We are Collenette Jones About CJCO Our story...

Our story...

When Collenette Jones was established in 1978, it was a small partnership between our founding partners, Rodney Collenette and Eddie Jones. Having worked together at the very start of their accountancy careers, they were sure they could create a successful business together.

With Rodney having set up on his own in 1972 and thriving as a sole practitioner by the late 1970s, he was keen for Eddie to join him and help with the workload. The partnership was officially founded on 1 July 1978 and has gone from strength to strength ever since.

The early growth, and success, of the firm meant they were quickly looking to expand and a third partner, Clive Falla, came on board in 1982. Between them, Rodney, Eddie and Clive drove the business and shaped it to a firm that’s standing strong almost 50 years later.

The people

Collenette Jones has been a family business since Rodney initially set up in a room in his house with his wife as his secretary. The early office days saw Rodney’s brother-in-law and Eddie’s sister also join the small team.

When founding partners Rodney Collenette and Eddie Jones were joined by Clive Falla in the early years, the firm retained the name of its original partners. It’s one that has stood us in good stead over the years as the firm has not only built on that solid reputation, but added new family members to the partnership.

When Rodney retired as a partner in 2002, his son Jon Collenette stepped into his role. In 2007 Jon’s brother Mike was appointed as a director before Eddie Jones stepped down in 2009 and retired completely from the firm in 2014. That year also saw Clive step down as a director to work in a consultancy capacity until he took full retirement in 2018.

Alongside the family members, talented new staff have also joined over the years, adding to the strength and depth of the company. Gareth Nicolle came on board in 2009, and was appointed as a director in January 2011. Colin Jeffreys joined a couple of years later in 2013, before being appointed as a director in January 2015.

But while the names have changed, the ethos of our family business has stayed the same. That has been reflected in our staff retention, with our relatively small team of 20+ people containing many long-serving employees.

Rodney passed away in 2024. Eddie lives in Guernsey while Clive has retired to the UK with his wife to be closer to his grandchildren.

The clients

As the island has changed over the decades since 1978, so too has our business. At the time Rodney and Eddie established Collenette Jones the island’s finance sector was relatively small and there were fewer than 150 qualified accountants in the island.

As a firm, we mainly catered to family businesses including many growers, guest houses and small hotels, varying from sole traders to partnerships or limited companies.

The growth of the finance sector saw significant change for all accountancy practices, including ours. But while the island’s industries changed, the service we offered our clients has remained the same.

From the early days when individuals would come in regularly in person to discuss the intricacies of their small business and ask for advice, to dealing with a greater number of regulated entities, we have always looked to help our clients as well as fulfil our professional statutory responsibilities.

The ethos

As an independently owned firm, we have retained our focus on Guernsey from the very beginning. Our founding partners were true Guernseymen who knew their clients well, and we have continued to prioritise our local business over the decades.

Like any local business, our reputation has been key to our success. From the very beginning of Collenette Jones, our partners could rely on client recommendations to grow the firm, and that remains the case to this day.

But while we’ve retained our traditional values, we’ve been very happy to move with the times. We have been early adopters of technology – buying our first computers in the mid-1980s and potentially being the first Guernsey accounting firm to computerise accounts production.

The location

Our out-of-town location has been a defining feature of Collenette Jones since the beginning. In the very early days of the firm, Rodney and Eddie set up shop in an office on Commercial Road just off the Bridge in St Sampson’s (now the headquarters of the Trade and General Workers Union in Guernsey).

As time moved on, and the success of the firm quickly grew, it became apparent they would need more space. With staff numbers growing, and parking becoming more difficult for clients, they looked to move.

When the Crossways building became available, it seemed like the perfect opportunity, and in January 1987 we moved to our new home. Initially sharing the building with other businesses, our growth has seen us expand over the years to fill the space.

While we rarely have farmers turn up on their tractors for meetings these days, we hope the office is still welcoming to everyone.

Alderney

Alderney has played a significant part in the Collenette Jones’ story. During the early years of the firm, we acquired a significant client base from a retiring accountant in the island.

For many years, the firm retained a physical presence in Alderney – sharing an office space with law firm Collas Day [now Collas Crill] to regularly see clients in person. However, with the changing nature of inter-island travel and working practices that was no longer necessary.

While the Alderney office closed in 2010, we still have close links with the island and our clients there – and have been a significant supporter of Alderney Week over many years.

Collenette Jones: Timeline

1978: 1 July Rodney Collenette and Eddie Jones established the partnership

1982: Clive Falla joined the partnership in January

1987: firm moved to the top floor of the Crossways Centre

2002: Rodney Collenette retired as a partner, and son Jon Collenette stepped into the role

2002: firm expanded into the ground floor of the Crossways Centre

2007: family member Mike Collenette appointed as a director

2009: founding partner Eddie Jones resigned as a director

2011: Gareth Nicolle appointed as a director (having joined the firm in 2009)

2014: Eddie Jones retired from the firm and Clive Falla stepped down as a director to work in a consulting capacity

2015: Colin Jeffreys appointed as a director (having joined the firm in 2013)

2018: Clive Falla retired from his consultancy role