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A major player in the Guernsey professional services sector is celebrating 40 years in business.
Saffery Champness was established in the island with one partner, Clive Nicholson, in 1977. By 1988 there were more than 50 staff and the firm moved to La Tonnelle House which remains its Guernsey headquarters.
Now it employs more than 120 people and the business has grown to become one of the largest independent firms on the island.
It specialises in providing private client fiduciary services - to an international base of wealthy individuals and families - fund administration, audit and tax services.
Drawing on its heritage and independent culture, the local firm prides itself on a director-led approach and a commitment to maintaining longstanding client relationships.
The award-winning fiduciary team has proven expertise in dealing with unconventional, non-standard assets including commodities, art, precious stones, intellectual property, superyachts and private aircraft as well as the ownership of family and operational businesses. The client teams are experienced in dealing with multi-jurisdictional, often complex, structures across different asset classes.
Saffery Champness’ fund administrators have particular experience with real estate funds and esoteric asset classes as well as hedge funds and private equity. The audit team mostly services financial services clients including funds, captive insurance, fiduciary and property structures. It has a specialism for auditing Johannesburg Stock Exchange listed clients.
A key contributor to the firm’s success has been the commitment to structured learning and development opportunities for its staff, being a recipient of both the STEP Platinum Employer Partner accreditation and Platinum ACCA Approved Employer status.
Many of the employees have been with the business for decades with long service being regularly recognised and celebrated. Some employees in key roles have remained with the firm since its very early days, one, Lorna Donnell, since 1980.
The business takes its role in the Guernsey community very seriously and has raised considerable funds through its partnership with charitable causes.
The company’s three year relationship with CLIC Sargent saw it help the children’s cancer charity raise nearly £100,000 for CLIC Haven, a “home from home” for Bailiwick families whose children are undergoing treatment in Southampton.
Saffery Champness’ current partnership with the Rotary Clubs of Guernsey has helped raise more than £130,000 for 38 local charities in the first three years of its sponsorship of the Saffery Rotary Walk and a further 28 new charities are set to benefit from the funds raised by this year’s walk which took place earlier this month.
Managing Director Nick Batiste, who has worked for the firm for 25 years, said: “It is rewarding to be celebrating 40 years of Saffery Champness’ success in Guernsey. A large part of it can be attributed to the firm’s focus on recruiting and developing excellent people which we continue to place at the heart of our business.
“Saffery Champness has established itself as a major player in Guernsey’s financial services industry and has also punched above its weight in supporting the wider island community. We look forward to many more years of success.”
To mark the 40th anniversary 75 partners in the group will visit the island with their partners in June. Saffery Champness will also be planting 40 trees in Delancey Park close to its offices at La Tonnelle House, Les Banques later this year.
