Glasgow accountancy firms announce merger

Renfrewshire-based accountancy firm Cheetham & Co and Glasgow-based Martin Aitken & Co yesterday announced that they have merged with immediate effect.

Cheetham & Co staff have relocated from their offices in Quarriers Village, Bridge of Weir to Martin Aitken & Co’s offices in Glasgow.

David Cheetham has joined Martin Aitken & Co as a Director.

The combined firms will have 8 Directors and over 80 staff providing accountancy, tax, corporate finance and business advisory services to SMEs, charities and private individuals across Scotland.

Adrienne Airlie, chief executive of Martin Aitken & Co, said: “I’m delighted that David and the team from Cheetham & Co have joined us. They share our ethos of building close, mutually beneficial relationships with clients and providing the highest standards of client service. The merger is a good fit for both firms and is another good step forward in our continued growth and expansion.”

Mr Cheetham said that he too was delighted with the merger.

The two firms have a great deal of common ground in terms of strategy and culture. The merged firm will further strengthen our offering to the former Cheetham & Co clients by giving them access to specialists in areas such as corporate finance and financial services, where clients require high-level technical support.

All 7 staff from Cheetham & Co, who have all been with the firm for between 7 and 19 years, have transferred to Martin Aitken & Co giving them greater opportunities for development and progression, and providing clients with continuity of service from the same staff that they have known for years and who know the clients business.

Mr Cheetham established Cheetham & Co in 1998 and operated as a sole practitioner employing three chartered accountants including himself, a senior tax associate and support staff servicing a mixed portfolio of SME and owner-managed business clients predominantly in the Glasgow & Renfrewshire area.