Business

Newry-based PKF-FPM Accountants marking 30 years in business

PKF-FPM board members and staff celebrate the firm's 30th anniversary
PKF-FPM board members and staff celebrate the firm's 30th anniversary PKF-FPM board members and staff celebrate the firm's 30th anniversary

ONE of Newry's best-known and most progressive companies is marking 30 years in business today.

The multi award-winning PKF-FPM business advisory firm, led by Warrenpoint man Feargal McCormack, was incorporated on August 19 1991.

It begun practice led by Mr McCormack, one part-time secretary and not a single client.

Today the firm, having joined a leading international network of independent accounting firms in 2014, can boast revenues of nearly £9 million and a staff of more than 120.

In a personal letter being distributed this morning to PKF-FPM staff and clients, Mr McCormack acknowledges the tremendous loyalty and support they've shown over the past 30 years.

He says: “From the outset, we sought to attract, develop and reward the very best talent, to ensure our business and our clients’ future success.

“FPM’s first full time employee was Paddy Harty who commenced employment as a recently qualified chartered accountant in February 1992, and what an appointment that proved to be.

“Paddy became an equity partner in May 1995 and together, assisted by our current equity directors Teresa Campbell, Michelle Hawkins, Alison Burnside, Michael Farrell, Malachy McLernon, Lowry Grant, Seamas Keating and Gary Digney, we have strategically planned the development and growth of PKF-FPM.

“Shortly after Paddy, the next full time employee was Catherine Hillen (nee Short), who now works in our internal finance department. Our first trainee chartered accountant was Brenda O’Hare (nee Carr), who is now an associate director with the practice.

“Thus, we’ve managed to hold on to key staff over the years, and we have now assembled a highly motivated and talented team comprising over 120 people, with diverse entrepreneurial skills, working across our five offices in Newry, Belfast, Dungannon, Mallusk and Balbriggan.”

He added: “We would like to express sincere thanks to TEAM PKF-FPM, being our current staff colleagues and former staff, for their exceptional commitment, passion and co-operation over the past 30 years. The success of TEAM PKF-FPM could not have been achieved without the tremendous understanding of our families and we thank them for their support.

“We believe that the PKF-FPM brand is associated with a desire to 'care and serve' to deliver service excellence and that our motivation in life and indeed business, should be to serve and help others succeed in achieving their dreams and quality of life aspirations.

“Our value proposition continues to be to deliver results and positive change, through design, creativity, technology and innovation, in terms of impact solutions, for existing and potential clients.”

Mr McCormack's message goes on: “Our efforts are now focused on the future, and working smarter to ensure the future commercial sustainability of our business and our clients’ success.

“We will continue to invest in the best, in terms of people talent, technology and resources to create an environment among team members of energy, enthusiasm, passion, diversity and ambition, in order to stimulate team spirit, community spirit, spirit for our island and indeed a passion for our planet, by satisfying today’s needs without endangering future generations.

“And we are confident, that with the support of our clients, PKF-FPM, will continue to be, a progressive and outward-looking organisation, dynamically engaged, with its many constituencies, and driven by a vision and passion, not just for itself, but for the communities it serves.”

In recent years PKF-FPM and Mr McCormack - who has served presidential terms in a number of accountancy representative bodies and has also held senior leadership responsibilities across a range of business, not-for-profit, sporting, community and church organisations - have amassed a clutch of national and international awards and accreditations.