In 2006 Highview Accounting Services was a 4 partner firm going OK – but it was evident our business had no soul. The easy decision would have been to continue down this path, but it would have left our business with no culture & heart.

Without support from my other partners I made a decision to attend a growth & leadership conference in Queensland which I paid for myself. From this seminar I bought ideas and practices back that could change the dynamics & future of Highview Accounting for the better. It proved to be a defining moment in our business & upon my return; I only gained support from one partner, which meant some difficult but necessary leadership decisions needed to be made:

• 2 partners futures were freed up;
• We promoted a very capable receptionist into a Practice Manager role;
• We promoted an enthusiastic & dynamic employee into a Junior Partners role;
• We engaged Business Coach Andrew Oldham from GPL Network.

All partners for the first time were on the same page & had the same vision.

We implemented new systems & procedures managed by our Practice Manager as encouraged by our Business Coach in an effort to streamline our business & make us more efficient.

Over time with more encouragement from our coach, we started 4 more complimentary businesses which in turn strengthened our core business.

Seven years later we have a sustainable business model which is at the cutting edge of our industry. Turnover trebled & profit went up by 400%.

Leadership, coaching & change drove this business to be better and having the key people in the right spots & heading in the same direction meant we could all play our part and all contribute to making our business what it is today.

[Article written by Silvio Marinelli, partner, Highview Accounting November 2013]