david mckinlay

A little bit about me

David McKinlay joined S3TAX in 2024 as an Associate Director having a long history of delivering bespoke tax advice, support and training to the housing and third sector. Having previously worked with Colin and Ian, he shares their drive and ambition to deliver a personalised, sector-focused approach to third sector clients.

Expertise

David started his career in VAT at HM Customs and Excise (now HMRC) in 2002 before moving into a VAT advisory role at a mid-tier firm several years later. This is where David found his interest in the housing and third sector.

After becoming qualified as an Association of Tax Technician (ATT) and a Chartered Tax Advisor (CTA), David specialised in VAT advice for the charity and not-for-profit sector at a mid-tier firm providing advice to housing associations, education providers, care providers and membership bodies. With 22 years’ experience, David has seen it all, including setting up special methods to improve VAT recovery, delivering staff training and dealing with HMRC.  From his experience, David acknowledges that the most VAT-efficient solution is often the most complex and may not be the most practical, one size does not always fit all.

David has delivered numerous bespoke staff training events and presented at both the National Housing Federation Finance Conference and the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations Finance Conference. With his vast experience, David prides himself on providing practical advice and solutions to the sector.

Other interests

In his spare time, David enjoys good food and good music. Having been a DJ in the past, David enjoys collecting records and likes to spend time raking through old records in second-hand record stores.  He is also a fan of classic cars and watching football, even though his team rarely win.