlton Baker is my main focus. Managing our rapid expansion is an enjoyable challenge but requires my full focus.”
