17th July, 2024
Welcome to the latest edition of Fiscal Therapy, the podcast where leaders in accounting share their secrets to success.
In this latest episode, we’re thrilled to have Chris Simmons, the Director and CEO of MJC Partners, a top 100 accounting firm.
Chris is a recognised thought leader in business development, corporate governance, and organic growth strategy.
He’s renowned for reshaping and rejuvenating businesses, and today, he shares the incredible journey of MJC Partners and how they’ve managed to triple their business through organic growth.
Chris’s journey with MJC Partners began with a significant structural change in the business.
“The business had been around since about 1980, and the founding partners were proactive, but we lacked accountability,” Chris recalls.
In 2011-2012, his two business partners, Matt Salmon and Andrew Ferrier, realised the need for a single leader to drive the firm forward. They chose Chris to take the helm, and this decision marked the beginning of their transformative journey.
The key to their success?
“We developed a culture of honouring our promises to each other and focused hard on improving our processes and systems,” Chris explains.
This culture shift allowed them to be more proactive with clients, fostering a strong sense of accountability and teamwork within the firm.
One of the standout aspects of MJC Partners is their exceptional staff retention.
Chris attributes this to their obsession with culture and team engagement.
“We don’t discuss staff retention as a pain point because we focus on it every day,” he says.
By bringing everyone onto the same page, the firm has created an environment where team members feel valued and part of a larger family.
Career development is another crucial element.
“We focus really hard on the career development of our team, ensuring they have pathways to fulfil their ambitions at MJC Partners,” Chris explains.
This approach has led to a strong, cohesive team that is engaged and motivated to contribute to the firm’s success.
At MJC Partners, continuous improvement is more than just a buzzword—it’s a way of life.
“We’re kind of obsessed with continuous improvement,” Chris says.
This philosophy has driven the firm to make incremental improvements in every aspect of their business, from processes and systems to client service offerings.
The result? A more engaged team that makes better decisions and implements them effectively, leading to better client outcomes.
This has fostered strong client advocacy and referrals, which have been key to the firm’s organic growth.
“We’ve tripled the business not with a magic pill, but through the cumulative effect of small decisions made every day,” Chris emphasises.
Chris believes that what sets MJC Partners apart is their unique culture.
“We try to do everything together, without encouraging or tolerating egos,” he says.
The firm has a unified set of rules for everyone, from directors to junior accountants, fostering a sense of equality and teamwork.
The firm’s working-from-home policy is another example of their inclusive culture.
“Our working-from-home policy is the same for everyone, regardless of their position,” Chris explains. This approach ensures that all team members feel part of the organisation and are motivated to contribute to its success.
MJC Partners takes career progression seriously, and this has been instrumental in their success.
“Coming out of COVID, we realised we had amazing team members who needed to be engaged, challenged, and developed,” Chris recalls.
To address this, he embarked on a “listening tour,” speaking with management, directors, and CEOs of other accounting firms to understand their approaches to career progression.
The insights gained from this tour led to the development of a documented career progression pathway at MJC Partners.
“We believe great accountants are detail-focused professionals who care about their clients and nurture relationships,” Chris says.
The firm’s career pathway focuses on these attributes, ensuring that team members can progress and fulfil their ambitions within the organisation.
For Chris and MJC Partners, success is about the journey, not the destination.
“We’re addicted to continuous improvement,” Chris says. The firm is now looking to expand their footprint through mergers or acquisitions, applying the lessons they’ve learned internally to a broader context.
“Our goal is to improve our culture, service offerings, and systems continuously,” Chris explains. While growth is part of the business plan, it’s not the sole measure of success.
“If we have a large business that doesn’t tick all the other boxes in terms of culture and service quality, it won’t feel successful,” he says.
The story of MJC Partners under Chris Simmons’ leadership is a testament to the power of accountability, team engagement, and continuous improvement.
By fostering a unique culture and focusing on the development of their team, they’ve managed to triple their business and create a thriving, cohesive organisation.
If you’d like to get in touch with Chris, you can reach him via the MJC Partners website or connect with him on LinkedIn.
For more information and to stay updated on the latest episodes of Fiscal Therapy, subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
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