The two directors of Smith Pearman will join Shipleys LLP, Tim Hardy as a principal while fellow director Keith Hardy will become a consultant at the merged firm.

In the latest Accountancy Top 75 Firms Survey, Shipleys reported annual fee income of £11.3m in 2015, marking a drop in reported 2014 revenues (2014:£12.4m).

Simon Robinson, managing principal of Shipleys LLP said: ‘I am delighted that Smith Pearman will be joining us. They share our approach of building close, personal, long-term relationships, as the basis for practical advice and solutions which are value for money. The merger is a good fit and excellent news for both firms’ staff and clients.’

Tim Hardy said: ‘The merger will enable us to continue to offer our clients a personal service in an ever more regulated environment.

‘In addition, we will be able to provide our clients with a greater range of specialist advice in house, covering areas such as mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, VAT and international tax. Our London based clients will also be able to take advantage of our new office there.’

Shipleys is a member of AGN international, a global association of separate and independent accounting and advisory businesses.

Tim Hardy ACA trained and qualified in 2001 with Chantrey Vellcott DFK. In 2005, he moved to Grant Thornton UK LLP in London where he worked as an audit manager before joining Smith Pearman in 2009.

Shipleys currently has 13 partners and 79 staff with offices in London and Godalming.