BRISTOL ACCOUNTANTS TAKE TOP HONOURS
Bradley Stoke based Accountants Dunkley’s have won top honours at Accountancy Age Oscars by taking the Sole Practitioner of the Year Award at the 2009 Gala Event hosted by Rory Bremner in London’s Battersea Arena.
Dunkley’s award-winning submission for the Sole Practitioner Award began with the following description: “passion, stamina, sexy”.
Not exactly the words most outside the profession would associate with accountancy, but Michael Dunkley’s work at the business he started in 1991 (in his back bedroom in Thornbury) certainly demonstrates a boundless enthusiasm for client care and a strong drive to provide the best possible service and to generate sexy tax planning ideas.
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Dunkley’s has seen turnover grow by 50% in the past two years, significantly ahead of the practice’s five-year plan.
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Mike Dunkley (front) celebrates the award sponsored by Bluefin (right) at the Gala Dinner in London hosted by Rory Bremner (rear) with team members Clare King, Natasha Wheeler, Helen Phillips, Julie Prangell, Jane Dixon, Julie Parsons, Mandy Hill, Stephanie Scotney and Carol Thomas
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It is one of only two sole practitioners to feature in the Accountancy Age Top 50 50 survey and 9th highest in terms of fees per partner. But what makes Dunkley’s really stand out is its combination of dedication to clients and how it looks after its staff.
Its core values of providing timely, informative advice, reacting promptly and efficiently to requests, sticking to time scales and fees, and working with clients to develop opportunities have struck a chord with clients.
“There’s a boundless enthusiasm for client care and providing the best possible service”
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“Dunkley’s staff are always willing to help and resolve issues when needed and take a real interest in our affairs,” said one client. Another said the practice was “always at hand to answer any queries we had, even when we called out of hours”. Of Dunkley’s 32 staff, nearly half have been there over five years, with ten having registered more than a decade at the practice. A shining example of how staff feel about Dunkley’s is that all six team members taken on during a practice purchase have stayed at the business.
Having such stability within the team has also helped with client service, with always at least four members of staff having knowledge of the client’s affairs and able to serve their needs. |
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On receiving the award Mike Dunkley said “I want to thank all of the team including all of our clients who allow us to work with them to find winning solutions” |
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JUDGES THOUGHTS We were enthused by Mike Dunkley’s unique style and entry. “Extrovert and idiosyncratic, the entry from Mike Dunkley of Dunkley’s stood out for its energy and his total commitment to both team members and clients” |
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