Small is beautiful - Curo advising with clarity

May 7, 2012 - PRLog -- Bromsgrove accountancy practice Curo has much to celebrate as it has been nominated for an award by the Institute of Chartered Accountants for England and Wales (ICAEW).

The ICAEW awards seek to recognise the achievements of its members throughout the West Midlands region. Curo has been listed in the “Small Accountancy Practice” category.

A mere seven years after its founding and bucking the trend of the traditional accountancy practice, Curo Chartered Accountants is looking ahead to a busy year. The now 15 strong-team is drawing breath as it prepares to build on its initial years of rapid growth and expansion.

Set up by ex-KPMG colleagues Julia Whelan and Anna Madden in 2005, Curo has developed a reputation for its partner-led approach and for ‘advising with clarity’, a sentiment appreciated by its wide-ranging portfolio of clients. The team has recently moved into bigger offices on the Greenbox estate in Stoke Prior and based on the growing number of clients, the focus will yet again be on a search for more dynamic and high calibre professionals to work on the expanding portfolio.

The practice services clients based locally, nationally and internationally with the main focus being corporate clients and High Net Worth Individuals. The corporate offering is partly a reflection of Mrs Madden and Mrs Whelan’s previous careers as respective audit and tax advisors in KPMG and an understanding for the level and quality of service demanded and expected by corporate businesses.

Says Anna Madden, head of Curo’s Audit Team: “Our combined and recent ‘Big 4’ experience of working with larger corporate firms means we can offer many of the same services with a similar ‘finish’ and at rates that are extremely competitive.

“The practice has grown mainly through reputation and referrals and we are looking at growth this year in the region of 25%, which is extremely satisfying considering we are still in recession. “

Mrs Madden’s business partner, Julia Whelan heads up Curo’s tax function and has found that despite the recession, the demand for solid, thorough tax advice is extremely strong. Says Mrs Whelan: “The current economic climate has helped us develop new solutions for our clients and also pick up new work from businesses looking for a cost-effective service. The frequently changing world of tax means that we are always well-placed to offer new ideas to our clients, helping them to make savings which can often be significant.”  

A recent recruit to the team has been Suzanne Blundell who qualified as a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young London before moving into professional business development at Deloitte in Birmingham. Says Mrs Blundell: “It is a privilege to be working with such a dynamic, reputable and exciting practice, helped by Curo having a team which is genuinely motivated and loyal to the business.”

The ICAEW awards will be presented at a luncheon at Warwickshire County Cricket Club, The County Ground, Edgbaston on the 14th May.