Digital accounting firm hires six and expands into new offices

Sheffield-based Gravitate Accounting, which specialises in Xero cloud software, digital accounting and outsourced FD services, has hired six people and moved into a new office after a successful first 18 months of trading.

It has relocated to a 1,500 sq ft former industrial unit on Burton Road in the Kelham Island area of the city in response to a rise in demand for its services.

Co-owners, Sam Newton and Mike Crocker, established the business in 2019 and have since built up a client portfolio of SMEs, scale-ups, start-ups and large-scale businesses.

The pair worked together in senior accountancy roles at Shorts Chartered Accountants in Sheffield before founding Gravitate Accounting.

The firm has now hired digital assistant Vicki Westwood and five accountancy specialists; digital accountants Claire Conley, Zara Farr, Callum Smith, Josh Clarke and client FD Jonathan Carr. The business has plans to hire a further three positions during this year.

Newton and Crocker, who are both from Sheffield, said they are keen to re-invest wider in the regional economy as the business grows.

Crocker said: “We love working in Sheffield and setting up a business here was important to us.

“Kelham Island is a lively place with lots of tech firms and so it feels the right fit. There’s a real sense of fulfilment in employing people here in the city and we’re attracting talented staff by offering flexibility and benefits which you just don’t see in accountancy.”

Newton said: “I’m thrilled to welcome our new team members and announce moving into our fantastic new office space.

“This is a really pivotal stage in the growth of Gravitate Accounting, taking these steps to expand allows us to continually deliver the very best service for our clients.

“We’re really pleased and humbled by the demand we’ve seen, especially during the pandemic.

“From the very start, we’ve been clear that our business is built on our values of being bold, kind, achieving results and thoroughly enjoying what we do.

“Gravitate Accounting was born in the cloud, which means we’re adaptable and prepared for change.

“We’re at the forefront of technology and our clients see the huge benefits that technology and automation can bring alongside expert advice.”

Crocker added: “We’re both interested in securing growth for clients and enjoy working directly with like-minded owners, who are serious about automation and want timely management information to make better decisions.

“In many ways, this is how Gravitate has managed to achieve substantial growth and we are able to apply this same approach to our clients to help them to realise their potential.”