Major expansion for Northern Accountants

Last week we announced two major growth plans in Liverpool and Hull, as our business edges closer to £2m GRF (growth recurring fees)

Our team has completed the acquisition of Birkenhead-based TAC Accountants – a property and construction specialist with 167 clients. Currently turning over £250,000 per annum, TAC will retain all of its team, including founder Ben Thexton, who is now a director of the Liverpool division.

With an already high propensity of construction and landlord customers, plus a strong relationship with the construction industry, Northern Accountants will leverage the acquisition as a springboard for further expansion in Merseyside.

Ben_Thexton_director_2
Ben Thexton – Liverpool Director

“We don’t currently have any clients in Liverpool, but as a business, we have a personal affinity to the area, and we perform well in TAC’s key sectors,” commented Phil Ellerby, Northern Accountant’s founder and managing director. “So, when Ben started talking to us about the sale of his company – as part of his three-year plan – conversations quickly gathered pace.”

“He now has the brand and infrastructure around him – supported by our HQ team in Leeds – to grow the business in Liverpool. As a practice, Northern Accountants is renowned for the level of service delivered to clients – in fact, we’ve won multiple national awards for the transformational change we’ve implemented – and with Ben’s help, we want to become a leading name in this city too.”

At the opposite end of the M62, Northern Accountant’s expansion is continuing in Hull, with the appointment of new director Ricky Field. Having originally met Phil at college over two decades ago, Ricky joins from cbaSadofskys Chartered Accountants, where he has worked for 23 years and became a partner in 2009.

A well-known name in this city, Ricky will work closely with two existing Hull-based Northern Accountants colleagues, as they take new office space at The Beverley Enterprise Centre.

Ricky Field Hull Director accountant
Ricky Field – Hull Director

“The accountancy service provision in Hull is more reactive than it is proactive,” explained Phil. “Consequently, there’s a huge gap in the market for a practice that helps clients run their finance functions in the best, most efficient way possible, to fuel company growth. While Hull doesn’t represent a new geographical location for us, Ricky’s appointment will really bolster our growth plans here. Plus, I’m a Hull lad myself, so there’s something particularly special about developing our presence in my hometown.”

Back in Leeds, we have doubled our footprint with the purchase of a second office space in Howley Park Business Village. We now have an extra 1600sqft of space – much-needed following the appointment of six new HQ hires in the last two months.

The expansion takes our firm – which was established in 2008 – to £1.8m GRF, with 20 employees and 530 customers in total.

You can read more about who we are here and what it’s like to work with Northern Accountants.

Five minutes with Ricky

First job, worst job, dream job?
First official job - working in Hull’s fruit market (Humber Street) in the morning and then selling the goods in the shop during the day (Superveg)
Worst job - I have not had a bad job, really, but working in Kwik Save stacking shelves in the PET aisle was grim - as I don’t like PETS
Dream job - Professional golfer, but only in the sunshine

What do you hate about your job?
Taking calls on the budget each year before the speech has even finished

How would you explain your job to a 10-year-old?
I help people in business sort their money out so they have enough to spend on their 10 year olds!

What do you order at the bar?
Anything alcoholic - normally a pint of premium lager or red wine - none of the weak stuff

Which person would you most like to meet and why?
Either Tiger Woods or Sir Alex Ferguson - two sporting legends

Dogs or cats?
Neither - I don’t like PETS - see worst job above (although I have started like some breed of dogs)

Coffee or tea?
Coffee in the mornings but I like both

What music do you like – artists or genre?
All genre’s but indie music is my go-to.
Artists - Oasis, Phonics, Gerry Cinnaman etc., and Rod Stewart and Freddie M

Favourite film or boxset?
A Few Good Men - FILM
Suits - Boxset

Who's your team? What's your sport?
To support - Man Utd - Football
Play - Golf

What’s a surprising skill or hobby you have that people wouldn’t expect?
Skill - I can make a bra from napkins or a large tea-towel

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?
Don’t eat yellow snow

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?
Do you, it’s fine - not what others want you to do or be

If you had to describe yourself in five words, what would they be?
Happy
Joker
Stubborn
Sarcastic
Annoying/nightmare (on social nights out - apparently)

Five minutes with Mark

First job, worst job, dream job?
First Job - Working as a pot wash in a pub
Worst Job - Never had a bad one
Dream Job -

What do you hate about your job?
The amount of time spent on hold with HMRC and how they often make changes without consulting on the actual impact on taxpayers

How would you explain your job to a 10-year-old?
I help people achieve their dreams

What do you order at the bar?
Pint of Guinness

Which person most like to meet and why?
Tiger Woods - great stories but to understand what it takes to be that much better than everyone else for such a sustained period of time

Dogs or cats?
Grew up with cats but would rather have a dog!

Coffee or tea?
Black Coffee

What music do you like – artists or genre?
Everything and Anything, from Taylor Swift to Foo Fighters to NWA and everything in between

Favourite film or boxset?
Fight Club

Who's your team? What's your sport?
Always been football and Newcastle United

What’s a surprising skill or hobby you have that people wouldn’t expect?
Really got into building Lego recently - running out of space to store/display it!

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?
Authenticity sells - be yourself.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?
Nothing ever matters as much as you convince yourself it does.

If you had to describe yourself in five words, what would they be?
Supportive, Sarcastic, Driven, Problem-Solver and Insane

Five minutes with Colin

First job, worst job, dream job?
Holiday work in my dad’s accountants - haven't escaped from the industry since
Still in the accountancy but had a horrible boss.
Ski/Snowboard instructor

What do you hate about your job?
Chasing clients for information which is needed to get the right solutions for them.

How would you explain your job to an 10-year-old?
Helping owners of businesses earn more money so they can spend it on the things they want to spend them on.

What do you order at the bar?
Beer (mostly a Guinness), Rum and Coke (got to be Kraken) or a cheeky Tequila if that's where the night's heading

Which person most like to meet and why?
Michael Jordan - Find out what its like/take to be the GOAT of a sport.

Dogs or cats?
Have both but got to say definitely Dogs

Coffee or tea?
Coffee in the morning & tea in the afternoon

What music do you like – artists or genre?
Listen to pretty much everything - one minute Luke Combs, next Elton John, then some Five
Favourite song - Dancing in the Moonlight - Toploader

Favourite film or boxset?
Wolf of Wall Street - nuts its based on a true story

Who's your team? What's your sport?
Sports to watch rugby (favourite team - Glasgow) or F1 (favourite team - McLaren)
Sport to play golf

What’s a surprising skill or hobby you have that people wouldn’t expect?
Can still pull of an impressive handstand and/or cartwheel.

What's the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?
Don't accept criticism from someone you wouldn't take advice from.

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?
Don't be afraid to speak out more and be confident in yourself.

If you had to describe yourself in five words, what would they be?
Calm
Thoughtful
Inquisitive
Consistent
Light-hearted