The UK\u2019s oldest accountant is looking to finally bow out after nearly 70 years in the business.<\/p>\n
Robert Godfrey, 86, the son of a dentist from Holyhead, signed on as an articled apprentice with an accountancy firm in Chester back in 1957, the year when the space race started with the Soviet Union launching the Sputnik satellite.<\/p>\n
Now the Wrexham-based practice he co-founded, Godfrey Edwards, has merged with chartered accountancy firm Coxeys which has offices in Wrexham, Saltney and Chester.<\/p>\n
The deal has seen around 300 clients transfer across along with his tax expert partner, Gwyn Edwards, and three members of staff.<\/p>\n
It also marks a fourth acquisition for Coxeys in the past six years, a period which has seen the firm grow significantly.<\/p>\n
Staff numbers have risen from around 30 to 50 during that time as the business has expanded its range of services for clients across the region.<\/p>\n
Mr Godfrey qualified as an accountant in 1963 with Harmood, Banner, Lewis and Mounsey, becoming a partner in 1970.<\/p>\n
Four years later the firm merged with Deloitte but around 1980 he and fellow partner Tim Plews left the global firm to run their own practice, with Mr Plews remaining in Chester and Mr Godfrey opening a new office in Wrexham.<\/p>\n
The firm evolved into Godfrey Edwards in 2002 when he teamed up with Gwyn Edwards.<\/p>\n
According to Mr Godfrey, the merger felt like a natural step thanks to a long friendship with Coxeys founder Michael Coxey, who is still working part time at the age of 80.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI had been very friendly with Michael Coxey over the years and we have always had an arrangement that we would never take clients off each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cMichael, who\u2019s a bit younger than me, had always said to me if was ever thinking of packing it in, Coxeys would take me over and that is basically what has happened.<\/p>\n
\u201cMichael is still working part time and I am carrying on for the foreseeable to make sure our clients are happy so that it\u2019s a managed, seamless transition.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy clients have peace of mind in knowing\u00a0 that they can contact me if they need to and that they have nothing to worry about. It\u2019s a nice way to retire for me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI brought three members of staff, as well as Gwyn who has joined Coxey\u2019s as their in-house tax expert.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was comfortable merging with Coxeys because we have a long-standing relationship and mutual respect.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe current managing director, Anthony Lewis, and fellow director, Joanne Evans, have been wonderful and very respectful.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reason I carried on for so long after retirement age is that I loved it and I still do. But I do want to retire now, safe in the knowledge that the clients are in good hands.\u201d<\/p>\n
For the time being though, Robert still comes into work three or four days a week and has an office at Coxeys headquarters in Wrexham where he has become a popular figure with all the team.<\/p>\n
Coxeys director Joanne Evans said: \u201cRobert is a real gentleman, with strong values and has a similar mindset in how you deal with people and provide a professional service.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why the merger has worked so well because we are so similar in our outlook and to be fair, it\u2019s been seamless.<\/p>\n
\u201cRobert comes in most days and he is enjoying his role in the transition period to be a reassuring presence for the clients who still have access to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe clients are still working with the same members of staff because they have also transferred to Coxeys which means there\u2019s a real continuity of service.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough he is 86, Robert is still as sharp as a tack and has a real charm about him. He is lovely and we\u00a0 have all taken to him.<\/p>\n
Managing director Anthony Lewis added: \u201cThe merger is also another milestone in the Coxeys story as it\u2019s the fourth in the past six years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very much a one-stop shop. Our audit work in particular has grown significantly and has more than doubled over the past couple of years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re large enough to provide a full spectrum of accountancy services but still small enough to offer that friendly, personal service that our clients really value.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve built a really strong team over the past few years and our growth is providing a boost to the regional economy, providing highly-skilled, well-paid jobs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re continuing to recruit and we have three current vacancies as we are looking to build on our recent success.\u201d<\/p>\n