5 years ago we sat down as a group of partners and discussed what our future strategy should be. It was clear that we all shared the same ambition for the firm: we wanted Shorts to become the go to firm for ambitious businesses and individuals in our chosen markets.
Our clients were telling us that they wanted a different type of accountant and that what they really needed was for their adviser to help them plan properly for the future, not just report the past. Further, they wanted advice which incorporated both their business and personal objectives and how these could be achieved in a tax efficient manner. Ensuring we provide clear, forward thinking strategic advice has therefore been at the heart of everything we have done over the last 5 years.
Shorts achievemements;
This period has seen Shorts investing significantly in people, premises and technology. We now have two modern open plan offices in Chesterfield and Sheffield, providing a professional environment for staff and clients to meet and work. Staff numbers across the firm have now increased to over 100 with an emphasis on our key areas of business taxes, private client, corporate finance and management accounts. It is worthwhile noting that we currently employ 12 Chartered Tax Advisers, which is more than any other local independent accountant in the region demonstrating our commitment to provide high quality tax advice.
It has been an incredible 5 years of success: the firm’s revenues having nearly doubled and we have received nominations for, and won, numerous local and national accountancy awards. Further, we were chosen by both the Sheffield and the Barnsley and Rotherham Chambers of Commerce as their R&D tax relief partner and we are focussed on working with both Chambers to ensure that as many local businesses as possible take advantage of the generous tax reliefs available for innovation.
We were also incredibly proud to become the first platinum partner in the region for Xero, the world’s fastest growing accounting software. Our management accounts service represents a clever crafting together of technical know-how, built around the Xero platform to provide our clients with management information that provides genuine insight into their businesses.
We would like to thank both our hardworking and dedicated staff and our clients both old and new for their contribution to our journey so far. We are confident that the future of the firm remains strong and that our strategy of providing high quality, strategic advice continues to be the right one. Indeed, despite the clear economic uncertainty that currently exists regarding Brexit, our view is that we are in a fantastic position to capitalise on the opportunity we have created for ourselves to grow and expand Shorts further.
It is always natural in any business to focus on the future and the challenges we face, rather than thinking about what we have achieved to date and we therefore created the attached 5-year report card to reflect properly on the progress we’ve made.
I hope you find it as inspirational as we did.
Other recent links;
Andy Irvine
Andy looks after many of our larger corporate clients for whom he closely monitors their accounting and taxation requirements. Drawing on extensive experience gained from working for a ‘Big 4’ firm, Andy is ideally placed to manage and supervise larger assignments. As a Chartered Tax Adviser he actively identifies tax planning opportunities for clients and has considerable experience in leading due diligence assignments. As a member of the Association of Independent Medical Accountants (AISMA), Andy is well qualified to deal with the accounting, finance, taxation, practice management and pension issues affecting doctors today.
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