Merger creates new all-island firm in Ireland – FGS McClure Watters

Three of Ireland’s leading financial practices have today (5 Sept) announced the merger of their businesses, creating the largest all-island independent firm of business advisors and consultants.

The merger of Dublin firm FGS with Northern Ireland’s McClure Watters and Longford based Lyons Keenan Kilemade will also create the sixth largest practice in the country, with 20 partners and 200 staff.

Greg Sparks, Managing Partner of FGS said “The Partners of McClure Watters and Lyons Keenan Kilemade share the same entrepreneurial approach that has driven FGS for over 20 years. This is a significant step forward in our desire to meet the rapidly changing needs of our clients and is indicative of the progressive nature of all three firms.”

David Watters, Managing Partner, McClure Watters added “With our newly acquired cross-border presence we are now strongly positioned to advise clients in all sectors of the business community throughout Ireland. We have grown our practice by focusing on services which support the business development and profitability of our clients. The merger creates an opportunity to take client service to a new level, aligning FGS McClure Watters with the emerging synergies of an increasingly all-island market place.”

Michael Keenan of Lyons Keenan Kilemade commented “Clients of all three firms can now draw on the combined expertise of these three well established practices and will benefit from an enhanced range of services. I know that bringing together multi-disciplinary teams will allow us to provide an even better service to clients.”
Through FGS’s membership of Moores Rowland International (MRI), one of the largest independent accounting and consultancy groups in the world, the newly-merged firm’s clients will have access to global support for international business.

The practice will specialise in; taxation and wealth management; audit; internal audit and corporate compliance; corporate restructuring and insolvency; corporate finance; public policy; management consultancy (including socio-economic analysis, strategic reviews, human resources and ICT); public private partnerships and major property procurement. The partners are confident that the merger will be hugely positive for clients, staff and other stakeholders, ensuring fresh opportunities and benefits for all. In the short term and until all Regulatory matters have been finalised, the firms will continue to trade under their individual names.

FGS (Farrell Grant Sparks) is a leading Irish independent firm of business advisors and consultants offering a range of financial, accounting and consulting services, centred on a creative approach to business. Ranked in the top ten Irish accounting practices, FGS has a team comprising 14 Partners and 100 staff based in offices in Dublin and Belfast. Existing global reach is enhanced through membership of Moores Rowland International (MRI), one of the largest independent accounting and consultancy groups in the world. Over 20 years, FGS has developed unparalleled expertise across a broad range of disciplines including:

Audit
Tax
Consulting
Corporate Compliance
Corporate Finance Corporate Restructuring
Public Private Partnerships/Property.

McClure Watters

Based in prestigious new offices at Lanyon Quay beside the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, McClure Watters is a leading firm of Chartered Accountants and Management Consultants in Northern Ireland. The four partner firm has grown steadily since its formation in 1989 and now has more than 70 employees. The firm provides an extensive range of services to Private and Public Sector clients throughout Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.
These services include:

Audit
Taxation
Business Advisory
Corporate Finance
Consulting
Forensic Accounting
Corporate Recovery
Financial Planning

Partner profiles and further information at www.mcclure-watters.co.uk and www.fgs.ie

Lyons Keenan Kilemade (LKK)

John Lyons and Michael Keenan trained with KPMG and set up practice together in Longford in 1984. LKK, which currently employs 30 people, has become one of the leading accountancy firms in the Midlands and also has a client base in Dublin.

Company Specialisms

Audit and Accounting
Company Secretarial
Taxation including support services to legal practices
Property sector including construction, property dealing and investment
Corporate Finance
Financial Services including advice on pensions, investment products and life assurance
Preparation of management accounts
Outsourcing of Payroll and VAT returns
Implementation of computer accounting systems (Sage /TAS) and related training.