Karen Coulter | Associate Partner
k.coulter@fpmca.com

Department:
Audit/Accounts Team 

Professional Qualifications
1994–1997: BSc 2.1 (Honours) Accounting, QueensUniversity, Belfast (QUB)
 
1997 – 1998:Diploma in Accounting,Queens University, Belfast(QUB)
 
May 1999: Passed Association of Taxation Technician (ATT) Exams
 
November 2000: Passed FAE Examination 1st Attempt
 
September 2001: Qualified Chartered Accountant
 
September 2003: Awarded ICAI Auditing Certificate
 
January 2006: Appointed Responsible Individual

Background
Karen is originally from Kilkeel, and completed her degree at Queen’s University, Belfast, followed by a Diploma at Queens also. She joined FPM in 1999 as a trainee accountant and completed her training contract with the firm.  She was promoted to Associate Partner in FPM in May 2007. 

Other Positions
  • Affiliate of Institute of Taxation Technicians on passing ATT Exams in May 1999
  • Member of Northern Ireland Technical Committee (NITC)
  • Past Member of Plato / Louth County Council Network
  • Board member of DKIT, MA in Accounting
  • Voluntary Mentor for Prince’s Trust Foundation
  • Member of Collegians Girls Hockey Club from 1998 – 1999
  • Member of Kilkeel Girls Hockey Club 1999 – present – Player of the Year 00/01, 01/02, 02/03
  • Captain of Kilkeel Girl Hockey Club September 2000
  • Qualified St John’s Ambulance First Aider
  • Head Girl of Kilkeel High School 1993 – 1994.

Special Awards
  • Awarded McCauley Cup in 1994 from school for Best All-round Girl
  • Successfully completed six month Management Course on First Line Management

Relevant Experience

Training and Recruitment:
  • Joint responsibility for internal training and recruitment
  • Responsible for IIP (Investors in People) Accreditation


Audit & Accounts Preparation

  • Audit supervisor on a number of assignments in the following areas:
    • Manufacturing;
    • Retail;
    • Wholesale and Distribution;
    • Building Contractors;
    • Charitable Organisations;
    • Nursing Homes;
    • Doctors; and
    • Farmers.
  • Preparation of consolidated financial statements.
  • Preparation of statutory financial statements for medium, small and audit exempt companies.
  • Preparation of management accounts for sole traders, partnerships and companies from prime books of record.
  • Preparation and audit of solicitor accounts.
  • Audit of grant claims.

 

Consultancy:

  • Preparation of Financial Projections for a number of clients
  • Assisted in the preparation of a number of Economic Appraisals
  • Formation and implementation of Financial Controls within a water  product company

 

Other:


  • Grant assistance work for various clients including companies, sole traders and partnerships
  • Carried out numerous reviews of management information systems on behalf of clients, providing recommendations for improvement
  • Assisted in several forensic accounting assignments
  • Specific knowledge of packages such as Lotus 123, Excel, APEX, Word, Chartered Software, Taxsoft, SAGE Accounting and SAGE Payroll
  • Audit of a range of clubs and organisations limited by guarantee