Friend & Grant has been part of the Rochester and Medway business community for over 30 years.
In that time, we’ve built long-standing relationships with clients who rely on us not just for compliance, but for ongoing advice and support.
More recently, you may have noticed the name Xeinadin appearing alongside ours.
With a full rebrand to Xeinadin Rochester planned for summer 2026, it’s a good time to explain what this change really means, both for existing clients and those getting to know us for the first time.
From our perspective, one thing matters more than anything else: the people you deal with day to day.
And that isn’t changing.
The same team is here, in the same office, working with the same clients.
The way we support you, understanding your business, your plans and your challenges — remains exactly as it always has.
What has changed is what we can now offer alongside that.
Key Points at a Glance
- The same Rochester team continues to support you
- The office and client relationships remain unchanged
- You now have access to additional expertise across the Xeinadin group
- Services such as corporate finance, specialist advisory and technology support are more readily available
- Our focus remains helping you grow, manage tax efficiently and plan ahead with confidence
What’s Changing – and What Isn’t
It’s completely natural to wonder what happens when a local firm becomes part of a larger group.
Will things feel more distant?
Will it be harder to speak to someone?
Will the service become more process-driven?
Those are fair concerns and ones we’ve seen many times when clients come to us from other firms.
For us, continuity has always been the priority.
Friend & Grant has been built upon relationships, and those relationships don’t disappear because of a name change.
You’ll still speak to the same people, have the same conversations, and get advice that reflects your situation, not a standard template.
The Difference Sits Behind the Scenes
We are now part of a much wider network, with over 160 offices across the UK and Ireland.
That gives us access to a broader range of specialists and experience when situations become more complex.
So, while the service remains local and personal, the level of support behind it has grown.
Why Local Still Matters
For most clients, the real value of an accountant isn’t just technical knowledge, it’s having someone who understands what’s going on in your world and is easy to speak to when it matters.
Across Rochester and the wider Medway area, we work with a wide mix of clients.
That includes SME businesses, property investors and landlords, SaaS and tech companies, manufacturers, construction businesses, family-run firms and high-net-worth individuals.
On paper, those clients can look very different.
In reality, they often face similar challenges, growth, cash flow, tax efficiency, and planning for what comes next.
Good advice comes from understanding those challenges in context, not just looking at the numbers in isolation.
That’s why the local relationship remains such an important part of what we do.
What Being Part of Xeinadin Adds
As businesses grow, things tend to become more complicated, not necessarily in obvious ways, but through layers.
You might take on more staff, expand into new areas, invest in property, or start thinking about succession or exit planning.
Personal finances often evolve alongside the business, which adds another layer again.
That’s where having access to a wider network makes a real difference.
Being part of Xeinadin means we can draw on additional expertise when it’s needed, without losing the continuity of your day-to-day relationship.
One area where this has already had a clear impact is corporate finance.
We’re now able to support clients with areas such as business sales, acquisitions and funding strategies in a way that wasn’t as accessible before.
Alongside that, there is broader support across specialist tax, advisory services and technology, all of which help us give more rounded, forward-looking advice.
Supporting You as Things Evolve
Many clients come to us when things are relatively straightforward.
Over time, those situations rarely stay that way.
A business grows. New opportunities come up. Decisions start to have bigger consequences.
At that point, accounting becomes less about ticking boxes once a year and more about having ongoing visibility and making informed decisions along the way.
That has always been a big part of how we work.
It’s not just about producing accounts or filing returns — it’s about helping you understand what those numbers mean, what’s coming next, and what you should be thinking about now rather than later.
That approach hasn’t changed.
If anything, being part of Xeinadin allows us to support it more effectively.
Looking Ahead
The move to Xeinadin Rochester in summer 2026 is the next step in the evolution of the firm.
The name is changing, but the fundamentals are not.
We’re still the same team, in the same place, working with the same clients — with the same goal we’ve always had: being your trusted advisor and making tomorrow count more than today.
Being part of Xeinadin simply gives us more tools to do that.
If you’d like to understand more about what this means for you or your business, we’re always happy to have a conversation.
Speak to the team on 01634 731390 or book a call in to discuss how we can help you.
