Could you please tell us about the incorporation of the Group and its development?

 

Krystyna Poncyljusz: Our firm was incorporated as 946th limited liability company in Poland.  It was founded in October 1989, and commenced operations in February 1990.  We began as a typical accounting firm, gradually extending the scope of services.  After a while we concluded that we needed to separate full accounting support for large corporations from accounting services for small businesses, and we opened Tax Advisory Office dedicated to small clients.  Then, an advisory firm was carved out from the Tax Advisory Office.  Since 1995 we have owned a group of companies under the business name of Advisory-Accountant Group Poncyljusz and Radź (Polish: Grupa Doradczo-Księgowa Poncyljusz i Radź).

 

Who are your clients?

 

Piotr Radź: Companies from all industries, except of catering maybe, including foreign investors, with whom we have cooperated since their entry in Poland.  They include companies operating in Special Economic Zones and in their proximity.  During our ongoing contacts, we use English and German. 

 

Cooperation with construction companies is of complex nature due to the industry specifics, namely long settlement periods, large numbers of subcontractors and varying taxable periods.  We hire contract economists to serve the construction industry clients. These are people working around the country at construction sites, controlling paperwork and its compliance with the law. 

 

We also work for healthcare entities, among others providing full HR and payroll outsourcing services for hospitals, which is a particularly complex and difficult task. 

 

Seamen constitute another group of special clients, since their revenue settlement principles are complicated and require specialist knowledge. 

 

Being in touch with so many entities provides you with good understanding of the current economic status of both Szczecin and the region.  Is it good? 

 

Krystyna Poncyljusz: Of course, business used to have better times, but the situation has been improving recently. 

 

Piotr Radź: People often assess the business conditions in Szczecin referring to a few large enterprises that have been liquidated.  To provide a broader perspective, though, I would like to refer to my own observations.  Over last ten years, a large number of firms have emerged along the road from Mierzyno to Lubieszyn.  These are modern businesses, mostly dealing with new technologies, and small in size: usually they employ from a dozen to several dozen people.  All are profitable, not overstaffed. 

 

Krystyna Poncyljusz: Time of large corporations is over.  Small private businesses are more flexible, effective and profitable. 

 

What is the position of your capital group in this modern market?

 

Krystyna Poncyljusz: Depending on conditions, we serve 250 to 300 clients. The most profitable generate annual sales measured in millions of PLN.  Our clients operate not only in Zachodniopomorskie Province, but around the country. 

We employ over 70 people, specialists in accounting, taxes, HR and payroll administration.  This makes us one of the largest outsourcing companies in Szczecin providing accounting and advisory services.  We have reached this stage through organic growth.  We began with just one desk in a rented room, and now we own a building at Lutniana Street, where we have been located for 17 years, gradually purchasing the entire property. 

 

You have survived the 25 years despite numerous changes in regulations, variable market conditions and growing competition. How has this been possible? 

 

Piotr Radź: The easiest answer would be: because we are good. But this has not happened overnight.  I think three decisive factors have contributed to our success: owners’ experience, high skills and competencies of personnel and continuous development and learning. This has translated into effects experienced by our clients. 

 

Krystyna Poncyljusz: We hire young people as the world is theirs.  First: accepting interns, we can educate our employees. Second: we always offer employment agreement. This is important, since our clients can cooperate with the same partners; therefore we can maintain high service standard. 

 

Piotr Radź: Our clients lead us. Now we have a large number of clients from the new technology sector, who prefer services offered online.  Remote cooperation seems attractive also for foreign companies with establishments in Szczecin, who want to know gains and expenses generated by their business on an ongoing basis.  We provide our services in safe IT environment, preparing information in several languages. 

 

Most accounting, HR and payroll processes are automated, with reports and lists available around the clock through Internet.  For a year, we have owned a B2B platform allowing safe exchange of documents. 

 

What are your plans for the coming years?

 

Piotr Radź: We still have growth perspectives, so we focus on the improvement of our services and plan new marketing actions.

 

Krystyna Poncyljusz: The number of our international clients, used to Western service standards, has been constantly growing.  This necessitates readiness to work with very demanding clients and continuous development, both in terms of languages and technologies. 

 

Thank you for your time. 

 

mab, AK