ACCESS to international clients is a key reason for a Cleckheaton accountancy firm's merger with a larger South Yorkshire rival, according to its boss.

Clough & Company has merged with Sheffield firm BHP, Yorkshire’s largest independent firm of chartered accountants, with offices in Leeds, York, Harrogate and Chesterfield . The firm is part of Kreston International, a global network of independent accounting firms.

The deal creates a regional practice with six offices, more than 270 people and revenues approaching £18 million, which will place it within the top 40 largest accounting firms in the UK.

Clough's Chain Bar office will continue to operate and be branded as BHP Clough & Company. The firm's financial services team will join BHP Financial Planning Limited, whilst the two firms’ corporate recovery and insolvency teams will combine within BHP Clough Corporate Solutions.

The merger coincides with the planned retirement from Clough & Company of partners Steven Gash, most recently practice chairman, and tax specialist Nigel Westman,

Nigel Bullas, Clough’s managing partner, added “As part of our own long term growth strategy we have identified the need for an international presence, which BHP’s membership of Kreston International will provide, together with highly specialised corporate finance, and consulting capabilities to respond to the increasingly complex demands of growing businesses.

"The combined operation, which includes a tax team of almost 50 experts, will not only enable us to provide enhanced support to our clients, but also help us to be the number one choice in our sector. This is the way forward, is great news for our staff and clients and we are all very excited about the future.”

John Warner, BHP managing partner, added: “The merger with Clough & Company is a further step towards our vision of being the independent firm of choice across our region. We have always admired Clough & Company as a long established and well respected brand in the West Yorkshire marketplace.

" They very much share our values and culture, not only providing the highest quality advice to clients but also employing and developing the best people. In particular the merger will add significant scale to our West Yorkshire offering, currently run out of our rapidly expanding office in Leeds”.

Founded in 1953 by Harry Clough in a small office in the Majestic Hotel in Manchester Road, Bradford, Clough and Company marked its 60th anniversary with a 90th birthday fish and chip lunch for Mr Clough in its offices 2013.

BHP, initially Barber Harrison & Platt, was formed in 1970 through the merger of three when three long established Sheffield accountancy firms.