Pictured: (l-r) Matthew Lee, Managing Partner of Bishop Fleming, Jerry O'Sullivan, Bishop Fleming's Chief Executive, David Cornelius, partner at Rabjohns, and the Worcester firm's Chairman, Ian Smith.

 Rabjohns LLP to merge with Bishop Fleming

 Rabjohns, one of Worcestershire's leading accountancy firms, is merging with Bishop Fleming to create a spread of offices up the M5 corridor from Cornwall to the Midlands.

 Rabjohns LLP, with three partners and 26 staff, will merge with Bishop Fleming from 1st November, to become Bishop Fleming Rabjohns.

 This move will add Worcester to Bishop Fleming's existing offices in Bristol, Cardiff and throughout the South West - and see the firm increase to 21 partners and 230 staff.

 Explaining the move, Rabjohns' Chairman, Ian Smith, said:  "Our decision to join Bishop Fleming is a natural progression of the close working relationship between our two firms over the last decade.

 "We have both shared active membership of the Kreston International network of independent accountancy firms over many years, and Rabjohns already uses the Bishop Fleming payroll services for many of our clients", he added.

 "The merger will provide Rabjohns' clients with the specialist skills and services of the enlarged firm, including expertise in high level VAT, international tax, capital market fundraising, and corporate finance.

 "It also provides access to one of the country's largest business recovery teams, and to Bishop Fleming Independent Financial Advisers", said Mr Smith.

 Managing Partner of Bishop Fleming, Matthew Lee, said:  "Our long standing relationship has confirmed that both Bishop Fleming and Rabjohns share core values and a common culture in how we engage with our clients and our people.

 "This merger will add significantly to our strength in a number of sectors such as Charity & Education, and Sport, Leisure & Tourism.  We are particularly excited about the prospect of working with Rabjohns whom we have admired and respected for a long time", he added.