The success of our VAT funding model is founded upon the key strategic partnerships we have developed over the past eight years. 

Amongst these partners is the Leeds-based chartered accountants Buckle Barton, a long-established firm with a history that can be traced back to 1937.

We were lucky enough to have an interview with Buckle Barton’s director Mark Dalton to discuss his background and the role he plays in supporting BloomSmith.

Mark has been with the company since the turn of the millennium, bringing with him an incredible wealth of experience concerning everything tax related.

From helping with the tax affairs of football clubs to his voluntary work, it was a privilege to learn more about a figure that plays a key supporting role in our operations.

What is your background and experience?

I am a chartered accountant and a director at Buckle Barton. Alongside my work with BloomSmith and VAT on commercial property transactions, I look after a portfolio of clients over a wide range of industries – from farming to football clubs.

What sets Buckle Barton apart its competitors?

As an independent firm we are small enough to maintain close relationships with our clients but large enough to have someone who will have the answer to most accounting and tax questions.

Could you share some insights about your position at Buckle Barton and your journey with the company?

I joined Buckle Barton as a trainee way back in 2000 and have never left.

Soon after qualifying I was appointed as a manager, and in 2016 took part in a management buyout with two colleagues.

One of the reasons I have stayed so long is that I enjoy the variety of work that Buckle Barton offers – no two days or two clients are the same.

How long have you been working with BloomSmith?

I have been working with Bloomsmith since 2016.

Where does Buckle Barton fit within the BloomSmith lending framework?

Buckle Barton has two key roles: checking that the VAT being financed will be recoverable from HMRC, and managing the VAT reclaim on behalf of the borrower to make sure this is done as quickly as possible – HMRC timescales permitting.

Given that the VAT reclaimed is nearly always a significant amount, HMRC invariably raises queries before approving the repayment and we liaise with the borrowers and their other advisers to answer these – and reassure HMRC that the reclaim is valid.

Is there anything else you’d like to shout about?

In my spare time I serve on the board of a Multi Academy School Trust in West Yorkshire, where I chair the Audit and Finance Committee.

Buckle Barton encourages staff to be involved with voluntary or charity activities – we even have a charity committee that organises fundraising events.

We have also started to have an annual volunteering day – in 2023 this was for the River and Canal Trust, where we spent a day painting bridges and cutting grass.

I also now know how many accountants it takes to retrieve a submerged traffic cone from a canal… four, plus a grappling hook!

We would like to thank Buckle Barton for the valuable role they’ve played in supporting our growth since our foundation in 2015, you can learn more about them on their website.

Equally, to learn more about how we can help you fund the VAT owed on your commercial property purchase, please get in touch with us today.