Accountancy firm hits the acquisition trail as it eyes further expansion

Accountancy firm Hentons is on the hunt for further acquisitions as it aims to accelerate its expansion plans.

The company says it has seen its team increase by 20% this year following a merger with York-based practice Forster Stott & Co in February.

It has made a raft of senior appointments including Laura Lanvoy as operations manager and consultants Philip Bean, Steve Kilmartin, and Ian Wallace.

Nadeem Ahmed, managing partner of Hentons, said: “The last six months have seen rapid growth for Hentons. Our growing footprint across the region is bringing our partner-led approach and wide mix of advisory services to an increasingly diverse customer base.”

The firm is expanding its tax team and said the new roles will encompass tax compliance, consultancy, advisory and tax defence.

It is also investing in new trainee graduates and school leavers, who work while studying for accounting qualifications, with the audit and accounting teams in Leeds and York.

Hentons operates offices in the Arena Quarter of Leeds, York, Thirsk and Sheffield and employs over 70 staff.

In addition to the Hentons client app, the company is building its digital offering by investing in new dedicated digital accounts to support its cloud-based accounting and tax solutions for clients using Xero, Sage, QuickBooks or Freeagent.

Ahmed said: “As one of Yorkshire’s leading independent firms of chartered accountants, we aim to become a leading player in the SME and mid-market sector in the region. We are making significant investments in new technology and talent that will grow the expertise we can provide across all industry sectors and expand the range of services we can provide for companies. Our recent investment of £150,000 in digital infrastructure will provide clients with a world-class digital accounting service.”