Accountancy firm BDO’s Bristol office is confident of further expansion following the successful merger of the firm with fellow mid-tier player PKF.
The new 120 strong team, with 26 joining from PKF’s former office on Redcliffe Street, is operating from BDO’s existing office at Bridgewater House, Finzels Reach.
The co-location also marks the one-year anniversary of BDO’s move to Bridgewater House, where it occupies the flagship fifth floor of the 110,000 sq ft office.
BDO South West lead partner Graham Randall said for the Bristol office, the tie-up with PKF had delivered exactly what it needed.
The merger means BDO has strengthened its Bristol-based corporate finance and tax teams and brought PKF’s niche medical services team into the fold. BDO already operates the region's largest insolvency and restructuring practice.
The merged office is now the biggest in the region outside of the Big Four of PwC, KPMG, Ernst & Young and Deloitte. The BDO-PKF marriage is the first strategic merger of two accountancy firms since Price Waterhouse and Coopers & Lybrand tied the knot 15 years ago.
“Bringing our people together seals our position as a truly merged firm,” said Mr Randall.
"This merger is one-plus-one equals three, as far as the Bristol office is concerned. Many mergers end up as one-plus-one equals one.
“It is fitting that the co-location of our offices should be completed as we celebrate one year at Finzels Reach. Our intention when moving was to provide our staff and clients with a first-class, contemporary working environment that would support our future growth – the merger and subsequent co-location is a clear demonstration of that commitment to expansion and the South West market.
“Businesses in the region can now benefit from access to a larger full-service accountancy and business advisory firm. Our core market continues to be the mid-market, but we offer specialisms in different fields for the region’s ambitious businesses. It is a really exciting time for BDO and for all our staff who are now working under one roof in an enlarged business to provide a fantastic level of service to our clients and the professional community.
“Clients will also benefit from our thriving international network, operating in 138 countries across the world. This is already an advantage for many South West businesses who have been looking to expand overseas or who need to outsource back-office operations abroad.”
