A Partner at Champion Accountants’ Preston practice has retired after a 50-year career during which he provided financial guidance and management to countless SMEs across the county and beyond.
Client partner Stephen Robinson was instrumental in building Champion’s Preston practice, merging his family accounting firm to create the exciting new enterprise in 2008. Sixteen years later, Stephen’s unfailing support to businesses across Lancashire ranks him among the most influential people working in the county’s professional services sector.
His legacy will grow further after his official retirement, as Stephen has committed to providing consultancy support for a small number of Champion clients in the charity sector with whom he has decades-long relationships.
Meanwhile, most of Stephen’s clients have undergone a phased handover to Champion partner Lucy Panchal. Lucy joined the business in November 2023, bringing a 20-year track record as an expert advisor to SMEs and entrepreneurs.
While Stephen isn’t yet bowing out of his professional life, he plans on utilising his retirement to spend more time with his family. Stephen says: “It has been a pleasure to work with the skilled and professional team at Champion for the past 16 years. The group’s commitment to doing the right thing, always, stretches into every corner of the business and has provided me with a fulfilling end to my full-time career, which I greatly appreciate.
“Nowhere is the benefit of good financial management felt more keenly than in the third sector. Careful planning and strategy dramatically impact the services that a charity delivers, in turn impacting the lived experiences of those they support. For that reason, I’m very proud to be able to continue working for a handful of charities on a consultancy basis through Champion.”
Champion’s group managing partner, Ged Cosgrove, adds: “It’s been a privilege to spend several years working closely with Stephen, who is a dedicated and principled professional. I know he’s inspired many colleagues to deliver their best efforts, and so his impact reaches far beyond the work he delivered directly.
“In his own work, Stephen’s guidance and financial management have supported a great number of charities through particularly challenging circumstances. During the crises of recent years, from Brexit to Covid and the rising cost of living, Stephen’s expertise has been a lifeline for a great many organisations changing lives in Lancashire and beyond. He is generous with his time and expertise, and it is no surprise that he feels compelled to continue providing the most critical elements of his support to those who need it.”
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