ACCOUNTANTS, business and financial advisers Armstrong Watson LLP is celebrating after scooping the accolade of Mid-Tier Firm of the Year at the Yorkshire Accountancy Awards.

The awards celebrate the achievements and successes from the region’s best and brightest, with Armstrong Watson hailed for “adopting a continuous improvement journey to deliver what they [clients] explicitly need” and for their “commitment to staff training and development at all levels.”

Commenting on the award win and the success the firm has had throughout 2020, Matt Osbourne, audit partner and head of Armstrong Watson’s Leeds office, said: “We’re delighted to have won the accolade of Mid-Tier Firm and we’re honoured to stand alongside the other winners and shortlisted entrants across the categories, particularly given the challenges we’ve all faced during this difficult year.”

Despite the pressure placed during the pandemic, the Yorkshire firm has stuck to its ambitious growth plans during 2020, with a 13 per cent increase in business, the highest ever intake of graduate trainees, a number of new senior hires and an active commitment to nurture talent.

The firm, with offices in Skiptonb, Leeds and Northallerton, has continued to invest in its people, with the recruitment of two new Partners (Corporate Finance Partner, Chris Archer and Audit Partner, Ross Preston) and three other senior roles, plus promotion to partner for former Accountant of the Year, Tom Blandford, and new Director positions for Tax specialist Olivia Rawlinson and Rhys Davis, Audit Director (also shortlisted for Rising Star of the Year at the Yorkshire Accountancy Awards).

The firm began its growth for 2020 with the acquisition of Eura Audit in Northallerton in January, and despite the challenges of the pandemic, its commitment to investment in the Yorkshire region has resulted in a large number of new client wins throughout the year.

Mr Osbourne added: “Whilst the pandemic may have meant a temporary change to our working environments, our clients have required our support and advice more than ever and we made it our mission to quickly adapt. Our ability to react swiftly and our continued commitment to investment within the region, combined with the strength of our team, has ensured we are able to deliver exceptional client service and remain focused on the future, with further growth and additional recruitment planned.”

Armstrong Watson continues to increase its presence across the North of England, last year opening an office in Newcastle and during the pandemic moving to larger premises both in Newcastle and in West Cumbria to meet increased demand. The firm now has 16 locations across the North of the UK, 36 partners and is the 28th largest accountancy business in the country.