Accountancy firm plans to double North East workforce by end of year

After selecting the city for its first North East office last year, UK accountancy and business advisory firm Johnston Carmichael has seen its regional team and client base grow at an impressive rate.

Now, the firm has announced plans to support job creation and opportunities for the region’s businesses.

With continued growth and investment as a priority, the ambition is to exceed a headcount of 15 by the end the year.

• Picture, back, from left to right, are Samantha Raadwijk Ramage, tax assistant; Paul Shields, audit partner and Newcastle office lead; Lais de Medeiros Faria, audit assistant; and Alex Nicholson, partner and head of VAT. Pictured, front, from left to right, are Michael Sanderson, audit supervisor; Glen Small, director – indirect tax; Thomas Bleasdale, private client tax assistant manager; and Holly Towns, executive assistant 

The Newcastle office is focused on advising and supporting the region’s most prominent sectors, including engineering and manufacturing, food and drink, property and tech, with many new client partnerships already having been formed in these areas.

Paul Shields, audit partner and Newcastle office lead, said: “Since launching in Newcastle we’ve been really encouraged by the positive response we’ve had.

“It’s been brilliant to align with many new businesses to support their goals, and consistent feedback has been how refreshing it is that we have the scale and expertise of a large firm, but the personal and responsive service of an independent adviser.

We pride ourselves on that and have embedded these values into our Newcastle team from the very beginning. Our strong multi-sector experience and network partnerships are in our DNA, paired with our focus on building meaningful and lasting relationships.

“It’s what makes us different, and having worked in the region for a long time seeing how the landscape has changed, I know there’s a lot of demand for this.”

Andrew Walker, chief executive, added: “Our decision to choose Newcastle as the location of our first office in the North East was heavily influenced by considering the sectors operating in the area and our confidence in our ability to bring something different to the region in terms of our approach.

We have an extremely skilled team when it comes to delivery for our clients, but for us that’s a given, as what they benefit most from is our commitment to them and where their business is headed.

“Whether it’s scaling up, moving into new markets, navigating challenges or finding a successor, the relationships we form allow us to become fully invested and a trusted adviser partner, who’s in it for the long term.”

Johnston Carmichael operates across 12 locations nationwide, with a team of over 900 people. For more information visit www.johnstoncarmichael.com

Banner image: Andrew Walker, chief executive; Paul Shields, audit partner and Newcastle office lead; and Alex Nicholson, partner and head of VAT