Graham Gibbons

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

Graham Gibbons, a sole practitioner admitted in 2003, admitted four allegations relating to failure/delay in delivering accountants' reports, failure to maintain proper accounting records, failure to prepare bank reconciliation statements for at least 12 months, and bank charges being deducted from client account. The difficulties originated from his bookkeeper's illness and a faulty accounting system. He co-operated fully and closed his practice. The Tribunal fined him £3,000 and ordered costs of £2,100, with an indefinite suspension to take effect unless all outstanding accountants' reports were filed by 5 May 2010. No finding of dishonesty was made.

Duties found breached:

• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Accounting records, reconciliation and reports

Mitigating factors:

• Failures emanated from a single set of circumstances initially caused by the illness of his bookkeeper (his mother)
• Full co-operation with the SRA
• Closure of his practice, for which the Tribunal gave him credit
• Personal difficulties including a failed merger and loss of fees
• Client account shortfall caused by the bank's wrongful application of charges was remedied/refunded; interest credited offset the shortfall
• No ongoing risk