Newbury accountancy firm, Azets, appoints new business advisory partner

Azets, a regional accountancy and business adviser to SMEs, has boosted its expansion plans for the Thames Valley team.

The firm has appointed Neil Elsden as accounts and business advisory partner in the Newbury office.

Since qualifying in 2000, Mr Elsden has advised a wide range of businesses, from startups to corporates, on a variety of issues from the impact of changes in accounting standards on a company balance sheet, to strategic growth.

At Azets he will focus on advising predominantly SME clients on financial accounts, strategic business planning and management accounts, across all sectors but with a focus on engineering and manufacturing, retail and wholesale sectors.

Mr Elsden undertook his accountancy training with Griffins, the predecessor firm to Wilkins Kennedy which rebranded as Azets in 2020.

Immediately prior to joining Azets he was finance director for a pet food manufacturer and a small estate agency group.

He has also been a partner at RSM and ran his own practice.

Mr Elsden said: “I have always taken a keen interest in not just the financial results of the clients I work with but the operation of the business and helping to plan changes to increase efficiency.

“I am delighted to be working with such a forward-looking firm, having by coincidence worked previously with companies who are now part of the Azets business.”

The appointment is one of several senior staff that Azets plans to make this year in the Thames Valley, including two further partners and a director as well as other staff.

It follows last year’s relocation and expansion of its office in London Road, Newbury, in order to capitalise on the booming local economy and is part of a long-term strategy to grow the Azets business both in the Thames Valley and across the South East.

Azets regional managing partner Kevin Walmsley said: “The new office space in Newbury, which underwent an extensive programme of refurbishment costing £350,000 and extends to over 6,000 square feet, will give us the capacity to deliver our exciting expansion plans and continue to hire a wide range of talent from across the South East.”

The business is on target to increase the number of staff in Newbury over the next 12 months.

The firm is actively looking to hire more staff in Newbury, including several at senior level.