Our Staff

Our team are our most important asset. We are lucky to have a fantastic group of committed and experienced staff who are there to support the many voluntary organisations we work with.

Katy Sargeant, Acting CEO

Katy joined WYCAS in June 2022 as a Community Accountant. A degree in European Studies at Bradford University enabled her to spend a year studying in Toulouse, France, where she cultivated her love of cheese and saucisson. Following her degree, she moved to London to train as a chartered accountant with the National Audit Office and qualified with ICAEW in 2001. In 2005, she moved into management accounting in the higher education sector, firstly at Imperial College, London, followed by the University of Leeds. In 2014, Katy decided to put her love of skiing above her love of accountancy and went to work as a chalet host and chef in the French Alps for 3 years. Over the past couple of years (and with some forward thinking managers), she has managed to achieve a work life balance which enables skiing and accountancy to co-exist in perfect harmony!

Simon Bostrom, Chief Accountant

At 18 Simon started a degree in Maths learned to juggle and dropped out! Following a variety of occupations from restoring VWs to running a juggling shop, he signed up for a degree in accountancy and law at Bradford College which he successfully completed. Experience at a charity accountants firm led him to WYCAS where he has worked since January 2003 initially as a Community Accountant, then as Finance Manager in 2008 and Chief Accountant in 2021.

Sarah Coates, Community Accountant

After qualifying as a travel consultant in 1997 Sarah spent 12 years working in the travel industry booking holidays, flights and luxury tailor made holidays for clients. Before joining WYCAS, Sarah spent 8 years working as a debt advisor for Step Change debt charity, where her work involved speaking with clients and helping them find debt solutions through either repayment plans or insolvency solutions. Sarah has 3 children who keep her busy so when she does get chance for time off she likes to read and take part in her son’s scouting activities.

Chalitha Herath, Community Accountant

Chalitha joined Wycas in September 2020, originally from Sri Lanka, she lived and worked in Aberdeen for 10 years before moving to Leeds. Chalitha completed two degrees in accounting and finance at Greenwich University and Oxford Brookes University, before working for a number of companies in Aberdeen, primarily in the oil and gas sector. She qualified in ACCA in 2017. In her spare time Chalitha enjoys practicing meditation, walking and music.

Rhys North, Senior Accountant

Rhys trained as a chartered accountant in London, qualifying with the ICAEW in 1989, before moving to Bradford in 1991 to work in the NHS. He undertook a wide range of general and financial management jobs in the NHS in Bradford, Leeds and Kirklees before retraining in 2010 as a teacher. Rhys taught maths before concentrating on teaching A level accounting. In his spare time he enjoys walking and running in the fells and is an avid follower of the Welsh rugby team. Rhys joined WYCAS in April 2019.

Miranda Paris, Finance & Operations Manager

After completing her education, Miranda undertook a two-year Arts Administration training placement with the Arts Council. During this time, she worked as an Assistant Arts Administrator with both a theatre company and a dance company, which provided the foundation for her career in the voluntary sector. Miranda has since worked in the sector for over 30 years, while also supporting children in local authority care.

Claire Welling, QuickBooks Online Training Officer

Claire has worked for WYCAS since 1999, firstly as Leeds Community Accountant, through to focusing on QuickBooks Online training and support. In 2024 she has become project lead for our Abacus project.

In her spare time Claire enjoys her garden and allotment. Claire also plays badminton and can usually be found at a parkrun on a Saturday morning.