Accountancy firm Armstrong Watson has acquired Newcastle rivals Joseph Miller in an undisclosed deal.
The £19.7m turnover Carlisle-based firm, which operates bases across the North West, Scotland, Yorkshire and the North East, says it wants to attract more owner-managed and family business as clients in the region. As part of the move, all of Joseph Miller's 22 staff have joined Armstrong Watson, which will continue to operate its existing office in Waterloo Street and Joseph Miller's Dean Street offices until it relocates to larger premises in the coming months.
It is the sixth acquisition for Armstrong Watson in 18 months and one of its largest to date. The firm says it employs about 500 people and in recent accounts revealed it increased operating profit from £3.8m to £4.7m in the year to the end of March 2022.
Read more: Amended Dawson & Sanderson accounts reveal much larger losses
Joseph Miller partner David Gold, who along with Chris Reah and Edith Chapman have become partners of Armstrong Watson, said: "The decision to join forces with another long-established, independent firm of accountants and business advisers has been carefully considered and bring positive benefits to our clients and our staff. The merger allows our existing client relationships to continue, but with the benefit of increased staff resources and specialist teams within Armstrong Watson to help support our clients and continue our high level of service."
Armstrong Watson managing partner and CEO Paul Dickson said: "We’re delighted to welcome our new colleagues and clients from Joseph Miller to Armstrong Watson. Our values and ethos as a firm are like that of Joseph Miller. As part of Armstrong Watson, David Chris and Edith will continue to provide clients with tax and accountancy services of the highest standards and will also have access to other specialist services that could bring significant benefits to clients and their businesses.
"Our Newcastle office has seen some rapid growth over recent years. With our new colleagues, we now have a full-service proposition in the city, with strong accounting, payroll and tax team coming over as a result of this acquisition, and an incredibly strong foundation to build on our ambitions to grow further in the North East."
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