Following completion of the merger deal at the end of June the firm will be rebranded as Sumer Northern Ireland.

The Belfast firm will be led by current managing director, Brian Clerkin, who will become a director of Sumer Northern Ireland, and has 10 directors and over 100 staff, providing a range of audit, accounting and tax services to public, private and not-for-profit sector clients. There are plans to hire a further 20 staff this year.

ASM’s other offices in Dundalk, Dungannon, Magherafelt and Newry will not be affected and will continue trading under the ASM brand as the merger only affects the Belfast office.

Sumer is backed by private equity firm Penta Capital as primary funders. Unlike other consolidators, Sumer invests on a shared ownership model, investing in growth oriented firms and once in place they put in additional investment to finance specific acquisitions by the firms.