Northern Accountants forms new advisory board

Leeds-headquartered Northern Accountants has formed a new strategic advisory board, as the company embarks on a five-year plan to become a ‘top 100’ accountancy firm.

The move sees three non-executive directors join the business, to support the growth trajectory to £7.8m turnover. 

Anna Masheter has been announced as Northern Accountants’ director of people and culture. With more than 20 years’ experience in learning and development, she has worked with a range of UK businesses to enhance skills, performance and employee engagement.

Masheter is joined by Katie Mallinson, a communications specialist who sold her PR agency Scriba PR in 2023. Appointed acting marketing director, Mallinson will lead Northern Accountants’ brand strategy and marketing activity to support client acquisition, retention and reputation.

Additionally, Nick Washbourne has been appointed as the third non-executive director. A  sales and business development specialist with a 25-year career, including more than a decade as commercial director at Force24, he now takes the same title at Northern Accountants, with a remit to develop a scalable business development model.

The advisory board also includes managing director Phil Ellerby, who founded Northern Accountants in 2008, and operations director Ben Muncaster, who joined in 2018. Muncaster, a Lean Six Sigma specialist, was brought in to lead transformational change at the firm.

Ellerby said: “I’ve always believed in doing things differently. But to say we’re not your traditional accountancy practice simply doesn’t cut it. We have invested heavily in technology over the years, to develop a slick and efficient business that empowers our people to ‘do their thing’, and liberates our clients in the process. 

“I’m not saying we’ve always got everything right, but we’ve also worked hard to employ the best possible talent – colleagues who really have our clients’ backs. It’s our point of difference in a crowded, price-sensitive industry, and with so many mergers and acquisitions taking place in our industry, I think we can leverage our position even further.”