Two new partners have been appointed at Harrogate accountancy firm Lithgow Perkins, a decade after they joined as apprentices.
Tom Lowry and Tom Rhodes progressed through their training and a series of demanding industry exams to become fully qualified chartered accountants in 2020 and 2018 respectively.
Their latest promotion will see them work alongside current partners Robert Horner, Mike Briggs and Joe Taylor to help develop the firm’s services and grow its client base. They will also be involved in supporting the next generation of accountants, helping to train the five apprentices currently at the firm.
Tom Rhodes, 29, said: “We’re delighted to be recognised with this promotion which is the culmination of a lot of years of hard work. Lithgow Perkins is a great place to work and we’re very grateful for all the support we’ve had from everyone as we’ve developed our careers in accountancy.”
Tom Lowry, 30, added: “Over the past ten years, we’ve been given some great opportunities to expand our knowledge and skills across all areas of accountancy, as well as developing the softer skills needed for client-facing work. We’re looking forward to helping strengthen and grow Lithgow Perkins for the future by taking a proactive and innovative approach that will add value for our clients.”
Tom Rhodes joined Lithgow Perkins in September 2012 after completing his A Levels at Rossett School in Harrogate, while Tom Lowry, a former student of St Aidan’s and Rossett schools, joined a year later after changing tack part way through a sports degree.
Tom Lowry, who specialises in tax and VAT, said: “Working at partner level will allow us to further develop our expertise as well as our relationships with clients. It is about having a high level of technical knowledge combined with the softer, interpersonal skills.”
Before being promoted, the new partners had already successfully introduced a number of initiatives at the firm. This included the launch in 2021 of LP Connect, a monthly fixed fee service that aims to help SMEs manage their cash flow better. The service has become a growing area of work for the company, with a client base of predominantly younger people.
Tom Rhodes, who specialises in tax, audit and business consultancy, said: “We’re aiming to be more proactive and offer some innovative, more modern services alongside the traditional way of doing things. Not only is this appealing to a new generation of business owners but it also fits nicely with HMRC’s move towards ‘making tax digital’.”
Partner Joe Taylor said: “Our new partners are a great example of why it’s important for long-standing firms like Lithgow Perkins to nurture their younger staff members and invest in their career development. They have worked extremely hard, are proactive and innovative in their approach, and have built a strong reputation for their expertise and the value they deliver for our clients. They have become invaluable and respected members of our team and their promotions are very well deserved.”
Lithgow Perkins is an independent accountancy firm in Harrogate. Established more than 60 years ago, the company offers a range of taxation and accounts services to individuals and businesses across the UK and abroad.
