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Company Background

FPM, established in Newry in August 1991, is a client focused, euro friendly chartered accountancy and business consultancy, partnership practice with offices in Newry, Belfast, Dungannon and Dundalk.  


A member of IGAF Polaris with offices located throughout the world, FPM has specialist skills in accounts preparation, audit, tax planning, cross border business and tax advice, business consultancy, strategic planning, corporate finance, financial management, project management, wealth management and public sector consultancy including economic appraisals and evaluations. 

 

The practice has seven partners and now employs over fifty six people and has achieved average annual growth since its inception of 25% per annum.

 

People and relationship focused, FPM has achieved a number of firsts in its short history: 


1993 -  The first accountancy firm in Ireland to be awarded ISO 9001 Quality Accreditation 
1995 -   The first accountancy firm in Ireland to achieve Investors In People recognition 
2001 - 

The first accountancy practice in Ireland to be awarded theAccounting on Line Award for WAP enabled website

2003 -  Regional Opportunity Now Award for promoting women’s opportunities in the workplace 
2004 - 

Winners of Excellence in Business Award and Business Premises Award at Inaugural Newry Business Awards

2004 -  First Professional Services business to win NI SME Business of the Year Award 
2005 -  

First Accountancy Practice in Ireland to win Accountancy Age Award – Best Small Accountancy Firm

2006 - 

First Accountancy firm in UK to achieve EFQM Global Excellence Award for Organisation Excellence

2006 -  Winners of the NI Corporate Social Responsibility Award for Business in the Community 
2007 -  First NI firm to be shortlisted for the UK Taxation Awards (Best General Tax Practice Category) 
2007 - 

First winner of The Irish News Workplace and Employment Awards “Cross Border Employment Award"

Ongoing  Unique Island Website Database on Financial Incentives 

 

FPM has a trusted advisor relationship with its clients and has an affinity with emerging and growth companies. The backbone of its practice is owner managed businesses (OMB’s) and small medium sized enterprises (SME’s) who share a common goal, the desire to grow and be sustainable in the long term.
 
From its inception, FPM has implemented a pro-active policy of Corporate Social Responsibility in terms of its profession and the local business and civic community.
In January 2004 the International Service Microscope Benchmarking Initiative concluded that “FPM Chartered Accountants are both a world class organisation and at the top end of their industry sector. The Practice and Performance Index scores of 88% and 92% respectively show that they are an exemplar company for others to emulate”. 
 
Consulting experience includes being retained by government and semi-state agencies such as Invest NI, Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB), The Special European Union Programmes Body (SEUPB), InterTradeIreland (ITI), The International Fund for Ireland (IFI), the Department of Environment (DoE), the Department of Enterprise and Investment (DETI), the Department of Health and Social Services and Public Safety, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Co-Operation Ireland, The Childhood Fund, Community Foundation for Northern Ireland (CFNI), local District Councils and local EU Special Programme for Peace and Reconciliation Partnerships to undertake Economic and Financial Appraisals of projects seeking grant assistance. FPM has carried out in excess of 350 Economic and Financial Appraisals for these organisations during the past ten years. Similarly in the Republic of Ireland assignments have been carried out for Enterprise Ireland and County Enterprise Boards.
 
FPM is registered to carry on audit work and authorised to carry on investment business in the RoI and the United Kingdom by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI). FPM is also an affiliate member of the Institute of Internal Auditors and is a registered practice of the Institute of Management Consultants (IMC).
FPM has undertaken a variety of internal audit assignments for a range of government departments. In addition FPM has undertaken evaluation and value for money studies for a broad range of public and private sector organisations. The practice undertook a programme of 5% verification checks on the INTERREG II Programme to enable the SEUPB to fulfil its obligation under Articles 3 and 4 of the European Commission Regulation 2064/97.
 
As a registered practice of the Institute of Management Consultants, FPM has carried out a range of consultancy and project management assignments for entities in the private and public sector. 
 
Business Plans, Strategic Improvement Plans and Bank Proposals have been prepared for a variety of companies and organisations covering a number of sectors including, ICT, tourism, crystal, pottery production, gold mining, light engineering, mushroom growing, electrical assembly, agri-food, construction and community businesses consultancy advice has been provided. The firm has also co-ordinated the preparation of projects seeking Lottery funding.
 
FPM has considerable experience in dealing with international business and has a number of audit clients under international control. In addition the firm has provided advice to a number of inward investment projects establishing in Ireland.
 
In recent years FPM has also developed considerable experience in completing Forensic Accounting Assignments across a broad spectrum of subject matters and both partners have acted as expert witnesses in complex legal assignments. The firm has also participated in multi-discipline estate tax planning assignments with legal and other professional experts.
 
Cross Border Trade between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland has been flourishing in recent years. FPM carries out significant business on both sides of the Border. As a result, the firm has developed considerable expertise in advising organisations on Cross Border Trade Financial Incentives and the Euro. 
 
FPM training experience includes the design, implementaiotn and evaluation of training programmes for a number of organisations across a broad range of areas. The firm is regularly asked to provide business presentations and training workshops. Recent presentations include:
  • Best Practice for Your Community Business from a Corporate Governance and Financial Management Perspective.
  • Financial Incentives from an island perspective at InterTradeIreland Roadshows – a copy of the first database on Financial Incentives North and South is available on the website
  • Financial Implications for RoI companies looking at Northern Ireland market.
  • Business and Tax Implications for entering Cross Border markets and chasing the Celtic   Tiger.
  • The Euro and its implications for Cross Border Trade.
  • Mobility of Labour and different tax regimes operating in NI and RoI.

FPM has also been invited on a regular basis to give presentations and co-ordinate training workshops on strategic business issues to a variety of targeted groups. Recent successful presentations and training workshops covered topics such as:

  • Business and Family Business Succession Planning.
  •  Effective Finance Procedures for not-for-personal-profit companies.
  • Effective Cashflow Management.
  • Practical Working Capital Management and Corporate Finance Health Check .
  • Pricing and Costing for advantage in Competitive Markets.
  • Successful Strategic Management in Practice.
  • Profitability and other related matters for the legal profession.
 
FPM as a firm is strongly committed to the local community and undertakes a variety of voluntary activities including acting as a voluntary auditor to a range of community and voluntary organisations. The practice is proud to have been associated with the development of a range of community businesses and non-profit organisations.
 
The philosophy of FPM is detailed in its Core Values and can be summarised as follows:
 
"Clients are the core of our existence. We will succeed by serving the client, not by serving ourselves and we will measure our success through our ability to provide SOLUTIONS and client satisfaction"
 
FPM’s commitment towards providing a highly professional client focused quality service to meet clients business requirements is further illustrated by its decision to retain Dublin consultancy firm Business Development Systems Limited to carry out an independent Customer Satisfaction Survey of FPM’s clients. A copy of this recent customer Satisfaction Report (May 2007) is available on request.