ACCA Gold Approved Employer Status
03/06/2010
The ACCA has awarded Riley & Co its prestigious Gold Approved Employer status.
As a gold standard training office our ACCA students are eligible for an exemption in the method recording of their work experience. To have achieved this status we have demonstrated that we provide trainees with high quality professional training, including mentoring. We are the subject of ACCA inspections from time to time to ensure standards are maintained. This is a feather in our cap and assists us to attract high quality trainees, who want a professional qualification without having to go to university. Our next school leaver has been appointed and will be joining us with good A level grades in August 2010.
Promotion Success
01/04/2010
Riley & Co are delighted to annouce promotion success!
Bernie Wilson has been promoted to Accounts Manager and Matthew Robinson promoted to Assistant Tax Manager.
Well done to you both!
Squash Evening 2010
18/03/2010
Riley & Co sponsored Queens Sports Club in their 3-2 Yorkshire League win over Heaton.
On Wednesday 17 March 2010 staff and friends enjoyed some sparkling squash, in a cliff hanger that went to 2 matches all, and then 3-2 in the final game.
Queens played out of their skins, as most of their senior players were on international duties. £165.10 was raised on the night in aid of Haiti Disaster Relief
Simon Pease RIP
26/02/2010
We are sorry to announce the death of Simon Pease ACA who was audit manager of Riley & Co Chartered Accountants until 1999 when he left to join DSC Chartered Accountants in Harrogate. Clients who knew him will have fond memories of a highly intelligent and gifted accountant who had a flair for systems and IT. He set up our computerised network filing system at Riley & Co at a time when such things were not common in local practises.
Simon had won a prestigious athletics scholarship to Rice University in Houston so he had the benefit of an excellent US style education when he joined us from Binder Hamlyn, having trained at Arthur Andersons. We were lucky to attract such an exceptional individual and it was a privilege to have worked with him.
The photo is of Simon participating in the NSPCC challenge in Shibden Park in 1998. We had a great day and he joined in wholeheartedly – as he did with everything else.
Simon leaves a wife Alex and a son and two daughters. We extend our sympathy to them for his tragic and untimely death.
Riley and Co Announce Business Support Strategy and Appointment
04/11/2009
Riley and Co are pleased to announce the appointment of a new employee as part of a wider drive to support businesses and social organisations in Calderdale and beyond.
Most successfully run organisations will have weathered the storm of the initial credit crunch but with no immediate let up in sight, employer’s thoughts have now turned from survival to growth. The beginning of this process brings with it a series of questions that need to be considered and evaluated before any plans are put into action.
Usually this type of business planning exercise can become an unnecessary burden for key employees in small and medium sized enterprises but Riley and Co has created the ideal solution to this dilemma.
Riley and Co have employed the services of Daniel Atkinson, a qualified chartered accountant who has wide experience of running large and small manufacturing and service businesses on both a local and national basis. With a link up for sponsored fees from Business Link in Yorkshire and Humberside, Riley and Co can now provide a free consultancy exercise worth £1,500 with the aim of taking eligible small and medium enterprises forward on job retention and job creation activities.
Simon Walton, Partner at Riley and Co stated that “the ability to take the ideas and plans of businesses and match it with the proven financial and consultancy skills of Riley and Co is an invaluable opportunity that all businesses in Calderdale should be using.” Because of the flexibility of the scheme it can be used in virtually all situations that ambitious and well run organisations are facing today.
Interested organisations can phone for an initial informal chat at Riley and Co (01422 341019) or e-mail dan.atkinson@rileyandco.co.uk directly.
Calderdale College Graduation Ceremony
03/11/2009
On 7 October 2009 Vicky Atkinson, in her role of Vice Chair of Governors, presented the graduates from Calderdale College with their certificates at the Victoria Theatre in Halifax.
Vicky said “It was an absolute honour to be involved in such a wonderful occasion & to share in the success of our students.”
