Essex-based accountancy firm Rickard Keen marked an important milestone last week as it celebrated its 30th anniversary.
The current South Essex Accountancy Firm of the Year was formed in July 1980 when two firms which could both trace their pedigrees back to the early 1900s merged – five-partner practice Rickard Porter and two-partner firm Hartley Keen.
Rickard Porter was based in the offices in Nelson Street, Southend, where Rickard Keen remains to this day, while Hartley Keen was located just across the road. The firm opened a new office in Basildon five years ago.
The firm marked the occasion with a celebratory meal, attended by the partners and their spouses on Friday, 30th July, while a celebratory event for the whole Rickard Keen team will take place in the autumn, with final details to be confirmed.
Rickard Keen has enjoyed a successful 30th year so far, wining the inaugural Accountancy Firm of the Year award from the South Essex branch of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and continuing the growth in its business, despite the difficult economic climate.
Rickard Keen has always enjoyed high staff retention rates and two partners remain from the pre-merger days – Noel Kelleway who was a partner at Rickard Porter and the current managing partner Bob Sadler, formerly of Hartley Keen.
Fellow partners Bill Gould, Keith Bell and Alan Worsdale also worked for Hartley Keen before becoming partners in the new firm. By contrast, the firm’s sixth partner, Kate Davies, was only born a year before the merger took place!
Bob Sadler said: “Reaching 30 years is an important milestone for us and a great tribute to everyone who has worked for the firm during that time, helping to make Rickard Keen the success it is today.
“Rickard Porter and Hartley Keen were both well-respected firms in the local area but it was felt that by combining our expertise, we could offer an even better service to clients.
“We continue that principle today, combining the expertise of the big-name national firms, with the local knowledge and competitive pricing of a smaller practice.”
For more information, contact Rickard Keen LLP on 01702 347771 or visit www.rickardkeen.co.uk.
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