SHELLEY HARVEY, DIRECTOR OF HAYLES ACCOUNTANTS IN LEICESTER SPEAKS TO PUKAAR MAGAZINE’S JESSICA CHALLONER-STERLAND ABOUT THE FIRM’S DEVELOPMENT AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAMWORK.
Recognised for their success and innovation, Hayles Accountants were crowned Employer of the Year at the East Midlands Chamber Business Awards 2016. This year they were shortlisted for Team of the Year at the Enterprising Women Awards, but this recognition may not have been made possible without the firm undergoing some changes and the hard work shown by its employees.
Established in 1971 as Hayles and Partners, the company have had over 40 years’ experience providing quality, professional services to its clients.
Hayles became part of the SFB Group in 2015. This has enabled them to provide additional services to their clients, such as financial advice, as well as service clients across the midlands. Shelley Harvey, the director of Hayles, has 10 years’ experience with SFB and is the firm’s business growth expert and specialises in tax planning, charities accounts and audits.
With the support of the SFB Group and a dedicated team now on their side, Shelley explains just how important teamwork has been to the success of Hayles: “People can be afraid of change but the team we have in place here now is exceptional. They’ve fully embraced the way the SFB Group operates.
“We’re now set up in small teams, so each one consists of four or five people who will look after a particular client list. If clients can’t get hold of their partner or manager, then they have two or three other people that understand their business who they have an existing relationship with.”
“It’s probably why we were shortlisted for Team of the Year. Our core values as a group are E.P.I.C which stands for enjoyment, professionalism, innovation and commercialism.”
Hayles offer their knowledge and expertise to both individuals and businesses, across a wide range of sectors including agriculture and farming, creative industries and charity and manufacturing. Even with a loyal client base, the firm is up against some tough competition. Shelley shares what sets Hayles aside: “We have a highly skilled tax team and even though we’re a smaller company, our clients still get the level of advice that they would at one of the top firms.”
The SFB Group has had a positive impact on Hayles, with one award under their belt and with plans for growth, the future is certainly looking bright for the firm: “Our aim for Hayles is to grow the team, the client base and continue to support the clients that we’ve already got, as well as offering services that perhaps they’ve not had before.”
