Exeter Accountant Retires After 41 Year Career

Exeter accountancy firm Simpkins Edwards has announced the retirement of one of its longest serving partners, Cliff Nightingale.

With an accountancy career spanning over 41 years, Cliff joined Simpkins Edwards in 1996 as a result of a merger with his previous firm, Honey Perriam. He has been Senior Partner at Simpkins Edwards since 2002, working as head of the firm’s Corporate Services Group with a wide range of corporate clients, particularly owner managed businesses.

Cliff’s retirement was marked with a party for staff and clients at the firm’s central Exeter office on Friday 1 February, at which he was presented with a parting gift from his colleagues.

Exeter partner Lynn Woodward will be replacing Cliff as senior partner after Cliff’s six-year service in the position. Cliff’s clients will now be looked after by a number of Simpkins Edwards’ partners, all of whom have had a handover period with Cliff to ensure continuity of service.

Reflecting on his career, Cliff commented: “During my time at Simpkins Edwards I’ve witnessed many changes. We’ve made two acquisitions in the time I’ve been here – three if you count the one that brought me to the firm – but many of the most noticeable shifts have been industry-wide ones. At the outset of my career there was no World Wide Web, mobile phones or iPads – now it seems we couldn’t live without them. We have been working hard to be ahead of the game in terms of social media activity and IT development; an example being creating our own app for businesses, which is rated highly on iTunes. Things have also become a lot more informal; I remember the days when partners were addressed as ‘Mr Nightingale’ – now I’m just Cliff!”

An active member of Exeter Golf and Country Club, Cliff is looking forward to spending more time practicing his golf game in his retirement. “I’ve been invited to lots of golf days over the years thanks to Simpkins Edwards so I have a pretty good handicap already,” added Cliff. “But there’s definitely room for improvement now I have more time to spend at the course!”