Newcastle-based independent chartered accountancy and business advisory firm UNW has continued to strengthen its audit and assurance offering in the wake of sustained growth and major new client wins.
UNW’s expanding audit client portfolio has been supported with the appointment of 14 new recruits since January 2020 – growing the firm’s audit and assurance department to 40 team members. The firm expects to continue strengthening the team further in the coming months. Recent new business wins include Carlisle giftware firm Enesco; London-based specialised global events agency, The iLuka Collective; North West Recycling, one of the region’s largest privately owned waste management providers; and Matfen Hall, a country hotel, spa & golf estate in Northumberland. North East family-owned car retailer, Pulman Group; French family-owned automotive supplier, SNOP UK; and Durhambased Elmtronics – the UK’s leading supplier and installer of electric vehicle charging equipment – have also appointed UNW in recent months. The firm has also continued to add to its already substantial portfolio of charities and not for profit organisations. New clients include The Vindolanda Trust, an independent archaeological & heritage charity based in Northumberland; and Linskill Community Development Trust. These recent wins demonstrate UNW’s track record in the sector, having developed a range of specifically tailored services over several years. Academisation continues to be a hot topic in the Education sector and recent wins in this space include multiacademy trust The Three Rivers Learning Trust. UNW is also creating jobs for young talent in the region having accelerated its 2021 graduate recruitment programme to meet the needs of its growing and varied client portfolio. Newcastle University graduate Fraser Poad, and Lesley Meek, who arrived from Leathers LLP, both joined UNW as Audit Assistants in January 2021 and will be supported by the firm in achieving their ACA qualification. Early 2021 also saw the arrival of Tomas Butkus who joined UNW as a Qualified Audit Executive from Deloitte. The latest recruit is Joe Walsh who joined the firm as Audit Manager in May 2021 having previously worked at PwC.
