Getting to know… Andrew Needham

In the latest instalment of Bdaily’s Getting to know... feature, which looks at the person behind the business profile, Andrew Needham, VAT director at accountancy and advisory firm S&W, talks about his unconventional route into tax, building lasting client relationships and brushing shoulders with football greats...

We know you as the VAT director at S&W, but who is the person behind the title? Tell us a little about what makes you tick…

I’ve had a fairly unconventional route into VAT. 

I studied English literature at university before converting to law, which gave me two things I still rely on today: the ability to build a compelling argument and the confidence to challenge assumptions.

No one grows up wanting to be a VAT specialist, but 28 years later I’ve found it’s a space that suits me. 

It’s rarely black and white – it’s about interpreting legislation, understanding commercial reality and then asking: Is there a better way to do this?

That mindset is what drives me.

A big part of what I do is helping clients unlock value by looking at their position differently, whether that’s navigating complex UK rules or structuring international operations more efficiently.

Did you always want to work in VAT?

Not at all. Like many people, I fell into it. 

I was coming to the end of my legal studies, exploring my options, and tax was one of several possibilities.

What kept me in VAT is its complexity and the opportunity to make a tangible difference.

Unlike some other areas of tax, if you present a well-reasoned and technically robust argument to HMRC, you can genuinely influence outcomes.

That becomes even more interesting in an international context. Different countries interpret the rules in their own way. 

Helping clients navigate that complexity, to get it right commercially, is what’s kept me engaged over the years.

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

The best part is the impact we can have. 

When you challenge a position, structure something more effectively, or resolve an issue across multiple territories, the results can be significant.

For example, I helped a client reframe how a service was treated for VAT purposes, which ultimately saved them over £500,000. 

Those moments, where technical expertise directly translates into real commercial benefit, are incredibly rewarding.

The international side adds another dimension. 

It’s about strategy and structure as much as compliance. 

It’s about understanding the supply chains, where to establish a footprint, how goods move across borders and how to avoid unnecessary VAT leakage. 

That’s where we add real, impactful insight and value at S&W.

The more challenging aspect is the regulatory environment. 

Our due diligence and risk management processes and procedures are essential, particularly in professional services, and it can be intensive. 

That said, it’s part and parcel of ensuring we deliver the right outcomes for clients while protecting their, and ultimately our, reputation.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

It’s less about a single moment and more about consistency over time. 

Building long-term relationships and becoming a trusted adviser is what I value most.

I’ve worked with some clients for well over a decade, supporting them through growth, international expansion and changing regulatory landscapes. 

In one case, a simple operational change I suggested delivered savings of £750,000 – and that’s something theystill talk about.

For me, that’s what success looks like: combining technical expertise with commercial understanding to deliver results that matter.

How do you relax outside of work?

I’m not sure I’m the best at switching off, but spending time with family is important to me. 

I also enjoy watching rugby with friends, ideally with a few beers involved.

More recently, my wife and I have been travelling more, which ties in quite nicely with the international nature of my work.

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

The North East has a strong industrial and manufacturing heritage, and that continues to prosper today. 

Many of the businesses we support are internationally active – exporting, operating across borders and navigating complex supply chains.

It’s also a very relationship-driven business community. 

People know each other, and reputations matter. 

That creates a collaborative environment where trusted advisers can really make a lasting difference.

From a practical perspective, it’s a great place to live with everything accessible and a real sense of community. 

It might not shout as loudly as some other regions, but it consistently thrives and delivers.

Tell us something about you we didn’t know…

I used to collect football autographs quite seriously. 

At one point, it became a bit of a personal challenge – you could name virtually any professional player, and I’d have their autograph somewhere in the collection.

The ones that stand out aren’t always the biggest global stars, but the moments behind them.

Meeting Chris Waddle, a North East legend, felt special. 

Then there were players like Michael Laudrup, who, for anyone who followed football in that era, was just exceptional.

I’ve also had moments where you get to meet some of the game’s biggest names – players like Zidane, Figo or Rivaldo – and it catches you off guard because you’re not expecting it.

Those are often the most memorable encounters.

These days I don’t collect in the same way, but I still enjoy the game and the nostalgia that comes with it. 

It’s a reminder of an era when I had a lot more time on my hands – and a lot of patience.

Andrew Needham is VAT director at S&W, which provides accountancy and advisory services across the UK and Ireland, with regional offices including Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds and Harrogate.

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