Trade accountants Austens and Milestone merge
Trade accountants Milestone (MLTSTA) and Austens have merged. The Austens brand is owned by the EKW Group, which has purchased the entire share capital of MSLTA Limited - the merged company will trade as Milestone.
Milestone will focus on further developing its industry leading accountancy service with customers benefiting from the ability to identify and apply best practice from the two existing companies as well as a plan to bring "exciting new services" to the licensed trade. The payroll service will be carried out by a sister company, PAYEpeople, which is already established as a market leader within the licensed trade and also provides payroll bureau solutions to a wider range of retail customers.
The new combined accountancy business of Milestone will have what we believe to be the largest client base by far within the market and will deal with many different pub companies including Belhaven, Brains, Charles Wells, Enterprise, Everards, Fuller's, Hall & Woodhouse, Marston's, Mitchell & Butlers, Punch, S&NPE, St Austell and Wadworth. It will continue to offer comprehensive accountancy packages including management accounts, year ends, VAT returns, on site visits provided by commercial advisors and a tax service. Milestone will also continue to offer tailored packages to suit both small managed groups and smaller less complex businesses and now is able to offer an integral stocktaking service (so much in demand in the licensed trade).
Victor Wood, managing director of (formerly) Austens and now Milestone, said "This is a very exciting time for us, never has it been as important for licensees to have access to top quality independent financial support and advice and our new company provides exactly that."
Alwyn Gill, operations director, added "This is great news for existing and potential customers bringing together two of the top trade accountants to form a new company providing a fully comprehensive national support package delivered through highly experienced local contacts."
