Accountancy people moves: May 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 June 2024, we unveil the final wave of activity among some of the largest firms and accounting bodies in the UK across May. BDO has made a swathe of partner appointments, including Mark Shaw as managing partner; Hurst has launched a private client tax service, appointing Karen Chadwick as partner; and AICPA’s CEO has announced retirement.

Mid-tier 

(1 May) – RSM UK has appointed Lynsey Cooper as partner, responsible for growing and developing RSM’s corporate tax offering in the south. She is based in Reading and joins a team of over 25 partners and directors advising clients throughout the southern region.  Cooper is a Chartered Tax Advisor and Chartered Accountant with over 20 years’ experience gained in Big Four firms. Prior to joining RSM, she was a tax director at PwC.

(1 May) – James Cowper Kreston has appointed Andy Cowie to partner and Sam Britton to director, with effect from 1 May. Cowier who is based in the Reading office, joined the firm in 2009. His promotion follows a prolonged period of growth and development at the firm and will see his role focus on client service as well as the continued development of new clients and markets across the London, Thames Valley and Solent regions. Britton, based in the Oxford office, joined the Audit and Assurance team in 2015. His promotion to Director demonstrates JCK’s commitment to providing high-quality audit services to our clients, and his appointment will contribute to the firm’s continued growth and success in the audit sector.

(2 May) – Accountancy and business advisory firm BDO has made four senior appointments to its tax practice. David Ellisis, a global employer services partner, becomes the new lead for people on BDO’s tax executive board which sets, monitors and drives the strategy for the firm’s tax practice. Julia McCullagh takes on a new role as the firm’s national lead for corporate international tax services, reflecting the importance of international tax for corporate groups with overseas presence or trading.  Meanwhile, David Britton becomes the new national lead for UK corporate tax compliance and Michelle Wilson is appointed as the national lead for audit of tax.

(3 May) Gravita has promoted four Directors from its existing team to Partner. Kate Greenhough is a Corporate Tax specialist who becomes Partner in Tax. Nicola Moone becomes Partner in Outsourcing; Elliott Pearl has moved up to Partner in Accounts and Mark Brown becomes Audit Partner. The promotions showcase Gravita’s dedication to nurturing and recognising exceptional talent internally.

(3 May) – RSM UK has appointed Rob Bayliss as a financial modelling partner in its deal services team within consulting. He has over 20 years’ experience in financial modelling, working with business owners, funders and management teams to drive business decisions, particularly in investments and transactions. Bayliss joins from Grant Thornton where he led the creation of the firm’s financial modelling service line for over 10 years. Prior to that, he worked at EY and PwC, including leading EY’s development of financial modelling services for restructuring.

(4 May) – Moore has announced the promotion of Gemma Roger and Robert Pluck to partner positions at its Peterborough office. Both joined Moore as trainees in the Audit and Accounts department, and have demonstrated exceptional dedication, skill, and leadership during their time with the firm. Both are qualified auditors, with a proven track record of delivering outstanding results for clients across a range of sectors.

(8 May)- Gill Lynes has been promoted to director of the Later Life team at Carpenter Box Financial Advisers, with over 30 years’ experience providing financial planning support to elderly clients and their families to assist with issues such as care fees and inheritance tax.

(8 May) – Bishop Fleming has announced 27 promotions in its latest round, including four new directors. The promotions span the firm’s core services, with the elevation of Zara Harris to Accountancy Director, Christian Crawford to Audit Director, and the appointments of Linda Simmonds and Becky Targett as Tax Directors.

(9 May) – FRP Advisory has announced that it has promoted seven of its staff to the position of partner. The firm has promoted six people to Partner within our Restructuring Advisory practice. These include Ben Stanyon (Orpington) and Luke Wilson (London), Victoria Crutchley (Leeds), Richard Bloomfield (Norwich), Julie Humphrey (Brentwood) and Simon Farr (Manchester). Laura Dymott has also been promoted to Partner in our London-based Forensic Services team which continues to support forensic investigations and audits at a time when high value fraud and contentious litigation are on the rise.

(13 May) – BHP has appointed Mark Stanton as partner within its Digital Finance team. Statnton joins BHP’s joint CEO Lisa Leighton, Head of Digital Finance Ellie Dignam and Partners Daniel Sowden and Dermot Lucid, where he will bring his two decades of experience to continue to strengthen the team’s growing client base.

(13 May) – HW Fisher has announced three new promotions to partner to support the firm’s continued growth. Martin Smith, Mark Reveley and Tanya Craft are partners in their respective departments, bringing the firm’s total to 28.

(14 May) – Hurst has launched a private client tax service, appointing Karen Chadwick as partner to lead the new offering. She has moved from Azets, where she was a tax partner. She previously worked at firms including Deloitte, KPMG and CLB Coopers. During her career, Chadwick has gained a wealth of personal and trust tax compliance and advisory experience and technical knowledge, particularly in the areas of trusts and inheritance tax.