Halifax Show 2009
10/08/2009
Riley & Co had a great day out at Halifax Show. Thanks to Alan Wheelwright, the Show Chairman, and his team who made us very welcome.
The sunny weather made a big difference and we had ringside seats to enjoy all the action.
Further Expansion
31/07/2009
Riley & Co has recently acquired the accountancy practice of King Cross chartered accountant Richard Dupuy.
Richard trained at and worked for a firm in Huddersfield before setting up his own business over 30 years ago. Until 2000 he ran the Halifax Building Society branch on King Cross High Street.
Vicky Atkinson, audit partner at Riley & Co said ‘We are delighted to be taking over Richard’s clients. We hope to continue to look after them with the high quality of personal service and excellent technical standards which they have been used to for many years from Richard.’
Angela Riley, Riley & Co’s senior partner commented ‘Richard and I have been friends for years and this will be a good move for both of us. We intend to continue with our expansion, despite these difficult times, and Richard wants to retire. He uses the same IT system as ourselves and we are confident that this, together with the high quality of his work, should make his clients easy to integrate within our practice.’
York Races 2009
13/07/2009
Riley and Co had an excellent day out at the York Races in July. The weather was fantastic and many of us came away with a some winners and a few extra pounds in our pockets!
The day was finished off with a delightful meal at Aagrah.
Sponsorship of Halifax RLFC
20/06/2009
Riley & Co are once again proud to be sponsoring Sean Penkywicz the captain of Halifax RLFC.
Vicky Atkinson had the honour of receiving Sean’s shirt at the Star Man dinner which was held in September 2008 to celebrate last year’s success on the pitch. Hopefully we will have even more to celebrate at the event to be held later this year.
Hepworth Honda Presentation
20/05/2009
Riley & Co ran a joint presentation with Hepworth Honda of Halifax. The purpose of the event was to highlight the new Honda Insight. This is a hybrid vehicle (meaning it is powered by both petrol and electricity) allowing emissions to be kept to a minimum and thus lock into the tax efficiencies.
The event was well attended by clients and contacts of both companies who heard about the tax benefits from Simon Walton and the key features of the vehicle from Steve Brighton. All who test drove the demo vehicles seemed well impressed. The Insight is a high performance family saloon which has sold well in foreign markets, where it has been released earlier than in the UK.
Riley & Co has a financial model to demonstrate the tax savings for any clients considering the Insight ‘greener alternative’.
Comic Relief Red Nose Day
13/03/2009
Riley & Co raised nearly £1,000 for comic relief by a major leg waxing session in the board room and a raffle at Queens Sports Club, when they sponsored the squash match between Queens and arch rivals Heaton.
The leg waxing generated charity donations and much hilarity. The star of the show was ‘hunk’ tax accountant Tony Cahill who offered his armpit for waxing as a dare, egged on by director Simon Walton, who had to pay handsomely when Tony went through with the eye watering challenge. ‘It was almost too painful to watch’ said Angela Riley.
Top fundraiser was Ben Roper whose sponsors together paid £99 to render his legs hairless.
Football Sponsor
11/11/2008
Riley & Co for the second year are proud sponsors of Warley Greens under 11's football team and wish them every success in the current season.
Courier Business Awards 2008
09/07/2008
We are proud to be once again sponsoring the 'New Business' category at the Halifax Evening Courier Business Awards 2008. Please click on the link below to see what a good time we had last year!
www.halifaxcourier.co.uk
Further details will be available for viewing after the actual event.
Charity Accounts Diploma
14/05/2008
Riley and Co Chartered Accountants are pleased to announce that Sarah Crawford, Riley and Co’s Charity Accounts Manager, has gained the ICAEW Diploma in Charity Accounting. Sarah is the first successful candidate for the Diploma in Halifax and only the second successful candidate in West Yorkshire, making Sarah eligible to use the designatory letters DChA.
This high level qualification has been specifically designed by the Institute for Chartered Accountants for professionals working in the Charity and Voluntary Sector, and recognises the specialised skills and experience required by them in dealing with charity and voluntary sector organisations and to date only 175 applicants have successfully gained the qualification via the experience route.
