Accountancy people moves: April 2024

Each month, Accountancy Age delivers a comprehensive update on the key people moves and promotions that have taken place among the UK accountancy market’s top 100 firms.

In May 2024, we unveil the final wave of activity among some of the largest firms and accounting bodies in the UK across April. Ducan and Toplis appoints their first CEO in Damon Brain, a swathe of new partner appointments were made across BDO, RSM, PKF Francis Clarke and numerous other mid-tier firms. KPMG make an investment into its tech advisory team with the appointment of a new Oracle Expert and CIOT and ICAS appoint new presidents.

Mid-tier 

(April 2) Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO has continued to invest in its people with a further three partner hires. Evan Routenberg joins as a partner with the Digital Risk Advisory Services team (DRAS), having built up almost 20 years’ experience in professional services. He joins from PwC. Claire Collins joins  as a partner in the firm’s Quality and Risk Management team. She joins from EY. Carl Jebbitt joins BDO in the South East. He will lead the pension audit team in the region. Jebbitt joins from Deloitte.

(April 2) PKF Francis Clark has announced the promotion of three new partners. Private client tax specialist Sarah Brown, VAT expert Mark Bishop and auditor Rob Deare are embarking on new roles following their promotions to partner. Brown joined PKF Francis Clark in 2013, having started her career with a Big Four accountancy firm. Her main focus is advising high-net-worth individuals and internationally mobile clients. Bishop helps lead the VAT and customs team. An engineer by training, he worked in the electronics industry before spending 12 years at HM Revenue & Customs working in VAT compliance. Deare joined PKF Francis Clark in 2013 as a graduate trainee. Having previously worked in retail and recruitment, he hasn’t looked back since deciding to pursue a career in accountancy, qualifying as a chartered accountant and chartered tax adviser before becoming a statutory auditor.

(April 2) Lovewell Blake Financial Planning has announced the appointment of Stephen Metcalf and Scott Hansell as directors.  Metcalf has joined with over 30 years’ experience in the financial planning profession, and is responsible for Lovewell Blake Financial Planning’s teams of consultants and paraplanners. Hansell has over two decades’ experience in the financial services sector, in administrative and advisory roles.  He is a financial adviser based in the firm’s Great Yarmouth office.

(April 3) Duncan and Toplis has announced that Damon Brain has taken over the role of first ever chief executive officer. Brain started as a trainee and rose through the ranks to become a partner in 2004. He has advised thousands of businesses across the Midlands on critical issues such as expansion, financing, and strategic transactions.

(April 4) RSM UK has promoted 10 new partners across its audit, tax, consulting and core function teams to help drive growth. The firm’s tax practice has promoted a total of four partners: Flora Barnes, Kate Aitchison, Lewis Tompkins, and Paul Marcroft. The national consulting service line promotes Jo Duddle and James Hawksworth. The firm’s national audit team also sees promotions for Charlotte Massey and Michael Oates. Catherine Riches has been promoted to brand and communications partner.

(April 5) Dow Schofield Watts (DSW) has announced the promotion of Dan Walker to director of its North West corporate finance team. He has advised on over 25 completed corporate transactions acting for both buyers and sellers of owner-managed and private equity-backed businesses.

(April 5) Chartered accountancy firm Lubbock Fine has announced the promotion of private client tax specialist David Portman to partner. He joined Lubbock Fine in 2016 as a Personal Tax Senior, having previously worked at a mid-tier accountancy firm in London.

(April 8) Evelyn Partners has announced the appointment of John Howarth as audit partner in its Bristol office. His main focus during his career has been working with dynamic mid-market businesses across a range sectors. He has extensive Big 4 experience having been a Partner at EY and before that at PwC.

(April 8) A dealmaker at Hurst has been promoted to associate partner, having been promoted from the role of associate director. Max Perry  has completed a range of transactions involving UK and overseas trade buyers and private equity buyers since joining our corporate finance team in December 2021.

(April 9) A tax expert has joined PKF Francis Clark as a partner in the firm’s growing corporate tax team. Jonathan Riley is a former head of tax at Grant Thornton UK, where he was a partner for 27 years. He is a trustee of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, a member of HM Treasury’s Forum of Tax Professionals and a former chair of the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group.

(April 10) Evelyn Partners has announced the appointment of Rick Shaw as a partner in the employer solutions team in its Birmingham. Shaw oins from Vialto Partners where he led and established the Birmingham team as it transitioned out of PwC following the transaction in April 2022.

(April 11) Mazars has appointed Helen Knowles as a Public Sector Audit partner in the firm’s Manchester office. She will be responsible for growing the audit team in the North West, which will entail building Mazars’ audit practice across the social sector. Helen joins the firm from Beever & Struthers where she was an Audit Director. Mazars also announced the appointment of Yuvan Deena to the role of assurance partner in London and Michael Davidson as a banking audit partner in the firm’s Leeds office.

(April 15) Azets has appointed Nick Cullen as a new tax partner amid plans to develop a new service offering. Cullen joins Azets after six years in a transfer pricing director development role at another top ten firm, based in Leeds, having also previously worked in a variety of tax roles.

(April 15) DJH has announced the appointment of Matt Orange as its first head of indirect tax, a newly-created role. Responsible for indirect taxes and primarily VAT and SDLT advice, Orange will provide clients with expert guidance as well as support the tax team with his extensive knowledge and experience in tax law and compliance.

(April 17) Azets has announced that experienced employment tax specialist, Kyle Newton. He will help clients nationwide implement NMW processes and controls to proactively manage compliance and navigate complex HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) enquiries.

