INTERNATIONAL accountancy firm Mazars is to open its first office in the North-East to handle a multi-million pounds public sector contract. 

The new office, whihc opens on Thursday, November 1, at the Rivergreen Centre, Aykley Heads, Durham, will be the base for a team of 49 audit and support staff who are transferring to Mazars from the Audit Commission following the firm’s successful bid for a five year contract worth £3.7m a year for public sector audit work in the North-East and North Yorkshire. The clients include councils, police authorities, fire and rescue authorities, NHS primary care trusts and Nexus.

The public sector audit team will be led by directors Cameron Waddell, Mark Kirkham and Steve Nicklin.
Partner Gareth Davies, Mazars’ head of public sector, said: “We will be building on the new team's huge public sector experience to offer an exciting new choice to clients across the region.”
Ian Wrightson, Mazars' managing partner for the North, said: “We're delighted with the opportunity to bring Mazars' full range of services to the North East and look forward to developing our links with businesses in the region.”
Gareth Davies said: “The Rivergreen Centre is one of the most environmentally friendly office buildings in the country and Mazars has taken 4,500 sq ft there on a nine year lease, demonstrating our commitment to the North East and to our new clients there.”