International accounting firm acquires £13m North East contemporary with “heritage of excellence”

Azets, an internationally operating accounting firm and specialist business advisor to SMEs, has announced the acquisition of North East contemporary Tait Walker.

This marks the third UK acquisition in four months as Azets continues to deliver on its growth plans, with the £13m turnover firm advising around 4,000 clients. Tait Walker was established in 1937 and has five offices across the North East and Cumbria, headquartered in Gosforth, with offices in Stockton, Morpeth, Durham and Carlisle.

The acquisition takes Azets’ UK regional network to 84 offices and enhances the accounting firm’s key service lines including accounting, audit and assurance, tax, data analytics, Corporate Finance, and Payroll services.

Tait Walker also provides a wealth management service, authorised to provide regulated activities by the FCA, which expands Azets’ UK wealth management service into the North for the first time, extending its business in the South.

Acquiring Tait Walker adds over 170 people in business support and client-facing roles to the Azets team, including 12 Partners. Azets already has a strong presence across the North with eight offices in the North East, six offices in the North West and two in Yorkshire.

Chris Horne, group CEO of Azets, said: “We’re excited to welcome Tait Walker to the Azets family; this firm has a reputation for high-quality people providing first class client service.

“The acquisition is another significant step on our growth journey to increase revenue by 50 per cent in the next five years, following quickly on from our recent acquisitions of Garbutt + Elliott in Yorkshire and Inspire Accountants in Poole.

“Tait Walker is established among the leading accounting and business advisory firms in the North East, with a long heritage of excellence and a broad capability across accountancy and business advisory services.”

Peter Gallanagh, regional CEO for the North at Azets UK, added: “We believe strongly in the local delivery of personalised client services, whilst giving businesses in the North East the opportunity to benefit from our breadth, depth, and experience as an SME focused international accounting, tax, audit, advisory and business services group.

“Tait Walker has a strong regional reputation for its personable approach and specialist expertise which, combined with Azets’ local and international reach, opens up a wealth of opportunities for our clients.”