Saffery has expanded its sports and entertainment practice with the addition of AWFM Sport. The acquisition boosts the headcount of the practice to over 60 professionals.
Founded in 1855, Saffery is an accounting, tax and business advisory firm. It supports clients with a host of issues, from interpreting tax complexities and identifying key financial structures to building tailored strategies for a firm’s goals.
Over a decade ago, Saffery expanded this offering into the sports sector, with the launch of its sports and entertainment group. In the years since, this has seen Saffery grow to become a major player in the industry. Headed by Pete Hackleton, the practice has over 50 professionals, including 12 partners, advising talented individuals and major corporates and providing the full spectrum of accounting, audit, tax and business advisory services.
As the firm looks to expand this profile, it has added AWFM Sport to its ranks. Formerly known as Arena Wealth Partners, the firm is a specialist advisor to some of the world’s leading sportspeople, providing them with a comprehensive range of tax, accounting, compliance and business management services and support. Its clients have included top ATP-ranked tennis stars and Ryder Cup winning golfers, helping to win a reputation as an adviser of choice for the very best international sports talent.
Hackleton commented, “Taken together, we have the privilege of counting among our clients some of the most exciting, successful and high profile personalities and corporates in the world of sport. With our complementary service offering, and Saffery’s reach both across the UK in major centres of sporting excellence and internationally through our Nexia partnership, we are ideally placed to support our now joint clients as they navigate an increasingly complex and globalised sports market. We are tremendously excited for what comes next as we move forwards together as a combined offering.”
The acquisition sees the AWFM Sport team join the Saffery sports and entertainment practice. This includes AWFM Sport founder and director David Lumley, who becomes a consultant to the firm and its clients.
Lumley added, “It is very pleasing to be joining together with Pete and the team at Saffery. Not only do we share a real passion for the sports and entertainment industry, but we both also believe wholeheartedly in nurturing talent and the importance of client service and experience. I know that the AWFM Sport team, and our clients, will not only be in the very best of hands but that, with the resources and reach that Saffery provides, will be able to realise new opportunities and pathways to success.”