One of Bermuda’s financial services success stories is going global.

Arthur Morris & Company Ltd, founded in 1978, built a reputation over more than four decades for its high-quality audit and accounting services.

Now it has taken the next step, joining the network of Grant Thornton, the international advisory, audit and accounting firm, whose global reach encompasses 68,000 people in member firms in 147 markets.

The move is designed to expand advisory, audit and accounting services to clients in Bermuda, and builds on the longstanding relationship between the two organisations that spans more than 30 years.

Gwen Haller, an Arthur Morris veteran who is now a partner at the rebranded Grant Thornton Bermuda, said: “We were a correspondent firm of Grant Thornton — we were in, as a baby sister. And we have solidified that relationship now.”

She added: “Onward and upward. This is a great opportunity for all of us and for our staff. It was time to make that jump to the global service side. It is a sign of the times.”

Andrew Howie, the head of advisory at Grant Thornton Bermuda, said the network was “delighted” to add Arthur Morris & Company.

He added: “It is a natural progression of the longstanding relationship between the two firms, and we look forward to adding Bermuda to our global portfolio. Together we will bring our clients the local knowledge, international expertise and global presence to help their businesses succeed — wherever they are located.”

The new set-up adds all-important advisory services to the firm’s client offering.

Mr Howie, who has moved to the island, said: “We see a very big opportunity because we are hearing from clients, and hearing from the marketplace, and they want more advisory services, which is everything non-audit.”

Ms Haller added: “Advisory is a new service line for us. It is something we needed more of from a competition perspective, but it is also desired and needed from a client perspective.”

The international nature of Grant Thornton brings with it a uniformity of service offerings and experiences for clients, Mr Howie said.

The firm employs an audit methodology that is followed worldwide, and also values a consistency of experience for clients.

He said: “When you walk into the Grant Thornton office here, it should look the same as the London or New York office. We want clients, wherever they are in the world, to have the same feel working with Grant Thornton. It should look the same, feel the same and have the same quality of experience.

“Grant Thornton is in 147 countries but has never been in Bermuda. Some would say it’s about time and so it is great that Arthur Morris agreed to join. It gives existing clients of Arthur Morris access to a much larger skill set.”

The firm, which employs 20 people, is desirous of hiring additional staff in the areas of actuarial, internal audit, regulation and compliance, and audit.

Mr Howie said: “I would love, in five years, to be at 50 people. That would be a milestone; it would be great if we could achieve that.”

The international network provides opportunities for staff in the Bermuda office, and elsewhere, to gain experience in Grant Thornton’s other locales.

The new organisation will continue supporting the community as Arthur Morris did.

Mr Howie said: “Whether that is employing local people, or giving something back, it is important to us as a brand.”

Grant Thornton Bermuda