Coming out of the corporate world to set up his own accountancy practice, James Sweeney felt it was important to try to stand out within the sector.
Just six months after starting his new business at home he’d teamed up with fellow Director Joseph Skinner and now, as the firm prepares to celebrate its tenth anniversary, J Sweeney Accountants has grown to a team of 17 people serving clients across the county and beyond.
As the practice has grown, James and Joseph have very much focused on getting the right balance within the team, with apprentices learning their craft from more experience colleagues and a policy of, wherever possible, promoting from within.
Looking back over the past ten years, James said: “I’d spent some years as a fi nance director with a large multinational, but it had always been my ambition to have my own business one day.
“I started on my own, with a desk at home, but it wasn’t long before Joseph came on board and we began to grow the team. I’m very proud now of where we are, we’ve got a great team and moved to offices in the beautiful countryside in Pitsford a few years ago, although we are starting to outgrow them now as well.
“And it’s a great team, with a wide range of specialisms so we can provide our clients with the breadth of support they need and the level of service that we’ve always wanted to deliver.”
J Sweeney Accountants focuses on the full range of services businesses are looking for in an accountant, including year-end accounts, tax planning, company formation and business plans. At the same time, the firm offers outsourced financial directorships for those who don’t have an in-house finance department.
The outsourced services are ideal for clients that have grown to a level where they are considering whether or not it is the right time to take on a dedicated finance director. It’s a significant step for any business, and using an outsourced model can reduce the risks that can come with adding a new member of the team.
James said: “We introduced the outsourced service because we understand how difficult it is for a growing business that has come to a point when it needs to think about employing a dedicated financial individual or team, not only to look after their accounts but to work on the future plans of the business from a financial point of view to help facilitate expansion.
“By using an outsourced finance department, they can get all the advice and expertise that can make the difference between success and failure, but keep their costs to a minimum. It takes a lot of pain and effort away from the business owner and also gives them additional peace of mind that the work is being done correctly and efficiently, and also that they have access to the expertise of the whole of our team. Not only do they get the full range of specialisms, there’s always someone available to answer their calls and help them – someone who understands their business – whenever they need them.”
Whether delivering the standard compliance services or outsourced FD provision, the success of J Sweeney Accountants over the past ten years has been based on developing a team that is focused on working together.
Transparency is key, with an open-plan office, and a focus on team targets and bonuses rather than individual achievements.
“I’m very proud of the team, seeing how it’s grown and developed and I think it’s fair to say we have our own way of doing things and a rather unorthodox way of working,” said James. “We have lively team meetings and we’re all working in the same offi ce space and everything is centred around what we achieve together.
“Over the years our approach has been on promoting from within and it has been amazing to see apprentices coming in and working their way to being client managers, and client managers becoming senior client managers. That’s what has created the all-round team we’ve got – one that works together to deliver the level of service that our client expect and that we expect for our clients.”
Contact J Sweeney Accountants on 01604 950034, email info@jsweeneyaccountants.co.uk or visit the J Sweeney website.
