Accountancy firm Scott-Moncrieff is to merge with Inverness-based Callander Colgan, giving the firm an increased presence in the Scottish Highlands. The merger will take effect on 1 May 2015, with the expanded firm retaining the Scott-Moncrieff name
Callander Colgan was set up in in 2008 and provides audit, accountancy and business advisory services to clients across the Highland region. Scott-Moncrieff has offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and until now has had an informal presence in Inverness.
The move will see director Mhairi Callander become a partner in the newly merged firm, heading up the Inverness office, while Brian Colgan will remain as a director. There will be no staff losses as a result of the merger, with all 12 staff retained in the Inverness office post-merger.
The merger iss a strategic rather than a financial merger, giving the firm a stronger presence in the Highlands and building up its customer base.
Scott Moncrieff reported fee income of £11m in 2014 and has 16 partners and 668 staff. The firm was ranked 51st in the UK, according to the latest Accountancy Top 75 survey, and is one of the largest Scottish accountancy firms.
Stewart MacDonald, managing partner of Scott-Moncrieff, said: ‘When I became managing partner of Scott-Moncrieff in 2013, I said that we would not shy away from consolidation, but instead would take the time to seek out new partners and deals that offer the best for us and our clients.
‘Our merger with Callander Colgan does just that – we have a growing client base in the Highlands, with a particularly strong public sector practice, and the time is right for us to have an established local presence.
‘Callander Colgan, as an extremely strong business with a complimentary skill set, is the ideal merger partner for us and by coming together, both businesses stand to benefit a great deal.’
Callander added: ‘Merging with Scott-Moncrieff is a huge opportunity for the business, and it also gives our staff the chance to develop within the context of a larger firm with an international network. Our objective of providing clients with a high quality personal service will not change, and can only be enhanced by the merger.’
Scott-Moncrieff is a member of Moore Stephens UK and the Moore Stephens International network.