Compliance

RCK embody a unique self-regulation approach, with each claim we submit to HMRC being reviewed by our independent, in-house compliance and review team.

RCK Compliance

The compliance team exists to protect our clients and colleagues by ensuring that the work that RCK produce is fair, correct, and well-evidenced. At RCK we take responsibility for the review process, as well as acting as a hub for tax-technical expertise and dealing with any correspondence with the tax authorities. Our compliance and review team has been made totally independent of our delivery team, as opposed to a more common peer review process.

The team scrutinise each claim with the tax inspector mindset before it goes out – so we have all the answers to the questions HMRC might ask. Not only does this reduce the risk of enquiry, but it makes dealing with those that do arise much more efficient.

Reviews take place at the submission stage when written evidence of R&D is drafted, the financial assessment has been calculated, and the complete submission package has been finalised. We also have a daily check up with our consultants to make sure nothing slips through the gaps.

Compliance in R&D Tax

The Importance of Compliance When Claiming R&D Tax Relief

Former HMRC R&D Compliance Officer and current RCK HMRC Liaison, Alex Marshall, shares his insight on how compliance is everything when claiming R&D tax relief. Compliance within the R&D tax relief scheme has never been more important, with the results of HMRC’s Mandatory Random Enquiry Programme (MREP), outlining greater levels of error and fraud than previously expected, resulting in a major overhaul in activity to tackle non-compliance. But how did we get here?

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RCK's Compliance Team

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Sophie Spells

Head of Legal, Data and Compliance and General Counsel

Sophie’s legal career has spanned over 13 years. Prior to joining RCK she has spent the last seven years leading an in-house legal, data and compliance team at a top law firm. Her experience incorporates all things legal (contracts/ litigation/ corporate), data protection, procurement, costs challenges, funding, compliance and dispute resolution. Prior to this, she worked in private practice in asset finance at Norton Rose, specialising in Shipping and Aviation Finance.

In her roles as both General Counsel and Head of Legal, Data and Compliance, Sophie safeguards the business by ensuring the adoption of best-practice principles in all areas of corporate governance and departmental procedure. With her wealth of legal, data and compliance knowledge she is consistently tightening RCK’s security which is consistent with RCK’s adopted mission to be the safest and most security-conscious provider of services in our industry.
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Eli Gottlieb

Head of Risk and Compliance

Eli is an experienced Chartered Tax Adviser (both ATT & CTA qualified) with nearly ten years of expertise in various areas of tax. His career includes working in Private Client Tax at Smith & Williamson (now Evelyn Partners) and Tax Dispute Resolution at BDO. Eli excels as a resilient problem-solver with a keen interest in helping clients navigate and resolve complex tax disputes. As Head of Risk & Compliance, Eli leads the Compliance Team, ensuring all claims made by RCK meet the firm’s rigorous standards including compliance with both the legislation and HMRC’s guidance, without compromising on the value of relief to which clients are entitled.  The Compliance Team also manages all correspondence with HMRC and any arising Enquiries. The team has a strong track record of resolving HMRC enquiries in a mutually beneficial manner for their clients and HMRC. Outside of tax, Eli's passionate about helping others navigate the convoluted care system in the UK. This stems from his lived experience as a primary carer for his brother-in-law who has Down’s Syndrome.
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Brian Ducran

Senior Compliance Advisor

Brian began his career in the 1980s with the former 'Inland Revenue’ Tax office in Leicester and is ATT accredited. Throughout his tenure, Brian has held various roles spanning foundational, operational, and senior leadership positions across several business areas, including tax compliance enquiries, investigations, and training. More recently, Brian spent the last four years working in R&D Tax Credit Relief, including being designated the National R&D Tax Technical Enquiry Consultant. In this capacity, Brian trained junior officers and supported over 170 more experienced Higher Officer caseworkers, providing strategic guidance on complex R&D Tax Credit enquiries. Brian also helped shape some of the current R&D tax policies and requirements for filing claims. Brian also significantly influenced HMRC caseworker officers' approach to R&D compliance activity, advocating for a proactive mindset among caseworkers and upskilling HMRC Enquiry caseworkers.
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Alex Marshall

Senior Compliance & HMRC Liaison

Alex Marshall joined RCK directly from HMRC’s R&D department, bringing more than 3 years of experience as an R&D Compliance officer. In his role as a Senior Compliance & HMRC Liaison at RCK, Alex plays a crucial role in the Compliance team by responding to HMRC enquiries and advising on our approach to claims.
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Wane Thayalan

Senior Compliance & HMRC Liaison

Wane has been practising in R&D tax incentives for several years, including Ayming, PwC and EY, and recently returned from a year working overseas in the Swedish R&D regime. With a geochemistry postgraduate background and specialised in construction, engineering and life sciences R&D claims, Wane’s previous roles have all been fully 360 covering business development, claim preparation, reviews/sign-off and enquiries.
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Chris Johnson (Former HMRC)

Compliance Manager

Chris Johnson joined RCK Partners from HMRC, where he was a Higher Officer within VAT compliance, dealing with complex VAT cases. Chris has also gained extensive experience working within the private banking sector as a Senior Trust Officer, where he gained a high level of taxation knowledge in capital gains, inheritance and income tax.
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Pia Chakrabarty

Assistant Manager

Pia is an audit and accounting professional with extensive experience in statutory audit procedures, accounting principles and financial reporting.

She has audited clients listed on various stock exchange (NSE/BSE/SEC) in sectors such as manufacturing, IT services and healthcare services, and has been responsible for auditing a whole unit of an NSE listed company, performing SOX audit for an SEC listed client.

Pia has assisted clients in preparation of standalone and consolidated financial statements in line with respective accounting framework, with subsidiaries in various countries.
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Millie McNeill

Compliance and HMRC Liaison

Millie is an experienced Tax Adviser with over 15 years’ experience in the Accounting and Tax sector. Both ATT and AAT qualified, she has spent almost a decade of her career specialising in R&D Tax Credits and Creative Reliefs. Having been part of both a national R&D team as a Tax Manager for one of the ‘Big 4’ and a Consultant within the Tax Advisory team in a specialist R&D tax consultancy, she brings a plethora of experience for both SMEs and large companies. Prior to this she was a Private Client Tax Adviser and assisted with Tax Investigations across a variety of tax technical subjects. Millie’s technical R&D knowledge is second to none, and her passion for education, both for clients and internally, means she is well placed to guide companies through the enquiry process, using her knowledge and extensive experience to ensure the best outcome for her clients. She has specialised in R&D enquiries for over 6 years and was part of the taskforce that saw a landmark R&D case through FTT (First-Tier Tribunal) against HMRC in the client’s favour. Outside of work, Millie is a sports enthusiast and is a keen golfer.
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Gosia Szalega

HMRC Liaison

Gosia obtained BSc (Hons) in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and MSc in International Business and Management. She has previously spent more than 3 years working in R&D Tax both in the UK and in Canada, where she was heavily involved in claim preparation and defence.
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Taher Ebrahim

Compliance Consultant

Taher graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in Economics and French, during which time he studied at the Toulouse School of Economics. With recent experience in the not-for-profit sector, Taher worked as an Assistant Research Analyst in Paris before developing his audit skills back in the UK.
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Mohammed Yusufali

Compliance Consultant

Mohammed graduated from University of Portsmouth with a degree in Accounting and Finance. He has worked in various industries including retail and manufacturing with broad commercial acumen and a thorough understanding of the accounting process.
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