(April 1o) Suffolk and Essex-based accountancy firm Scrutton Bland has announced four promotions across the firm. Ben Cussons and Emma Clifton have been promoted to Business Advisory Partners, while Simon Hurren was named Private Client Tax Partner. The final promotion went to James Turkettle, who was named Corporate Finance Director.

(April 18) Haysmacintyre has announced the promotion of Krupa Shah to audit director, alongside two other new directors, Michael Crowson and Said Bile, reinforcing the firm’s continued investment in its people and appetite to expand. Krupa joins 31 other employees who have been promoted across the firm from April, including Manager and Supervisor promotions.

(April 19) RSM UK has announced the appointment of Stuart Clowser as its new head of private equity. Clowser will lead RSM’s cross-discipline private equity team focused on all aspects of the private equity environment, including funds, transactions and portfolio companies.

(April 22) Audit, tax, advisory and risk firm Crowe has appointed four new partners across its Corporate Tax, Business Solutions and Social Purpose and Non Profit. Kay Monks has over a decade of experience working closely with UK businesses and international groups looking to expand into the UK market. Sarah Riches is promoted to Partner with over 13 years’ experience providing audit support to businesses across many industries, having worked on major international groups including those listed on the FTSE and AIM markets and large private UK clients. Tim Robinson has been an asset to Crowe’s Forensics team since 2017, providing specialist help to organisations in a range of industries, ensuring they are accurately protected against the latest manifestations of cybercrime and fraud. Helen Blundell joins the partnership with more than 20 years of experience and an ICAEW Diploma in Charity Accounting (DChA).

(April 24) PKF Smith Cooper has announced the appointment of Claire Spencer as its new corporate finance partner. She  has 25 years’ experience in mid-market transactions as well as significant expertise in private equity and cross-border deals. Her experience spans a number of sectors, including business services, industrial, food, consumer and technology.  

(April 25) Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO has bolstered its partner offering with a further three appointments. Melissa Bruno joins BDO as a People Advisory partner in the Digital Risk Advisory Services (DRAS) team, having built up over 20 years’ experience in professional services, consulting and in the private sector. Andrew Clewer joins BDO in the Audit Quality Improvement Team (AQIT) and will take a lead role in the firm’s Audit Quality Directorate. He also joins from EY. Daniel Quiligotti joins as a partner specialising in asset management. He has a wealth of experience in the investment management and private equity sectors. Quiligotti joins from Deloitte.

(April 25) Yorkshire and Derbyshire-based chartered accountants, SMH Group, has appointed ACCA qualified senior manager, James Salim to director at their Sheffield office. Salim qualified in 2016 following a number of years with a large regional practice, joining SMH Group as a Client Manager in 2017 before being promoted to Senior Manager in 2023,  and also gained his practising certificate and audit qualification in 2023.

(April 26) Haines Watts has appointed Clare Boden to its Bristol office as its new corporate tax director. Boden joins from Evelyn Partners after previous roles with the likes of Ernst & Young and Dyson. She brings expertise from real estate, tech and construction sectors to her role.

(April 29) Audit, tax, advisory and risk firm Crowe has bolstered its Forensics team with the appointment of a new partner, Alex Houston. His specific area of focus will be in the disputes market within the context of litigation and commercial and international arbitration, acting as an expert advisor, witness or determinator.

Big Four

(April 5 ) Deloitte has appointed Victoria Alcock, Justin Fay and Becky McVittie as senior managers to its early careers recruitment team. Alcock has been appointed as head of talent engagement and has over 12 years’ experience in early careers recruitment. She joined the firm from EY’s student recruitment team. Fay, early careers recruitment senior manager, has joined the team from PwC and has 10 years’ expertise in student recruitment previously working for Arup and DLA Piper. McVittie has been promoted to early career recruitment senior manager after joining the firm in 2022. She has 10 years’ experience from recruiting firms such as AmberJack Global and in-house roles at npower.

(April 18) KPMG has announced the appointment of Susanna Crowder as Global Oracle Business leader. Crowder will help to drive results for organizations embarking on an Oracle-enabled cloud transformation journey, aiming to increase value, drive sustainable change, and accelerate innovation leveraging Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Oracle Cloud Applications, and Oracle Industry Solutions.

(April 25) Deloitte has announced the appointment of Jo Ahmed as practice senior partner for the North West, heading up a combined  team of over 1,350 people working with private, public sector and international clients at a time of significant opportunity for the region. A particular focus will be on driving programmes across the practice on climate and sustainability, in addition to supporting the continued growth of sectors in areas such as digital, cyber, private equity and real estate.

(April 26) PwC has appointed alliance senior partner Marco Amitrano for its UK and Middle East divisions, effective from 1 July 2024. He is currently Managing Partner and Head of Clients and Markets at PwC UK. He has been a partner at the firm since 2005, on the Management Board since 2016, with previous leadership roles including Head of Consulting for EMEA and Global Head of Risk Assurance Services.

Trade bodies

(April 12) The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) has appointed Charlotte Barbour as president, with Nichola Ross Martin as deputy president and Paul Aplin as vice-president. The appointments were formally approved by the CIOT’s Council earlier this year and the officers will take up their new roles on 30 May at the Institute’s Annual General Meeting 2024.

(April 26) Insolvency and restructuring trade body R3 has appointed Tim Cooper as its new president. Cooper will work with R3’s CEO, senior management team and Council to help shape and deliver R3’s strategy for the next 12 months and supporting its day-to-day operations.

(April 29) Alison Cornwell CA has been appointed as the new president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS). Cornwell, who is also CFO of Vue International, was confirmed as President at the ICAS Annual General Meeting on Friday 26 April 2024. She takes over from Clive Bellingham CA, former member of the PwC Global Board, and will serve a year in office.