Dodd & Co, one of Cumbria’s leading accountancy firms, are delighted to announce six new promotions for the start of the New Year.
The firm, which now employs over 180 staff across its two offices in Carlisle and Penrith, has promoted six staff to management positions.
In the Carlisle office, Laura Jackson and Robert Nordon have been promoted to Accounts Department Managers whilst Suzanne Armstrong takes up the role of Client Manager specialising in Cloud Accounting and Jo Coleby becomes a Technical VAT Manager.
Laura and Robert will be helping to manage the ever-growing accounts teams within the firm and will take active roles in the training, development and recruitment of staff including the regular intake of apprentices that join Dodds each year.
Laura Jackson, who lives in Carlisle, joined Dodds in 2016 and specialises in family businesses’ accounts and charities. She is particularly looking forward to being more involved with staff management and helping with their development as the firm continues to grow.
Robert Nordon of Kirkbride joined the firm in 2018 looking for an opportunity to further his career with a bigger, more established firm than he’s previously worked. He says “The accounts team here has a great mix of youth and experience and there is a real team culture where everyone helps everyone. There are so many opportunities for staff and I’m really excited to be able to be a part of that.”
Suzanne Armstrong joined Dodd & Co after graduating from Manchester University with a maths degree. She then did her Chartered exams with the firm and over the last few years has been heavily involved with the development and implementation of cloud technologies for clients. Recent changes from HMRC has meant cloud accounting has been an area of huge growth within the industry. Dodds have been looking at the range of software options available for nearly 10 years and now have a team of over 70 qualified specialists. With over 1000 clients currently using cloud software, Suzanne will be helping to manage this whilst also helping to move the many other clients over to digital software packages when they are ready.
Jo Coleby joined Dodds in 2016 having relocated back ‘home’ after being based in the North East for 10 years. Previous roles saw Jo take an auditing route but when she decided she wanted a change and a new challenge she was delighted to find Dodds thoroughly supported her decision and provided the necessary training to progress within the complicated world of VAT. She says “I am so grateful to have been given this opportunity and am particularly looking forward to new challenges and exposure to more technically complex areas of VAT.”
In the Penrith office, Gregg Smith has been promoted to a Healthcare Manager and Becki Higgins becomes a Support Manager.
Gregg Smith, who lives in Wigton, is part of the Healthcare team and specialises in doctors’ practices. He says “The ever-changing nature of NHS contracts makes it challenging but enjoyable. I’m looking forward to being more involved with clients on a day to day basis and working with them to help ensure they are as efficient as possible.”
Becki Higgins helps with the day to day running of the growing support department. Having been with the firm for over 2 years, Becki quickly progressed to becoming the Support Department Manager. Becki said “I love being able to help and support my colleagues, and this new promotion allows me the opportunity to keep doing what I love, whilst taking on new challenges. I’m very much looking forward to what my new role will offer and getting involved in the recruitment and training process of staff, that Dodds is widely recognised for.”
Alison Johnston, Staff Partner at Dodd & Co commented, “We are absolutely delighted to announce these internal promotions, it’s superb to have such a strong and established team here at Dodd & Co and brilliant to see staff achieve the progression they deserve as recognition of all their hard work and commitment. We are really proud to be able to offer opportunities for development to all staff across our wide range of disciplines whether this be accounts, tax, support services, technology, IT or whatever else it may be.”
