Long-standing Bristol accountants Whyatt Pakeman have been acquired by West of England firm Bishop Fleming in a move that creates the city’s largest independent accountancy office.
Roger Pimblett, one of Whyatt Pakeman’s three partners, and 13 staff have relocated to Bishop Fleming’s Bristol office in Queen Square – taking it to a six partner, 61 staff operation.
Whyatt Pakeman was formed in 1870 under the name of Edward Thomas Collins. It advised small businesses and individuals in areas spanning tax, payroll, audit and bookkeeping from its office in Clifton and was a member of the UK200Group of independent accountancy and law firms.
Whyatt Pakeman managing partner David Golledge has joined Bishop Fleming as a consultant while Richard Bunker has moved to Bristol-based independent accountants Corrigan Associates.
Bishop Fleming, which also has offices in Bath, Exeter, Plymouth, Torquay, Truro, and Worcester, has expanded in recent years through acquisitions and strong organic growth.
Its Bristol-based managing partner Matthew Lee said: “Whyatt Pakeman is a well-established firm with a great reputation and a perfect fit with our Bristol office team. They share our determination to deliver superb service to owner-managed businesses.”
Turnover at Bishop Fleming – twice listed as Britain’s fastest-growing accountancy firm – grew by more than 5% to £17.5m in the past year. It also recruited 80 more staff. Following the Whyatt Pakeman takeover, the firm has 29 partners and 310 staff.
Further acquisitions could follow this year, according to Mr Lee. “Our primary focus, and success, is centred on organic growth at each of our offices, but we are alert to the opportunities for suitable mergers and acquisitions to bolster that growth plan,” he said.
The firm has made strategic acquisitions in Bath and Worcester in recent years – the former by snapping up part of failed Bath-based accountants Target.
Completion of the Whyatt Pakeman deal coincides with Bishop Fleming going straight into the Sunday Times list of the 100 best companies to work for on its first application. The firm – Britain’s first accountants to gain the Investors in People accreditation and an ‘outstanding’ accreditation for Investors in Customers – has been awarded two stars, rating it as ‘outstanding’.
The table is due to be published on February 28.
Matthew Lee added: “Our ethos of nurturing our own people has been amply rewarded by successive monitoring by Investors in People, Investors in Customers, and now the Sunday Times’ Top 100 best companies to work for.
“We’ll extend that ethos to everyone who now joins us from Whyatt Pakeman.”
Pictured: Relocating Whyatt Pakeman staff taking client files into Bishop Fleming’s Queen Square office
