Alan is from London and having completed a degree at St. Andrews University trained with Grant Thornton before returning to Scotland where he has been ever since. In 1986 he joined forces with Neil Price, who had recently left the HIDB, and over the next 15 years they built a very successful single office practice. They went their separate ways in 2001 and Alan and Helen set up The Long Partnership. Neil Price has also continued to build a successful practice with his new partners amalgamating with other firms along the way, although still a single office. It seems that 1986 was the planting of a seed that has now resulted in more than one successful accountancy firm in Scotland, although they are quite different in character. Helen is from Orkney and completed her professional qualifications while employed at the firm run by Alan and Neil rising quickly within that firm from preparing accounts to being a manager overseeing the accounts staff and dealing with tax and accounts for a wide variety of the firm’s clients. You can’t keep a good woman down! Alan and Helen Long have now worked together for over 25 years. They were not married at the start but have been together as couple for over 20 years and are still happily married! Both have been married before and between them have 7 children.
