In Conversation with Tony Haines

Having been a partner at Wenn Townsend for over 20 years Tony is a highly experienced accountant and knowledgeable member of the team. Tony’s ability to create a rapport with anyone makes him well-respected with colleagues and clients alike, and when dealing with Tony his clear and concise approach ensures there is no waffle, all the advice you will receive is well thought-out and has your best interests at the core. To get to know Tony better we asked him a few questions about how he got to this point in his career and what motivates him in his role within the firm:

1. What do you enjoy most about your job?
   Without doubt the most enjoyable part of the job, and occasionally the most frustrating, is the variety of the work you can face from one day to the next. I think there is an understandable assumption from both clients and members of staff that they know roughly what a Partner in a Firm such as Wenn Townsend does. If my job consisted of what the outside world perceived we do then I genuinely do not think I would have stayed the thirty four years in the Profession, let alone with the same Partnership, for as long as I have. Even after such a long time I still find daily challenges and learn new things all the time as the world of finance continues to evolve with changes to the Legal Frameworks and Regulations.Equally as enjoyable to my first answer is to find a solution to a problem that appears insurmountable but works with all the parties that are stakeholders to a given issue. I am proud that the experiences we have to offer our clients, both as myself or as part of a collaborative process is always on point, relevant and delivered with a sensible cost to the client.
2. What has been the defining moment in your career to date?
   There have been two which I consider to be equally as important. The first of which was to qualify as a Chartered Accountant. I found it a slow, difficult and laborious process and rightly so. The public expectations of what they expect from a Chartered Accountant needs to be met and the ICAEW qualification does just that. Having qualified in 1991 I now hold the further qualification of the Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.My second defining moment was being asked to become a Wenn Townsend partner in 1997. This gave me a renewed focus on client issues and rounded me into the type of accountant that is capable of looking at the whole picture for clients for now and the future. Clients aspirations do change but even so a good Chartered Accountant should be able to not only focus on the current generation but also perhaps the previous generation as well as the future generations especially when one is dealing with families. This approach also goes for the more corporate clients but in a much more defined role of business development.
3. Who would be the dream client?
   My dream clients already exist. They are the client that will call and ask whether or not I would be able to act for another family member, colleague, business acquaintance, supplier etc. We only ever recommend someone to a person or a business that we trust and we have had better than good dealings with, because we know the consequences of ‘being involved’. A recommendation from a client is always welcome and I see it is validation that the work we do is both respected and valued.
   I count myself fortunate in that I have a number of clients that are happy to recommend either myself or my firm to friends and family.
4. How would you want your colleagues or clients to describe you?
   I believe that what others think of me is none of my business. It is a pointless exercise in narcissism if I spent most of my time trying to get others to like or respect me which is probably what we all wish for. All I can do is what needs doing at any given moment in time and do it to the best of my ability regardless of the impact that might have on how others think of me, be it negatively or positively.
5. What do you most want to achieve in your career?
   I would simply like to leave the Firm in a much better position than when I joined it. My Mentors will have all retired by the time I step down and many of my Contemporaries will be contemplating retirement if not already retired. We all have a vested interest and dare I suggest a moral obligation to ensure the fiercely independent status of Wenn Townsend and the continued longevity of the Firm. I know that sounds all very Churchillian but in a world of globalisation isn’t it refreshing to be able to offer that service of being refreshingly old fashioned but bang up to date?