Adventurous accountant Gareth takes on latest challenge

Gareth Pinder

Experienced South Wales accountant Gareth Pinder aims to put his spirit of adventure and professional expertise to best use as manager of a newly created practice.

Gareth, aged 36, has taken up the reins at Parker Griffiths office after the Cwmbran business Griffiths was acquired by Newport accountant Parker & Co.

The ACCA qualified father of two takes up the role after gaining experience mainly in audit with KPMG and Baldwins.

Gareth will be working alongside founder David Griffiths for at least a year at the practice before the long serving accountant’s retirement. Gareth says he is looking forward to dealing personally with clients in his new role.

Gareth, married to Eversheds, Cardiff employment solicitor Jennifer, said: “Working at larger accountancy practices in the past means that you can become just a number. There is very little working with clients other than to gather information.

“In this new role I will be able to get to know the clients and their businesses intimately in order to ensure that they grow and succeed. In the current climate I feel that businesses are really coming to rely on the advice and assistance of the accounting profession. I am looking forward to playing my part in assisting these companies, whether start-up or long established.

“The new larger Parker & Griffiths office will allow the team to draw on a wider range of experiences and skills. This will provide clients with more than just accounting services as it will add real value to their business through industry and business focus rather than a generic approach.

When not working Gareth can just as easily be found up one of the UK’s tallest mountains on a basketball pitch or a squash court

“I really enjoy playing basketball and squash and used to compete in triathlons, something I am hoping to start again after a pause due to having two children, Scarlett, aged five and Elodie, one.

“I have a real love of music and DJ’d in a number of South Wales clubs in my younger days.”

“I believe it’s important to stay active for the obvious health benefits due to the sedentary nature of accounting but for myself it’s essential for a healthy mind and I really enjoy the social aspect. The role of an accountant can sometimes be long hours, exercise is the best way to de-stress and forget about the day as I am usually concentrating on being able to breathe.”

Gary Parker, head of the new combined practice who completed the gruelling Three Peaks of the UK challenge, scaling Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Sca Fell Pike, with Gareth, said: “Gareth embodies all that we’re about at Parker & Griffiths. Our motto is Adventure in Business and there’s few more adventurous than Gareth.”

Parker & Co now has two offices, one in Pontnewydd, Cwmbran and the other at Summit House, Waterside Court, Newport.