Adam Cooper, partner at Townends Chartered Accountants and member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, is the latest regional business professional in the hot seat as The Yorkshire Times gives him just 10 minutes to answer our 10 burning questions.
What does a typical working day for you involve?
Having three young children provides enough distraction whenever I am at home that the line between personal and business tends to be easy to maintain. The working day therefore starts once I’m in the office with a check of emails before dealing with whatever is on my agenda for that day.
As a partner of the business, the days can vary between client work and working on our own business so there is no such thing as a typical day. I try to plan ahead what I will be working on but need to retain the flexibility for the unexpected.
Most meetings tend to take place in the office but when I do travel to clients these trips can take me as far afield as Cumbria, Derbyshire and the North Yorkshire Moors.
What makes your company special?
In a world increasingly moving towards specialisation, we have maintained the general practitioner model. We aim to do this by providing clients with a single initial point of contact who will be familiar with all aspects of the client’s affairs – the ‘Trusted Advisor’. We can then utilise specialists as appropriate to create a one-stop shop solution for our clients.
The ‘Townends Philosophy’ drives our approach to the financial affairs of our clients and we are dedicated to the achievement of our client’s personal and business objectives. Helping our clients to establish their objectives is often the hardest part but we can then provide proactive advice to make it happen together.
Do you have any business rules that you swear by?
Not a rule as such but I am a big believer in the value of networks and the reciprocal benefits of working with other professionals – lawyers, property advisors, land agents, bankers – and therefore if we have work referred to us, I will try and return the favour in the future.
Do you dress up or down for work?
Dress up – I was wearing waistcoats before Gareth Southgate made it acceptable! I’ve never worn anything other than suit, shirt and tie for work and putting it on each morning gets me into work mode.
What piece of advice would you give to your 18-year-old self?
I started at Townends when I was 18 and I’m very fortunate that I still love my job so there is probably nothing different I would tell my 18-year-old self in terms of work. I would however emphasise the importance of mentors throughout your career – you can learn so much from them and other people around you.
On a personal level, I’d tell myself to enjoy every minute of Bradford City’s stay in the Premier League – it might be a long time before they get there again!
What’s your favourite Yorkshire venue for an event or team away day?
I have been to Ripley Castle a couple of times – once for a clay pigeon shoot and another time for a family bike ride – and you cannot fail to be impressed by the building itself as well as the village and land surrounding it.
How do you prefer to travel for business?
I would choose train travel every time when I can if I’m going inter-city, it still feels the best way to travel when they run on schedule. On a daily basis though the commute is a 15-minute car journey as that provides the flexibility needed for picking up/dropping off children en route.
What’s your favourite place in Yorkshire to relax?
Valley Parade, Bradford – it might not always feel relaxing in the heat of a game but having watched Bradford City for 35 years, it is the place I can go and focus on nothing but the football for 90 minutes.
Where is your favourite place to eat in Yorkshire, and what dish do you recommend?
Sticking with Bradford, it would have to be Mumtaz. Pickle tray to start, chicken murgh makhana, pilau rice and peshwari naan for main washed down with some strawberry lassi.
What do you miss most about Yorkshire when you are away?
My family if I have not gone away with them. Other than that, just the feeling of being ‘home’. I’ve lived in Yorkshire my whole life and cannot imagine why you would want to live anywhere else.
View the article here.
*Originally published in the Yorkshire Times on the 30th October.*
