Kirkpatrick & Hopes - Accountants for Life

"Practice what you preach" sums up our leadership style- the main shareholders and directors are expected to wash their own cups (metaphorically and literally). As well as sharing 20% of the profits with the team and 10% with charities chosen by them, we share details of the company's accounts and all financial information at monthly team meetings. We are always keen to use new technology in the way the business is run and marketed and to do what we can to help the planet by adopting green policies such as the cycle to work scheme and even growing our own vegetables in the office garden!

Doing a great job for your clients will always be the number 1 way of marketing. That way they will come back for more and tell their friends about us. But we recognise that to compete in the modern world of business it is no longer enough to just be technically competent. We have created a relaxed but professional "brand" which is promoted using our interactive website, blogs, webinars, SEO, podcasts along with more traditional seminars and workshops (often free of charge).

Like most businesses, our people are the key to our success. We have embraced and adopted many of the advanced people management techniques advocated by business gurus to create a culture that is very different to other "professional" service firms. This includes monthly team happiness and 360 review forms, profits-based bonus scheme, employee share ownership, flexible working and regular social events.