Sedulo snaps up historical Leeds accountancy firm

Sedulo has acquired Leeds accountancy firm Bartfields, which was founded in the city in 1927.

Sedulo, based in Manchester with 60 members of staff, will now employ around 100 professionals across financial disciplines including Accountancy, Tax, Corporate Finance, Debt Funding and Wealth Management.

Founded in 1927 by brothers Isaac and Sam Bartfield, the advisory firm has been a staple of the Leeds professional services scene since inception. Fast-forward to the present day, and under the stewardship of Gavin Bell, Raymond Davidson and David Miller the firm boasts around 35 staff and 1100 clients with revenues in excess of £2m.

The acquisition brings another new dimension to the Sedulo offering, with the introduction of Bartfields’ growing Forensic Accounting department which will retain its founding name. As part of the Sedulo investment strategy Bartfields will return to the centre of Leeds based at the prestigious St. Pauls House on Park Square, following recent years being spent in Headingley.

The new Leeds-based premises are set for a big transformation with a Great Gatsby themed bar and meeting suites named after founders Isaac and Sam Bartfield, along with entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates, John Cadbury and Fred Perry.  As in Manchester this space will be provided to clients and business partners of the firm as a co-working space with a number of events already planned in.

With the like-mindedness of both cities, Leeds was seen by the Sedulo leadership team as the obvious next step to become the ‘go-to place’ for corporates and individuals across the North West and North East.

Paul Cheetham, Managing Director at Sedulo, said: “The shareholder team here are delighted to announce this acquisition and Sedulo’s progression into Leeds.  Our relationship with the current partners and management team at Bartfields has set off like a house on fire and we have secured ourselves a firm with solid accountancy foundations for us to add our further portfolio of services across Corporate Finance, funding and wealth management.”

In a statement issued by Bartfields Directors Gavin Bell, Raymond Davidson and David Miller, they said: “Bartfield’s are absolutely delighted to be teaming up with Sedulo. This will bring together two firms, one with a 90-year history and one which is highly innovative, both with the same core values of excellent client service and integrity, to create an exciting alternative to other accounting firms.”

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