(16 May) – RSM UK has appointed Sarah Waddington as a financial reporting partner to strengthen its consulting team. Waddington arrives with over 25 years of experience in financial reporting to RSM. She is an expert at supporting clients through disruptive events such as acquisitions, restructurings, corporate simplifications and cash extractions, providing technical and strategic guidance, whilst delivering tailored solutions.

(17 May) – BDO has recently bolstered its partner offering with the appointment of three new partners. Andi Rosandic joins BDO as a Financial Services Audit partner in the Technology Risk Assurance team, having built up 20 years’ experience working with businesses in the financial services and banking sector. Andi joins from KPMG and will be based in BDO’s London office. James Monk also joins as a partner in the Technology Risk Assurance team. He has extensive experience in the financial services sector and has worked in Zurich, Jersey and London. James will be based in BDO’s London office and joins from PwC. Vinod Dasani joins BDO’s Manchester office as a partner in the Business Services & Outsourcing team. He has a wealth of experience in supporting businesses through strategic transformation projects. Vinod joins from KPMG India.

(21 May) – Evelyn Partners has announced the appointment of Craig McGuire as an investment director in its Jersey office. McGuire has 25 years’ wealth management experience. He most recently worked at Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management where he spent 9 years as a Director in its Jersey office on the advisory and execution only desk whilst maintaining a foothold within the discretionary service.

(22 May) – Mark Shaw has been appointed as BDO’s next managing partner following a vote by the firm’s equity partners. Shaw will take office on 1 October 2024. He succeeds Paul Eagland, who will have completed his maximum of two four-year terms as the firm’s Managing Partner and has seen the firm more than double in size since his appointment in 2016. He comes to the role with a broad range of experience, having been a partner in BDO since 2006 and in Moore Stephens before that from 2000. Mark has held numerous senior leadership roles at BDO since 2008, including being National Head of Business Restructuring and a member of the firm’s Advisory Executive and Quality & Risk Executive.

(24 May) – Crowe has bolstered its Business Solutions team with the appointment of Diviya Ramaiya as partner.  Ramaiya has more than 20 years of experience providing business advice and support to companies and groups in the UK and internationally. A member of Crowe’s Business Solutions practice, she provides management advisory services, supports process improvements with the aim of reducing operational costs, and provides corporate compliance services for owner managed businesses, limited liability partnerships, venture capital and private equity backed clients.

(24 May) – FRP has welcomed former England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) executive Claire Dale as the new people director. Dale will oversee all HR, talent and learning and development functions across the business, which has grown to more than 700 colleagues following a series of acquisitions since listing on AIM in 2020.

(28 May) – Grant Thornton has appointed Partners Philippa Hill and Vijay Rathour as UK practice heads to continue the team’s ambitious growth strategy. Partner Philippa Hill leads Forensic and Investigation Services and Partner Vijay Rathour leads Cyber and Digital Investigations, following Partner Will Davies stepping down as Practice Leader in anticipation of his retirement from the firm this year.

(31 May) – Crowe UK has promoted five people to partner across its Corporate Audit, Business Solutions and Social Purpose and Non-Profit teams.

(30 May) – RSM UK has appointed Alex Fraser as a director to head up its people and change offering within its consulting practice. Fraser has over 25 years’ experience in business transformation and maximising people’s performance at all levels within national and multinational businesses. She is an expert in building a compelling vision and narrative for change; managing stakeholders and building commitment to change from the frontline through to the boardroom; and creating innovative learning solutions.

Big Four

(2 May) – PwC has continued to invest in its deals practise with the appointment of Charles Chang as partner to its corporate finance team. He joins PwC from advisers Arma Partners, where as Managing Director he played a key role in the sale of large software companies to private equity firms, international strategic acquirers, and in portfolio acquisitions for his clients. At PwC, he will continue to focus on software M&A in the mid-market, increasing PwC’s coverage in this key sector which has seen significant growth over recent years

(7 May) Deloitte UK and North and South Europe (NSE) has appointed Sir Hugh Robertson and Elisabeth Stheeman as independent non-executives to its audit governance and oversights boards. Robertson has already started in the role. He is chair of Birmingham Airport and the British Olympic Association and was the first independent chair of Camelot, the operator of the national lottery until January this year. Stheeman worked at Morgan Stanley for more than 20 years, holding roles such as chief operating officer for investment banking — natural resources and real estate banking. She was previously an external member of the Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee, the Bank’s Financial Market Infrastructure Board and senior adviser to the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Trade bodies

(23 May) – Barry Melancon has announced that he plans to retire on 31 December 2024 from his role as CEO of AICPA. Melancon served the profession in this role for 30 years. The details of his successor are expected to be announced before the end of the year and Melancon will be assisting with the transition and handover to the new CEO as they take up the role.