From the till to the top of his profession - the Shaw accountant now giving back to Oldham

Not many people can chart a rise from till ringer to senior management member at one of Britain’s top accountancy firms.

But Shaw man Dan Burnell did just that.

And the really great news is that local youngsters and small businesses in Oldham will now be in receipt of his support and encouragement – as he has opened a new community friendly accountancy service.

The 33-year-old has based Blue Fox Accounting at social enterprise Upturn’s new co-working, business and enterprise hub The Hive, which is now open to support all of Oldham’s Businesses on the upper mall of the Spindles shopping centre.

And Dan, who left school at just 16 and also spent three years “singing happy birthday to customers” at tables in a fast-food emporium, is determined to demonstrate how you don’t always have to go to university to be successful in a top profession.

“The school I attended was failing and I left at 16 to work in Tesco’s,” revealed former East Midlands resident Dan.

“I was fortunate to have a friend who got me a job at an accountants and I began an apprenticeship.

"The route to becoming a chartered accountant is much more efficient that way – you qualify a year quicker than you would as a graduate and without any of the student debt!”

Missing out on student life was something Dan regretted, but he made up for this during a three-year break shortly after qualifying.

“I worked in a nightclub and then at TGI Friday’s which transformed me as a person," he added.

"The staff entrance to the restaurant had “stage door” written above it, and you knew that with the customers, you had to make a positive impression within the first five seconds.

"These were great life lessons.”

Dan made the brave decision to go it alone after a highly successful career at blue riband accountancy firms.

His dream was to run a business that was not “sales driven. I just want to help start-ups and community organisations get up and running.”

His BlueFox Accounting brand – so named because foxes are quick, smart, and rarely seen – will offer smaller organisations bespoke accountancy that goes beyond the traditional once-a-year compiling of accounts.

“I want to become part of their team, to understand what they need so that I can help them best,” he added.

BlueFox is cited at Upturn with other small businesses because Dan admits the lockdown experience made him miss the camaraderie of other people.

He is also keen to use their local network.

“Dan’s business is exactly the sort of organisation we knew would benefit from being at our hub,” said Anwar Ali OBE, co-founder of Upturn.

“It is steeped in the idea of community and his life experience is an example for those who may prefer vocational education or cannot afford to study for a degree.

"As someone with Oldham roots but new to our community, it also introduces him to the many organisations promoting our borough’s growth.

"They will be an asset to him – as he will be to Oldham.”  

Learn more about Upturn, by visiting: https://www.upturn.org.uk/en/

Check out more about BlueFox Accounting at: www.bluefoxaccounting.co.uk

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