Growing accountancy firm moves to new city base

An ambitious accountancy firm has moved into a new city centre office which is says leaves it “well-placed to support and sustain further growth”.

Stafford Accountancy, run by husband-and-wife team Lyndsey and Mark Everett, has relocated to The Yard at Riverside Sunderland after doubling its headcount in recent years.

The company has taken a large open-plan office designed to provide capacity for further expansion as it continues to grow its client base and specialist team.

Stafford has expanded steadily since Mark completed a management buyout in 2020, nine years after first joining the firm as a client manager.

The business has traded since the 1990s, with Lyndsey joining as a partner in 2020 following a career with global accountancy firm RSM.

Its growing team includes qualified chartered and certified accountants alongside chartered tax advisers, providing clients with accountancy, tax and wider business support.

Lyndsey and Mark say maintaining a personalised service will remain central to the company as it expands, with dedicated leads working closely with individual clients to understand their businesses and provide tailored advice.

Lyndsey said: “We’re delighted with the progress we have made in recent years, more than doubling the size of our team since the move to the Yard.

“The move to the Yard has placed us at the heart of Sunderland’s new business district, and our bright, open plan office has lifted our profile within the city and beyond. 

“We were based in a townhouse previously and while it was a characterful building, it simply didn’t give us the scope to expand. 

“Being in a modern, open-plan setting, with shared facilities that we can tap into as we need them – like meeting rooms and informal meeting space in the reception area – and plenty of parking for our clients has been a real advantage. 

“And, of course, being in the heart of the city centre with lots of lovely bars, restaurants and cafes to enjoy means we are able to offer a great work-life balance to our team.”

Mark added: “We want to continue growing our revenues, broadening our service lines and investing in our team, ensuring that the business is well-placed to support and sustain further growth over the coming years.

“We’re ambitious and our move to The Yard demonstrates that. 

“We’re looking forward to seeing what the future holds.” 

Stafford becomes one of eight businesses operating from The Yard, which forms part of the wider regeneration of Riverside Sunderland.

Most of the building’s offices are now occupied, with only its basement and top floor remaining available as a growing business community takes shape at the city centre development.

Laura O’Driscoll, property director at the Hanro Group, which owns and operates The Yard, added: “It’s wonderful to see the impact Stafford’s move to our fabulous building has had on the firm. 

“We knew that The Yard had potential to attract a great range of ambitious businesses, and it’s done just that. I have no doubt Stafford will continue to go from strength-to-strength.”

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