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Youth Meets Experience at Duncan & Toplis

Youth and experience have come together at chartered accountants Duncan & Toplis in Skegness.

The firm has taken on an 18-year-old trainee accountant at the same time as it congratulated two senior members of the team on 25 years’ service.

Connor Lewis has joined the Skegness office from Skegness Grammar School, where he studied A-levels in Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Computing. He has now begun his studies as an AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) trainee.

Meanwhile Michael Cope, a Director specialising in taxation, and Accounts Manager Scott Patten have both celebrated 25 years with the company.

Connor was delighted to be offered the position after sending his CV to Duncan & Toplis. “Originally I wanted to do something with computers but after I spoke to a careers adviser I started to look at accounting as a profession.

“A position came up here and after two interviews I was offered the job. I’ve really enjoyed it so far; when I started I didn’t think I’d be doing so much accounting, but the work has been very hands-on and there’s been lots of on-the-job training.”

Michael Cope joined Duncan & Toplis 25 years ago after studying Mathematics at Cambridge University and is now one of the firm’s Directors.

“When I graduated I got the local paper out and looked for a job,” said Michael. “I started out as an accountancy clerk at the Skegness office, though I’ve also worked for Duncan & Toplis in Boston, Stamford, Lincoln and Newark.

“We were purely on paper when I started – no computers – but now we’re not only computerised but also paperless. I’ve seen the advent of the computer era I suppose, and now I wouldn’t be without the technology.

“My favourite part of the job is inheritance tax planning as you can save people a lot of money if you plan properly.”

Scott Patten also has 25 years’ continuous service, though he worked for Neville Russell and Cole Dicken & Hills before they were acquired by Duncan & Toplis.

“Like Connor I left Skegness Grammar School and joined the firm as an accountancy trainee – it was something I’d always wanted to do as I was good with numbers,” said Scott.

“It’s been a fulfilling career and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.”

In his customer-facing role as Accounts Manager Scott works with a wide range of businesses in the Skegness area, from pubs and hotels to engineering firms as well as small builders and contractors.

Paul McCooey, a Director of Duncan & Toplis based at the Skegness office, commented:

“We are pleased to welcome Connor to the business as part of our strategy of continued investment and growth.

“One of our strengths is our stability and it is very pleasing when colleagues such as Michael and Scott stay with us throughout their career. By the end of this year we will have more than 50 colleagues who have been employed by Duncan & Toplis for over 25 years.

“We are always looking forward, however, and ambitious young people like Connor are the future of this company, so I’m delighted to welcome him to the team.”

Notes to editors

• Duncan & Toplis was established in 1925 and has since grown into one of the largest independent firms of chartered accountants in the Midlands.
• Duncan & Toplis appears in the top 30 UK accountancy practices list published by Accountancy magazine.
• The company has 10 offices throughout the East Midlands: in Grantham, Boston, Lincoln, Louth, Melton Mowbray, Newark, Skegness, Sleaford, Spalding and Stamford.
• Duncan & Toplis offers a wide range of services to small to large-sized family businesses, from accountancy, audit and tax to payroll, human resources and computer services.
• The business employs around 350 staff, of whom 85 are currently engaged in professional training.

For media information please contact:
Jez Ashberry
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
07780 735071
jez@weareshootingstar.co.uk
[Duncan86academystarters]


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