A FIRM of accountants specialising in advice to the agricultural sector has moved into Huntingdon.

Churchgate Accountants, which was launched in March 2011 following a takeover of the Grant Thornton office in Bury St Edmunds, has rapidly grown to employ 35 people. The new Huntingdon team promises to provide expert tax, accounting and financial planning advice all under one roof initially focused on agriculture.

Gary Markham, director of the farms & estates team at Churchgate Accountants, explained the decision to set up an office at Spitfire Close on Ermine Business Park in Huntingdon: “Our team has an excellent level of expertise in the agricultural industry and we wanted to locate ourselves at the very heart of this industry in the East.

“Huntingdon not only benefits from excellent transport links from the A1 and A14, but is also a thriving market town looking to develop further in the future – making it the ideal location for our company to set up a new office.”

Before joining Churchgate Accountants, Gary worked for international accountants Grant Thornton for 25 years rising to become director of agriculture.

He is also a partner in a 2,000-acre family farming business and has written two editions of the Institute of Chartered Accountants’ Accountancy and Auditing Guide for Farming.

He will be supported by Karen Robinson, pictured right at Huntingdon Racecourse, and Joanne Wright, left, who have also joined him from Grant Thornton, bringing additional experience in agricultural accounting and tax.