Recognition is nice. Recognition that reflects real work for real clients is even better.
Two of our directors, Joanna Fleming and Laura O'Regan, have been named in Accountancy Age's 35 Under 35 for 2026. It's a national list that celebrates the people reshaping UK accountancy. And we couldn't be prouder to see two Fortus names on it.
Here's a bit about what earned them their place.
Joanna Fleming - Director, Head of Medical
Joanna works exclusively in primary care. That means GP practices, and all the knotty financial questions that come with them: NHS pensions, partnership agreements, property financing and practice mergers, often at a time when margins are getting tighter.
One example says it all. Joanna spent six months untangling and correcting historic NHS pension records for a senior GP, securing their retirement in the process. Then she turned that experience into a preventative pension audit protocol she now runs across her whole client base. Fix the problem, then stop it happening again.
She's also led hesitant medical practices through the move to Xero ahead of Making Tax Digital, turning box-ticking compliance into real-time reporting they can actually use. Beyond client work, Joanna is a former President of the York Society of Chartered Accountants, sits on the ICAEW West and North Yorkshire Network Board, and mentors ICAEW trainees.
Laura O'Regan - Accounts Director
Laura has changed how her clients get advice. She swapped one-off, year-end account reviews for regular, live-data planning sessions. The results speak plainly: her advisory portfolio has grown 130%, her annual recurring fee income is up 195% since 2023, and client retention has stayed above 95%.
She's just as sharp on the commercial side. When a founder-led business exit stalled after failed external sales, Laura restructured it as a management buyout and paid out the exiting shareholders a full year ahead of schedule. Her fixed-fee advisory model has lifted recurring fees across her portfolio by 267% since 2021.
Laura is also the youngest member of the Fortus Client Advisory Board, has directed more than 30 cloud accounting migrations, and mentors six trainees as an ICAEW student counsellor.
Congratulations, both
Joanna and Laura show what good advisory work looks like. Clear thinking, genuine care for clients, and a knack for turning tricky problems into lasting solutions. This recognition is well deserved.
If you want to find out how the team could help your business - reach out below.
