Accountants Clement Keys in Midlands merger

Clement Keys, leading Birmingham accountancy firm with its roots in the Black Country, has revealed it is in advanced talks to merge with East Midlands-based firm PKF Cooper Parry – creating one of the largest firms of chartered accountants in the Midlands.

The newly-merged firm will have a combined revenue of £30 million and a team of more than 350 people, operating out of two offices in the East and West Midlands. The merger is expected to take place in early January 2016.

Joe Bates, managing partner at Clement Keys said: "Clement Keys and PKF Cooper Parry are delighted to be joining forces.

"We have spent a number of years growing our market share and so has PKF Cooper Parry.

"Bringing the two firms together will broaden our services to businesses in our region and strengthen our position in the marketplace.

PKF Cooper Parry CEO Ade Cheatham said: "This is an exciting and significant merger for both firms.

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"We share a closely aligned vision to be number one in the privately owned market across the whole of the Midlands through creating a fiercely independent firm, which is purely focused on exceptional client service.

"This merger will enhance and complement our offering to clients, bringing sector expertise and extensive international reach along with extensive experience across core services under one brand.

"This exciting development demonstrates that we are ambitious for growth and are determined to be seen as the adviser of choice for privately owned business."

Clement Keys is one of the largest independent firms of chartered accountants in the West Midlands. Now based in Birmingham, it was started in the Black Country more than a century ago, founded in West Bromwich in 1885 by 21-year accountant Clement Melville Keys.

Between 1895-96 Clement Keys was football secretary manager at West Bromwich Albion Football Club.

It once had offices in West Bromwich, Birmingham and Brierley Hill but is now centralised at offices in Edgbaston, where it has seven partners and 100 members of staff.

PKF Cooper Parry is one of the largest independent firms of business advisers in the Midlands, based at offices at East Midlands Airport at Castle Donington.

The firm acts for more locally owned private businesses in the Midlands with a turnover in excess of £5 million than any other accounting, tax and advisory firm.