News Features
A NORTH EAST chartered accountancy firm, whose clients can collectively boast over £1bn annual turnover, is celebrating 25 years of success.
Clive Owen & Co LLP which has offices in Darlington, York and Durham, has developed an enviable reputation over the past 25 years and has built up a client list that numbers over 2700 clients throughout the North East.
With a client turnover topping £530m in its Darlington office alone, the company is justifiably proud of its achievements. The company was founded when Clive Owen set up as a sole trader, having worked for Peat, Marwick and Mitchell in Darlington. Clive Owen & Co LLP now employs a total of 90 staff across its three offices.
Clive Owen, the original founder of the company said: "Clive Owen & Co LLP has achieved an enormous amount in 25 years and has grown steadily every year since its inception."
"However we are not a company to rest on our laurels and have developed the reputation as a capable but dynamic firm offering a first class business advisory service as well as accountancy. We are genuinely delighted to have helped so many businesses over the years to expand and prosper and I look forward to the future of the company with tremendous optimism and confidence."
"We also now audit Reeves & Neylan LLP, one of the UK Top 50 accountancy practices, which reflects the esteem in which we are held by our peers."
The company's services initially included audit, accounts, tax and general business advice. In its 25 year history it has added a payroll bureau, a business planning department as well as a corporate finance department, specialised IT department and a forensic accountant.
All these elements have made Clive Owen & Co LLP one of the most successful and prestigious accountancy and business advisory services in the North East, with a client turnover that exceeds figures of many much larger firms.
By Chris Beaumont, Partner
Despite the current implication of a recession, it is not all bad news for business owners. For those who spend time planning ahead, there are ways to overcome this negative outlook and continue to prosper into 2009 and beyond.
A pertinent area for business owner managers to focus on in the current climate is improving management information. Remaining robust requires keeping up to date and useful information about your business at your fingertips and utilising this to make decisions quickly.
Not knowing exactly where you stand financially leaves you open to missing opportunities or worse, to making an incorrect assumption that leads to a bad decision. Preparing monthly management accounts to provide timely and accurate information can help you react quickly and efficiently to any changes, internally or externally.
Financial forecasting is another valuable tool to help you prepare for scenarios that may affect your business. The much talked about 'credit crunch' itself is not particularly something to prepare for, but more specific economic issues such as rising fuel prices and exchange rate changes can have a much more significant impact on the way you run your business.
Forecasting forward and adjusting your pricing accordingly, in line with a constant review of your costs, sales and profit margin, will help you to make informed decisions. Employing the services of a qualified accountant will help give you peace of mind that you are prepared for anything that comes your way in this difficult economic climate.
The current climate can also be used as an opportunity to improve efficiencies so don’t panic yet! Proving your business’ versatility could be the key to seeing out these hard times, and spotting that little opportunity may just give your business the boost it needs.
For information on how we can help, contact Chris Beaumont at Darlington, Gary Ellis at Durham or Terry Doyle at York.
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