Saffery
 | This article contains promotional content. (June 2018) |
| Company type | Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Professional services |
| Founded | 1855 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
Key people | Matthew Burton, Managing Partner Saffery Champness |
| Products | Accounting Audit Corporate Finance Outsourcing Tax Trusts VAT |
| Revenue |  £70.90 million GBP (2016) |
Number of employees | 700 (2017) |
| Website | www.saffery.com |
Saffery Champness is the 12th largest firm of chartered accountants in the UK, based on the Accountancy Age Top 50+50 Survey 2017, with a turnover of over £70 million.[1]
The firm act for clients across a variety of specialty sectors including private wealth, landed estates and rural businesses, not-for-profit, entrepreneurs, sports and entertainment, international and more.
Saffery Champness is a member firm of Nexia International, a worldwide network of accounting and consulting firms.[2]
Matthew Burton is the firm’s Managing Partner. [3]
History
1855 – 1982
Saffery Champness was founded in 1855 by Joseph John Saffery at London’s Guildhall chambers.
In 1880, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) was formed. Joseph John Saffery was a founding member of the first council and its president between 1889 – 1891.[4][5]
1982 – present
On 1 July 1982, Safferys and Champness, Cowper & Co merged to practise as Saffery Champness.[6]
In 1986, the international network SC International was founded by the firm. This went on to merge with Nexia International in 2007 to create a global provider of audit and advisory services.[7]
In 2010, Jonathan Fox became the firm’s Managing Partner – the first non-accountant to lead a top 20 firm.[8]
On 1 October 2012, the firm announced the acquisition of the Film & TV Unit of RSM Tenon. The transaction of the 17-strong team enabled them to build their Sports and Entertainment Group.[9]
In 2013, Saffery Champness was involved in developing and lobbying for the UK Tax Relief and were the advisers for the production's cultural test application.[10] The Film & TV Unit contributed to preparing the groundwork for the tax relief,[11] which supports the film, animation, high-end television and video games industries.
In May 2015, Rob Elliott became the firm’s Managing Partner.[12] Rob was previously the firm’s Managing Partner from 2002–10 and has also served as the firm’s Finance Partner.
The firm celebrated its 160th anniversary in 2015.
In 2016 the firm relocated its London office to 71 Queen Victoria Street in the heart of the City of London.[13]
In 2017 it was announced that James Sykes had been elected to a four-year term as the new Chairman of the firm.[14] One of James’ first actions as Chairman was to secure the signature of Joshua Whittingham (formerly of UHY Hacker Young) to strengthen Saffrey Champness growing audit sector.
In 2018, Matthew Burton became the firm's Managing Partner. [3]
Also in 2018, entertainment-based tax accountant Julian Hedley of Saffrey Champness’ London office was named one of the top 25 accountants of the year, according to Music Business UK and Centtrip Music’s Legal & Accountancy 50 almanac.[15]
Locations
Saffery Champness has nine offices in the UK in Bournemouth, Bristol, Edinburgh, Harrogate, High Wycombe, Inverness, London, Manchester and Peterborough. They also have offices in Geneva, Guernsey and Zurich.
References
- ^ https://www.accountancyage.com/rankings/top-5050-accountancy-firms-2017/
- ^ Nexia International
- ^ a b "Matthew Burton elected as new managing partner". www.saffery.com. Retrieved 2018-05-25.
- ^ Saffery Champness family tree
- ^ Past presidents of the ICAEW
- ^ Firm focus – Champing at the bit, Accountancy Live, January 2008
- ^ Accounting firm Nexia to buy SC International, Reuters, August 2007
- ^ Best practice: Saffery Champness - Jonathan Fox, Accountancy Age, July 2013
- ^ Saffery Champness confirms acquisition of Tenon film unit staff, Accountancy Age, October 2012
- ^ Saffery Champness Advises on First TV Drama to Qualify for UK Tax Relief, The Production Guild, April 2013
- ^ UK aims to be go-to destination for high-end TV production, Nexia International, June 2013
- ^ Saffery Champness elects Rob Elliott as new managing partner
- ^ "Saffery Champness relocates to brand new City of London HQ | CCH Daily". www.accountancylive.com. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
- ^ "Chairman elected at Saffery Champness - Accountancy Age". Accountancy Age. 2017-01-09. Retrieved 2017-12-07.
- ^ Ingham, Tim (4 December 2018). The Legal & Accountancy 50 2018 (PDF). London, United Kingdom: Music Business UK and Centtrip Music. Retrieved 29 January 2019.