When North Wales accountancy firm J T Thomas & Co needed to recruit experienced talent for their burgeoning practice, they didn’t have far to look.
Owner John Thomas asked his son, Max, and soon-to-be daughter-in-law Natalie Kaalman to leave their high profile accountancy careers in Manchester and join the family business.
Max, who trained with Price Waterhouse Coopers, and Natalie who has a background in corporate finance, leapt at the opportunity.
Max said: “Like my father, we’ve trained in the corporate sector, but it’s always been my ambition to bring that experience back to North Wales and with our plans to get married, this is perfect timing.”
The bilingual firm, with offices in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Criccieth and Llandudno, is real a family affair, John having already recruited his daughter Amy Jones, who is also an accountant.
John Thomas said: “We always treat our clients as individuals. I am incredibly proud and grateful to say that we still have clients who started with the firm when it opened 30 years ago.
The next generation coming on board offers a real breadth of skills and approaches but understands that meeting the challenges of local businesses and the importance providing a valuable service throughout. The fact that Max has a wealth of auditing experience, Amy specialises in tax planning for individuals and companies and Natalie is also skilled at company valuations can only improve our client experience.”
Max said: “As the next generation we are looking ahead to expand the firm and make our mark. I have a good deal of audit experience, but as a firm we are very much in touch with the needs of small and medium-sized, local businesses.
Amy trained at Ernst and Young, my father trained in his time at Andersens, so we are very proud to be able to say we have city skills, but provide a good value service.
JT Thomas’ plans include expanding its client base at the Llandudno arm of the operation, which is currently based above the Nat West Bank in the town centre.
The family firm is already looking to the next generation, with Max’s sister Amy currently on maternity leave with her baby daughter Elin.
Max said: “Accountancy certainly seems to be in the Thomas family genes, so we are all secretly hoping that Elin will join us in 25 years time. I wouldn’t be too surprised if Santa brought her an abacus for Christmas.”
JT Thomas is currently offering a no-charge 30 minute initial consultation to prospective clients and a number of free tools and information guides on its website www.jtthomas-accountants.co.uk
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