Saffery celebrates first year in Leeds with strong growth and expansion plans

A year after opening its doors at Wellington Place in Leeds, Saffery is marking a successful 12 months of strong client demand and rapid growth.

Saffery has grown its Leeds team to more than 80 people and continues to recruit across all levels to meet rising client demand from businesses and individuals throughout Yorkshire and the North. The firm plans to double the size of its corporate tax team over the next four years, as part of its long-term investment in the region.

Leading this area of growth is Tony Dillow, who joined as Corporate Tax Director shortly after the office relocated to Leeds from Harrogate, where it had been since 1992. With extensive experience advising on acquisitions, disposals, and group restructures, Tony has helped strengthen Saffery’s offering to companies, investors, and entrepreneurs across a range of sectors.

Tony said: “It’s been a fantastic first year in Leeds. We’ve seen significant client growth across all areas of corporate tax, particularly around transactions and restructuring. To support that, we’re actively recruiting talented professionals at every level in our corporate tax team. Our goal to double in size reflecting our commitment to this ever-expanding side of our business in Yorkshire.”

Saffery’s Leeds office has also expanded its private client capabilities with the recent appointment of Fiona Harford-Cross as Private Client Senior Tax Manager. A highly respected tax specialist with more than 25 years’ experience, Fiona joins from KPMG, where she spent over two decades, following six years at Deloitte. She advises high net worth individuals across Yorkshire and the North of England on all aspects of personal tax, with a particular focus on trusts, landed estates and family wealth structuring.

Reflecting on the firm’s first year in Leeds, Sally Appleton, Partner and Head of Saffery’s Leeds office, said: “The move to Leeds has exceeded our expectations. The growth of our corporate tax team under Tony’s leadership, alongside Fiona’s appointment and our ongoing recruitment drive, demonstrates the strong momentum we’ve built. We’ve also recently welcomed 11 new trainees across tax, audit, and accounts – further strengthening our commitment to developing young talent and supporting the next generation of advisers. We’re incredibly proud of what’s been achieved in just 12 months and excited for our next stage of growth.”

Established services that Saffery offers from its Leeds office include audit and accounting, corporate tax, VAT, business advisory and personal tax. Saffery also has dedicated sector experts spanning owner-managed businesses and entrepreneurs, private wealth and family trusts, agricultural and rural businesses, and charities and not-for-profit organisations.

Saffery was established in 1855 making it one of the UK’s longest-standing independent accounting firms. Today it employs more than 1,200 people across nine UK offices.