The firm next door

In a unique new series, AccountingWEB.co.uk will be delving into the daily workings of a representative firm of accountants. Personal development coach Carol McLachlan has been granted unprecedented access to partner meetings, client consultations and even the private lives of staff at CTT & Co.

She will record their experiences and get a glimpse of the issues and events that shape the daily lives of staff and partners at the ‘firm next door’.

Latest posts

May

Day sixteen: Life springs anew

At the week’s end, CTT & Co seemed to be in crisis. Nonetheless, Barry was reasonably confident he’d put measures in place to keep the ship tight, he told me in his last coaching session.

May

Day fifteen: Gladiators

Even, maybe especially, when cornered Jeffery Drum was a bullying bruiser determined to deflect blame. This time, he attempted to swat Charlie Tams away.

May

Day fourteen: The storm breaks

At 2pm (British Summer Time) in Barry’s office, Jeffery Drum didn’t know what appalled him most - having new neighbours related to a non-equity member of staff, hearing that same lowly wage-serf boldly asking for a pay rise, or the prospect of Cressida Lilywhite making a formal complaint against

Apr

Day thirteen: The world and its axis

As storm clouds gathered in Barry’s office, momentous events were unfolding worldwide.

Apr

Day twelve: Bollywood dreams?

Erin’s call continued. She’d sat with Barry’s sister outside the Palm House while Clarice, shifting her attention from the trees, picked up Erin’s mobile and turned it on...

Apr

Day eleven: Water lilies and new neighbours

Unusually, Barry’s mind was occupied with family, rather than work drama in our next meeting.

Apr

Day ten: There’s no ‘I’ in team

My most recent coaching session with Barry raised yet more puzzling questions. He appeared to be unravelling before me and there didn’t seem to be much I could do to pull him together at first.

Apr

Day nine: The greasy pole

Barry had lost count of the days Silas spent out of the office, on courses in particular.

Mar

Day eight: Summoned

Barry entered Jeffrey Drum’s office with the usual sense of trepidation. “It’s never a good sign when you’re summoned like that”, he confided to me.

Drum stood by the window while Barry sat in a chair that must have been designed for toddlers.

Mar

Day seven: Mobiles and mysteries

It was a miserable early morning, and that was just the weather; Barry’s mental state was even grimmer. He flung paper into the basket and groaned.

The firm next door

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