Acumen Group

Sandy Robertson
Group Managing Director
Office Location - Aberdeen
Email: sandy.robertson@acumen.info
Sandy Robertson is the managing director of the Acumen Group. The Acumen Group consists of Acumen Accountants and Advisors Limited, Acumen Financial Planning Limited, Acumen IT Consultancy Limited and Freelance World Network Limited.

Acumen Accountants and Advisors Limited commenced trading on the 1st November 1994. The company continued to grow with the addition of Acumen Financial Planning Limited in 1st November 2002. Acumen IT commenced trading in June 2005. Freelance World Network Limited is owned 50% by Acumen and the company commenced trading in 2000.

James Smith
Director
Office Location - Peterhead
Email: james.smith@acumen.info
James is a Director of both Acumen Accountants and Advisors and Acumen Financial Planning and is responsible for the management of the Peterhead office. His main areas of specialisation are business development and marketing for Acumen Accountants and Advisors, preparation of business plans and tax planning. James is a qualified CA and is a Fellow of the Institute of Financial Planning.
James is married with two children, Rachel and Jonathan. In his free time he is actively involved with his local church and enjoys reading, cooking and several sports, in particular golf.

Colin Hay
Director of Acumen Holdings
Office Location - Aberdeen
Email: colin.hay@acumen.info
Colin is a Director of Acumen Holdings, through no fault of his own, Colin is not in a position to be best placed to have "day to day" operational responsibilities for the group. Over time Colin will develop a "non - executive" role, but until further notice, he will be responsible for overseeing compliance. Colin will work with staff involved in compliance from all of the companies in the group, to help ensure that company specific as well as group wide compliance issues are addressed.

In this context, compliance will include but will not necessarily be restricted to :

Compliance with Employment Law
Compliance with the rules and regulations of each of the Professional Bodies to which our companies and/or its employees/ directors belong
Compliance with Money Laundering regulations
Risk Management
Litigation

Colin is married with two grown-up sons. In his free time he is involved with local charities and keeps fit by going to the gym.

Kay Newton
Group Marketing Manager
Office Location - Aberdeen
Email: kay.newton@acumen.info
Kay Newton graduated from The Robert Gordon University in 1993.

Kay returned to complete her diploma in Marketing in June 2000 and gained Chartered Marketer status in 2002 after completing a Masters in Marketing with The Robert Gordon University. Kay completed a diploma in business advice and counselling in 2003.

Kay enjoys spinning, body pump, swiss ball and body balance. Kay lives in Inverurie and spends the majority of her time at the gym. Kay is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing committee - North of Scotland branch.

Mervyn Stanley
Director of Acumen Holdings
Office Location - Aberdeen
Email: mervyn.stanley@acumen.info
In February 2008, Mervyn was promoted to Director of Acumen Holdings, previously he held the position of Group Business Development Manager. Mervyn's responsibilities are primarily focused on business development across all companies with the Acumen Group, including Freelance World. In its widest sense, Business Development incorporates:

Business Development
Marketing
Image including facilities
Reputation Management
Corporate and Social Responsibility
Management Support to the Edinburgh Office

Mervyn joined Acumen from the Clydesdale Bank where he was Business Development Partner at the Aberdeen Financial Solutions Centre. Having been involved in the Financial Services sector since 1985, Mervyn is well known in the North East business community, particularly in the Banking and Legal Sectors.

Mervyn is married with one son. A keen sportsman he is involved with a number of sporting charities and is a past Chairman of Elgin Racquets Club.

Lesley Jenkins
Office Manager
Office Location - Aberdeen
Email: lesley.jenkins@acumen.info
Lesley Jenkins joins the Acumen Group as Office Manager. Lesley has over 17 years experience in office environments in industries such as Oil & Gas, Technology and most recently worked as PA to the C.O.O. of an international management consultancy. Her main areas within the Acumen Group will be to ensure the smooth running and upkeep of the office for all clients and staff. Her first duties included the refurbishment and set up of two new floors in the Aberdeen office to allow for our growing staff numbers.

Lesley is married with two grown up children. In her spare time she enjoys being out in the countryside walking with her husband and their German Shepherd dog, Cydr or reading by the fire !

Janine Sydenham
Group HR Manager
Office Location - Aberdeen
Email: janine.sydenham@acumen.info

Janine has joined the team as Group HR Manager. With over thirteen years HR experience from financial and professional services organisations, Janine has a wealth of HR expertise and knowledge. Janine will develop the HR function for the Acumen Group.

Janine is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development!

Janine is married and lives in Stonehaven with her husband, Dave, and their cat. Spare time is taken up in deep water! Both Janine and Dave are very active scuba divers, both being instructors with the British Sub Aqua Club. Weekends are spent either teaching courses or enjoying diving somewhere around the Scottish coast.

Directors and key staff

The Team

Sandy Robertson

James Smith

Colin Hay

Lesley Jenkins

Kay Newton

Mervyn Stanley

Janine Sydenham

Companies in the Acumen Group include Acumen Accountants and Advisors Limited, Acumen Financial Planning Limited and Acumen IT Consultancy Limited. Acumen Financial Planning Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Acumen Accountants and Advisors Limited are registered to carry out audit work and are regulated for a range of investment business activities by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants but are not authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Acumen Financial Planning Limited, Registered in Scotland number 215343, VAT Number 894 6221 94. Acumen Accountants and Advisors Limited, Registered in Scotland number 153885, VAT Number 894 6221 94. Acumen IT Consultancy Limited, Registered in Scotland number 284749, VAT Number 859 474862. Acumen Holdings (Aberdeen) Limited, Registered in Scotland number 215503, VAT Number 894 6221 94. Registered office, Commercial House, 2 Rubislaw Terrace, Aberdeen, AB10 1XE.