The purpose of the Gooding Accounts’ Values.
After a period of rapid growth, the senior team realised that protecting the company’s culture was becoming more important than ever, they wanted to make sure each one kept the same vibe that made the firm special in the first place.
The development of the Values.
Rather than asking the senior team to create the values and simply pass them down, a cross-functional, cross-level group – from apprentices to partners – was brought together to develop them. The goal was to create a set of values that genuinely reflected how the team wanted to work together and behave in the workplace, helping to maintain the positive, supportive, and thriving environment the firm had built.
The Gooding Accounts Values.
And so the Gooding Accounts values were created with four key messages, Be Present, Challenge Yourself, Be Thoughtful, Be a Team. Each message is supported by additional behaviours that demonstrate that value.
The Values in action.
The Values are front and centre for everyone on the team, and people genuinely live by them. They provide a framework that underpins the firm’s positive workplace culture – so much so that the company is frequently shortlisted for Employer of the Year awards, both locally and nationally.
The Values also give the team a safe way to call out behaviours that don’t align, helping to maintain the supportive, thriving culture. Each week, every Pod – small, cross-functional teams – comes together to discuss workloads, celebrate personal and professional wins, and raise questions for the senior team. During these informal sessions every team member is also encouraged to share a ‘Values story,’ highlighting how a colleague has demonstrated one of the company’s values that week. At the monthly all-team in-person meetings, the best of these stories are celebrated by the entire firm.
The Values for the future.
Our recent move to a new head office gave us the perfect opportunity to review our Values and make sure they still reflect the firm in a changing marketplace. With the team settling into the new space, it was the right time to ensure our Values continue to support a cohesive, thriving culture. After the review, we confirmed they still resonate – but in 2026, we’ll be reimagining them to ensure they evolve alongside the firm as it grows.
