'Cashflow Queen' banned by second professional body

A woman at the centre of a tax rebate scandal has been barred from a body that represents finance professionals.

Zoe Goodchild, also known as Zoe Rosborough, has been excluded from the Institute of Accountants and Bookkeepers (IAB) following allegations of misconduct and dishonesty.

She was also fined more than £12,000 after a hearing by the IAB's conduct panel last month.

Goodchild said she did "not accept the finding" and that she was taking steps to challenge the decision.

In 2023, the BBC revealed how hundreds of Goodchild's clients had been left facing huge bills after wrongly claiming tax rebates through her previous company, Apostle Accounting.

A three-year police investigation is still ongoing following allegations of fraud.

Apostle, which was based in Stowmarket, was also fined £40,000 the following year by another professional body, the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB).

This was for non-compliance with money laundering rules and at the time Goodchild was also "excluded" from the ICB.

Liquidators for the company reported that an insurance policy, which could have covered the fees paid to Apostle by the approximately 800 people who used its scheme, had been voided as a result.

They added that the sale of its address was delayed due to "a flea infestation and intervention by the police who raided the premises seizing all electronic devices and company records".

Goodchild subsequently set up another company called Innovate Accountancy, which was named in the latest action by the IAB.

According to the institute, it sanctioned her because she did not declare the previous disciplinary action when she renewed her membership.

The 36-year-old now posts on LinkedIn referring to herself as the "Cashflow Queen" and the "Awake Accountant", offering financial advice to businesses and her 17,000 followers.

It was Suffolk-based tax consultant Paul Rosser who initially approached the IAB with concerns about Goodchild.

He said the latest exclusion meant her "anti-money laundering supervision by the IAB has also been revoked".

Rosser added: "She should not be offering accountancy services or tax advice, until she can find another supervisory body willing to accept her".

IAB chief executive Sarah Palmer said Goodchild was also ineligible for future membership of the body.

She added: "IAB takes its role as an AML (anti-money laundering) supervisory body seriously and maintains the highest professional standards."

In a statement to the BBC, Goodchild said she did not accept the finding of dishonesty and she was "taking further steps in relation to that aspect of the decision".

She explained the matter related "to a disclosure issue arising from differing interpretations of wording on a membership renewal form, rather than any finding of fraud, misappropriation of funds, or client dishonesty".

"I have at all times sought to cooperate with relevant bodies and to act professionally," she continued.

"Given the ongoing legal nature of this matter, I will not be providing further detailed comment at this stage."

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