Accountants find home in Exchange Tower

Four months after accounting firms Moore Stephens and UHY Haines Norton merged, the combined group has settled on Exchange Tower as its new home.

The expanded firm, which trades as Moore Stephens, has signed a lease for Level 15 of the CBD tower, equal to 1,487 square metres, and plans to move there at the end of December.

Its 90 staff are currently split between offices at 12 St Georges Terrace and Osborne Park.

The firm, which ranks number 11 on the BNiQ listing of Accounting Firms in WA, engaged CBRE director tenant representation, Mark Stott, to assist with the search for new premises.

Chief executive Michael Bennett said they started with a list of 15 possible locations before short-listing three.

“We’re very pleased with the outcome,” he said.

“It’s highly competitive, there is a lot of choice.”’

Exchange Tower (formerly Exchange Plaza) has lured Moore Stephens after losing two notable tenants – law firm Ashurst, and the Australian Securities Exchange.

The building has recently upgraded its end-of-trip facilities and added a tenants-only lounge to be more competitive.

Mr Bennett said the move to one location was an opportunity for the expanded Moore Stephens to broaden its thinking about how it was organised.

It has engaged IA Group for the office fit-out, which will have enclosed offices for directors in internal areas but be more open plan than their current premises.