Pictured above: Jonathan Russell
Buckinghamshire chartered accountants Keen Phillips can now
offer their customers access to an even greater range of expertise
after hugely-experienced and respected accountant Jonathan Russell
joined the firm as partner.
He will eventually replace Helen Phillips, who founded the
Gerrards Cross-based practice in 1981, and will be gradually
winding down her involvement over the next two to three years,
before she steps down completely.
Jonathan is currently a partner at Witney-based ReesRussell and
is a former president of the UK200Group of small and medium-sized
accountancy firms and lawyers - where he served as vice-president
when Helen Phillips was president, before succeeding her in the top
role.
Pictured above: Helen Phillips
He said: "I've known Helen for a number of years, and we seem to
have this system of presidential succession going on between us -
first I succeeded her at UK200 and now I'm doing the same here!
"I'm joining what is already a very effective practice, so I
don't expect much change immediately, but I think there is the
scope to expand further here and will be revisiting our client
services and looking at what they want from us.
"I believe in giving clients good service, from a
readily-accessible team of people in their locality, but with
enough expertise available to provide all the higher-level services
that people might need."
Jonathan has been a practising accountant for over 30 years and
is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants as well
as a member of the Academy of Experts, an associate of the
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and an ADR Group accredited
mediator.
He is already well known to clients in the Oxfordshire area,
where he set up ReesRussell three years ago, and before worked at
Critchleys from 1981 to 2006, becoming a partner in 1985.
He will now split his time between Keen Phillips and
ReesRussell, but said he would always be available to clients of
both.
Helen added: "I'm absolutely certain I'm leaving the business in
very safe hands and I wouldn't have done this otherwise.
"The uppermost thoughts in my mind were always staff and client
continuity and I know Jonathan will ensure they are still provided
with the level of service they expect and require. He will be a
breath of fresh air and bring new ideas, but any changes will be
gradual and always with our clients' best interests in mind."