80-year-old Banbridge accountancy firm joins Streets

Banbridge-based accountancy practice Hunter Sinton & Co, which has been trading for 80 years and is located on Commercial Road in the town, has joined Streets, a top 40 UK accountancy and advisory practice.

Hunter Sinton was originally established in 1946 and has been serving the local community, supporting individuals and businesses across Banbridge and the wider region. Joining Streets marks the next stage in the firm's development and growth.

Throughout its history, maintaining a strong local presence has remained a priority for the team at Hunter Sinton. Many clients have remained with the firm through the generations, reflecting the value they place on continuity, accessibility, and trusted relationships. 

Eamonn Devlin, partner said: "As we looked ahead to the future of the practice, we saw that joining the Streets Group would allow us to retain the personal service and local relationships that our clients value, while giving them access to a broader range of specialist accounting services.

"From the outset, it was clear that Streets shared our values. The structure of independently run local offices, backed by the resources of a national practice, made it feel like a natural fit for our partners, our team and our clients."

Hunter Sinton supports a broad range of businesses across the local economy, with more than half of its client base operating within the agriculture sector, including farming and land-letting businesses. It also acts for retailers, pubs, hospitality businesses, local trades and service providers across the community.

Partners Eamonn Devlin, Michael Morrow and Robin Forsythe along with senior account manager Kellie Gribben have helped to shape Hunter Sinton's reputation for trusted advice and long-standing client relationships over many decades. Their combined experience and commitment to client service have played a significant role in the firm's continued success and strong reputation locally.

Going forward, Streets partner James Gibson will work alongside Eamonn and Kellie to lead the Banbridge office, supporting its continued growth, retaining relationships and ensuring the personal service for which Hunter Sinton is known. 

The firm's success has been its flexible and positive working culture resulting in an exceptionally strong staff retention. Flexible working arrangements were introduced before the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting the partners' long-standing belief that trusting employees and supporting work-life balance creates a more committed and loyal workforce.

The merger with Streets provides long-term stability for both clients and employees while preserving the firm's relationship with the local community. The partners sought a solution that would secure the long-term future of the practice while maintaining its culture, reputation and commitment to personal service.

Eamonn added: "What impressed us most was that Streets understood the importance of remaining local. Although Streets is a national practice with extensive resources, each office retains its own identity and independence. That gave us confidence that we could continue looking after our clients in exactly the way they have come to expect, while giving our team access to wider opportunities and specialist support."

Paul Tutin, Chairman and CEO of Streets, said: "We are delighted to welcome the whole Hunter Sinton team to Streets. They have built an outstanding reputation over the past 80 years, we look forward to supporting the continued success of the practice."

Eamonn concluded: “Our clients will continue to receive the personal service they have always valued while benefiting from access to Streets' wider specialist expertise and national network. Looking ahead, Streets Hunter Sinton will continue building on its strong local reputation while securing the long-term future of the practice for generations to come.”