Recruitment | Success Stories

David Whitehead - Partner and Chairman of Larking Gowen

Having qualified as a chartered accountant within the firm, I wanted to experience the bright lights and big clients of London, so joined one of the big four firms, hoping that the training and experience I had gained at Larking Gowen would help me! I am pleased to say that it most certainly did and subsequently I took a one year secondment in Hong Kong.

Back in the UK, commuting rapidly lost its appeal and I contacted Larking Gowen and returned to become a partner – I was just 28.

I like the close contact you get – we have this personal and professional approach which encourages a deep involvement in a client's business and can help move it forward. That is very satisfying.

I returned to Larking Gowen in 1988 and have thoroughly enjoyed the variety of work and experience, and took on the role of Chairman in April 2006.

Julie Grimmer - Partner, Norwich Office

I joined the firm, as a chartered trainee, aged 19 having done A levels at North Walsham Girls High School and completed a years Foundation in Accountancy at Norwich City College. It took me two years to pass the first level of my professional exams, and my final level exams took somewhat longer. My number of sittings of the final papers is now somewhat legendary!

Despite my slow progress with exams, I continued to progress rapidly at work and was promoted to supervisor long before I finally qualified as a chartered accountant in 1989. Within a year I was promoted to manager & in 1996 I became a senior manager.

I’ve had 2 two career breaks when my sons were born; initially returning on a full time basis, but found it became more difficult to juggle work, school, home etc. At this stage the firm supported my request for flexible part-time working and this continued right up to my admission as a partner in 2006.

My progression through the firm has been very different from many of my colleagues! I think my experience demonstrates the value the firm places on drive and determination. My progress has continued alongside maternity leave and flexible part-time working and I believe that this is an incredibly important message for an employer to be able to give.

Now that I am a partner I am looking forward to future challenges ahead. I particularly enjoy the opportunities that our profession gives to meet new people in all sorts of environments. I am also looking forward to the opportunity to continue to develop the careers of my own team of staff.

Adam Clarke - Manager, Business Recovery Department

I joined the firm in February 2006 having previously worked for a large national practice and a regional practice both based in Ipswich where I completed my AAT and CPI examinations. At Larking Gowen I studied for my early entry examinations, before moving on to the JIEB exams and qualifying as an Insolvency Practitioner in March 2010.

I work as the manager of the Business Recovery Department where I am responsible for staff working on a full range of corporate and personal insolvency matters. This includes solvent liquidations which are often used as a tax efficient method of winding up a company's affairs.

I am involved in initial consultations and providing prospective clients with financial advice.

I look forward to continuing to progress my career with Larking Gowen.

Laura Howes - Supervisor, Norwich Office

I joined Larking Gowen in September 2003, having graduated from the University of East Anglia with a degree in Business Management. Three years later I have just completed my exams and qualified as a Chartered Accountant.

I work as a portfolio holder in a “general practice” group, managing my own clients. The work includes audits, accounts preparation, corporation tax, personal tax and payroll.  I was promoted to supervisor in 2007.

I really enjoy the variety and opportunity to work on so many different jobs and I feel that this was very beneficial when studying for my exams. The quality of the training provided and the support I received from my work group has helped me to progress quickly.

I am looking forward to continuing to progress and develop at Larking Gowen, hopefully with the opportunity to support new members of staff in the way that I have been supported.

Josh Perrott - ACA Trainee, Norwich

I joined the firm in July 2007, having completed my A-Levels at Sheringham Sixth Form Centre. I was keen to start work and find a role which would enable me to study for the AAT (Association of Accounting Technician) exams and to me Larking Gowen seemed the right firm to join. I had already completed 2 periods of work experience with LG, in year 10 and the other during the summer holidays after year 12, both of which I enjoyed.

I started work as an AAT trainee, assisting a portfolio holder in our Cromer office. I had a wide variety of duties including the compilation of company and income tax returns, accounts and some administration duties.

My first 2 years were spent in Cromer before being seconded to the Business Recovery Team for a special project taking just over 3 months. From there I transferred permanently to Norwich where I am now studying towards my ACA exams.