Accountants begin the new year on a high, thriving in the UK’s second city

Smith Cooper, award-winning accountants and business advisors are beginning 2020 on a high, celebrating the success of their Birmingham practice following a stellar 12 months.

The firm experienced phenomenal success in 2019, announcing a 25% increase in group company turnover and being named the Region’s Best Medium Practice on the Year by ICAEW. Specialist divisions also celebrated a record-breaking year, with the Birmingham office in particular contributing significantly to this success.

The firm’s Birmingham office, located on Edmund Street in the heart of Birmingham’s commercial district, has gone from strength to strength having quadrupled its revenues over the last 5 years, and has established a reputation for offering a leading and comprehensive range of services likened to its larger competitors, but on a SME friendly scale.

The Birmingham team has grown significantly in the last year, which has enabled promotion opportunities and a new capacity for continued growth in the region. Paul Kurowski was promoted from Senior Audit Manager to Audit Director, whilst Tom Joy was promoted from Senior Executive to Assistant Manager within the Corporate Finance division. The Birmingham practice also welcomed three trainees recently, who have begun accountancy careers in business recovery, accounts and audit. Further team expansion is expected during 2020.

Its Corporate Finance division in particular has experienced exceptional success, closing several significant deals such as the landmark private equity led management buy-in buy-out of Europe’s largest dedicated online garden products retailer, Primrose, the Management Buyout of Midlands based freight forwarding business KMB Shipping Group, as well as leading architect practice Corstorphine + Wright who secured investment from Beechbrook Capital to fund an expansive acquisition strategy.

Stephen Newman, Partner at Smith Cooper Birmingham comments “Our team has worked hard to position Smith Cooper Birmingham in an incredibly competitive marketplace and drive organic growth whilst remaining relevant to our clients’ needs and the markets that we serve.”

“London is no longer the nation’s de facto centre for business activity – many businesses and professionals are seeing the opportunities that await outside of the capital in areas such as Birmingham, the Midland’s powerhouse, generating significant economic growth.”

“Operating in the UK’s second city provides us with an incredibly diverse client base, as well as limitless opportunities for us, enabling the realisation of our strategic vision. We look forward to what 2020 holds for us.”

Smith Cooper, a UK top 40 Accounting firm, services clients locally, nationally and internationally. In 2019 the group celebrated their most successful year to date, being named East Midlands ICAEW Medium Practice of The Year 2019 and winning the Corporate Finance Advisory Team of The Year at the Dealmakers Awards.