This strategic move adds 50 new clients and boosts Leeds-headquartered Northern Accountants’ staff to 45, with a total client base of over 400.

Empowered By Cloud director Graeme Morrison, a Chartered Accountant with 30 years’ experience, joins Northern Accountants’ senior leadership team.

Mr Morrison said: “The merger of Empowered By Cloud and Northern Accountants will significantly bolster our growth prospects and provide all our clients with enhanced support through a more extensive and organised structure.

“We are looking forward to be able to offer financial director support to Northern Accountants’ existing clients and the move should help us to drive forward and diversify from the construction sector and take what we have learned there into other industries.”

Established in 2008, Northern Accountants will now operate with a combined annual turnover of £3 million across three office locations in Leeds, Hull and Edinburgh.

Reflecting on the deal, founder and managing director Phil Ellerby said: “The acquisition of Empowered By Cloud brings invaluable capabilities to Northern Accountants and enhances our full finance function offering because we can now provide expert finance director services.

“This move allows us to go beyond the compliance services we are well known for, such as tax planning and accounts, to become an integral part of our clients’ businesses. Now we can confidently take a seat at the table and offer day-to-day financial guidance based on sound decision-making.

“There is a really strong synergy between the two firms, particularly in the construction and trades sector, where Northern Accountants can now offer comprehensive business advisory services. As well as helping to set objectives, we can now advise on digitisation, process implementation, sales and marketing, brand building and exit strategies.”