iTide Økonomi becomes part of Aider: The perfect foundation for our Northern Norway expansion

iTide Økonomi, an established accounting firm with nearly 30 employees across four offices in Troms and Northern Norway, is now becoming part of the Aider competence house. – Joining Aider gives both us and our clients access to greater expertise, capacity and forward looking services, says Managing Director Åse L. Jakobsen.

With offices in Tromsø, Skjervøy, Sørkjosen and Lødingen, and roots dating back to the 1990s, iTide Økonomi has built a solid position in the Northern Norwegian market. This will now be further developed in close collaboration with Aider.

A strategic move to strengthen services in Troms and Northern Norway

Following the merger with OK Bedriftsconsult AS in 2022, Jakobsen and co founder Odd Kristian Kristiansen have shared the leadership role. Selling was not originally on the agenda, but the meeting with Aider changed everything:

We made it clear that we did not want to be acquired by just any firm. But Aider shared our values and our way of working, and they impressed us with their people centric approach and focus on local presence, says Jakobsen.

 

Local ownership and proximity to clients – still equally important

A key condition for the merger is that the offices in Northern Norway will retain their local identity and close client relationships. Jakobsen believes this is essential for trust and quality:

– We will continue to be a clearly Northern Norwegian player, with local presence and decision making power. At the same time, we now gain access to Aiders specialist competence and technology, enhancing our role as a partner to our clients.

Aider makes a major investment in the north: Tromsø takes centre stage

Christian Langseth, Regional Director for Aider Midt Nord, describes the merger as a milestone:

– iTide Økonomi has been on our wish list for a long time. They are among the most experienced and respected accounting environments in Troms, and with them we gain not only local expertise but also genuine commitment to the region.

He highlights Tromsø and surrounding areas as strategically important in Aiders continued growth in Northern Norway.

Better services and increased capacity for clients

The merger means that clients in Troms and Northern Norway will gain access to a broader range of services, including:

• Outsourcing of finance departments
• Financial and strategic advisory
• Sustainability reporting and ESG services
• Technology advisory and automation

– More organisations are seeking to outsource their finance functions. We can now offer a comprehensive solution with both local presence and national strength, says Jakobsen.

A perfect starting point for Aiders Northern Norwegian expansion

With four new locations and an established team of nearly 30 employees, the merger provides Aider with a strong foundation in the north. Langseth believes this is just the beginning:

– We now have a solid foothold in Troms and Northern Norway and look forward to developing it further together with Jakobsen and her team. With local anchoring, shared values and national support, we will continue to grow – to the benefit of both our clients and the region.