Accountancy group expands team with 11 new members

A Manchester-headquartered accountancy group has strengthened its team by adding 11 new recruits after a surge in demand for its services during lockdown.

Champion Accountants has bolstered its client portfolio in the last 18 months, as businesses have sought the support of professional accountancy and advisory experts in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. The practice has expanded its team to ensure it can continue its promise of delivering outstanding service to businesses of all sizes and from all sectors.

Champion Accountants has recruited Craig Anderson (47), Bradley Wade (33), James Page (23), Angie Frangenheim (41) and Ben Wilkinson (31) to its payroll team, while Shan Syed (38) has joined the audit team alongside audit and accounts trainee Elle Millington (19). Keeley Roscoe (39) and Jack Holt (20) have joined the management accounts division, whilst Callum Foster (37) has also joined as IT manager, alongside Amy Lees (18) who has taken the role of apprentice administrator.

Champion Accountants – which also has practices in Chester, Preston and Blackpool – was established in 1971 and has grown to become one of the region’s most respected accountancy groups and business advisors for SMEs and entrepreneurs.

Ged Cosgrove, group managing partner of Champion Accountants, said: “The pandemic and resulting lockdowns caused hundreds of thousands of businesses across the UK to pay closer attention to their finances than ever before, with many never having had to consider things like loans, deferrals and redundancies and the impact they each have on cashflow. This, teamed with the usual challenges of running a business, saw demand for our services soar and we are pleased to have supported so many new clients during some truly unique challenges.

“To do so effectively – and as we look set to grow even further as companies scale up their operations – we knew we needed to bring a new cohort of experts into our team. These 11 new recruits each have individual specialisms but have demonstrated a collective willingness to hit the ground running and deliver the same level of client care we have become known for in our fifty years in business.

“They’re already making a valuable contribution to our team, with some only having been part of Champion for just a few short weeks. We look forward to seeing how their skills flourish with us and welcoming them on our growth journey as we move out of one of the most difficult economic periods in history.”

New recruit, James Page, said: “Having worked in a similar role for the past three years, I opted to join Champion because it was clear that doing so would give me more opportunity to focus on my professional and personal development.

“I’m keen to constantly improve and in the short time I’ve been here, I’ve learnt so much from the team around me. No ask is too much, and everyone is willing to help one another. The culture at Champion pushes people to be their very best, helping them to constantly achieve more, and I’m really pleased to be part of the team.”