Two of the leading accountancy firms in the Scottish Borders — JRW and Hogg & Thorburn — have announced a merger.

The companies are joining forces as part of a newly expanded firm to be known as JRW Hogg & Thorburn.

With origins going back more than 100 years, JRW was formed in 2007 following a merger between two long established local accountancy firms, The James Rosie Partnership and Welch & Co.

Hogg & Thorburn from Galashiels are also one of the longest established chartered accountancy firms in the Scottish Borders, with over 70 years of experience.

The new JRW Hogg & Thorburn team will comprise nine partners and four associates. In total, more than 50 staff will be based across their six office locations.

JRW’s current office in Riverside House will provide the Galashiels base for the newly merged firm, alongside re-named and branded offices in Biggar, Edinburgh, Hawick, Langholm and Peebles.

JRW partner Kevin Crowford said: “It is a great pleasure to merge our two experienced and exceptionally talented teams, and in doing so, to have the opportunity to grow JRW Hogg & Thorburn into an even stronger proposition for our clients.

“As a major employer in the region, we are also proud that the merger will create even greater career opportunities too.

“Whether you are a private individual or a business, JRW Hogg & Thorburn will continue to offer the same high quality accountancy and taxation services that clients know and trust, but with significant additional benefits too.

“Our strengthened offering will also mean that clients can benefit from an even greater range of accountancy and taxation specialists, in areas such as succession planning, tourism & hospitality, highly complex tax challenges and renewables.

“We look forward to growing business together for many, many years to come”.

Hogg & Thorburn partner Kenny Adamson said: “We are delighted to be joining forces with JRW, the firm has a well-earned reputation for having a team of highly experienced and accessible experts, where the needs of clients always come first.

“This ethos matches perfectly with that of Hogg & Thorburn, and this fit for our clients was absolutely vital in reaching this new agreement.

“Going forward, our clients can continue to enjoy the same high standards and personal approach but can also now benefit from an even greater range of accountancy and taxation specialisms and locations.

“Of course, our two firms share a long history in the Borders but we are thrilled that this new merger will see our teams coming together to create one of the leading independent accountancy firms in the country.”