A NEW financial services company has been launched by chartered accountants and business advisers Clive Owen & Company.

It will offer its services via Clive Owen offices in York, Darlington and Durham.

Advisory and other services will be offered by Coniscliffe Financial Planning to clients at Clive Owen's five-year-old Clifton Moor office in James Nicolson Link. The organisation will be headed up by Jonathan Fry, independent financial adviser, of Richmond, North Yorkshire, who will act as managing director.

The new venture is being hailed by Clive Owen & Co as "a major development and expansion" and was partly triggered by recent changes in the law on pensions.

Mr Fry said: "The law will soon require all businesses to offer stakeholder pensions to their employees. Also long term financial planning for directors and business owners has never been more important or difficult.

"There is a growing demand on accountants to provide their clients with a wider range of financial expertise and Coniscliffe Financial Planning is a direct response to this demand."

Terry Doyle, partner with Clive Owen & Co said: "First class financial advice is essential when choosing pensions and investments but these decisions cannot be taken in isolation from tax advice.

"Combining both financial planning and tax expertise together in one venture will prove invaluable for the clients we service and I am confident that this new service will prove successful."

Picture - ADDING UP: Nicola Bellerby, tax manager with Clive Owen & Co, Terry Doyle, a partner in the practice and Jonathan Fry of the new Coniscliffe Financial Planning