Getting to know... Paul Shields

In the latest instalment of Bdaily’s Getting to know... feature, which looks at the person behind the business profile, Paul Shields, partner and head of the Newcastle office at accountancy and business advisory firm Johnston Carmichael, talks about his route into the accountancy sector, his love of sport and why the North East is a great place to live and work...

We know you as a partner at Johnston Carmichael Newcastle, but who is the person behind the title? Tell us a little about what makes you tick…

I’m quite a competitive person by nature, which probably comes from growing up around sport. 

That mindset has definitely stuck with me, whether that’s in business or outside of work.

I get a lot of satisfaction from building things and seeing people develop. 

A big part of what drives me is helping others progress, whether that’s within the team or supporting clients to achieve their goals. 

Did you always want to work in accountancy?

No, my plan was to take a year out after finishing my A-levels, but my parents weren’t too keen on that.

My dad spotted an advert in a local paper for an accountancy apprenticeship through the North East Chamber of Commerce and ‘encouraged’ me to apply.

What’s the best bit about your job? And the worst?

The best bit is definitely the people. 

We work closely with clients and colleagues to help businesses succeed, and over the years I’ve been lucky to work with some brilliant people and ambitious entrepreneurs. 

No two days are ever the same because of that.

There isn’t really a ‘worst’ part. 

Like any job, some days are more challenging than others, but they’re usually the ones where you learn the most and come out the other side better for it.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

Outside of work, it’s being a husband and a father.

At work, it’s seeing people progress. 

I’ve been involved in graduate recruitment and training for many years, and there’s something really rewarding about signing off training records and seeing people qualify.

I’m also really proud of what we’ve built in Newcastle. 

We’ve grown from nothing to more than 25 people and 12 service lines in less than three years, which is a great achievement for the team. 

That said, we’re not ones for standing still - there is a lot more we want to do.

How do you relax outside of work?

Sport is a big part of my life and always has been. 

I still play cricket and coach at my local club, and I’ve recently made a return to competitive football after a 20-year break – although these days, it’s in an over-40s league.

I also play a bit of padel and try to get out for golf when I can. 

If I’m not at work or at home, I’m usually somewhere on a pitch or a course.

What makes the North East such a great place to live and work?

I’m born and bred in Sunderland, and have worked in Newcastle for nearly 20 years, so I’ve seen first-hand what makes the region special.

There’s a real honesty about the people in the North East – the work ethic, the resilience, the humour. 

There’s also a strong sense of community that you don’t always find elsewhere.

The region has had its challenges, but there’s been real progress in recent years and a growing sense of confidence and ambition. 

It’s a brilliant place to live and work.

Tell us something about you we didn’t know…

My grandfather and his father both played professional football, and my great uncle Willie Watson represented England in both football and cricket.

He’s one of only a small number of people to have achieved that, and with how sport has evolved, it’s probably something we won’t see again.

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