Our Team

Senior Staff

John Speed FCA

John qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1992 with BDO Binder Hamlyn, before becoming part of Arthur Andersen in 1994. John remained at Arthur Andersen until 2000, where he worked on an impressive number of UK and International Charity audits. During his tenure he also: worked on global due diligence assignments on proposed acquisitions; assisted the development of working capital forecasts for companies raising finance from the UK, US and other international stock markets; provided technical screening for the Annual Charity Accounts Awards and internally acted as both a Group Manager, and a member of the Senior Development Team.

In 2000 John established JS2 with a former colleague, where he has developed and led a specialist team on a vast array of projects, including acting as an interim finance director, developing working capital/cash flow forecasting models, providing training to client staff and trustees and acting as Client Director of the outsourced finance team on a substantial portfolio of clients.

John has worked with over 300 not for profits, ranging from small local start-up charities to large multi-national campaigning and development organisations. The driving force behind JS2’s success is John’s personal ethos, which is to provide professional, quality support and advice in an approachable manner, which is geared appropriately to the audience, while, above all else, maintaining excellent client service.

Outside of work he is an avid F1 fan, loves cars in general and enjoys travelling. He has two daughters at secondary school, and is never happier than helping behind the scenes at their annual ice pantomime performances each December.

Adam Gibbs ACA

After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 2009, Adam moved to charity specialists Gotham Erskine, before taking on a manager role in the charity team of a top 20 accountancy practice. He has worked with a wide variety of charities, campaigning organisations, membership bodies and social enterprises over his 10 years in the profession. He has been involved with preparing management and year end statutory accounts, carrying out audit and independent examinations and creating budgets and forecasts, alongside other specialist projects.

Adam has a holistic approach to his clients, appreciating that connections with people form the basis of a successful partnership with his clients, and that the stories that sit behind the numbers are the key to understanding how they operate.

Outside of work, he enjoys motorsport, live music and fresh air, taking the opportunity to visit a beach or castle whenever he can.

Caroline Shrubb ACA

Caroline has been a member of the JS2 team since 2007. She began life at JS2 as an Accounts Assistant, and has developed her career alongside her studies to become a Client Manager and a qualified Chartered Accountant. Her portfolio consists of a wide array of clients, varying from membership organisations to charities that give front line care to beneficiaries. Each client brings their own unique challenges, requiring an individual, personal approach, alongside a wide variety of skills to assist them. Caroline supplements her technical knowledge by being truly passionate about her clients; she keeps up with their day-to-day activities on social media to have the best possible knowledge of their work.

Outside of work Caroline is a keen equestrian. She is currently retraining an ex-racehorse to compete across multiple disciplines, and has a key role in her local riding club committee. Her favourite event to compete in is cross-country.

Joanna Beck MAAT

Jo started her accountancy training in a commercial organisation, but wanted to work with the not-for-profit sector having previously spent a year working at the Lee Abbey Christian Retreat Centre in Lynton, Devon. She joined JS2 as an Accounts Assistant in 2007 and is a member of The Association of Accounting Technicians and part-qualified with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Jo takes a personal interest in much of the work of her clients and feels privileged to work with them. Now an Assistant Manager, she works with and prepares management accounts for a variety of not-for-profit organisations and prides herself on her keen level of attention to detail. 

Outside of work Jo is actively involved with her local church where, as part of a team, she also teaches Sunday school to children aged 3-7.