Professional service firm Azets Ireland has announced a merger with PKF O'Connor, Leddy & Holmes.
The two firms will come together under the Azets brand.
PKF O'Connor, Leddy & Holmes employs more than 100 people, with offices in Dublin and Waterford.
It has been providing audit, accountancy, tax and advisory services for the past 60 years.
Azets Ireland specialises in supporting the needs of mid-market, entrepreneurial, owner-managed, and family-owned businesses.
This merger will double the size of its Irish business.
Last March, the company said it planned to scale to more than 220 employees by the end of 2024.
It said today's announcement will ensure that the firm achieves that goal 12 months early.
Under its latest plans, the company expects to employ 400 people by the end of next year.
Neil Hughes will remain as CEO of Azets Ireland with Donal O'Leary, the current Managing Partner in PKF O’Connor, Leddy & Holmes, assuming the role of Chairman.
"The merger of Azets Ireland and PKF O'Connor, Leddy & Holmes is a game changing moment for Ireland's professional services sector," said Neil Hughes, CEO of Azets Ireland.
"Through this new investment, we can better serve our clients and help them navigate an evolving environment.
"With rising wages, new regulatory obligations, high interest rates and a slowing economy, our clients need expert advice now more than ever," he added.
Donal O'Leary, Managing Partner of PKF O'Connor, Leddy & Holmes and incoming Chairman of Azets Ireland, said the merger represents a huge opportunity for the firm.
"It also presents an even greater opportunity to support under-served, growing mid-market firms who are the emerging and established leaders in their industries in Ireland," he said.
"As Azets Ireland, we have plans to keep growing and hiring top quality professionals and graduates who are passionate about providing a high-quality personal service to ambitious businesses and building their own careers as business advisors," he added.
The combined firm will be based at Azets’ new offices at 40 Mespil Road, Dublin 4 with a regional South East presence in Enniscorthy and Waterford.
In March last year, Azets agreed a deal to buy Baker Tilly Ireland as it entered the Irish market for the first time.
The inaugural Azets Barometer published last week shows that business leaders are relatively upbeat about their economic prospects for the year ahead.
In fact, Irish businesses were found to be more optimistic than their counterparts in the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway.
