Two top accountancy practices have merged to create one of the biggest independent accountancy firms spanning the Oxfordshire – Buckinghamshire M40 corridor.

Banbury-based Whitley Stimpson LLP and the Bicester based Baxter Payne & Haigh Ltd, have merged. The Whitley Stimpson Banbury and High Wycombe offices will retain their existing name but under a new limited company structure and the Bicester office will be known as BPH Whitley Stimpson.

Malcolm Higgs, Director at Whitley Stimpson said: “This is a very exciting time and opens up a new world of opportunities for our clients and ourselves. The reputation for excellence already commanded by Baxter Payne & Haigh combined with complementary skills and experience in specialist sectors will significantly strengthen our business offering, which already provides a wealth of benefits to existing clients. The merger is a meeting of minds in both business and cultural terms with the crossover in practice areas making Baxter Payne & Haigh the perfect fit. I am confident that by coming together we will be creating a firm with a wider portfolio of services. We are now one of the biggest firms on the M40 stretch providing a serious, heavyweight, alternative to businesses and high net-worth individuals based in London.”

Stephen Payne, Director, BPH Whitley Stimpson said: “Whitley Stimpson has a rich heritage and shares our approach to business. We have always ensured the firm’s growth is built on integrity, objectivity and technical excellence with an emphasis on providing strategic advice that will benefit our clients’ bottom line.”

Whitley Stimpson has provided financial advice to businesses and individuals for more than 80 years. Whitley Stimpson seek to uphold traditions such as personal service, value for money and expertise with a genuine emphasis on a director-led service to ensure the retention of many existing clients from early days as start-ups through to achieving multi-million pound success. Whitley Stimpson first extended its services into Buckinghamshire in 2010 following a merger with Hale Partnership based in High Wycombe. The latest expansion is supported by a rebrand to harness together shared core values, expertise in niche areas and complementary client profiles.

This new merger with Baxter Payne & Haigh is hoped to enhance business growth, bolster the team of specialists and extend the firm’s reach into Oxford and along the M40 corridor. In addition to traditional accountancy services, the new practice specialises in Agriculture, Medical and Academy Schools.

Malcolm Higgs concluded: “We are confident that with our new team on board, we can continue to reinforce our position as one of the region’s leading accountancy firms. We are very optimistic about 2014 and the continued growth of our company.”