TALKING BUSINESS


THE SUPPORT YOU NEED FOR ALL AREAS OF YOUR BUSINESS


Mark Foster, partner at PwC, explains how the firm can offer more to businesses than just tax and accountancy advice.


Most people would describe PwC as an accountancy and tax advisory firm. And they wouldn’t be wrong. But newly-appointed partner at the firm Mark Foster, is


keen to showcase PwC for its wider business advisory services, executed by a youthful workforce with a huge breadth of knowledge and impressive problem-solving skills. “People associate PwC as just a firm of accountants and


tax advisers, but we are so much more than that,” said Mark, who has been with the firm for more than a decade. “We are all-encompassing in terms of what we do now. The firm has been around for 170 years so it’s very different now to what it would’ve been when it first started. “Our clients are dealing with complex and challenging


problems and we see ourselves as having an important role to play with this. We can support our clients in whatever they are doing. There will always be someone in our organisation who can help you solve a problem.” Mark added: “Being able to call on and


draw from a huge network of people gives us a massive advantage and our network is second to none in that sense and differentiates us from the competition. It’s about focusing on what is important to our clients and absolutely delivering on it.” PwC has been in Milton Keynes at its


The PwC MK deals team also won the external Corporate


Finance Adviser of the Year Award last year. Mark, 41, puts the success down to the wide variety of


talent in the PwC team and the constant recruitment of the best up-and-coming graduates in the industry – the latest intake of 30 arrived in September. “Everyone raves about the quality of our people and I


agree. We employ some of the best people out there from diverse backgrounds. It is an excellent place to work as it is such a broad demographic and that keeps us evolving and challenging ourselves.” Investment in people continues going forward, with more


recruitment of graduates and experienced hires expected later this year and a long-term plan to grow the Milton Keynes office further. Plans are to increase staff to over 200 people


‘BEING ABLE


TO CALL ON AND DRAW FROM A HUGE NETWORK OF PEOPLE GIVES US A MASSIVE ADVANTAGE’


Exchange House home for almost 30 years, and although best known for servicing multinational corporates, a large part of its business is through smaller private clients. “We’ve had periods where we’ve been more reliant on


international businesses based in Milton Keynes but it’s much more diverse now,” said Mark. “We’ve got a really blossoming private business team


which is delivering almost as much as our work with international businesses. People always associate us with the FTSE 100 or 350 but our private client business is very significant.” And the firm has recognised the work of Mark and his


team in the private business market through a prestigious internal award. The Working Together Award celebrates the


achievements of a team pulling together for a common goal. In this case, to increase the PwC footprint in the private business side of the company.


12 inbusiness APRIL/MAY 2019


in the next two years, with further growth of 60 per cent planned over the next three years as they continue to invest in the city’s jobs market. “We’re always monitoring what’s happening around MK, with the potential links with Oxford and Cambridge as well, I think it is an exciting place for any business


to be at the moment,” said Mark. “There’s an enthusiasm for doing business here that’s so different to other places I’ve worked. Part of that is because we are a new city,


there’s no resting on your laurels. It’s a really dynamic environment and people want to support each other and work together for the benefit of the local economy. “When I came to MK it really resonated with me. People


want to meet you, to talk to you. It’s such an inclusive business community.” Making partner was the realisation of a lifelong dream


for Mark. The journey to get to this point has been a learning curve and Mark has built his career from all he has experienced over the past 25 years. “I’m pretty much an open book and I like to get


feedback on a regular basis,” he said. “Whether that’s good or bad. I like to really focus on things I could do better and try to focus on making improvements. It has allowed me to shape and broaden my skills. I feel a much more rounded person. I never have regrets but instead try to learn from every experience and that’s really important.”


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