Somerset accountancy firm Old Mill bucks the trend

While the credit crunch has hit many local businesses hard, it is a much more positive story for one Somerset accountancy firm.

[UKPRwire, Wed Aug 05 2009] While the credit crunch has hit many local businesses hard, it is a much more positive story for one Somerset accountancy firm.

Since buying out of national firm Tenon in August 2006, Old Mill, which has branches in Shepton Mallet, Yeovil and Exeter and recently merged with LE Bull & Co in Devizes to create a fourth office, is going from strength to strength.

“Due to the growth and success over the past three years, we are strengthening our support functions in order to set up for further growth and improved customer service,” said Jolyon Stonehouse, managing partner at Old Mill, “It’s a really positive story for local business.”

Group marketing manager Alan Stone and compliance manager Duncan Parkes are both being promoted to associate director level, while finance director Ian Carlson will become group finance and operations director.

Alan, who lives in Shepton Mallet with his wife and two sons and works at the Shepton Mallet office, has been with Old Mill for six years his promotion is in recognition of the critical role that his department will play across the business as it continues to evolve.

“Alan's high level of commitment and enthusiasm will ensure that our marketing strategies are at the core of our business development activity to
provide maximum impact and support moving forwards,” said Mr Stonehouse.

The 52-year-old says he is looking forward to his new role; “I have seen a lot of positive changes within the business over the years,” he said, “and this is a really exciting opportunity both for me and for the business as a whole.”

Duncan, aged 35, lives in Exmouth and has been with Old Mill in Exeter for 18 months. He is married with a young son and has more than eight years financial services experience.

“I will be taking on additional responsibility for raising compliance I am really looking forward to getting my teeth into my new role,” he said.

Ian, who is 38 and married with three sons, lives in Taunton and has been with Old Mill since March 2008. He qualified as accountant with Andersons in 1995 and worked with Dresdner and M&S before joining Old Mill’s Yeovil branch as finance director.

In his new role he will hold overall responsibility for the management of the support teams as well as finance in order to improve service, communication, strategy and project implementation

“This is a really exciting time for Old Mill. It is fantastic that in these tough economic times our business is experiencing such positive growth,” he said.