Ambitious accountancy firm to boost its numbers with recruitment drive

Dains is reaching out for fresh talent after doubling its numbers over recent months.

Dated: 5 December 2022 Author: Richard McNeilly, Chief Executive

Dains, which now has offices across the UK, is growing its nearly 400-strong workforce after making three major acquisitions and expanding its operation on Festival Park in Stoke-on-Trent.

The firm, founded in Lichfield in 1926, is creating a range of new positions in accountancy, audit, finance, and technology as part of exciting growth plans.

CEO Richard McNeilly says securing private investment capital in 2021 has fuelled growth and enabled Dains to acquire like-minded businesses in the accountancy and business services sectors.

 

In July, Dains acquired Newcastle-based chartered accountancy firm Barringtons and has welcomed staff to its landmark office on Festival Park.

It then followed with the acquisition of Isosceles Finance, an outsourced FD and accounting consultancy business with offices and staff based in London, Sheffield, and Edinburgh.

The most recent acquisition has been William Duncan + Co, a historic accountancy practice with offices in Ayr, Glasgow, and Kilmarnock, giving the group reach across the border into Scotland.

The growth has widened opportunities for existing staff and for new staff to join the Dains family where employees are valued as the firm’s most significant assets.

There’s a special focus on career development with apprenticeship and graduate schemes on offer, as well as leadership programmes, aimed at nurturing fresh talent and harnessing ambition.

The firm aims to strike a positive work-life balance and a wellness programme has been set up for staff, which includes access to advice from mental health first aiders as well as a free employee assistance programme.

There are regular social activities and a reward and recognition scheme offering the chance to nominate colleagues for ‘Superstar of the Month’ and ‘Employee of the Year’ awards.

Richard McNeilly said: “As a business, we understand people are our greatest asset and we strive to provide a complementary working environment from flexible working hours to a fantastic benefits scheme.

“We take pride in our long heritage and the fact we have attracted some of the region’s best talent down the decades. It says something that staff choose to stay with us their whole careers and grow with the firm.

“We are delighted to be in a position to create new opportunities for talented individuals and young people joining the industry.”

Investment in employees over the years has seen new recruits often rising to senior management roles, including three current directors. 

Partners in the firm Phil Pellegrini and Steve Rogers, based at the Lichfield office, joined straight from school and Audit Director Julian Townsend, based in Birmingham, started as an apprentice.

Now Dains wants to find more talent as it recruits across a spectrum of junior and senior roles, from trainees to skilled due diligence consultants, who can advise on sizeable corporate transactions.

Jobs currently on offer include Audit Senior roles in our Stoke and Birmingham offices, a Corporate Finance Manager based at either Birmingham or Derby and an Audit Manager and Group Financial Controller in the Birmingham office to name but a few.

The roles will form part of a growing network across the region, offering a range of business services, including accounting support, audit work, tax (including corporate, personal, customs duty, VAT and employment taxes), corporate finance and forensic accounting.

The firm says successful applicants will enjoy an inclusive approach to staff engagement and the chance to have a say in their own and the firm’s future development. As an employer we are committed to equality and valuing diversity within our workforce.

Head of HR, Angela Millward, said: “We are always looking at ways to engage with our staff through surveys, feedback sessions and employee working parties.  We employed this strategy when reviewing our benefits and hybrid working policy and I am currently working with a team of managers to develop staff career plans.

“We are passionate about supporting people in our local communities through regular charitable and volunteering activities.”

Dains operates from offices in Birmingham, Derby, Burton-on-Trent, and Stoke-on-Trent as well as its Lichfield headquarters. Former Barringtons offices in Nantwich, Market Drayton and Newport have been retained.

Dains has launched a recruitment microsite to showcase potential candidates the exciting opportunities available.

Go to recruitment.dains.com or email Recruitment Manager Nicola Jones to find out more at applications@dains.com