GROWTH
Vision – Baines Jewitt director Don Adams says the firm has invested in people , facilities and technology to take it “ to the next level ”.
Our aim is to provide clients with more joined-up advice within the respective professions in-house , be it accountancy work or financial planning .”
“ In January last year , there were people interested in buying the firm , but we took the decision we wanted to stay independent .
“ We ’ re very big on serving the community and we think we can meet the needs of our clients better by remaining independent .
“ We want to focus on the close relationships we have built with our clients , rather than becoming a faceless organisation where shareholders pull the strings .
“ We announced our decision to staff in February 2022 and one of the things we promised was that we would find a new ‘ home ’ for Baines Jewitt . Everybody was excited with the news because it was a statement of intent for the future .”
HOME SWEET HOME Compared to the firm ’ s Yarm Lane premises , Baines Jewitt ’ s new home on Falcon Court is airy and open plan .
The two-storey , 10,000-sq ft building was acquired in October 2022 and during the conveyancing process , the opportunity was taken for a complete redesign and refit .
Walk around the building now and the atmosphere reflects the vibrant , progressive and , above all , modern outlook the firm is embracing . Staff are no longer tucked away . Instead , the open plan office design encourages greater work collaboration and team bonding .
The financial services side of the business , which has been running since 2012 , is also now housed in the new offices .
There is also a room specifically set aside for in-house staff and client training and hosting small functions – re-emphasising the firm ’ s commitment to training , as well as collaborating with other firms .
Now complete , the new office can accommodate Baines Jewitt ’ s growth ambitions .
Don said : “ It ’ s important for us to create an environment that will attract new talent and new clients , as well as retain the people and clients we ’ ve got on our books .”
From individuals and families to sole traders and large corporates , Baines Jewitt ’ s client base is already large and wide-ranging – but the firm is not resting on its laurels .
FUTURE STAFFING PLANS Recently , there have been five new starters – three graduates set to study for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales ( ICAEW ) exams , one who has just finished their A levels who will take accounting technician exams as a stepping stone to chartered qualifications , and another team member to provide admin support .
But it ’ s unlikely to stop there . Don explained : “ We value training our own people – we train people from A level stage , either doing the Association of Accounting Technician ( AAT ) qualification , which in turn can lead to chartered
exams , or by recruiting graduates and training them to be chartered .
“ We ’ ve got the whole range – from new starters to people who ’ ve been here over 40 years .”
EXPANSION OF SERVICES As well as consolidating the services it offers for a vast range of financial matters , Baines Jewitt is looking to expand its services even further .
This will be supported by significant investment in IT , infrastructure , payroll functions , training and new recruits .
The company also plans to enhance its already considerable expertise in areas such as tax planning , corporate finance and VAT advice .
A synergy between legal and accountancy work has also been identified , with increasing opportunities for cross-referral work .
Don explained : “ Our aim is to provide clients with more joined-up advice within the respective professions in-house , be it accountancy work or financial planning . “ We also think we can take that to another level by working collaboratively within one building .
“ The foundations we built remain intact , but we are adding to them considerably . “ This is an opportunity for our firm , which has an earned reputation as a highquality business , to move onto the next level .”
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