National accountancy firm MHA has seen headcount in Liverpool from three to 50 in five years and says it aims to utilise its strong links with local universities to create more jobs in the city. Tony McDonough reports

Accountancy firm MHA is vowing to create more jobs at its Liverpool city centre office to continue a growth strategy first put into place in 2021.

At the height of the COVID pandemic in late 2020, MHA was based at 20 Chapel Street. Following the appointment of Andrew Matthews as corporate partner and head of office the team was relocated down the road to Exchange Station in Tithebarn Street.

That move took place in September 2021 and Andrew then put a strategy into place to grow the firm’s presence. When he took over the team has just three people and now that has grown to 50, including four partners.

Of the staff in the Liverpool office currently, around 25 of these are graduate recruits within the different stages of their three-year professional studies.

They offer audit, tax, VAT, corporate finance, private client and wider business advisory services. Now Andrew says the team is ready to start recruiting more local people with a focus on its strong links with education providers, including the universities.

“MHA has had a strong reputation for quality advice across the North West for decades and had just launched a Manchester office in 2019,” said Andrew.

“Moving into Exchange Station in September 2021 was an important starting point in our journey because it gave us a visible presence in the city and space to invest for the long term.

“Five years on, we have built a sustainable office of around 50 people, with four partners and expertise across every major service line.”

MHA’s Liverpool office was originally operated by Moore and Smalley, an accountancy firm based in Preston. It became part of the MHA network in 2010 but the name MHA Moore and Smalley continued until April 2024.

Andrew said creating opportunities for talented people to build high-level professional careers in Liverpool had been central to MHA’s approach.

He added: “The Liverpool area has a strong sense of community and people value employers that are prepared to invest in them. If you look after people, give them responsibility and provide a clear route to progress, they are more likely to stay and build their careers here.

“That has been fundamental to our growth. We want talented people from across the city region to be able to develop rewarding careers without feeling they need to move elsewhere to access the best opportunities.”

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In late 2024, MHA expanded its Exchange Station office, taking an additional 3,000 sq ft and investing significantly to create a “highly sustainable and modern workplace” which promotes collaborative working.

“Liverpool is a very different market to the rest of the North West. You have to build a team with people who understand the city and the businesses here,” added Andrew.

“While some of the biggest firms have increasingly looked towards Manchester, we have continued investing in Liverpool and building a full-service team here.”