Baker Tilly is merging with an independent Yorkshire firm, formerly associated with Horwath Clark Whitehill LLP, to form the largest accountancy group in West Yorkshire, outside of the Big Four.

The new firm is also set to generate annual revenues in Yorkshire of more than £20m with 24 partners and over 200 staff, with offices in Leeds, Bradford and Keighley.

Baker Tilly is currently the 7th largest accountancy firm in the United Kingdom with over 250 partners in 27 regional offices and annual revenues of more than £200 million a year.

Baker Tilly's managing partner Laurence Longe, said they were delighted to be joined 'by a team of such quality, which greatly strengthens both our regional presence and the firm as a whole.'

Tim Parr, Senior Partner, Horwath Clark Whitehill (Yorkshire), said: 'Baker Tilly has great brand recognition and we are extremely pleased to be joining such a well respected team. Our strengths are complementary and this will only increase our ability to enhance the service offering to our clients.'