Pictured: Andy Jones

Haines Watts, the specialist accountancy practice serving owner managed businesses, has become a member of Geneva Group International (GGI), ranked sixth in the world in the latest survey of international networks and associations.

The firm, which has an office in Birmingham, has joined the global alliance of independent accounting, audit, legal and management consulting firms, as part of a move to offer clients a wider, international service - as well as benefit from overseas companies that are seeking representation in the UK.

"We are in particular using this association to establish stronger links between Birmingham and the German arm of GGI, because the West Midlands is the hub of the UK's manufacturing industry and Germany is an important export and import market," said Andrew Jones, a partner at the Birmingham office who is heading the initiative and has recently returned from meetings in Germany.

"GGI enables the best local independent firms to act globally without losing their independence - and that was particularly important to us," said Mr Jones.

"We have some 55 offices throughout the UK but joining GGI now enables us to extend that to more than 500 worldwide with a presence in more than 90 countries and a total staff approaching 18,000 employees.

"We represent over 35,000 businesses around the UK and many of them are looking overseas in order expand their businesses," said Mr Jones.

"This membership will be of direct benefit to them."

GGI was established in 1995, becoming a multi disciplinary network in 1997. Only firms providing high quality standards and excellent client services are invited to join and each member firm is admitted only after substantial due diligence.

For more information on Haines Watts, please visit their website here: www.hwca.com