On 1 July, Heather Smith celebrates the special anniversary of 40 years with M+A Partners – four decades during which she has played a pivotal role in developing and leading the firm’s Payroll department.
Heather joined the firm in 1986 after being interviewed by Keith Dugdale, father of current Partner Chris Dugdale. Forty years later, it was a fitting full-circle moment that Chris was able to congratulate Heather on reaching this remarkable milestone.
Much has changed since Heather’s first day. M+A Partners then operated from numbers 2, 4 and 5 The Close, rather than today’s home at No. 7, and the day-to-day workings of the firm looked very different.
Long before cloud software and digital payroll systems, everything was paper-based. Records were handwritten on coloured paper before being typed up, then ‘cast and called’ – a meticulous checking process where figures were read aloud and verified by the administration team to ensure every entry was correct. Payroll itself relied on enormous ledger sheets, with one side dedicated to tax calculations and the other to National Insurance.
Heather remembers the arrival of the firm’s first computers, distinctive little box-shaped machines – fittingly in M+A’s signature green – marking the beginning of a technological transformation that would continue as the firm expanded.
Although the technology has changed beyond recognition, the relationships Heather has built over the years remain one of the most rewarding aspects of her career. She fondly recalls the Partners from her early days, and even some of their four-legged and feathered companions. One memorable office visitor was a parrot that would happily perch on a Partner’s shoulder, adding extra character to the working day.
Today, Heather leads a growing Payroll team and has been instrumental in transforming the department from its paper-driven beginnings into the efficient, technology-led service clients rely on today.
Forty years on, Heather now oversees one of the few BACS-approved payroll bureaux in Norfolk, processing salary and remuneration payments totalling more than £88 million each year for clients across the region.
Heather said: “It is hard to believe 40 years have gone by so quickly. Looking back, it is remarkable to see how much the profession has evolved, but it is the people I have worked with along the way who have made it such an enjoyable career. It has been a privilege to see the Payroll department develop and grow, and I am proud to have been part of that journey – and to still be part of it today.”
Partner Chris Dugdale paid tribute to Heather’s contribution: “Heather has been an incredible asset to M+A Partners for 40 years. She is absolutely committed to her role and is known by so many of our clients for her efficient, reliable and dedicated service. She has helped shape the Payroll department into what it is today, while always putting clients and colleagues first. Congratulations, Heather, on this wonderful milestone and thank you for everything you have contributed over the past 40 years.”