Pictured: The six partners in Bishop Fleming's specialist team for Academy Schools raise their mortar-boards in celebration of their 100th school win.  Left to right are Tim Borton, Alison Oliver, Matthew Lee, Pamela Tuckett, Will Hanbury, and team leader, Joe Scaife

A specialist team at Bishop Fleming Rabjohns, the newly-merged accountancy firm, is celebrating its 100th Academy School appointment, making it the region's primary adviser to academies.

That team, which has also been invited to tender for more schools planning to become Academies, has been expanded to six partners, eight managers, and 15 other qualified professionals to focus on the special needs of schools taking advantage of the switch to Academy status.

Bishop Fleming Rabjohns' 100 academy clients include 8 in Worcester and the West Midlands, 24 in Devon, 19 in Wiltshire, 13 in Somerset, 10 in Cornwall, 10 in the former county of Avon, 8 in Plymouth, 4 in Torbay, and 4 in Gloucestershire.

Fifteen of those Academies have also appointed the firm's specialist Payroll service to handle all staff payments and compliance, with 40 others considering doing so.

Joe Scaife, the partner leading Bishop Fleming Rabjohn's Academy team, said: "We have worked with 47 schools to help them through the complex process of converting to Academy status, while others have appointed us after converting to Academies.

"We are well aware, and very grateful, that so many of our newest Academy appointments are the result of our existing Academy clients providing strong testimonial recommendations", he added.

"Bishop Fleming Rabjohns is now the clear leader for Academy schools, advising Academies employing a total of more than 11,600 staff and working with almost 82,000 pupils", he added.

"Given the particular requirements for Academies, we are providing audit and accounts work, conversion support, compliance services, pension arrangements, taxation and VAT support, and handling of payroll and software management", said Mr Scaife.