RSM to relocate 300 employees to Leeds’ Central Square development

RSM, the audit, tax and consulting firm, has announced plans to move into the Leeds flagship office development Central Square in 2017.

The firm will relocate around 300 people from the two offices it currently occupies in Whitehall Quay and Wellington Street into the building that delivers flexible, sustainable grade-A office space in the heart of the city centre.

RSM has agreed to lease the entire fifth floor consisting of around a 25,000 sq ft floorplate to accommodate its team.

Central Square delivers office accommodation, leisure and retail space connected through high-quality public realm, including a central atrium and sky garden for the sole use of the office tenants.

The announcement follows significant investment in the RSM Leeds partner team following four recent strategic partner hires, namely consulting partner Pelle Langli from EC Partners, audit partner Mike Thornton from AIM-listed Surgical Innovations and restructuring partners Gareth Harris and Keith Marshall from KPMG and Duff & Phelps respectively.

These appointments add to the five internal partner hires over the last 12 months. The Leeds office now boasts 25 partners in total.

Kevin O’Connor, RSM’s regional managing partner for Yorkshire and the North East said: “This is a key milestone for RSM as it marks the next stage of strategic growth for us in the City. The new space will not only transform how we engage with clients and our community, but it will deliver a flexible working environment for our people that will encourage further interaction and collaboration.

“Yorkshire is a really important market for RSM and this investment shows our commitment to the region. The move reinforces our position as a leading accountancy firm in the City of Leeds and supports our growing team as we continue to invest in talent to enhance key practice areas, sector specialisms and service to clients across the region.”

Richard Bland from Asset Management Company Marrico added: “The very fact that we have now let 75,000 sq ft prior to completion of the scheme fully justifies the decision to start the scheme speculatively. We very much welcome RSM to the best building in Leeds.”

Richard Thornton from commercial real estate agency Jones Lang LaSalle commented: “RSM’s decision to relocate to Central Square is a ringing endorsement of the quality of the scheme, and the 25,000 sq ft floor plates offering highly efficient and flexible accommodation.”