AAB outlines its commitment to Manchester as it launches new office

UK and Ireland accounting firm AAB has launched a new Manchester office as part of plans to serve scaling businesses across the North West. The expansion aims to expand its headcount in North West England by more than 150 people.

Founded in Aberdeen, in 1990, AAB has been undergoing a strategic expansion plan in recent years. Following investment by Goldman Sachs Alternatives, which aims to accelerate growth across the UK and Ireland, it purchased Kreston Reeves at the start of 2026 – creating a combined firm of more than 1,800 people, across 23 locations, expanding and strengthening our footprint from London and the South East to across the rest of the UK and Ireland. 

Now, AAB has sought to expand further north, with the opening of its Manchester hub. Launching at the landmark No.1 St Michael’s development, the move represents a significant long-term investment in Manchester and builds on AAB’s existing presence in Bolton, where 70 team members are based – aiming to employ over 200 people eventually.

Chris Harland, head of the North West at AAB, said, “Manchester has one of the UK’s most vibrant business communities, but businesses need advisers who understand where they want to go, not just where they are today. Our ambition is to build long-term relationships with businesses and individuals as they grow and become more complex, combining accessible senior advisers here in Manchester with expertise from across AAB. Strengthening our presence in the Manchester business community is important to us as a firm and we will contribute to the region through building a team that can support the region’s businesses for years to come.”

Led by Harland, the team’s expertise covers audit, tax, business advisory, corporate finance, outsourced finance support, payroll, employment and financial planning in the city. 

In audit, the Manchester team includes Gary Harding, head of audit; alongside partners Muhammad Sharif and Alison Cornes and Sarah Frith as director. Business advisory partners Adam Woodward and Dominic Grimes and office of the CFO director Joanne Waddicker will all be based there too – supported by business development partner Chris Cook-Martin and Jonathan Readshaw as people and culture director.

Emma Lancaster, CEO at AAB, added, “Manchester is a major long-term investment for AAB. We have ambitious plans to build a 200 strong team, creating high-quality jobs and opportunities for the next generation of advisers in the region. Our existing presence in Bolton has given us strong foundations in the North West, and Manchester is the next stage of that growth. Backed by the investment and ambition of the wider AAB business, we see a significant opportunity to bring our strong local relationships with the breadth of expertise increasingly complex businesses need.”