As part of our series to showcase #TeamBB, we sat down with Jack Parker, who has recently been promoted to Associate Director at our Cowbridge office, to learn more about him and what he enjoys most about working at the firm.
How did you first get into Accountancy?
I graduated with a degree in Biochemistry, but knew I wanted to work in finance – the great thing about this industry is that you can come from any academic background, and in fact, you don’t necessarily need a university degree as there are various levels at which you can start your vocational training.
I trained in a small practice in Cardiff before joining a UK-wide corporate firm, but as soon as I heard Bevan Buckland was opening a Cowbridge office in 2021, I knew it would be a brilliant opportunity. The practice’s reputation is one of excellence, and I knew I could help to grow the business and attract more clients from south-east Wales to support Bevan Buckland’s continued expansion.
How long have you been at Bevan Buckland, and what’s your current role?
I joined Bevan Buckland in October 2021 as the Cowbridge office was opening, and I’ve recently been promoted to Associate Director.
My role is quite varied; I am a Chartered Certified Accountant and a Chartered Tax Adviser, so I tend to have a holistic view of clients’ affairs, covering their accounts, tax compliance and tax planning, and everything in between. Every day is really quite different as you never know what sort of tax ‘problem’ will land on your desk next!
What do you find most interesting about your work?
I’ve always worked in practice, and although I enjoyed working at a larger firm, I find our clients at Bevan Buckland and the close relationships we have to be so much more rewarding.
Working with the clients we have – from large-scale companies to SMEs – gives such a wide range of experiences and means I’m constantly meeting new people and supporting businesses across a plethora of sectors from rural and tourism to property and more.
Something that attracted me to Bevan Buckland was the friendly yet professional approach we take; clients value our input, and it feels like we’re making a real difference to how the businesses across Cowbridge, Cardiff and South Wales can save money, optimise their tax planning, and implement sustainable business strategies for continued growth.
We get to work more closely with business owners and management teams as we’re a relatively small team ourselves, so we can take the time to understand clients’ business goals and offer tailored, bespoke advice.
As we’re a close-knit team here in the Cowbridge office, we also get plenty of time to collaborate and train new staff too. It sounds cliché, but there’s a real supportive, family feel in our team. I have to say, we really challenge the stereotype that accountants aren’t fun!
What is your vision for the practice’s future?
Opening the Cowbridge office was a move further east for Bevan Buckland, and we’re hoping to continue growing the practice to offer financial services for more organisations based in the Vale of Glamorgan, Cardiff and beyond.
We also want to tap into more talent in the area, welcoming more people from the Vale and surrounding areas to start, or progress, their careers in accountancy. As a relatively new member of the team, I’m still impressed by the positive company culture and the drive to nurture talent from within.
What’s more, we’ve been so impressed with how the Cowbridge community has welcomed us over the past two years and we hope to become more woven into the town’s fabric as time goes on. We’re always looking for ways to get more involved in the communities in which we work whether through local charity sponsorship, team volunteering initiatives, fundraising, or local events.
To find out more about Bevan Buckland’s Cowbridge team, visit https://www.bevanbuckland.co.uk/contact/cowbridge-office/