Industry Professional services Number of employees 600 (2014) Founded 1855 | Website www.saffery.com Headquarters United Kingdom Type of business Partnership | |
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Key people Rob Elliott, Managing Partner
Saffery Champness Products Accounting
Audit
Corporate Finance
Outsourcing
Tax
Trusts
VAT Revenue £64.85 million GBP (2014) Profiles | ||
Saffery Champness is the 12th largest firm of chartered accountants in the UK, based on the Accountancy Age Top 50+50 Survey 2016, with a turnover of £70.50 million.
Contents
Saffery Champness is a member firm of Nexia International, a worldwide network of accounting and consulting firms.
Rob Elliott is the firm’s Managing Partner.
1855 – 1982
Saffery Champness was founded in 1855 by Joseph John Saffery at London’s Guildhall chambers.
In 1880, the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) was formed. Joseph John Saffery was a founding member of the first council and its president between 1889 – 1891.
1982 – present
On 1 July 1982, Safferys and Champness, Cowper & Co merged to practise as Saffery Champness.
In 1986, the international network SC International was founded by the firm. This went on to merge with Nexia International in 2007 to create a global provider of audit and advisory services.
In 2010, Jonathan Fox became the firm’s Managing Partner – the first non-accountant to lead a top 20 firm.
On 1 October 2012, the firm announced the acquisition of the Film & TV Unit of RSM Tenon. The transaction of the 17-strong team enabled them to build their Sports and Entertainment Group.
In 2013, Saffery Champness was involved in developing and lobbying for the UK Tax Relief and were the advisers for the production's cultural test application. The Film & TV Unit contributed to preparing the groundwork for the tax relief, which supports the film, animation, high-end television and video games industries.
In May 2015, Rob Elliott became the firm’s Managing Partner. Rob was previously the firm’s Managing Partner from 2002–10 and has also served as the firm’s Finance Partner.
The firm celebrated its 160th anniversary in 2015.
Locations
Saffery Champness has nine offices in the UK in Bournemouth, Bristol, Edinburgh, Harrogate, High Wycombe, Inverness, London, Manchester and Peterborough. They also have offices in Geneva, Guernsey and Zurich.