A CHARTERED accountancy firm knows it can count on four members of staff who have each notched up 20 years' of loyal service.

Coxeys, which has offices in Wrexham, Saltney and Chester, presented the quartet with 'thank you' bouquets to celebrate their momentous career milestones.

After so long together Helen Mort, Carole Roberts, Laura Watkins and Jayne Williams are best of friends as well as being professionals.

Company director Joanne Evans said it was testimony to the firm's long-standing ethos of promoting teamwork, employee engagement and positive work morale.

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Presenting the colourful flower arrangements, she said: "It's hugely important to us that our staff are happy in their jobs and feel valued. From its very beginnings Coxeys has always worked to promote a good work-life balance, and we ensure managers' doors are always open to all employees."

Helen Mort, from Gwersyllt, who heads up the Business Essentials book-keeping team, agreed that Coxey's is a fully professional but friendly workplace.

She said: "I've always felt appreciated, everyone supports each other, we're encouraged to put forward new ideas, and there are real opportunities to progress our careers."

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Helen, 43, joined Coxey's in 2004, originally working in the payroll department. Over the years she has worked her way up the ranks to achieve her Fellow Membership of the Association of Accounting Technicians (FMAAT) qualification.

Book-keeper Jayne Williams, 58, from Caego in Wrexham, joined Coxey's 20 years ago, but her relationship with the firm goes back even longer. She originally came into contact with them when she was a self-employed book-keeper and they approached her to do some work.

She said: "After some time doing freelance assignments I was approached to join the firm full-time. It was a bit of a surprise, but a great opportunity which I knew I couldn't miss. I've been here ever since."

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Colleague Carole Roberts, 51, from Southsea, was recruited as a full-time administrator and loves the various different challenges of her role.

She said: "I still remember how pleased I was when I applied for the job and got it. Coxey's is a well thought of firm not just in and around Wrexham but further afield. We get to deal with lots of different businesses and meet an array of interesting people, I love my job.

"I think what I like most is the work ethic, there's a determination to get the job done in a professional and efficient manner, but there's also a good support network which runs throughout the firm so you never feel you're working in isolation."

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Tax specialist Laura Watkins, 44, had no intention of following in her grandad's footsteps, but accidentally fell into them.

She said: "My late grandad Eric Evans, was a finance director with Llangollen firm Dobson and Crowther, and my mum, Lindsay, was an accountant. But at first I went in a completely different direction. I studied history at Lancaster university. Then when I returned home I suddenly found myself doing what was originally part-time cover work for a lady who worked here at Coxeys'.

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"After the cover job finished I left but a quirk of fate meant there was soon afterwards another opening for a temporary job in the tax department. I took that and really enjoyed it, then when it was time for me to leave an opening came up for a full time position and here I am 23 years later."

Coxey's managing director Anthony Lewis, has also been with the firm more than 20 years, having joined in 1998.

He said: "It is great to think that some of the staff who have worked so hard to help us get to this stage are still with us today, excitedly looking forward to the next chapter in the Coxeys story."