Karen Staley, BSc ( hons) FCAPartner

Karen didn’t start out with a finance-related degree, but after joining Geens on its graduate programme she went on to qualify as a Chartered Accountant in 1994. From there, Karen built a long and successful career with the firm, eventually becoming its first female partner in 145 years. When Geens joined the bk plus group in 2025, Karen continued her journey with the team.

Today, Karen is the Senior Statutory Audit Partner for our Stoke Central office. She works closely with a wide range of owner-managed businesses that fall under audit regulations, as well as the additional ventures that often sit alongside them. Her experience spans a variety of sectors including construction, manufacturing, not-for-profit, large landed estates, legal practices, and one of her more unusual clients—a monkey forest.

With a broad knowledge of audit, accounts, and tax, Karen is known for giving clients the confidence and clarity they need. Her style is friendly and straightforward and she’s well known for her hand-drawn diagrams, which break down complex issues into simple, visual explanations that clients find much easier to understand.