Respected Chartered Accountant, Richard Patterson (pictured above), has this month celebrated a full year back with his old firm, Robb Ferguson, one of the oldest and most venerable Chartered Accountancy practices in Scotland. 

Returning as a Director in the firm where he was a Partner for five years between 2002 and 2007, Richard, 55, has assisted the Partners in achieving a range of business wins for the Glasgow city centre firm.

New Robb Ferguson clients include a highly-regarded Scottish construction sector business, a fast-growing manufacturing company, a substantial leisure sector client and a media sector operator amongst others.

He said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been welcomed back into the firm and I am enjoying immensely being part of the growth plan which aims to see the firm expand by up to 50% in the next three to five years.

The philosophy here has always been that the clients come first and foremost and by focussing on developing future lead advisors this should allow us to significantly up client numbers and up headcount over the same period.”

He added: “I am enjoying having the autonomy to help build the business and I think it is important to have a more direct relationship with clients rather than a high-volume / low touch point environment that a number of firms seem to be pursuing just now.

There is always hype about professional firms’ dedication to client service. It’s what potential clients hear all the time from almost every firm. Here at Robb Ferguson, I have seen plainly that this commitment is no advertising strapline but the genuine adherence of everyone who works here.”

In his new role as a Director, Richard has been focusing on business development, talent acquisition and internal process development as well as looking after a portfolio of clients across a range of sectors.

Like many CAs of his generation, Richard started his career with mid-tier firms which have now either been swallowed up by larger entities or no longer exist.

Richard said: “I’m a people person and wanted to work again in a mid-tier organisation that shared similar working practices to those that I enjoy, so I was excited to move when one of the Partners, Graham Cantlay, suggested that I return to Robb Ferguson.”

The firm’s Managing Partner, Andy Logan, said: “We are delighted to have been able to attract someone of Richard’s calibre back into the firm. He has a wealth of experience at the highest levels of the profession and has made a significant contribution to our forward momentum over the last year.

Richard is a very client focused individual and as such has seamlessly embraced the team culture at Robb Ferguson and its fair to say the whole team is very pleased to have welcomed him back with all that he brings to the firm.”

Robb Ferguson, founded in the 1880s, has a current headcount of 50 and has proved its ability over the years to adapt swiftly to a changing business environment.