FOUR new appointments will help a growing West Yorkshire accountancy firm extend its reach into other business management services beyond traditional accounting.

Ilkley-based Wintersgill Associates is looking to provide consultancy services such as outsourced financial directorship has been bolstered by the addition of four new members of staff this year.

With two new accountants, a senior associate and a practice manager to handle the growing range and volume of activity, Wintersgill Associates is putting an increased focus on additional services such as business planning, change management and outsourced financial director expertise for small businesses.

Rob Ormiston adds 20 years experience, including in the manufacturing, retail and property sectors, to his new role of acting as a financial director to clients working towards expansion and increased profitability.

Accountant Emma Greensmith has joined from Grant Thornton where she was audit manager and also has 20 years experience.

She will work alongside Laura Jepson , 22, an apprentice accountant who is studying for The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualifications in accounting.

Sandra Overfield has been appointed practice manager after managing the accounts department of a group of multinational manufacturing companies after qualifying as a chartered accountant with Deloitte.

Paul Wintersgill, managing director and founder of Wintersgill Associates, said: “Our aim has always been to provide a much wider range of services that go way beyond traditional accountancy.

"With our newly expanded team we are now able to really grow this area of the business and absorb ourselves in more complex areas such as strategic financial planning, corporate recovery and company buyouts."