Riley and Co has a dedicated charity’s department, which has been managed by Sarah since February 2007, and we act for more than 35 charities in the West Yorkshire and Lancashire area.
We keep up to date with all developments in charity accounting by regular attendance at seminars and conferences and for the last two years both Sarah and Vicky Atkinson, Audit Director, have attended the ICAEW Charity Annual Conference at Leeds Royal Armouries. We use specialised charity accounts software and audit manuals for all charity assignments, and all our staff receive extensive in house training in all aspects of charity accounting.
Accountants' aid to charity
10/05/2008
West Yorkshire Society of Chartered Accountants' president Angela Riley, of Riley and Co, St John's Lane, Halifax, Halifax, presented £4,000 to Age Concern.
The money was raised during her year as president, with a large amount collected at the society's 100th anniversay dinner. Age Concern Calderdale received a £2,000 share of the money and Bradford, Kirklees, Leeds, Wakefield and York will each received £400.
"It is particularly pleasing for me as a member of the board of Age Concern Calderdale, of which I have been treasurer since 1993, and I know how important this cash will be to help in their support for the older members of our society," said Angela Riley.
Tim Swift, of Age Concern Calderdale, said: "Age Concern's services reach out to those older people who are often missed by the public services, but whose lives can be made better by a little bit of help. "
"This donation will help us to support our volunteer-led services in meeting these needs."
Tony's VAT Diploma Success!
19/11/2007
Congratulations to Tony Cahill on passing the VAT Compliance Diploma
Presidential visit to Riley & Co & to HBOS
04/10/2007
Richard Dyson, national president of Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales visited Halifax as part of the centenary celebrations of the West Yorkshire Society of Chartered Accountants. Originally from Huddersfield, Richard toured Riley & Co's offices before attending HBOS board room for a buffet lunch and a meeting with the Chartered Accountants who work there.
WYSCA Centenary Dinner 2007
04/10/2007
At the Society’s centenary annual dinner president of West Yorkshire Society of Chartered Accountants, Angela Riley and national president of the ICAEW, Richard Dyson presented a surprise lifetime achievement award to chartered accountant Alison Portlock for her services to the profession locally, nationally and internationally. Richard Dyson, returning to his Yorkshire roots, gave a speech about what the Institute does for the business community. 400 members and guests , including 17 past presidents of the Society, attended the splendid occasion in Leeds Town Hall in the presence of Lord Mayor Coun Brian Cleasby. Entertainment was provided by comedian Tom O’Connor and there was an operatic interlude by Opus, directed by David Heathcote.
More Exam Success!
21/08/2007
Congratulations to Bernie Wilson on passing the Association of Accounting Technicians exams whilst with Riley & Co.
Examinations success!
25/07/2007
Congratulations to Lisa Walsh on passing the Tax & Audit papers of the professional stage of the ICAEW examinations. Lisa is now well underway to becoming a fully fledged Chartered Accountant having already passed the Association of Accounting Technicians exams whilst with Riley & Co.
Jones V Garnett (Arctic Systems): Victory for the Joneses
25/07/2007
This landmark tax case finally reached a conclusion today with the lords rejecting HMRC's appeal.
To read more on this story please visit www.accountingweb.co.uk
Meeting with Richard Lambert - Director General of the CBI
12/07/2007
On 12 July Richard Lambert was awarded an honorary doctorate at York University. As President of WYSCA Angela Riley attended the subsequent symposium on academia and industry liaison. Professor Steve Toms, Head of Accounting and Finance, commented 'As one of Britain's newest Management Schools, we are keen to work innovatively with industrial partners.'
Richard was appointed in to the top CBI job in July 2006 after 35 years as a financial journalist. He is a former editor of the Financial Times and led a review on University-business interaction which produced the 'Lambert Report'. His predecessor at the CBI was Sir Digby Jones.
