Two new partners have been appointed by South West accountancy and finance group Old Mill following a restructuring that enables faster career progression as it continues with its ambitious growth strategy.
Chartered accountant Jamie Rudge and compliance director Duncan Parkes are both now technical partners in the compliance team at the firm, which has offices in Chippenham, Wells, Yeovil and Exeter.
Their promotions bring the total number of partners to 25, with seven recently added as part of the firm’s restructuring.
These include Jon Orchard, Julia Banwell and Stephen Martin, who were promoted in December, while David Gage was appointed head of VAT and partner last October.
Amanda Browning became the firm’s new head of wealth management and partner last month.
Jamie is a chartered accountant with a background in audit and accounts, and extensive experience in business, accounting and compliance issues. She joined Old Mill in 2016 as an associate director and is now the practice assurance principal for the accountancy side of the business, with responsibility for all areas of regulation, standards, compliance and risk.
She is also Old Mill’s ethics principal, ensuring quality and compliance throughout the firm, and has been a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales’ (ICAEW) investigation committee since 2019 – one of the independent regulatory and disciplinary committees that oversee the ICAEW Professional Standards Department.
Jamie said: “I am excited to join the partner group at what is a very exciting time in both the accountancy profession, and Old Mill’s growth.
“There’s lots of upcoming change in the accountancy world, and I’m keen to help shape Old Mill’s future and embrace these opportunities.”
Duncan joined Old Mill in 2008 as compliance manager, going on to become head of compliance before moving into his current role.
He is responsible for all areas of regulation, standards, compliance and risk for the financial planning side of the business and is also a member of Old Mill Financial Planning Ltd’s board.
A Fellow of the Personal Finance Society (PFS) – and former winner of the PFS Chartered Financial Planner of the Year Award – he has been instrumental in the development of Old Mill’s financial planning approach.
Duncan is also a huge advocate of Old Mill’s shift away from providing one-off advice to more long-term full-service advice that clients can turn to for all their professional service needs.
He said: “To become a partner at such an exciting time in the evolution of the financial planning profession is something I am very proud of.
“The opportunities that exist for Old Mill in the financial planning space are huge and to be able to help shape our future is very exciting.”
To become a partner, candidates have to meet a number of key criteria, including embodying and acting as a champion for the Old Mill values and behaviours, bringing ambition, energy and integrity to their own roles, helping create an environment where everyone feels part of a thriving business.
Old Mill CEO Kevin Whitmarsh added: “Jamie and Duncan are both exceptional at what they do, not only keeping us in line with our respective regulatory bodies but also helping with technical training and helping shape the business strategically to the highest standards.
“Their hard work and commitment to quality are shown by the impact they have made on the work we do with our clients, our colleagues, and the communities in which we operate.
“They both demonstrate our firm’s values by delivering an ongoing commitment to ensuring all the work we are excited to see more from them both in their new roles as partner.”
Old Mill is targeting 15% growth every year to 2026 and a doubling of its overall staffing to 600.
Last week it announced the acquisition of specialist commercial property pension firm Quro Financial Solutions as it maintains its drive to become the fastest-growing practice in the region.
