Welcome to Slade & Cooper

We are a Manchester based firm of accountants and auditors that specialises in working with the not-for-profit sector. We currently work throughout the north of England including clients in Leeds, Sheffield and Greater Manchester.

Most of our clients are charities, but we also work for co-operatives, community businesses and some self-employed people. Our clients are involved in a wide range of work – including health, housing, welfare and the arts.

The firm was set up over twenty years ago by Janet Slade. We now have over 200 clients in the not-for-profit, charity and third sector.

About Slade & Cooper

The firm currently has three principals, and about ten staff. All of us are particularly interested in working with the voluntary sector, and most of us have personal experience of working or volunteering for charities or other not-for-profit organisations.

Our wide experience enables us to understand the nature and culture of our clients, and the environment in which you operate.

With our range of accountancy, reporting and support services we can help you to maximise your effectiveness, and guide you to best practice.

To achieve this there are some key features to the service we offer:

Values – Our values shape how we work with clients and each other. We believe that we can give a professional, high quality and efficient service without being intimidating.
People – Our people are our key resource. We think we have a great team here and we want you to get the best from us. The partners and senior staff have a high level of involvement with clients. You can always talk to people here who know you, your organisation, and the issues you face.
Quality – We pride ourselves on giving you information and services that you need, in a way that is genuinely helpful and tailored to your individual requirements. We strive to work to the highest standards, and we have a very good track record in delivering services on time.
Continuous improvement – we are committed to developing our skills and experience, and we are always looking to improve the services we offer.
Learn about the history of Slade and Cooper, meet our directors and get to know the rest of our staff team.

History of Slade and Cooper

In the beginning...
Janet Slade, who started the firm writes:

“While I was at university I got involved in a project running soup runs and Open Christmases for street homeless people. The treasurer taught me bookkeeping and later, when working in a workers' co-operative and living in a housing co-operative, I used these skills. However, when we took our books to the accountant at the year end I often felt that we talked a different language, they did not understand how to ask us for the right things and we did not know what they were talking about. From this experience I decided to train as an accountant and to specialise in co-operatives. I set up the practice in 1985 in the spare back room of MANCODA, the Manchester Co-operative development agency."

Growth and development...
In 1994 Janet Slade and Sue Cooper formed the partnership, Slade & Cooper. Later Jim Gore-Langton joined them and in 2006 Slade & Cooper incorporated. After over twenty years, Janet has now moved on to the Charity Commission, but retains close links with the firm. The practice has expanded steadily continuing to attract those who have an interest in the sector and who may, like Janet, have come to accountancy via unconventional routes. We have outgrown three offices prior to the move in 2000 to The Friends' Meeting House, a well known hub for voluntary organisations.

Over the years the third sector has grown in size and complexity against a background of increased regulation. We've made it our business to develop our expertise and to pass it on for the benefit of our clients.