WYSCA gives a bursary annually to a top accountancy student at York, and four other universities in the region, in the hope of encouraging students to consider careers as Chartered Accountants.
Angela Riley becomes WYSCA president
14/05/2007
Angela Riley becomes WYSCA's President for 2007/08. At the AGM on 14 May she took over from Gail Monnickendam, of Lunn Ventures plc (left), the outgoing president. Merryck Lowe (right) of Pannel Kerr Forster is Angela's deputy for the year.
Angela thanked Gail for her inspired leadership, in her year at the helm, and noted the parallel appointment of Gordon Brown who is concurrently taking over from Tony Blair. She asked the members present to volunteer as officers in their society but regretably,unlike being Prime Minister, this does not guarantee their place in history.
The meeting was priviledged to hear a talk from Martin Ellis, Chief Economist of HBoS on the economic prospects for the region and the UK. Members were interested to hear his views on the future of interest rates and the housing market.
Angela is keen to represent local members' views to the ICAEW nationally so members who have relevant matters, requiring an airing, should get in touch.
Matthew collects award
12/04/2007
Matthew Robinson collects his ATT award from Jean Jesty at Stationers Hall in London.
Matthew had worked very hard to pass the exams to be admitted as a member of the Association of Tax Technicians. Jean Jesty is their national president.
MP's export advice
30/01/2007
Feature from the Halifax Evening Courier Tuesday January 30 2007.
HALIFAX MP Linda Riordan congratulated Matthew Robinson, 22, on passing his Association of Tax Technicians examination on a visit to Riley and Co accountants.
The former Brooksbank School, Elland pupil has been with Rileys since leaving school and will now go on to further his career as a tax adviser.
The MP was at the company to discuss how she could help its business clients develop their export trade and to explore her fields of interest.
Partner Angela Riley said it was part of the West Yorkshire Institute of Chartered Accountants' campaign to promote better relationships with Parliamentarians.
"A recent survey by the institute discovered the second most pressing issue for people was public transport and Linda is involved with the environment and transport," she said.
"If people are genuinely interested in helping the environment then it is critical we have a sustainable transport policy that is efficient."
Riley & Co goes Pink!
27/10/2006
Riley and Co show their support for the Wear it Pink day 2006 for the Breast Cancer Campaign by joining in and dressing in pink for the day!
Since then, in May 2007 Senior Partner, Angela Riley and her husband David Bull went on a fundraising rally for MacMillan Cancer Support. With another 34 classic cars they raised £59,226 before gift aid. The rally was the 2007 Cape to Cape, being from Cape Wrath on Scotland to Cape Clear in Eire.
20 Years of Business!
01/12/2005
Riley & Co has celebrated 20 years in business!
We had a nostalgia-fest by inviting as many of our notable ex-employees as we could get in touch with to a dinner at Holdsworth House in December 2005. Do you remember Pam Greenwood, Yvette Ruddock, Simon Pease and Elizabeth Jessop? Pam came from Shropshire, Yvette from the Isle of Man, Simon from Harrogate and Elizabeth from Halifax. We received congratulations but apologies that they couldn’t be with us from Dorothy Pickersgill, Phil Hobbs, Shahida Tontus, Valerie Cote and James Blackburn. We were also glad to entertain staff who left more recently including Marie Hancock, Kevin McDaid, Matthew Sutcliffe, Elaine Daniels and Helen Snowley. Julie-Ann Pearson and Melanie Lambert didn’t make it on the night and were missed by colleagues who were looking forward to an update on their health and careers as well as the usual ‘births, marriages etc’.
Riley & Co wins Star Award 2004
22/10/2004
Riley & Co scooped the 2004 Star Employer (small firm) at the West Yorkshire Society of Chartered Accounts "Cluster of Stars Awards".
This category which is split between large and small firms, recognises how a practice has supported the life/work balance, offered training and shown flexibility - the winners demonstrated that they offer a stimoulating work environment for career development with recognition and reward.
Photo: Dermot Hamblin, Iris Software, presents the award to Angela Riley.
