THINGS are all adding up for accountants Will Hodgson and Raymond Hey.
The two men, who worked together at an accountancy firm in Halifax for many years, have set up their own business – Hodgson Hey Accountants & Tax Advisers – to offer their services to individuals and small to medium-sized enterprises across Huddersfield and Halifax.
And just weeks into their partnership – as they settle into new offices at Elland’s Heritage Exchange –Will and Raymond are optimistic about their prospects and the outlook for companies across Kirklees and Calderdale.
“We have chosen Elland as our base because it has a thriving business community,” says Raymond. “There are a lot of companies around here which have survived the recession and are now detecting more positive signs.
“We think we have timed things nicely – to be starting a business as the economy cycle picks up again. And as a new firm ourselves, we understand what it is like for other new businesses.”
Will, 32, adds: “Some companies had to let people go during the recession while others asked people to work short-time. Things are much more positive now. It is still difficult, but we seem to be on an upward path.”
The aim now is to make Hodgson Hey stand out from the crowd.
“We aim to differentiate ourselves from other accountancy firms,” says Will. “It is all about looking after people. We want to add value – whether the client needs to see us every week or only once a year.”
Raymond, 52, agrees: “Communication is key. It isn’t always easy to tell people that they have a tax bill to pay. We aim to explain things to them clearly and give them plenty of warning about the issues and to provide good advice and a good service.”
Will and Raymond met while working for the same firm of accountants in Halifax. Says Will: “Raymond trained me when I joined the firm and I stayed there for 12 years. Raymond moved to another firm in Huddersfield about seven years ago, but we kept in touch over the years and have always been friends.
“We were discussing setting up our own business for quite a while and we decided it presented a real opportunity. I don’t think a new accountancy practice has been set up in Halifax for 20 years – and I think something similar applies in Huddersfield.
“While we have taken a risk, it is a calculated risk. We are working from referrals and word-of-mouth at the moment. But we have launched a website and we will be putting together a marketing strategy.”
Will has lived in Halifax all his life while Raymond lived in Halifax until he was 28 before moving to Huddersfield where he has lived ever since.
Both have clients and contacts across the Halifax and Huddersfield areas, including Elland and Brighouse.
Will, who is focusing on the accounts and audit side of the business, has worked all over the world for SMEs and major companies. Raymond, who specialises in taxation, looked after 400 to 500 tax returns every year in his former job and prides himself on keeping up to date with the latest tax changes. But he says: “It is meeting people that makes the job – not figure work.”
Raymond, who trained as an accountant after completing A-levels at Highland Grammar School in Halifax, said his career choice was partly influenced by his father’s struggles in life. My father had been a prisoner of war in the Far East and came back to work in a factory,” says Richard. “Accountancy looked the better option!”
