A Staffordshire accountancy firm is celebrating an incredible 100th birthday.
Walletts Chartered Certified Accountants known as Walletts who have offices in Hanley and Biddulph was founded by Edgar Wallett in 1920, and originally operated from offices in Pall Mall.
The firm specialises in all aspects of accountancy including Income Tax, Corporation Tax, Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax, VAT, Statutory Audit, Accounts Preparation, Payroll, Strategic Planning and Business Advice.
They have 26 members of staff with hundreds of clients across Staffordshire and Cheshire, nationally and internationally.
Over the last century, there have of course been big changes to the practice. A search through records has revealed the following timeline.
- Originally Edgar’s brother was involved in the business and the business was known as Wallett and Wallett but he left to pursue other directions shortly after the business started.
- In around 1928, Wallace Mitchell and Cyril Salt joined Edgar at the practice.
- At approximately the same time the practice moved to 3 Adventure Place in Hanley and the practice became known as Edgar Wallett & Co.
- The business operated with this ownership in place until Edgar’s death in the mid-1960s.
- Wallace’s son Rod Mitchell trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Cooper Brothers in Birmingham. Cooper Brothers was the forerunner of what is known as Price Waterhouse Coopers {PWC} today.
- Rod joined his father and Cyril in partnership in around 1967 when Edgar Wallett & Co was stagnating as a practice.
- One of Wallett’s current directors David Fox joined the practice in 1968 and unfortunately, Cyril died in the early 70s.
- David Fox bought Wallace’s share of the business in 1978 and he and Rod were in practice together until Keith Salt became a partner in 1989.
- The name was then ‘modernised,’ and changed to Walletts as it is known today.
- They started to acquire a number of small practices, including Stoddard Goodwin and Green in 1997.
- In 1999 Walletts merged with Malcolm Tatton & Co who operated from an office in Biddulph and the practice still operates an office in the town.
- David Bould became a partner in 2004 when Rod Mitchell retired.
- Malcolm Tatton retired from practice in 2015 and Steve Orme became a shareholder in the newly formed limited company.
The practice commissioned the building of new office facilities in 1998 and has been in its current home in Adventure Place since that date.
David Fox, one of the directors said: “Myself and the team are incredibly proud to be celebrating the company’s 100th birthday. I’m sure there aren’t many accountancy firms who have been in business for a century. Obviously, business and the world we’re living in is so very, very different to what it was 100 years ago – especially when you think how much technology has advanced and changed in that time.
He added: “I think the secret to our longevity is that as a firm we’ve adapted to meet the demands of the ever changing world from an accountancy perspective.
“We are very proactive as a team so that we go to clients with advice rather than them having to come to us which has been particularly important during the pandemic. We strongly believe in getting to know all of our clients to understand their businesses, no matter what the size, so we are giving them added value.
“I would like to think that the relationships we’ve built up over the years has undoubtedly helped them during the pandemic which has been an exceptionally challenging time for most businesses.”
“We really appreciate the loyalty our clients have shown which has undoubtedly helped with our success. We will continue to explore growth markets for the business. Our future looks bright as we’re looking to expand our client base, embrace new technology and continue to offer the first-class service our clients expect from us.”
To find out more call 01782 212326, email accountants@walletts.co.uk or go to www.walletts.co.uk
Above image: (nearest to furthest – Dave Bould, Keith Salt and Dave Fox)
