“I’ve been qualified as an accountant for 25 years now (2025). But it’s only recently that I’ve felt qualified (or maybe brave!) enough to say, out loud, what I think really great accountancy is all about.

When I learned my trade inside other practices, and with people I have known in other practices, there were accolades for accurate Reporting and timely Compliance. I always found that odd. For me, that’s table stakes. If we can’t do that, we shouldn’t be here.

I chased, and still chase, perfection in both Recording and Compliance. But my real interest is in what my client and I do with the information. I am interested in what’s best for the business, and what’s best for the founder. That’s what I think great accountancy is all about. Being interested in the business, the people, everything. Not just what the business is and does, but how to help them stabilise, strengthen – and grow.

I’m interested to learn what a client want from life as well as work. So that Concept clients have the best chance of achieving both.

Concept clients don’t coast. They don’t settle. We take time out to be curious about business and personal potential. We explore quality of life. The chemistry we have, one-on-one means we can get personal.

Because not all goals are financial. And not all balance is about numbers. If a client wants fewer days in the office and more days out hiking or biking – we build that in. We go where others don’t when it comes to goal setting. Goals relating to profitability and reserves are important. But so too is a busy business leaders desire to have downtime. More time with the kids. More holidays. We’re interested in finding out all of that.”

Mark Melville, Founder and MD, Concept Accountancy.