I joined Mercer & Hole in 2010. The setup of the firm appealed to me; it wasn’t too big or too small and there was a good variety of work. I liked the culture of the firm and the people seemed very professional—my initial assessment proves true today.
Working at the St Albans office works well for me and whilst London is easily accessible, I prefer a short drive to work rather than a long commute every day.
When I joined the firm, I took over a portfolio of clients. I spent time getting to know them and to build up my understanding of their requirements and service levels from Mercer & Hole. I met various clients at their offices as well as the firm’s offices, along with meeting new colleagues face-to-face. I felt that it was important to put a name to a face both internally and externally.
In the years that followed, my role has progressed and has expanded upon audit work. As the firm has developed its management accounts and outsourcing work, so have I. I’ve also found myself getting involved with more of this aspect on the client service requirements, working with more of the partners, cross-sharing with my colleagues at other offices, and developing my skills and experience.
Reacting to, and anticipating client requirements means that there is always variety and new challenges. For example, I was involved in a complex consolidation for a group of companies with interests in property and insurance. Although it was intellectually demanding, there was a huge sense of achievement when the project was concluded. Likewise, when we were asked to get involved in the management accounts and outsourcing by a client who looked like they were heading towards liquidation, we were faced with a diverse range of challenges, ranging from VAT issues to helping the client recruit accounting personnel. It took a lot of time and effort to get the client on a stable footing along with new premises but it was extremely rewarding to have played my part in that.
Reflecting on my time at Mercer & Hole so far, I would say I have continued to learn so much from working in a medium-sized firm and being involved in a huge cross section of work. The people who work here are technically very good as well as supportive. There is real strength in our professionalism with clients and how reactive we are in finding solutions in an efficient, timely manner.
Milton Keynes