About us - Heathcote & Coleman Ethos
What do we stand for as accountants and business advisors?
Above all, client care. But also commitment, consistency and openness. And we like to think that we provide excellent value for money.
These are not just fine-sounding words. Let’s sketch out what these principles mean in practice.
We put clients first
With two partners, four consultants and 40 staff we are able to support all of the major specialisms needed to deliver our client-focussed service without sacrificing personal attention. We don’t provide an off the shelf product, as other firms do, but match our service to your needs.
From the outset, you will be allocated a partner and manager team who will co-ordinate all of our work for you. They will be accessible and approachable at all times.
We look for a long-term relationship with you where our experience, technical skills, resources and contacts will combine to enhance the development and success of your business.
We are committed
It doesn’t matter how big or how small you are as a client – we’ll look after you. A real personal commitment to give good service to clients is embedded in our culture. This commitment is in evidence right through the firm, from top to bottom.
The way our staff have stayed with us is another measure of commitment. That speaks volumes about the quality of the working environment and the value placed on service.
We keep in contact
We keep in regular contact with our clients through the year to see how their businesses are going. This allows us to react to issues before they become a crisis. We are on top of the business news, and regard it as part of our job to inform you of changes or trends that we think will affect the way you do business. So often we come to you before you come to us.
We don’t look at assignments as one-off pieces of work, as bigger firms may do. We don’t tick off the job and move on to another. We see each client contact as another link in the chain of well-managed business advice extending from the past into the future. We are with clients through the good times and the bad.
We are consistent
The level of care, service and commitment that we provide is the same all the way through an assignment, and from one department to another. That’s consistency.
Our record of staff continuity is also exceptional. Many of our staff have trained with us and stayed with us; many others have left only to return. This degree of continuity fosters trust, rapport and a strong knowledge base. That’s consistency.
We also take pride in the continuity of our partner-client relationships. A number of these relationships have been maintained across the generations; we have had some clients for over a hundred years. That’s consistency
We value closeness and openness
We are a family-oriented business that is friendly both inside and out. There is genuine concern and mutual respect between clients and staff.
We pride ourselves on our approachability. If one of us isn’t available when you call, there is always someone else in the team who will help. Nor do we hold back if difficult issues need addressing. We know that is the least you would expect from a trusted advisor.
We offer value for money
We may not be the cheapest firm of accountants, but we are certainly not the most expensive. What you can guarantee is that you will get good value for money and an excellent service. Our broad-based skills mean that we can provide a range of services for one fee. This is more efficient than using different firms for each job.
And we don’t pretend to be anything we’re not. If we don’t have the expertise in a particular area we will say so and refer you to others who do. We value honesty and integrity in all things. This extends to our fees – we quote a fee for each assignment, so that you know exactly what it will cost.
