Regional accountancy firm Old Mill has promoted a fifth of its 30-strong tax team as part of a ‘recruit, retain and promote’ strategy that aims to make it the fastest-growing practice in the South West.
Last November the firm, which has offices in Chippenham, Wells, Yeovil and Exeter, announced a restructuring to achieve its ambitious plans of growing by 15% annually over the next five years and doubling staff numbers by 2026.
Its tax team has already expanded from 20 members to 30 in just eight months.
As well as creating a simpler model to support growth, the move also enables quicker staff progression.
In this latest round of promotions, the tax team – which celebrated 100% success in exams earlier this year – has promoted Marketa Pasova to tax senior manager, Steve Ford and Joe Campbell-Orde to tax seniors and Callum Anderson to tax assistant manager, while Dan Wilton and Aisha Perrott have become tax managers.
Aisha, who recently passed her final two CTA (Chartered Tax Adviser) exams, said she was aiming for a promotion next January so was a little in shock when she found out it had happened a lot sooner.
“I didn’t think I’d be up for promotion this early,” she added. “So I am really chuffed, and absolutely ready and willing to take on everything my new role encompasses.”
She is also pleased for her colleagues. “I constantly feel inspired by them – everyone in the team is so supportive of each other and it’s wonderful to see everyone progressing and being recognised for their progress,” she said.
“The team is going from strength to strength, and I feel very lucky to be a part of it.”
Dan, who joined Old Mill straight from college on a trainee programme, said the firm had been incredibly supportive at every stage, and he hoped to do the same for those trainees coming in.
“One of the things I love about Old Mill – and working in the tax team specifically – is the flexibility to explore different passions, and mould your career around this,” he added.
“There is no set route dictating what you need to do, and that enables us to develop professionally and personally.”
While the company-wide growth strategy is to double the size of the business within five years, the tax team has already increased its staffing, with income from tax services alone up 20%, meaning recruitment is going to have to accelerate significantly – to at least 50 by 2026 – to support this fast-growing area of the business
Old Mill director of tax David Maslen, pictured, said: “I am so proud of the team and what they have achieved this year, and these promotions are testament to how much we value the fantastic work they have done.
“But if we are to continue on this trajectory, we are going to need more people. There are a number of specific roles that need filling but we also have an open-door recruitment policy, so we are keen to hear from anyone looking to take the next – or first – step in their tax career.”
In June Old Mill acquired Ilminster, Somerset-based financial outsourcing firm Brook Financial as part of its growth plan.
The two firms already had a long-established relationship, having worked together to service clients for many years.
