Most accountants want to grow. I want to stay.
Hi, I'm Dean Shepherd.
For years I watched the same thing happen, over and over. A business signs up with an accountant they like, things go well for a while — and then the firm grows, or merges, or gets bought, and quietly shifts its attention to bigger accounts.
The loyal, established client who was there from the start stops being a priority. Calls go unanswered. Work slips. The relationship cools.
I built ESXR to be the opposite of that.
A deliberately small, boutique practice where every client is known and looked after by me — and where I'm not chasing the next big account at your expense, because I'm not trying to scale.
Who I am
Approaching 30 years in the profession, I'm a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) and a Fellow of the Association of Accounting Technicians (FMAAT) — qualified to the top of the tax profession, the trickier areas of tax are where good advice earns its keep, and where I'm most at home.
Three things shape how I work, and they're worth knowing about.
I spent 8 years as a domain expert in the software industry, helping build the tax and accounts software that practices across the country use every day. That's why I'm comfortable and quick with modern, cloud-based technology systems — ensuring I select the right one for you .
I lecture on tax and present at industry conferences — which means I teach other accountants, and I have to stay at the front of the profession to do it. When the rules change, I'm usually the one explaining them to a room of practitioners, not catching up after the fact.
And I run ESXR as a sole practitioner by choice. The person you speak to is the person doing your work. There's no account manager, no junior to hand you off to, no queue.
What I stand for
Small on purpose. I keep my client list deliberately limited. It's the only honest way to make sure no one ever feels deprioritised again — which is the whole reason this practice exists.
Clarity over cleverness. You should always understand what's happening with your money. My job is to make it simple, not to sound impressive.
Calm over chaos. No last-minute scrambles, no panicked deadlines. Things run smoothly, on time, every time — that's not a luxury, it's just the job done properly.
Ethical, never aggressive. Sensible, efficient tax planning with no schemes and no grey areas. The kind you never lose a night's sleep over.
The same person, every time. You build a relationship with me, and it stays that way. Continuity is the thing big firms can't sell you, and it's the thing that makes it work.
Who I'm for
ESXR is built for established, service-based businesses — consultants, agencies, advisers, creative and professional firms — who want their finances handled properly by someone who has time for them. If you've been let down by an accountant who stopped showing up, that's exactly who I built this for.
Let's talk
If that sounds like the kind of accountant you've been looking for, book a free consultation or call me on 020 8938 3736. No pressure, no pitch — just a conversation about where you are and whether I can help.