IT’S a family affair for one Bradford accountancy boss who combines the traditional with the modern working alongside his parents and his wife.
By Anila Baig
Sherad Dewedi tells us why the city deserves to have its voice heard.
SHENWARD LLP is an Accountancy and business advisory firm with offices in Bradford and Leeds. It began life when his father, Rajeev and mother, Sarita, set up Rajeev Accountants in 1989.
No surprise then that Sherad, who grew up in Idle and attended Bradford Grammar School, would go into the family business.
“My parents founded the practice in 1989 – although back then known it was known as Rajeev Accountants. Their exceptional service to clients and the tremendous support of the firm’s associate, Arif Mahmood, meant that it soon became a leading accountancy firm in Bradford.”
The 31-year-old managing partner had initially wanted to be a commercial pilot but his dream was dashed by the revelation that he is colour blind. So the next best thing was to into finance like his parents.
“But I wanted to find my own way there rather than going straight into the business after university.”
He envisaged working for the biggest firms in the industry and with the most talented people to help get a good grounding in the profession first.
He studied Economics at York University and, straight after graduation, landed a job with one of the top companies in the UK, Ernest & Young.
“It was a very challenging course, studying and working at the same time. It was fairly average to work around 60 to 70 hours a week. Plus, there was a lot of travelling around the country.”
It was demanding to say the least but he worked hard and by the time he was 24 he was a fully qualified accountant. He enjoyed the rigorous work regime but when he got married in 2015 he found it harder to balance his career and newlywed life.
“I had worked my way up the ranks and had been promoted to manager, it had been a long haul but there was no real benefit in staying in this role. I had six years of experience so it was the right time to try a new challenge.”
Coincidentally back in January 2016 the family business was in need of reform.
The industry was changing and Rajeev and Sarita were considering downsizing. It was the perfect time to join for Sherad.
“In January 2016, I joined the practice as a partner. The industry was changing and I wanted to support my parents. There was new technology on the horizon and tax was turning digital.”
Like his parents before him, Sherad also married a qualified accountant so his wife, Sonal, also joined the firm a few months later. They renamed the business Shenward.
“The new name represents how we have evolved and represents a fresh new chapter and is more in keeping with the ethos of the company.
“In 2018, we launched a new Digital Transformation Strategy to allow the busy businessperson to remain compliant in today’s technologically focused and fast-paced world.”
A mobile app was launched, online accounting software and more.
“Business development is something that remains at the forefront of my mind so I find myself actively seeking acquisition opportunities.”
In 2018 Shenward LLP expanded and acquired an office in Leeds and staff increased from seven to 28. The firm now works with clients on both a national and international scale.
Covid has, of course, had a major impact on the business.
“We may have been in lockdown but the tax deadlines have remained the same. Luckily we have been able to adapt quite easily by having staff conduct virtual meetings. Some things need face to face meetings and we do that in a safe way with social distancing measures having staff come in on a rota basis.”
For him Bradford is a thriving city full of business potential and he is a member of Bradford Breakthrough, an organisation which represents many of the city’s major companies and seeks to advocate, influence and make a difference for the benefit of Bradford as a whole.
“Bradford is underestimated but we have a lot to offer. We are between Manchester and Leeds and we have a lot to offer like a young labour force skilled and unskilled, we have the infrastructure to set up things quickly here.
“Our young people are incredibly talented too. We took on some trainees and have been so impressed by their knowledge and skills in IT.
“We deserve to have our voice heard at the table.”
